Ayurvedic Tips for Summer Skin Care

Summer is 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 are 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 do not 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 goes not only for your overall health but skin and hair health as well.

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

1. Drink lots 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. To balance Pitta, choose cooling herbs and spices such as mint, cardamom and fennel. Stay away from iced beverages because they hinder digestion and can create toxins leading to skin breakouts.

2. Eat Pitta-balancing 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 and cleanse. Fresh ginger, cilantro, mint and basil add flavor and aromas to dishes without aggravating Pitta dosha.

3. 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 go out and enjoy the sun for the day, to keep your skin from breaking out or getting inflamed.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Pitta dosha governs the heart and emotions. 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. 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.

7. The sun can increase sebum production, causing your skin to look oily on occasion. When the 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.

8. 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) and apply evenly to the face. Let stay for 15-20 minutes and then rinse off with lukewarm water.

9. 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.

10. Eyes and feet could do with 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.

Can Antioxidants Improve Skin Care?

For most issues related to teenagers, fads rule the roost. And skin care issues are highest among teenagers. Today any medium, be it magazines, newspapers, television or the Internet are inundated with skin care related articles. These articles could include various therapies and homemade solutions for skin care. Ranging from the totally natural to those which involve chemicals, these articles provide the reader with the much needed solutions to their skin related problems.

These days, the latest craze in skin care regimes is natural antioxidant skin care. The belief that is being popularized these days is that the more natural the product being used the more effective and devoid of side effects it will be. This concept has a strong historical background since it is a known fact that queens and princesses of the ages gone by used natural extracts of plants like hibiscus and olive to keep their skin glowing and youthful. Over time, man has processed these very elements and made them available to the common man in the form of tubes, bottles and cans containing moisturizers, creams, shampoos and anti-aging gels. These contain the richness of the abundant health secrets hidden in the flora and fauna of the jungles. The only difference is that they are more likely to have been processed in a research laboratory and tested before being presented to you for use.

These distilled ingredients used to a healthy body are being called nutriceuticals at large. This new addition to the dictionary is made up of the words 'nutrients' and 'pharmaceutical'.

Most companies which make skin care related products tout the goodness of antioxidants and natural products that contain antioxidants. An antioxidant is something that destroys the harmful oxygen free radicals. These free radicals could be a product of normal functioning of the body or could be generated due to external factors like ultraviolet rays from the sun.

Though the concept of free radicals is extremely complicated to explain, suffice it to know that these radicals can be harmful and can result in mutation in genes. Mutation can lead to skin cancer and make the individual incapable of repairing the damage done to the skin. With antioxidants we can limit the number of free radicals in our system, thereby ensuring that we not only keep our skin supple and glowing but also healthy. This wonderful discovery of how antioxidants can work to negate the effect of free radicals had led to fantastic products which can help in tackling issues related to ageing skin. Problems like wrinkles, spots, pigmentation and small growths can be resolved with increasing the amount of antioxidants in your diet and oral application of antioxidant concentrates.

Tomato - Very Useful For Skin Care

It is an important vegetable which has many health benefits due to the presence of anti-oxidants. These anti-oxidants give tomato the radiant red color. The calorie content in tomato is very less making it a favorite among many people. It also contains fiber, vitamin C, E, K, B1, B6, B3, B2, iron, manganese, potassium as well as carotenes and many more to help you in every manner.

Tomato Skin Care Recipes

Tomatoes are of great help for your skin. If you happen to go in the sun and in that span of time you get tanned, there is an easy solution. Prepare cucumber and tomato juice mixture to be applied on the affected areas of your skin. Keep it for 10 minutes; later wash it off with clean water. You will notice the difference.

Anyone can have skin rashes and the main reason for these rashes is silicon deficiency. This problem is overcome by having good amounts of sprouts, tomatoes and other vegetables and fruits.

