Your skin is the mirror of your inner physiology. 

Our skin is the largest organ of the body and the mirror of one's inner state of health. Ayurveda knows that everything is connected, and that good inner health will result in glowing, radiant, supple, clear skin. Learn how you can get beautiful skin with an Ayurvedic skin care routine.

Improve Your Skin with Ayurvedic Skin Care Wisdom

Ayurveda treats the skin by first addressing internal health:

1. Balance the Doshas

According to Ayurveda, we are each ruled by three doshas to different degrees. These doshas are: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each dosha has a set of sub-doshas, and our skin falls under the category of Bhrajaka Pitta. Meaning the skin is mainly ruled by fiery pitta dosha. It is through our skin that we regulate our temperature, so it makes sense that in Ayurveda, the organ of the skin is Pitta dosha's domain.

But, as any internal imbalance will be mirrored on the skin, we need to also see how the other doshas might affect the skin. 

For instance: 

• Vata (made up of ether and air elements) has the qualities of being dry and rough. So, if we have too much dryness in our system or we are constipated and anxious, this will likely show up as dryness on the skin.
• Kapha (made up of earth and water elements) has the qualities of being slow, heavy, and oily. So, if we are feeling lazy and full of phlegm, this is a kapha imbalance and will show up on the skin as pimples and oiliness.
• Pitta (made up of fire and a little water) has the qualities of being hot, sharp, inflamed and irritable, so it can show up on the skin as rash, breakouts, irritation, inflammation, burning, and even eczema. Most skin pathologies have their root in an imbalance of pitta.

2. Strengthen Your Digestion and Digestive Fire

Without good digestion, good skin is difficult to achieve. No matter how many creams and lotions you're applying, radiant skin is the result of good digestion and internal health. 

In Ayurveda, our digestion is ruled by our jatharagni, aka digestive fire. So to maintain a fully functioning digestive system, we need to know how to keep this flame alive.  

If the jatharagni or agni is low, toxicity builds up and begins to circulate through the channels. This will show up on the skin as dullness, irritability, sensitivity, breakouts, and lackluster. If, on the other hand, the agni is working too hard, you will experience acid reflux, inflammation, and diahrroea. This can translate onto the skin in many forms, including rashes, eczema, irritation, spots, and redness.  

The body wants to get rid of toxicity by any means it can, and the skin is one of the largest exit routes. This is why children often have skin disorders, as it is one of the most convenient routes out of the body.

Some steps you can easily implement into your daily routine that will help support digestion and strengthen and balance agni can include:

• Upon waking, drink a glass of warm water with a pinch of Bamboo Salt. This will help to gently wake the digestive tract and stimulate the movement of the bowels.
• Incorporate Chyawanprash into your daily morning routine, consuming a teaspoon each morning on an empty stomach, followed by a mug of warm water. Chyawanprash contains essential herbs and a formula that helps to regulate all of the doshas and promote healthy tissue growth.
• Eat seasonal whole foods to ensure you are offering your body the ideal nourishment to function optimally and help you achieve a more glowing, radiant complexion.
• Consider taking a dietary supplement like PIOR Living Skin for additional nourishment and rejuvenation. This nourishing botanical formulation helps improve skin health from the inside out, thanks to its blend of 40 organic and wild-harvested herbs and spices.

3. Do Seasonal Cleanses

To keep your gut health in top shape and remove any toxin accumulation (which affects the appearance of your skin), it's a good idea to practice seasonal cleansing. Use our Ayurvedic Cleansing Guide to learn all about cleansing at home.

4. Nourish Your Dhatus 

In Ayurveda, there are 7 layers of tissues named dhatus. All of the physical body can be grouped under one or more of these seven layers of tissue. 

The skin, or tvak as it's known in Sanskrit, falls under the category of muscle tissue (mamsa dhatu). Like snakes, we are forever shedding our skin, so if we want great quality skin, we need to be properly nourishing our muscle tissue. 

We do this by getting our digestive system working properly, then we make sure our lymph and circulating fluids (or rasa dhatu) are properly nourished. This is, after all, the most pervasive tissue of the body, flowing through our entire being. Healthy blood relies on healthy rasa dhatu, and good complexion relies on great circulation and blood flow full of nutrients. 

All the layers of dhatus are interconnected, so healthy skin is the result of healthy tissues. 

5. Build Ojas, the Liquid Gold for Skin 

The secret 8th level of tissue is called Ojas which only shows itself when the other layers of tissues are in good health. Ojas is a liquid gold-like substance that resides in the heart, but is only produced when there is proper health in the body.  

Ojas is the ultimate example of how Ayurveda is a mutually interconnected system of medicine. Only when there are healthy circulating fluids, blood, bone, and reproductive tissue is there Ojas. And when there is Ojas in the body, the skin is radiant and full of luster and youthful vitality.  

