Everybody wants a healthy and attractive skin. However, certain food habits, improper lifestyle, pollutants, hormonal changes, hereditary factors, etc. can affect the skin health and lead to many skin related problems like acne, dull complexion, dark spots, wrinkles, etc.
When people face skin issues, they resort to varieties of chemically formulated cosmetics, which yield more side effects than the desired results. The need to switch to safer cosmetic products leads them to try Ayurvedic products.
Ayurveda mentions many herbs which are cosmetically beneficial.
People with different body constitution will have different types of skin and complexions.
Some people naturally have dry and scaly skin. It causes skin irritation and itching. Cracking of the skin, wrinkles, dark circles are also some of the visible signs. As per Ayurveda, such skin type is influenced by Vata Dosha aggravation. Learn how to balance Vata dosha here.
Some people experience excess warmth and burning sensation on the skin. Due to excess heat, they have more acne and red colored skin rashes. As per Ayurveda, such a skin type is influenced by aggravated Pitta Dosha.
Learn how to balance Pitta dosha here.
Some people have excess oily skin often associated with itchiness. They usually get whiteheads and blackheads. Ayurveda explains such skin type as influenced by Kapha Dosha.
Learn more about it here.
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Pita Dosha can be attributed to excess wrinkles in the skin. Prominent traits of Pitta are hotness, slight unctuousness, and lightness. Excess of hotness of Pitta can cause lack of moisture in the skin leading to wrinkling of the skin.
Concept of face pack - lepa in Ayurveda
In Ayurveda, we can get references of many cosmetic formulations like face pack, classically called ‘Mukha lepa’. They are basically natural herbal formulations or pastes which improve the overall skin health. Usually, herbs are used in preparation of face packs, that are very mild, soothing, and cooling in nature.
How to prepare lepa:
Dry herbs should be taken in powdered form. Suitable binding agents like water, milk, oil, honey, juices of herbs, etc. should be added, to the paste.
Preparation of face pack to reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the skin:
Ingredients:
Take Aloe Vera leaf, scoop out the pulp, and crush it in a mortar and pestle. Add the dry powders of the rest of the ingredients. If fresh fruits of amla are available, you can add the de-seeded pulps afresh. Mix water and grind them together to prepare a semi solid paste. Next, add Kumkumadi tailam and continue grinding till the whole mass becomes a homogeneous paste.
If you have an excessive oily skin, you can add half a teaspoon of honey, instead of Kumkumadi tailam and grind.
Saffron
It improves skin tone, glow, and keeps the skin hydrated. It is indicated in freckles and melasma.
Turmeric
It is useful for a wide variety of skin diseases and allergic skin conditions. It is known to detoxify blood and skin.
Amla
It is rich in antioxidants, has anti-aging effects which improves skin health, helps treats acne, and reduce skin pigmentation. It helps in keeping the skin without wrinkles even during old age.
Licorice
It provides nourishment, quality, glow, and hydration to the skin. It is known to be a good blood detoxifier.
Manjistha – Rubia cordifolia
It is one of the most commonly used herbs in the Ayurvedic skincare treatment. It is a very good blood detoxifier, used to treat eczema, acne, oily skin, etc. It balances Pitta at the level of skin.
Khadira - Acacia catechu
Like Manjistha, it is also widely used in skincare treatment. It is useful in calming allergies, psoriasis, dermatitis, and is used in treating blood tissue related disorders.
Aloe vera -
It is useful in reducing the effect of skin disorders, has anti-aging effects, helps rejuvenate cells and tissues. Aloe vera keeps the skin well hydrated.
Kumkumadi Taila:
Kumkumadi taila is a famous Ayurvedic herbal oil which is very helpful in improving skin health. Main ingredient of this oil is Kumkuma or saffron, hence the name.
Main ingredients of this oil are - saffron, sesame oil, sandalwood, goat milk, Indian madder, stamens of lotus, lac, etc.
Benefits as per the classical Ayurvedic texts: Improves texture of the skin, reduces blemishes, acne, scar, wrinkles, has anti-aging action, improves complexion, and makes the skin beautiful. People with oily skin, especially persons with Kapha body constitution should use this oil carefully. Being an oil, it can increase the oiliness of the skin, if used in excessive quantity. So, it should be used in small quantities, not more than once a day.
Method of application:
Before applying, test the paste on your forearm by applying a small quantity. If you do not develop any rashes, then the face pack is safe for your skin.
If you develop any skin rashes (very rare), then avoid it and consult your doctor immediately.
The paste should be applied all over the face (except the eyes) in equal thickness. Thickness of the face pack applied should be 1/2 cm. Paste should be applied against the direction of hair follicles, in the upward direction. Once the paste gets dried (5-15 minutes), wash it off with water.
Do not wait till the paste completely dries up.
Purpose of face pack:
Face pack or mukha lepa is an external treatment, which has localized action of the herb. Face pack enables the active principles present in the herb to get absorbed into the skin.
Benefits of face pack:
Indications: Wrinkles, blemishes, acne, acne scar, freckles, hyper-pigmentation, melasma, reduced complexion, white and black heads, etc.
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