Today, Sara Davoodi is going to go over the basics of Ayurvedic skin care– that is using the Doshas as a guide to how to exquisitely care for your skin. Sara is the Founder & Creator of Athar’a – Pure, exotic skin essentials.
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Ayurveda is an ancient Indian healing practice that is still considered one of the most sophisticated mind-body systems, focusing on overall health and wellness. Ayurveda literally means – science of life (Ayur = life, Veda = Science) and offers a system of knowledge that helps the human body reach vibrancy, energy and health through natural practices. The principles of balancing your mind and body also impact your natural beauty and improve skin health.
What I like most about Ayurvedic beauty practices is that it’s individualized and there’s not a one size fits all approach. There are 3 different mind-body and skin types, also known as Dosha in Ayurveda. The three Dosha in Ayurveda are Vata, Kapha and Pitta, each possessing different characteristics.
Knowing your Dosha can help you make the most optimal diet and lifestyle choices and enhancing your skincare routine with natural Ayurveda skin care products will help improve your overall health and beauty.
Vata (Reflects elements of air and space)
Attributes: If this is your dominant Dosha than you tend to be agile and creative with a thin, lean frame. Your energy comes in spurts and you are likely to experience bouts of fatigue and have sensitive digestion. When unbalanced, Vata types tend to experience anxiety and worry.
Vata hair is generally, dry, frizzy and brittle with skin that tends to be dry, rough and thin. It tends to crack and lack luster due to lack of moisture. Vata dosha skin types also tend to have dark spots and can experience premature aging and wrinkling if not properly cared for.
Balancing Vata: To Balance this mind-body type, the Vata dosha should make lifestyle choices that bring warmth and stability to your life. Exercise that isn’t too strenuous, such as light cycling, yoga, dance and short hikes are all examples of nice activity levels to balance Vata.
Food choices should include all types of nuts, heavy fruits such as bananas, mangoes, pineapples, avocados and dates and lightly cooked, not raw vegetables such as asparagus and carrots. Eating at regular intervals around the same time each day and getting to bed earlier is optimal for this dosha. Finally, taking care to hydrate and moisturize with an all natural and organic antioxidant face cream will help keep away wrinkles, dark spots and dryness
By the way…Vata is the type of yours truly :)
Pitta (Reflects elements of Fire and Water)
Attributes: Pittas are usually of medium size and weight with a fiery nature that manifests in both body and mind. When in balance they are great teachers and decision makers, with perfect digestion, lustrous skin and high energy! When out of balance, they can be hot-tempered and experience ulcers, indigestion and skin rashes.
Balancing Pitta: To get this type balanced spend time becoming one with nature! Spending time outdoors, hiking through the woods can be calming and balancing for the fiery Pitta. Sweet and tart fruits such as cherries, oranges, grapes and pineapple are also highly recommended for this type.
Kapha (Reflects elements of water and earth)
Attributes: The Kapha Dosha has a larger, sturdy frame with excellent stamina. If you’re a Kapha, you are likely to have larger eyes, radiant skin and thick, wavy hair. By nature, you are calm, loving, patient and loyal. You sleep soundly and have regular digestion. If unbalanced, you may gain excessive weight, become depressed, sleep excessively and experience allergies and or diabetes.
Balancing Kapha: To keep the Kapha Dosha happy, exercise daily with more energetic activities such as running, swimming and completive sports – whilst listening to upbeat music as Kaphas should increase stimulation to balance their status quo routine. Kaphas will benefit from a liquid diet once a week, this can include pureed vegetable soups, smoothies and juicing fruit and veggies.
What Is Your Dosha?
While many people experience characteristics from all three Doshas, knowing your Dosha and adjusting your fitness and eating habits accordingly will help you achieve near perfect health and radiant skin. Finding matching natural Ayurveda skin care products will further enhance your beauty. Find out what your dominant Dosha is, take this Dosha quiz.
Athar’a is an all natural, organic, vegan skin care line, inspired by Eastern & Ayurveda beauty traditions. I also LOVE that Sara donates a Moringa tree for every 100 Facebook likes, so be sure to go like her page!