AYURVEDIC FACE TREATMENT-

Escape into the serene world of Ayurveda, where ancient wisdom meets modern skincare. Discover the bliss of a full Ayurvedic face treatment, tailored to harmonize your unique constitution and reveal radiant, glowing skin. Ayurveda beauty can be acquired by balancing your body and mind. Ayurvedic cosmetics including herbs, oils, minerals, etc can be used for enhancing your beauty. Following are the eight steps of full Ayurvedic face treatment- 

1. Cleansing  

2. Oleation or face massage  

3. Herbal steaming or compress   

4. Scrubbing   

5. Facial mask

6. Nourishing facial pack   

7. Toning  

8. Moisturizing

This complete treatment can be done weekly or at least twice a month. However, cleansing, toning, and moisturizing can be done daily. Even though you are using Ayurvedic cosmetics, it is always good to test these on a small area for their sensitivity.

1. CLEANSING

Before starting any face treatments it is good to keep the hair away from the face by covering it with a towel. Then wipe away the makeup or dirt present on the face and neck with the help of cotton dipped in sesame or almond oil. Initial cleansing removes this sticky later as well. The eyes are always covered with a thin slice of cucumber or potato throughout the treatment.

  In the next step, a Cleansing mask is prepared. The herbs used are as follows:  

1. For Vata skin  Mix turmeric powder (1 tablespoon) with milk or cream of milk.  
2. For Pitha skin  Mix turmeric powder (1 tablespoon) with yogurt or rose water.
3. For Kapha skin, turmeric powder (1 tablespoon) is mixed with lemon juice or honey. Neem and Manjista are the other herbs, which can be mixed along with turmeric in cases of skin problems.

 MODE OF APPLICATION-

Apply this paste thinly over the face and neck with the help of a soft brush. This is like a fine scrub. Avoid the area around the eyes. Never use soap for the face because it removes the protective covering of the skin and its natural oil. Don’t allow this paste to become too dry. So leave it for around 3 – 5 minutes and remove it with the help of a sponge.   Gooseberry or Triphala water can be used for washing the face.  

Benefits–

• This will help to remove the impurities or dirt deposited on the face.  
• Leave the skin surface fresh, clean, and ready to receive a massage.   
• Turmeric powder is also a natural antiseptic and antibacterial herb. So this is also very good for curing infections.  
• Reduces pigmentations and lightens facial hairs.

2. OLEATION OR FACE MASSAGE-

   The face massage can be done with oils like Sesame oil or Ksheerabala oil (plain as well as 101 times concentrated), Kumkumadi lepa, or Kumkumadi oil.  

3. HERBAL STEAMING OR COMPRESS  

For preparing the herbal steam mix half a cup of milk with 4 cups of water and add either leaves of castor or Bala root (in cases of Vata aggravation); sandalwood powder or mint leaves (in Pitha aggravation) and eucalyptus leaves or oil, lemongrass oil, etc (in Kapha type of skin). Boil the required mixture and the steam is applied over the face.   

MODE OF APPLICATION-

  Care should be taken to protect the eyes from excess heat because the eyes have the place of the Fire element. So they get heated up very quickly compared to the rest of the body. Herbal steaming can be done once a week for a healthy person. In cases of dry or sensitive skin, steam only once in two weeks. The time taken for sweating also will vary according to the dominant dosha. The average timings can vary from 5 – 10 minutes.

BENEFITS–

• Firstly, steaming deeply cleanses the skin.  

• Secondly, it reduces muscle tension, and pain and clears the mind.  

• Thirdly, moistening the skin’s dry outer layer makes them easy to remove.

• Fourthly, skin becomes fresh, and soft, with a good complexion.  

• Subsequently, the heat of the steam increases circulation, activates the pores and glands, and helps remove toxins from the skin’s deeper layers.

• All in all it is very beneficial for acne or congested skin.  

• Lastly heat also helps in easy absorption.  

• Thus it helps to reduce the Vata and Kapha dosha.  

• Furthermore, it makes the face fresh, soft, bright and warm.    

4. SCRUBBING –

  Combinations of herbs, which are mild and unabrasive, are used as scrubs.  

1. For Vata skin -Chickpea flour- 1 teaspoon and almond powder – 1 teaspoon, These powders are mixed with milk and applied for the face.  
2. For Pitha skin -Green gram powder – 1 teaspoon – and Oats powder -1 teaspoon, These powders are mixed with rose water and applied to the face.  
3. For Kapha skin –  Rice powder – 1 teaspoon and  Corn flour – 1 teaspoon, Add honey or lemon juice to make a paste.

INGREDIENTS-

Allow the mixture to stay for 3-5 minutes and then gently rub the mixture on the face in small circles. If the scrub is very dry wet it with water before rubbing it all over the face. Then rinse the face with water. Wipe the face with a towel.

