Keeping skin beautiful may be easier than you think. Learn how your dosha affects your skin and the basics behind the Indian practice of Ayurvedic skincare.

We talk a lot about solving skin issues like breakouts, dryness, and irritation. What if there was a way to stop these problems before they occur? Like prevention of disease, heading off skin trouble is a possibility too.

With Ayurveda, India’s holistic medicine system, the idea is to keep the body and mind healthy, preventing health issues before they are a real problem. The life science takes an individual’s dosha into account and prescribes a lifestyle around it. This is thought to maintain balance, warding off discomfort and potential disease.

What’s good for the body/mind has to work for skin too, right? Right! Ayurveda can be used in supporting skin health and beauty, as well. Identifying your predominant dosha is the first step to not only supporting your skin, but really getting to know your complexion.

The three doshas –vata, pitta, kapha—hold certain physical, mental, and emotional attributes. This, of course, includes aspects of the complexion. Let’s take a look.

The Dosha Skin Types and Ayurvedic Skincare Products

Vata dosha: This skin type tends toward dryness and is usually thin with smaller pores. Vata skin types experience less acne than the other two doshas, but when they do get a zit it is usually dry and small, occurring mostly on the forehead. Common imbalances are premature aging, excessive dryness, and wrinkles. To keep Vata skin balanced, be sure skin receives adequate moisture. Oil serums are good for maintaining hydration in Vata skin. Use cream cleansers for dry skin, to avoid disrupting pH balance, and exfoliate gently. Battling congestion? Be sure you are getting enough water to keep digestion flowing.

Products for Vata Skin: Cleanse, exfoliate, and brighten skin with Kahina Giving Beauty Facial Cleanser, made with healthy oils to clean without stripping. RMS Beauty Oil is the best at helping skin hold in moisture and even skin tone. A bit of turmeric lends a natural glow. To give the complexion instant softness, smoothness, and help clear pores use Wedderspoon 100% Raw Organic Manuka Honey Active 16+ as a facial mask.

Pitta dosha: Like the fiery personality of a true Pitta, this dosha skin type is usually sensitive or combination, with pale or pink tone. Congestion and acne show up in the T-zone and are of the red, inflamed variety. Common imbalances are acne, redness, inflammation, irritation, and rosacea. Calming ingredients are ideal for Pitta skin. When battling breakouts, steer clear of harsh or drying ingredients. Dried out skin will only rebel by producing even more pimples. Moisturizing treatments with aloe or other mild hydrators are perfect for balancing this skin type.

Products for Pitta Skin: Keep delicate skin calm and happy with Dr. Alkaitis Organic Herbal Toner, made with soothing chamomile. Rosehip oil is anti-inflammatory and lightly moisturizing, but gentle enough for sensitive skin. Try Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream. To gently exfoliate without causing irritation use Pai Kukui & Jojoba Skin Brightening Exfoliator.

Kapha dosha: Like their personality, Kapha skin is cool, smooth, and even. It is also more oily and has larger pores. Kapha skin is soft and usually sees fewer wrinkles than the other doshas. Cystic acne is Kapha and crops up mostly around the mouth. Common imbalances are excessive oiliness, blackheads, and cystic acne. Pore clearing, lightly hydrating ingredients are best for this skin type. Remember, even oily skin needs adequate moisture. Light plant oils are ideal.

Products for Kapha Skin: To cleanse skin and keep pores clear, try Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser. Apple juice and sugar cane provide exfoliation, while willow bark extract stops blemishes in their tracks. Follow up with Juice Beauty Oil-free Moisturizer to keep skin clear and healthy. When zits crop up, blast ‘em with Juice Beauty Blemish Be Gone.

Still not clear on which dosha skin type you fall under? Take Dr. Pratima Raichur’s skin analysis quiz.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Images: Top image of woman framing face with hands, vata skin type, pitta skin type, kapha skin type via Shutterstock. 

