This short 2-question quiz will guide you in the right direction about which skin oils are best for your skin type. Oils are individual and each has its own properties, including dryness/oiliness and warm/cool temperature.
Knowing which ones are best for your skin will give you the best possible experience and results when using oils. For example, an oil that is warm and dry would be best suited for somebody with cool and oily skin, as it will bring that person’s skin closer to balance.
Questions
1) In the middle of the day, how does your skin feel to the touch?
a. oily, I have to wash/dab my face off
b. dry, I usually need to apply moisture
c. it feels fine and I don’t do anything midday
d. parts of my face feel oily, while other parts are dry or normal
2) What is your usual body temperature?
a. I always run cold and need extra clothing, warm drinks and turn the heat up.
b. I am usually hotter than others around me and like to keep windows open.
c. It changes but I generally stay around normal temperature.
Now that you have your combination of oiliness and temperature, find which oils are best suited for your type below:
*Dry and Cold skin– the following oils are recommended- apricot kernel, olive, pomegranate seed, sesame oils and shea butter
*Dry and Hot skin– the following oils are recommended- almond, castor and olive oils
*Dry and Normal– almond, apricot, castor, olive, pomegranate, sesame oils and shea butter
*Oily and Cold skin– the following oils are recommended- coconut, plum, rosehip and sesame oils
*Oily and Hot skin– the following oils are recommended- grapeseed, jojoba and rosehip seed oils
*Oily and Normal– rosehip seed, plum, coconut, jojoba oils
*Balanced and Cold– sesame seed oil
*Balanced and Warm– almond oil
*Combination and Cold– experiment with the Dry and Hot & Oily and Hot oils
*Combination and Warm– experiment with the Dry and Cold & Oily and Cold oils
*Combination and Normal– experiment with the oily and dry oils from above.
*Balanced and Normal– may not need anything on your skin! You can try any of the oils mentioned and see if they give you results you are looking for; however, your skin is about optimal.
I am offering these natural winter skin care tips both to prevent damage to the skin and to help the body to heal quickly and easily if you’ve already experienced irritation from the cold.
This time of year is transitioning into KAPHA time, which in Ayurveda represents the cold and moist element. It is actually less drying than the VATA time (late fall/early winter), yet it is winter and it is cold :)
How do we protect our skin from the harsh cold and fluctuating moisture?
Here are 4 winter skin care tips to start with:
1) Use deeply moisturizing, heavy oils and do some “deep conditioning” at night. I really like argan oil nowadays, with its high levels of vitamin e and squalene, it is downright silky! Another good choice is extra virgin olive oil. When you apply oils make sure to put them on damp skin. Also lie on your back for about 5 minutes in bed to allow the oil to really soak in. You may also need to re-moisturize midday if your skin is dry. I like 100% Pure’s green tea set and will spray my face with the toner and then apply a thin coat of the lotion. This works wonders!
2) Embrace the cold. This is about using those wonderful adaptive strategies that our delightful bodies have. Go OUTSIDE several times per week for shorter periods of time (like under an hour). Being properly clothed is important though, especially protect the kidneys and the neck (both places where heat can “escape”) with warm fabrics. Going outside in the cold keeps our wondrous adaptive bodies in line with the elements. Too much indoor heat actually makes us more susceptible to cold and less tolerant of it. Then the skin will really get bongo when you do go out!
3) Heavier butters and waxes can create a protective layer on the skin if you are doing outdoor activities. Sure, you might be kind of glossy, but your skin will be literally buffered from the wind. Shea butter is a great one to consider or a balm or salve made from healing herbs like calendula or comfrey. All of those are great to PROTECT when going out into the cold and also to SOOTHE cracked, dry and otherwise damaged skin!
4) Not counter to number 2, though it may seem that way…drink nourishing, warming beverages. HOW will this help the skin you ask? Nourished skin is healthy skin and healthy skin can withstand harsh environmental conditions much better.
Copyright Wildly Natural Skin Care
Some of my personal favorites this winter:
Chai made with warming spices cinnamon, ginger and cardamom
Carob latte made with carob powder, coconut milk and honey
Herbal teas featuring comforting herbs like evergreen needles, spices, rosehips, rosemary, and mints.
How do you protect your skin in the winter? Please share your tips!
Abyangha is an Ayurvedic practice of daily self-massage with oils. It has so many benefits for the body and spirit, including amplifying skin health and moisture and strengthening the circulatory, nervous and lymphatic systems.
On a more esoteric level, it protects us from negative outer influences and strengthens our natural boundaries and preferences. As you see, the practice of caring for the body includes more than the physical, as “matter” and “spirit” are inextricably connected. When we care for the body, we care for the soul.
Now, I apply oils daily and though it takes effort and a bit of discipline, I am so pleased by the benefits. I have a young son and carving out this self-care ritual is an act of love for myself and also challenges my creative thinking skills.
Here is my daily routine:
I have a yogurt maker that I keep in the bathroom and store my oils in. I plug it in at night so that in the morning the oil is a perfectly warm temperature. This not only feels so good but it also helps the pores to open up and better receive the oils.
How to Apply Abyangha Oils
1) Set your intention. This body care stuff is a healing and sacred act and taking a moment to remind yourself of that is powerful.
2) Start with your feet and legs and massage the abyangha oils up towards your heart. Keep the flow towards the heart for your whole body. Meanwhile, whisper sweet nothings to yourself, about how beautiful, strong and healthy you are and how the oils are doing their job perfectly.
3) Work your way up massaging each part in turn with the same process:
~Belly, hips, thighs and buttocks
~Lower back
~Chest, breasts, neck (don’t forget the back of the neck)
~Out to the arms and hands
~Face and ears (those ears have mad sensors and it’s good to stimulate them!)
4) Take a moment at any part of your body that is in need of extra special healing and love and once again, set your intention that this part of you is healed and operating at full vibrancy (it’s inherent in our DNA you know).
Now you get to let the oil soak in for a while. I make abyangha part of my daily practice (sadhana) and so I take this time to meditate, pray and otherwise revere the sacred. You could also wear a robe and do whatever you do in the morning. The oils will stain clothing so wear something particularly for your abyangha practice. Give it a minimum of 15 minutes soaking time if you can for maximum benefits.
Next you shower and this washes off the excess oils yet leaves your skin moisturized.
One of the really fun things is creating your own oil blends to suit your skin type, the season and temperature and any current healing needs you may have. A blend that I made recently was designed to be very rich and nourishing to bring my dry and somewhat neglected skin back to vibrancy.
This yellow-green, thick and rich oil goes on very smoothly and feels delightful. Being heavy and warming, it is perfect for “recovering” skin: cold, dry, ashy, uneven tone to restore moisture, pliancy and even tone.
When I first started using this blend, I double dipped applications (morning and evening) and when my skin responded noticeably after only two days, cut back to once per day.
Abyangha is good for everyone, from babies to elders. It is particularly valuable for maintaining youthful skin, as one of the keys to healthy skin is oil which keeps the cells plump.
