According to Ayurveda, dry skin is typically a problem associated with the Vata dosha. This means that when the Vata dosha is dominant or aggravated, we may struggle with dryness, patchiness, itchiness, dullness, and lackluster. Fortunately, with the following Ayurvedic skin care tips, we can overcome these issues and achieve nourished and hydrated skin.

Vata Dosha and Your Skin

The Vata dosha can become dominant or aggravated if we're leading a lifestyle that tends to increase Vata: eating dry, cold, and stale foods, skipping meals, not sleeping enough, getting too much stimulation (TV, loud environments, etc.), and managing busy, stressful schedules. In addition, as summer changes to fall and the cold, dry, and windy weather begins to set in, Vata becomes the prevailing force outside. If we don't adjust our lifestyles to pacify Vata, we'll begin to see changes in our skin consistent with dryness. 

Nourish Vata from the Inside

Good skin starts on the inside. Nourishing Vata with the right diet and herbal formulations will increase moisture and alleviate dryness.

Drink Enough Warm Water

Drink sufficient warm water, especially warm Vata-pacifying teas like tulsi, ginger, and cinnamon tea. 

Eat a Vata Diet

Eat warming, nutrient-dense foods (e.g. daal, steamed vegetables, kitchari, etc.) with plenty of healthy fats (e.g. Ghruta, olive oil, avocado, etc.). The amino acids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals that are in these dishes help to nourish the organ systems and assist in your absorption of nutrients and fluids.

Take Chyawanprash

Consuming 1 tsp of Chyawanprash every morning will help with nourishing all seven tissues so that you can build healthy skin, hair, and nails. To read more tips for balancing Vata, explore our comprehensive guide to the Vata dosha.

Use an Herbal Supplement

PIOR Living Skin contains 40 organic and wild-harvested herbs and spices and is designed to improve your skin health from within. When taken twice daily, this formulation supports tissue repair, clears your complexion, and nourishes and hydrates the skin.

Hydrate and Moisturize for Vata Beauty Care

In addition to nourishing our bodies, we can also use these effective and time-tested Ayurvedic dry skin care treatments:

Steaming

Enjoy a facial steam once or twice per week to help enhance moisture and open and cleanse the pores and sinuses. If you don't have an at-home facial steamer, you can easily create one in your own kitchen: 

• Gently heat 2-3 cups of water in a standard medium-sized pot until it is close to boiling, but not boiling. If you’d like, you can add herbs and essential oils to the pot.
• Sit in a comfortable position and place your head over the pot, not too close to the water so as not to scald your skin. 
• Take in deep breaths for about five minutes. 
• You might also drape a towel over the back of your head to prevent the steam from escaping around the sides of the pot.

Balancing

Make a mask with sandalwood powder, aloe vera, fresh yogurt, a few drops of sesame oil, and honey. Mix it all together to create a liquidy paste, and leave on the face (or body) for approximately 10 minutes before rinsing off with damp, warm cotton pads.

Moisturizing

Practice abhyanga daily. Take warm sesame oil, warm sunflower oil, warm castor oil, or warm ghee, and gently massage your body and face for 10-15 minutes. When massaging your face, be gentle around the eye orbit and the neck, as the skin is more delicate in these areas. 

To enhance the massage experience and further balance Vata, add 1-2 drops of essential oils to your massage oil. Rose, lavender, chamomile, or sandalwood will leave the skin smelling beautiful and looking more radiant and hydrated.

Don't forget that you can also arrange for a treatment with an Ayurvedic practitioner. Whether you’re dealing with dry skin, oily skin, or a combination of both, an Ayurvedic practitioner can provide you with customized massages and facial treatments to address all of your skin concerns.

Ceanna Saatsaz is a Licensed Master Esthetician, Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, and Certified Professional Herbalist from Seattle, WA.