Ayurveda: Natural Summer Skin Care

Summer is almost here, and you can’t wait to plunge into the pool or head for the beach. But before you rush out to sample the joys of summertime, make sure you’re following a diet and routine that will help keep Pitta dosha in balance.

According to Ayurveda, every individual is a unique combination of the three doshas, or psycho-physiological principles: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Vata is mainly air and space; Pitta, fire and water; and Kapha, water and earth. These doshas also govern the seasons of the year, with Pitta, the fire element, ruling the hot summer months. During the summer, even if you don’t have a lot of Pitta in your make-up, you may find that you need to take steps to placate Pitta to stay healthy and balanced. This applies not only to your overall health, but to skin and hair health as well.

Keep Your Skin Beautiful All Summer Long

Here are some suggestions to keep your skin looking beautiful all summer long:

• Hydrate frequently: Drink plenty of water throughout the day, not only to replenish moisture lost to heat and sweat, but also to help flush toxins out of the body and keep skin looking clear and lustrous. Herb or spice teas, made with skin-enhancing ingredients, offer added therapeutic benefits. To balance Pitta, choose cooling herbs and spices such as mint, cardamom, and fennel. Stay away from iced beverages, as they can hinder digestion and create toxins leading to skin breakouts.

• Eat Pitta-balancing foods: Choose fruits, vegetables, and herbs that supply the skin with essential nutrients and come with free-radical fighting antioxidant properties, all while helping keep your skin cool. Carrots, lettuce, summer squash (like zucchini), celery, asparagus, and leafy greens are good vegetable choices. Sweet, juicy fruits such as pears, grapes, and mangoes both nourish and cleanse. Fresh ginger, cilantro, mint, and basil add flavor and aromas to dishes without aggravating Pitta dosha.

• Mind your tastes: The sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes balance Pitta, while the sour, pungent, and salty tastes aggravate it. Go easy on spicy or sour foods, especially if you plan to enjoy the sun for the day, to keep your skin from breaking out or getting inflamed.

• Drink milk: Milk is a cooling, Pitta-pacifying beverage that also supplies nutrients to your skin and helps to keep it from drying out. Drink a cup of milk every day, and also combine milk with ingredients like almond meal and rose water to make a Pitta-balancing skin cleanser.

• Get quality rest: Get plenty of quality rest each night. Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and comfortable, and sleep on cotton or linen sheets. Get to bed early and awaken early for clear, healthy skin and sparkling eyes.

• Manage stress: Pitta dosha governs the heart and emotions. When you feel stressed, angry, or frustrated, your skin will show it over time as furrows, small lines, and breakouts. Practice calming yoga poses or meditation to stay serene and help your body and mind manage stress. Diffuse Pitta-balancing essential oils, such as rose, sandalwood, and lavender, to keep mind and heart balanced. Walk on the beach or through a cool, shady garden.

• Cleanse diligently: The sun can increase sebum production, causing your skin to look oily on occasion. When oil combines with dirt and sweat, pores get clogged. Be meticulous about your cleansing routine, morning and night. Use a non-soap-based, gentle cleanser that will deep cleanse without drying out the skin. A good cleansing mix for dry/normal skin can be made with almond meal, oatmeal, milk, and rosewater. For oily skin, try chickpea flour (found in Indian grocery stores) or oatmeal with yogurt and a little lemon and neem powder. If you use a toner, look for one without alcohol.

• Nourish your skin: Keep your skin nourished with an herbal moisturizer. Look for Ayurvedic formulations that contain skin-friendly herbs such as sandalwood, turmeric, brahmi, amla, and aloe vera. At least once a week, treat yourself to a fruit or vegetable mask appropriate for your skin type. Cucumbers, avocados, apricots, and papayas lend themselves well to homemade masks. Puree the fruit or vegetable and blend with some yogurt, honey, oatmeal, and lemon juice (for oily skin) or rosewater (for dry skin), then apply evenly to the face. Let it stay for 15-20 minutes and then rinse off with lukewarm water.

• Practice sun protection: Do not go out during the hottest parts of the day, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you exercise outdoors, do it early in the morning. Wear sunscreen, lip protection, sunglasses, and a broad-brimmed hat when you go out—exposure to the sun can age skin very rapidly. A thin mixture of red sandalwood powder and rosewater applied to your skin 2-3 times a week can help it become more resilient. Take an aromatherapy floral water or hydrosol along for the day to stay refreshed.

• Care for eyes and feet: Eyes and feet could use extra TLC. Each evening, splash lots of cool water on your eyes. When you can, soak some cotton pads in cool water or rose water and place them over closed eyes for 10 minutes. Keep your feet clean and cool. Wear sandals when you can to let feet breathe and stay odor-free.

Disclaimer: The above article is educational in nature, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult your physician.

The Author:

Shreelata Suresh is a yoga instructor and writer from the Bay Area. She writes for various publications on yoga and Ayurveda.

Photo. Engin Akyurt