Caring for Vata Skin

For Vata skin to stay youthful, skin care products used should be very nurturing. They must include some essential oils or herbs in combination which can nourish the skin and rehydrate it; otherwise, it may be susceptible to wrinkles and premature aging.

A Vata-pacifying lifestyle — like going to bed on time, eating three regular meals, and following a regular daily routine — are essential components of a holistic approach to Vata skin care, as are eating foods that help balance Vata and nourish the Vata skin.

Here are some suggestions for caring for Vata skin:

• Provide added nourishment to your skin by including organic milk, whole grains and green leafy vegetables in your diet.
• Drink lots of lukewarm water every day for internal hydration.
• Eat plenty of sweet juicy fruits; they help cleanse the body from within and provide hydration as well.
• Include a little healthy fat such as ghee (clarified butter) or olive oil in your diet for added lubrication.
• A warm oil self-massage (abhyanga) with a rich massage oil such as the Youthful Skin Massage Oil is excellent for keeping skin lubricated.
• Use a gentle, all-natural moisturizer such as the Youthful Skin Cream to keep facial skin hydrated. Provide added deep lipid support with Youthful Skin Oil.
• Get plenty of rest so your mind as well as your body have the opportunity to recharge.
• Use a gentle, moisture-balancing cleanser such as the Youthful Skin Herbal Soap.

Caring for Pitta Skin

The Pitta skin type needs both cooling and nurturing. Use skin care products that help enhance resistance to the sun. Avoid tanning treatments and therapies that expose your delicate, sensitive skin to steam for extended periods of time.

The ayurvedic herb Flame-of-the-Forest can help protect Pitta skin from photosensitivity. But like other ayurvedic herbs, it needs to be used in combination with other herbs for a balanced effect on the skin. (Flame-of-the-Forest is contained in Maharishi Ayurveda's Citronella, Lemongrass, Vetiver and Cedar Sandalwood Herbal Soaps.)

Pitta-In this type of skin, both fire and water are dominant elements. Individuals with pitta skin are mostly fair with a soft, warm glow. This type of skin complexion could also have freckles and moles on the surface. It could put one at risk of developing various diseases such as rosacea, liver spots, pigmentation, rashes, and acne. Due to the fire element, pitta skin does not tolerate excessive sunlight exposure well.

BEING: Pitta controls chemical transformations related to energy, digestion and metabolism. Pitta dispositions are often impatient and easily angered or irritated. Because they are aggravated by heat, they should avoid heat-inducing food, hot weather and alcohol. Pitta dispositions needs to be cooled.

SKIN: Pitta skin is very sensitive and sunburns easily. It is prone to acne, inflammation, eczema, rashes and itching. It is prone to premature wrinkling, discolouration, an oily T-zone, blackheads, whiteheads and excessive oiliness.

HAIR: Pitta hair tends to be flat and thin, often oily at the roots and frizzy or coarse at the ends. Additionally, early graying and hair loss can be common. The Pitta scalp is sensitive, and often prone to eczema or itches.

Balanced pitta: characterized by a rosy, often golden glow. Unbalanced pitta: sensitive and prone to breakouts.

To care for Pitta skin, follow these guidelines:

• Stay away from harsh, synthetic cosmetics; they can damage your sensitive skin and cause breakouts.
• Avoid hot, spicy foods and an excess of deep-fried foods; they add heat to an already fiery constitution.
• Eat lots of sweet, juicy fruits and have some Organic Rose Petal Spread in cool milk every day. The rose is considered cooling for mind, body and emotions.
• Use a cooling oil, such as the Soothing Herbal Massage Oil, for the daily massage.
• Cook with cooling spices such as fennel and licorice.
• Take extra care to protect your skin when you go out in the sun.
• Use gentle, natural skin care products for cleansing and moisturizing. The Maharishi Ayurveda Youthful Skin Cream is especially gentle, yet nourishing.

Caring for Kapha Skin

Kapha skin, because of its thickness and oiliness, is more prone to accumulate ama (toxins) under the skin. People with Kapha skin need to do detoxification on a regular basis — both internal detoxification and external detoxification to flush toxins from the skin.

Scrubbing the skin with gentle exfoliating clay such as bentonite clay can help external cleansing. Kapha skin types may also need to take herbal formulations to cleanse the skin from within.

Kapha : This particular skin type is characterized by predominant water and earth elements. It is cool, oily, and soft with a luminous complexion. Unlike vata skin types, individuals with kapha skin naturally develop wrinkles at a later stage of life. However, individuals with kapha skin are at risk of developing oily skin due to its enlarged pores, acne, pimples, blackheads, and waterretention.Kapha relates to fluid balance and the physical structure of the body (fat, tissues, and muscles). Kapha is calm and relaxed and can gain weight easily – when not in balance, their metabolism slows, resulting in sluggishness, lethargy and depression.

Kapha skin is smooth, unctuous and cool to the touch. They seldom get rashes or infections, but when out of balance can suffer from acne, blackheads and oiliness. Kaphas have lush, thick, healthy, wavy hair. The Kapha scalp is usually moist though slightly oilyattimes.

Balanced kapha: characterized by a soft, dewy complexion. Unbalanced kapha: excessively oily with enlarged pores.

Some suggestions for caring for Kapha skin:

• Avoid too many sweet foods or deep-fried foods, as they add to the oiliness in the skin.
• Exercise every day to improve circulation.
• A daily warm oil massage can also help circulation.
• Eat plenty of organic vegetables and fruits to help cleanse the body from within.
• Cleanse your skin twice every day; exfoliate with a mud-mask at least once a week.
• Cook with warming spices such as ginger and black pepper to stoke the digestive fire and inhibit the accumulation of ama inside the body.