Make a mixture of honey and tomato juice to be applied on your face and neck. Wash it off after 15 minutes and within minutes you would see a glowing face in front of the mirror.

Another recipe for glowing skin is the mixture of 2 tsp tomato juice and 4 tsp curd. Apply it well on your skin and wash it in 15 minutes to see the difference.

This recipe is for all those people who have oily skins, open pores and blackheads. Tomato has a acidic trait which also contains potassium and vitamin C which helps in cleansing the face. Rub a sliced piece of tomato on your skin and leave it for fifteen minutes. This would help the pores. Later wash it off with water.

For a good complexion spread the pulp of tomato on your face daily. Keep it for 1 hour and then wash it off with warm water. If done regularly the results will be seen.

The tomato lotion helps in shrinking the enlarged pores and this can be made by using tomato juice mixed with 2 or 3 drops of lime juice. Apply this solution on your face and then wash it off for 15 minutes.

A great recipe to remove sunburn can be made by adding 2 tsp tomato juice in 4 tbsp of buttermilk. Apply it all over your skin. Wash it off after keeping it for 1/2 hour.

You can easily make a homemade cleanser by using tomato and milk. Use tomato juice by straining the pulp and mix it with equal parts of milk. Store this in a bottle which can be refrigerated to be used everyday. Apply this on your face and neck by using your fingertips. Keep it for 10 minutes and later wash it with cold water.

Banana - A Skin Care Product To Reckon With

Bananas are one of most high calorie fruits one can find in the market. It has some of the best uses you can think of when it comes to skin care. As bananas are so common in many of the countries it is not that hard to use it as a beauty product. It has become an essential part of our life with respect to the benefits it provides us.

Banana is a good source of fiber, potassium and Vitamin C; these are very good for our skin. It has helped in curing some of the most fatal diseases like heart disease, problems with kidney stones and a type of cancer. It also helps in strengthening your muscles and maintains the blood pressure level. Having a banana a day would help you immensely as it contains eight amino acids which our body cannot produce on its own.

You can also find good amount of magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, iodine as well as Vitamins like A, B (folic acid), E and F. These are very good for your body and can do great wonders. It is a treasure chest with other nutrients like vitamin B6, fiber, minerals which are great source of energy. This fruit helps women who have PMS problems as it contain a good amount of serotonin. It can be said as one of the nutritious product for new born babies as it is easily digested.

Some useful Recipes for your Skin

Mash 1 small banana; add 2 tbsp of fresh cream, 1 tbsp of honey and 1 tbsp oat flour. Mix it well till you get the consistency similar to that of yoghurt.

Apply this decoction on your face and keep it for 30 minutes or so. Rinse it with water and dab rose hydrosol and letting your face dry. This Wrinkle Free Mask will nourish your face, avoid early ageing and prevent untimely formation of wrinkles.

Skin Glowing Facial Mask would help in creating a radiant look for you. For this you would be needing 1/2 ripe banana, 2 tbsp. ground oats, Pinch of Nutmeg, 2 tbsp. Whole wheat flour, if need be fresh milk or cream.

Preparation: Add all the ingredients and whip them well. To get the right consistency of a soft and smooth paste, keep adding the cream..

Apply this mixture on your face for 5-10 minutes and rinse it thoroughly. Pat it dry. All the ingredients used in this facial mask have separate value and these nutrients help you with a glowing face.

Watermelon, An Ingredient For Skin Care

Watermelon can be called more than a thirst quencher. With so many benefits lined up in its name it is not coincidence that it is stated as one of the favorite fruits for many people. It has been used in many forms such as fresh juices, smoothies, as well as pickles depending on your taste. As it is rich in fat and protein it is widely used as a favorite snack.

Watermelon servings per day would help you in the long run. It helps you with conditions like asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer and arthritis. It has nature's best source of antioxidants. These antioxidants help in neutralizing the free radicals in the body. Free radicals can cause lot of damage to your body.

