Summer Skin Care: An Ayurvedic Way

By Super

Wednesday, October 5, 2011, 9:31

Being the mirror and the barometer of an individual's health, skin is the clue to one's Ayurvedic constitution. If the skin is not cared properly and neglected it suffers from premature aging and becomes dull and blemished. Summer is the season when skin is to be ignored no way. The simple but effective 'Ayurvedic home remedies help you to attain a clear, healthy and glowing complexion. Ayurveda mentions many simple natural ways to maintain a healthy and glowing skin.

According to ayurveda healthy skin is the result of overall health condition of individuals. Medically skin is a sensory organ that responds to reflexes and is a protective system that shields the entire living body. Apart from perceiving sensations such as cold, warm, heavy, light, rough, smooth, etc. skin is also an excretory agent for sweat.

Ayurveda philosophy is very simple "if you cannot eat it, do not put it on your skin. What is put on the skin should be filled with nourishment, naturally occurring vitamins and minerals safe enough to be taken internally."

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

homemade masks drink lot of water through the day, not only to replenish moisture lost to the 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 benefit. Choose cooling herbs and spices such as mint, cardamom and fennel.

Eat lot of fruits, vegetables and herbs, which supply the skin with essential nutrients and come with free-radical fighting antioxidant properties while they help keep your skin cool. Carrots, lettuce, summer squash such as zucchini, celery, asparagus and leafy greens are good vegetable choices. Sweet juicy fruits such as pears, grapes, watermelon and mangoes both nourish our skin faces a constant barrage of chemicals everyday from pollution to harsh chemically formulated products that strip the skin of its natural balance.

Milk is a cooling 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 balancing skin cleanser.

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.

When you feel stressed, angry or frustrated, your skin will show it over time as furrows and small lines and breakouts. Practice calming yoga poses or meditation to stay serene and help your body and mind manage stress. Use essential oils, such as rose, sandalwood and lavender to keep mind and heart balanced.

Keep your skin nourished with a 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.

Use some fruit or vegetable and blend with some yogurt, honey, oatmeal and lemon juice or rosewater and apply evenly to the face. Let stay for 15-20 minutes and then rinse off with lukewarm water. It will make the skin shining.

Eyes and feet should be given extra care everyday. Splash lots of cool water on your eyes. Soak some cotton pads in cool water or rose water and place them over closed eyes for 10 minutes.

Article Published On: Wednesday, October 5, 2011, 9:31 [IST]

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