If you’re used to confining your skincare choices to a familiar pre-assigned skincare type, as most of us are, we’re about to ask you to think outside of the box.
Ayurveda is the oldest continually practiced form of medicine in the world, originating over 5,000 years ago in India, where it's practice has continued. In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “The Science of Life. It stems from the ancient Vedic culture and was taught for many thousands of years in an oral tradition.The principles of many of the natural healing systems now familiar in the West have their roots in Ayurveda.
Ayurveda places great emphasis on prevention and encourages the maintenance of our health through close attention to balance in one’s life, right thinking, diet, lifestyle and the use of herbs.
The basic premise within Ayurveda is that each of us is born with a unique constitution type and there are three types: Vata, Pitta and Kapha
These the constitution types, also known as Doshas are characterized by a set of internal and external traits. However, various factors can throw a person out of balance. The most common reason when loosing our balance are stress, the environment, diet and seasons. What you eat, how you exercise and the skincare you use all have an impact of achieving this balance.
In Ayurveda, skin is considered a manifestation of inner health and skincare can be a tool to balance one’s constitution and achieve healthy and beautiful skin.
As the skin “eats” anything applied to it, absorbing it directly into the bloodstream in a matter of seconds, only the purest ingredients are considered when formulating Ayurveda skincare.
A Holistic approach to Skin Types
Ayurveda's concept states that the human body is a microcosm of the whole universe. The five elements – Space, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth – are the within you. And these five elements combine to form the three doshas:
- Vata is composed of Air and Space
- Pitta is Fire and Water
- Kapha represents Earth and Water
The three doshas are present in all of us, just at different strength levels that form our constitution, which is then affected by external influences. It is important to say that not all of us fit neatly into a Dosha, but are a combination of the three, and these can change within seasons.
Each Dosha gets a different expression on our skin.
Vata people tends to be very energetic and lively and Vata skin tends to be dry, rough and thin, and needs warming and grounding, with loving nurture. Hydration is key. Drinking lots of water, meditation and relaxation to reduce stress levels, oils and massage and a regular routine will keep Vata in balance.
Pitta people are typified as focused minded, with a strong appetite and tend to overheat easily. Their skin is oily, warm and sensitive, prone to inflammation, rosacea, eczema etc. Pitta needs to be soothed and cooled by drinking coconut water, eating cooling foods. Pitta skin benefits from ingredients like coconut oil, very limited sun and low alcohol consumption and caffeine.
Kapha people lean towards a more relaxed predisposition, with heavier built bodies and a preference for hot weather. Their skin is typically thick, oily, and cool and is prone to acne and as such, it is in need of regular detoxification and loves light ingredients. Create a routine of light exfoliation, using mud and massage using light oils. A diet rich in vegetables and warm ingredients like ginger and cayenne pepper to detoxify the body.
At The Home Facial Store, we have recently added a series of Ayurvedic skincare products. Paavani Ayurveda is an artisan line of small-batch, pure, organic health & skincare products formulated in Northern California that guarantees the highest quality of it's organic ingredients, products that really work and deliver the results you are looking for.
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