Watermelon is very useful for removing blemishes on the skin. It was termed to be one of the treasured gifts of Native American. Rich in A, B and C vitamins keeps the skin fresh, radiant and hydrated. The acids in the fruits act as exfoliates.

Watermelon seed oil is also beneficial for your body. The presence of omega 6 and omega 9 essential fatty acids helps the skin immensely. This oil has a very good absorption level which readily penetrates the skin and dissolves the sebum buildup.

It proves to be a good for skin care, due to its moisturizing properties. The non-greasy oil helps to smooth your skin by refurbishing the elasticity of the skin. It is widely used as massage oil, baby oil, facials, face creams, salt scrubs, shower bath as well as hair oil.

Some Beautifying Recipes

Watermelon Toner

You would require 1 cup watermelon pieces, 2 tbsp. witch hazel (a shrub), and 2 tbsp. water.

Preparation: Blend the watermelon pieces in a blender. Strain the liquid. Add witch hazel and water in the blended juice. Dab this juice on your face using a cotton ball. This mixture is rich in sugar and vitamins like A and B. The strong astringent properties and water content gets you a fresh and clean face.

Works as a Exfoliate

Mash a cup of watermelon chunks and then apply this paste on your face. Find a place to relax for 10 minutes. Rinse it later. It is a process of natural facelift helping in cleansing and tightening the skin.

For Dry Skin

Mash a cup of watermelon chunks mixed with a banana. Banana acts like a binding agent enhancing the effect of the watermelon.

For Oily Skin

Yogurt and watermelon are a great combination for oily skin. By applying this mixture on your face, it assists in the process of exfoliation. The lactic acid in the yogurt does wonders on your skin.

Natural Skin Care For Cracked Skin

When you suffer eczema or psoriasis, your skin cracks, thus presenting you with painful slits or fissures. They cause agony even while doing simple movements. Your skin cracks and can give you a terrible pain. Hands and feet are the most vulnerable spots for this problem. But other spots like mouth, lips, cheeks etc. too can be affected. Usually the areas between toes and on the heels are affected. These fissures, if neglected can cause infection. Generally, women who wear open-backed heels and slides are affected.

Treatment for the cracked skin:

• Soak yourself: the best treatment for the dry skin is to have a good bath every night before going to sleep. This enables your skin cells to absorb water, since these cells are like sponge. You can also soak the affected body part for about 20 minutes in the warm water and then pat dry.
• Apply petroleum products: once you are through with your bath, apply a coating of petroleum jelly product. Then put on a pair of socks for your feet or a pair of light cotton gloves for hands to seal the moisture. These petroleum products work far better than the commercial moisturizers, since they do not have the same sealing effects.
• Stick the cracks: you can apply a glue to ease the pain caused by the fissures. This takes the air out of the nerve endings and thus sticks the slits. This procedure is completely safe for slits and minor cuts. However, avoid using this method on the deep wounds.
• Avoid tartar toothpaste: if you suffer from cracked lips, minimize your usage of tartar toothpaste. This toothpaste contains compounds that irritate the mucuous membranes and other sensitive tissues. These toothpastes leave the skin cracked and cause a rash which itches around the mouth.


Following some of the above mentioned steps can help you in preventing/curing cracked skin.

Aloe Vera Skin Care

1. Silky Aloe Vera Skin Care Body Lotion

1 cup Aloe Vera gel 1-teaspoon lanolin 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil 1/3-cup coconut oil 1/2 to 3/4 ounce beeswax 3/4 cup almond oil 1 ½ teaspoons essential oil Use a blender (or food processor) to mix the Aloe Vera gel, lanolin, & vitamin E oil. Microwave coconut oil & beeswax in a glass container on high 30 seconds, and stir. Repeat heating in 10-second blocks until fully melted. Stir in almond oil, reheating if necessary. Run blender or processor at low to medium speed, and then pour in melted oils in thin stream. As the oil is blended in, the cream will turn white and blender's motor will start to grind. As soon as melted oils are added and you've achieved mayonnaise-like consistency, stop the blender; add essential oil and pulse-blend. Do not over blend. Transfer cream to glass jars while still warm - the lotion will thicken quickly. This lotion really absorbs well and leaves no residue on skin. This recipe makes two cups.