BENEFITS-

• Firstly, it cleans the face by removing dirt and dead skin.

• Secondly, remove blackheads and whiteheads.

• As well as cleanses and opens the blocked pores.

• Eventually it also stimulate circulation.

• By providing luster for the skin.

5. FACIAL MASK-

  Herbs are good for nourishing the skin or curing skin problems and can be taken according to the situation and applied thickly over the face. Clay can be used as a base for the herbal mask because it acts like a magnet for the dirt and toxins accumulated deep in the skin. It is also a rich source of minerals, which are needed for getting healthy skin.

1. For Vata skin -Fuller’s Clay – 1 teaspoon, Ashwagandha powder 1 teaspoon, Almond powder ½ teaspoon, Bala powder 1 teaspoon, Red sandalwood powder – ½ teaspoon, Mix these with 1 teaspoon of egg white or ksheerabala and milk.
2. For Pitha skin -Fuller’s Clay – 1 teaspoon, Vetiver powder-1 teaspoon, White sandalwood powder – 1/2 teaspoon, Sarsaparilla powder- 1 teaspoon, Add 1 teaspoon of egg white / ksheerabala oil to this combination and make a paste with rose water or Aloe vera juice.
3. For Kapha skin or oily skin – Fuller’s Clay 1 teaspoon, Barley powder-1 teaspoon, Ashwagandha powder -1 teaspoon, Powdered orange peel or Neem powder – 1/2 teaspoon, Add 1 teaspoon of egg white / ksheerabala oil to this combination and make a paste with lemon juice or honey.

BLEMISHES –

Eladi powder (CARDAMOM POWDER)

• It is also another medicine, which can be used for skin blemishes and infections by mixing it with yogurt and used for the face.
• In cases of pimples along with the base herbs mustard seeds, pepper powder, turmeric powder, etc can be added.

MODE OF APPLICATION-

1. A facemask is applied along the direction of the hairs.
2. This will help in the easy penetration of the herbs into the skin.   
3. The mask should not be used at night. At night the body temperature is going out of the body and so it will be situated near the hair follicles. Hence if the pack is applied at night this heat will be obstructed.
4. Allow the mask to remain on the face for 15-20 minutes so that it can be dry.
5. This will help to tighten the muscles of the face as well as the herbs will get sufficient time to act on the skin.   
6. When the pack becomes dry, make it wet by applying water and then gently remove it from the face.
7. Never remove it from the face when it is still dry.

Benefits-

• Helps to extract dirt or toxins from the deeper layers of the skin.
• Helps in removing blackheads, whiteheads, pimples acne, etc, thereby helping to clean the blocked pores.
• Removes scars and improves skin color.
• Nourishes and rejuvenates the tissues of the face by stimulating the deep layers of the skin.
• Soothes and moisturizes the skin.

6. FACIAL PACK

Face packs are a softer and more porous type of facemasks. They have similar benefits as facemasks. But these packs can be left longer as they allow the skin to breathe more and are gentler than the masks. Face packs are prepared with different types of fruits and vegetables, which are mashed and cooled. Since they are difficult to stick on the face a thin layer of porous cotton cloth, which is wet, is spread over the face providing sufficient space for breathing. Along with the mashed fruits or vegetables clay or oat flour can be added to make the mixture thick. Cucumber can be used for all skin types.

• In cases of dry skin banana, papaya, or avocado pulp can be used. Lemon, tomato, grape, or cabbage can be used for oily skin.
• The face pack also acts as a toner.
• So the next step can be avoided. Or if the face pack is not done you can put the toner directly after the facial mask.
• Both masks and packs are removed with cold water.

7. TONING

1. A good toner is one, which refreshes the skin as well as removes the residue of all previous treatments.
2. It should be free from alcohol also.
3. So natural products like rose water (for all skin types), tulsi (Holy basil) water, lemon water (for oil or kapha skin),
4. Juice of Aloe vera (for dry or vata skin).
5. mint water or fennel water (for Pitha skin type).
6. This can be applied with a piece of cotton.

Benefits-

• It removes the residue of the previous procedures.

• Refreshes and cools the skin.

• Therefore, closes the pores, which are opened during the Steaming procedure.

• Hence, tones the skin.

8. MOISTURIZING

1. This step helps to maintain the moisture of the skin making the skin soft, smooth, and silky.
2. This layer also prevents the skin from direct contact with the cosmetics.
3. For normal skin Aloe vera gel can be mixed with rose water can be applied on the skin.
4. A few drops of oil or butter can be used for dry skin.

As you embark on this transformative journey, remember that true beauty radiates from within. Ayurvedic face care is more than a ritual – it's a celebration of self-love, self-care, and harmony with nature. Glow with vibrant health, and shine with inner light.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW- https://yogvedalife.com/ayurvedic-perspective-of-eye-care/

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