How do we get good Ojas? By having good digestion, properly functioning doshas, and a regular consumption of Chyawanprash and nature's liquid gold: Ghruta ghee. 

6. Implement an Ayurvedic Skin Care Routine

Taking care of your skin from the outside is another great way of helping your skin look good. These are a few Ayurvedic skin care routine steps that are wonderfully relaxing, balancing, and nourishing: 

Step 1: Cleanse 

Rinse your face in the morning and cleanse your skin in the evening, using cool or warm water (never hot) and with a gentle skin cleanser. Choose a cleanser that has natural ingredients and isn't harsh on the skin. You can make this at-home cleanser with the following formula:

• 1 teaspoon almond flour
• 1/2 tsp coconut or almond milk
• 1 drop of chamomile, rose, or lavender essential oil

Combine all of the ingredients in the palm of your hand to create a liquidy paste. After, gently massage the skin of the face and neck, being careful around the eyes. Rinse with lukewarm water.

Step 2: Moisturize

Moisturizing your skin according to dosha and skin type is very important in preserving the natural moisturizing factors (NMF), keeping the barrier between the environment and your skin strong, and maintaining suppleness and vibrancy in the skin. Ayurveda recommends practicing abhyanga with oils for moisturizing. The oil closest to the skin's natural sebum is jojoba, but if you feel you need a more attentive oil for moisturization and barrier repair, try these:

• Ghruta ghee is Ayurveda's favorite fat and the best oil for all types of people because it's tridoshic and very nourishing. 
• Sesame oil is great for Vata or Kapha types, and for cold skin, poor circulation, dry skin, breakouts, or dullness. Sesame oil has a warming effect, is antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory.
• Coconut oil is the best to use in the summer months and is ideal for Pitta skin that suffers from eczema, patchiness, and dryness. Coconut oil has antibacterial properties and is high in nourishing fatty acids which are essential in rebuilding and maintaining the moisture barrier of the skin.
• Organic cold-pressed sunflower oil is best for Kapha-predominant individuals, as it is non-comedogenic, ideal for thicker skin, safe for acne-prone individuals, and absorbs well. Sunflower oil is also tridoshic.

Feel free to add the essential oils of your choice to your abhyanga treatment (but consider opting for florals like rose, lavender, ylang-ylang, or geranium and shying away from citrusy EOs as they can cause photosensitivity). Mix about 30:1 oil to essential oil, then warm up the mixture in your hands and apply to the whole face, neck, and body. After the entire face and neck are covered in oil, begin using gentle upward sweeping motions with the pads of the fingers and pad of the palms. Focus on areas where you have tension buildup and fine lines. 

Step 3: Incorporate Marma Therapy and Facial Massage 

Marma therapy, or facial pressure point massage, can be incorporated into your moisturizing process to help release tension and alleviate the imbalances in the body. Massage the face in upward direction, using your middle or ring finger to add slight pressure on marma points (around the ears, under the chin, to the side of the nostrils, on the temples, and along the jawline to begin with). Always breathe out when pressing a marma point to aid in its release. 

Step 4: Exfoliate 1-2 Times a Week

Exfoliate your skin 1-2 times a week using a custom exfoliant you can make right at home! You'll need: 

• 2 tablespoons of Besan (chickpea) flour
• Half a tablespoon of finely ground bamboo salt
• 1-2 drops of essential oil of your choosing
• A few drops of a freshly squeezed lemon

Take about half the mixture and combine it with a hydrosol or warm water to create a paste in your hands. Apply to the entire face and massage in circular motions for 2-3 minutes. Remove with warm water or damp cotton pads, and apply the moisturizer of your choice. Regular exfoliation promotes glowing, clear skin.

Step 5: Apply a Homemade Mask Once a Week

Homemade face masks are affordable and can be deliciously pampering! There are numerous blends of ingredients you can use for at-home face masks. Here is one of our favorites that is tridoshic. You'll need: 

• 1/3 cup of yogurt
• A squeeze of lemon juice
• 1 tsp of honey
• 1 tsp of powdered sandalwood, neem, or turmeric (if using turmeric, be wary that the face can become temporarily yellowed after masking)
• 1 tbsp of rose water 

Mix the ingredients in a bowl and apply to the face after exfoliating. Leave on for approximately 10 minutes, then remove with warm water or damp cotton pads. The best time to moisturize is after a mask! 

Step 6: Schedule a Facial or Massage 

Ayurvedic facials and massages by a qualified esthetician, massage therapist, or Ayurvedic practitioner are also encouraged on a regular basis. These professionals have the knowledge and experience to perform customized treatments and expert maneuvers that encourage youthful, healthy, and balanced skin.

Ultimately, Ayurvedic skin care is based on balancing the doshas, caring for agni, ensuring our channels are clear, and combining at-home treatments with a professional service.