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Do you feel in constant battle with acne or wrinkles? Always working to diminish their appearance or prevent them from recurring? You may be missing the message. Face mapping can tell you a lot about your inner health.

We sometimes forget that skin is more than just a pretty cover that we try to keep looking its best. The skin is an organ, the only one we can see when we look in the mirror, and tells us a lot about our inner health. We just have to slow down and notice the subtle cues.

Ayurveda has always been about reading facial cues to uncover health disturbances. No, not a smirk or grimace. More like those pimples or wrinkles we spend so much time fretting over.

Before you go about banishing imperfections, find out how your breakouts and lines correspond to physical and emotional health. Do you tend to get pimples on your forehead? Have more prominent lines around your eyes? Redness on the chin? These all point to imbalances you cannot so easily see.

Why even worry about it when we can simply make a doctor appointment for blood tests or scans? Paying attention to early signs can help to get your system back on track before real disease sets in. Ayurveda acknowledges six phases for disease to become established in the body. Taking note of issues and altering your lifestyle before they are a big deal can prevent worsening health in the future.

So, you are ready to take action now. How do you know what your zits and wrinkles are saying?

The three doshas correspond to different regions of the face – forehead = Vata, chin and jawline = Kapha, the middle = Pitta. First step, notice which dosha your issues are in. Imbalanced vata skin tends to see clogged pores, dry skin, and wrinkles. Pitta imbalance shows up as redness or inflammation. Kapha usually looks like cystic acne or excessive oiliness.

Balancing the dosha that seems to be troubled is the first step toward healthier skin and system. But face mapping goes much deeper than this. Each region has specific spots that connect to internal organs and emotional states.

Face Mapping Basics

Above Brows: Blemishes above the brows relate to gallbladder and liver, suggesting the system needs a detox. Wrinkles on the forehead are called worry lines but can also tell of a diet too high in unhealthy fats and sugar. A diet void of processed foods and destressing with meditation will help these issues.

Between Brows: Blemishes between the brows signifies insufficient sleep or a diet too high in unhealthy fats. Creases in this area are connected to liver (right side) and spleen (left side). It may also mean repressed anger.

Dark Undereye Circles: Racoon eyes relate to poor circulation, while puffiness can mean impaired kidney function. Be sure you are getting enough water, regular exercise, and adequate sleep. Crow’s feet come from squinting and smiling, plain and simple. Wear sunglasses when outdoors to protect this delicate area. It is also important to note that dark circles can coincide with allergies, either seasonal or food related.

Nose: Connected to the lungs and heart, breakouts and redness in this area may mean internal inflammation. A diet rich in essential fatty acids and keeping caffeine and spicy foods to a minimum should help. Vitamin B can help to prevent breakouts and it may be a good idea to have your blood pressure checked if you experience pimples or broken blood vessels of the nose regularly.

Cheeks: Breakouts and irritation here could mean liver (left cheek) or lung (right cheek) issues. Chinese medicine suggests too much sugar is related to right cheek issues, while spicy foods and being overworked correspond to the left cheek. Problems on either side may also mean slow metabolism. Of course, we can’t forget that cheeks come into contact with grease and dirt from our hands, phones, and pillow cases too. Remember how Mom always told you to keep your hands off your face? Mom really does know best. Keeping this area clean will help to prevent blemishes.

Mouth: Blemishes around the mouth and on chin are usually related to hormones. Overly processed foods and lots of sugar can also cause zits here. Organs linked to this area are intestines and colon. If this seems to be your problem area, cut back on the junk and sweets in favor of a healthy, whole food diet rich in fiber. And, of course, reduced stress is beneficial too. Deep lines on the sides of the mouth can mean reproductive or pancreatic issues. Problems in this region can also be related to a closed mind or outdated opinions.

This is a lot to take in and you certainly should not try to diagnose any serious health issues yourself. If you are having persistent breakouts or are wondering why you have wrinkles one place and not another, these tips can set you in the right direction.

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Image of woman looking in mirror via Shutterstock

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