2. Oats & Aloe Vera Exfoliant for your skin

1 tablespoon finely ground oats 1 tablespoon finely ground almonds 1-teaspoon honey 1-tablespoon Aloe Vera gel Combine ingredients in a bowl and stir until well mixed. Apply to face and neck skin after cleansing and before toner is applied, using gentle circular motions. Rinse well with warm water and gently pat excess moisture from face. Follow with facial mask.

3. Aloe Vera Face Mask for Healing and Soothing

(Great for sensitive and dry skin, especially after sun bathing) Ingredients: -3 TBS pure and certified organic aloe Vera juice -1 drop Helycrisum essential oil -1 drop Rose essential oil Combine all ingredients and apply mixture evenly on face and neck. Leave it on for at least 7 minutes and rinse with warm water. Pat dry, and apply the following "healing and soothing" aromatic blend, prepared in advance in a 10-ml bottle filled with vegetable oil: -1 drop Neroli essential oil -3 drops Lavender essential oil

4. Aloe Vera Skin Toner

Soak a cotton pad with pure aloe Vera gel and use it to freshen your skin and remove excess oil. Use daily, following with moisturizer. This is especially good for normal and oily skin and is a great overall toner. Dilute the gel 50/50 with spring water if you have sensitive skin. You can also use the juice of a leaf from your aloe plant. Cut off the amount you are going to use, and put the remainder of the leaf in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. The leaf will keep for about 3 days.

5. Floral Aloe Vera Gel

1/2 cup Aloe Vera gel (available in most natural food stores) 1 tbsp. dried lavender flowers or 3 tbsp. fresh. 1 tbsp. dried calendula flowers or 3 tbsp. fresh. 1. Mix together the aloe Vera gel with the lavender and Calendula flowers in an ovenproof glass container, then heat the container gently by sitting it in a hot water bath on the stovetop. 2. Let the mixture cool completely, and then pour it through a clean, fine strainer (to remove all of the solids) into a clean container.

6. Exfoliating Foot Mask

1/2-cup oatmeal 1/2-cup cornmeal 1/2-cup coarse salt 1/2 cup unscented body lotion 4 tablespoons Aloe Vera gel in a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Slide feet into mixture and rub, beginning at toes, working up to heel and ankle. Do one foot at a time, rinsing in a separate bowl of warm water.

7. Exfoliating Aloe Vera Face Mask

4 Tbsp. Pumpkin puree 1 Tbsp. Honey 4 tsp. Cornmeal 2 tsp. Aloe Vera gel 2 tsp. Pineapple, diced 1 tsp. Green tea 1/2 tsp. Sunflower oil 6 drops frankincense essential oil (optional) 4 drops cinnamon extract (optional) Directions Steep green tea in boiling water. Set aside to cool. In blender or food processor puree pineapple and place in medium-sized mixing bowl. Add pumpkin, honey and aloe. Mix well. Stir in sunflower oil, green tea and cornmeal. Discard the remaining green tea. Add frankincense and cinnamon. Stir. Apply small amount of pumpkin mask to cheeks, forehead, chin and neck. Massage in circular motions gently buffing skin. Repeat. Apply more product as needed. Leave a thin layer of pumpkin mask on face and neck for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with tepid or cool water and pat dry with soft towel. Follow with appropriate moisturizer. Store remaining mask covered in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Benefits: Pumpkin enzymes dissolve dead skin cells while the cornmeal sweeps them clean. Honey has antimicrobial properties as well as moisturizes and softens. The result is a beautiful glowing complexion. Use this mask as often as you like.