“Winter is Coming”… With a nod towards Game of Thrones, for most of us, Winter is indeed coming, bringing with it lower temperatures outdoors, and drying indoor heat. Whether you are traveling to colder climates during the holidays or you live in a part of the country with extreme temperatures, the vata season can bring about dry, parched and even chapped skin for most of us – and unfortunately these conditions accelerate the process of premature skin aging!

Here we’ll discuss how to keep vata in sync while balancing  kapha and pitta  doshas.. Not familiar with Ayurvedic Skin Care?  No worries.. Take our Dosha Quiz  here.  But in simple terms Ayurveda is all about balance, since when we are in balance our health and beauty are optimized!

How the Fall brings about Skin Imbalance

‘Fall’ in Ayurveda is known as the Vata season (element – wind). Vata has the properties of being ‘cold’ and ‘dry’.  Thus the Ayurvedic approach is to counteract and balance Vata by introducing natural elements which are ‘warm’ and ‘moisture-rich’. Protecting your skin from harsh environments such as cold temperatures, alternating with dehydrating indoor heat means replenishing the protective natural oil barriers, which will nourish your skin, keep skin pH in balance and reduce the onset and appearance of aging skin.

Our pores also tend to close up in order to protect the skin from heat loss and extreme dryness. This natural phenomena, however, can have detrimental effects, by allowing build up of excess toxins, which can in turn exacerbate blemishes, acne and other skin issues.

Restoring Vata Balance with Ayurvedic Skin Care during winter season

Recommended Vata Skin care routine:

• Cleansing – Remove environmental pollutants and grime by using a moisturizing cleanser without scrubbing particles (too harsh!). A cleanser rich in Aloe Vera and Organic oils is a good option.
• Nourishing – A vata facial lift massage is the perfect way to let your skin stay hydrated and relaxed. Choose skin boosting elements such as avocado oil, sesame oil and coconut oil based serums for best results. You can also apply a natural face mask twice a week to augment your results.
• Moisturizing – Choose a non-petroleum based moisturizer. Aloe Vera, Chamomile and Hyaluronic Acid are some of the effective moisturizers to help lock-in moisture for extended period of time.

How to do a Ayurvedic Facial lift massage in winters to rebalance Vata

Massaging your face during the morning and at the night time with vata balancing herbs + oil concoction will enable deep penetration of skin nutrients, stimulate circulation, remove toxins and give a hydrating & relaxing effect to your stressed skin.

While applying plant based facial serum or oil, one must practice the facelift technique to activate marma (pressure points) to enable the free flow of energy, reduce stress and flush out  accumulated toxins in skin cells. While applying a suitable serum according to your dosha, work up in a bottom-up approach around the chin, followed by gentle strokes from center of your face in an up and out direction. Facial massage helps stimulate circulation, keeps your skin lubricated and enables lymphatic drainage, for a natural face lift including reduced wrinkles and fine lines.

Vata Botanical Essences for the Treatment of Dry Skin:

Certain ayurvedic skin care botanicals such as Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Sesame Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Hempseed Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Avocado Oil and Jojoba Oil are critical in helping restore skin moisture balance during vata season. Most of these oil sources are rich in Vitamin E, which protects your skin from oxidative stress and reverses the signs of premature aging.

Did you know? Hyaluronic Acid (HLA) has some exceptional skin hydrating properties that is accepted as the Gold Standard Industry Wide.  The ‘Glyco-Amino-Glycal’ structure is  the ultimate hydrator to retain water (by up to 1 litre per gram of HLA) and increase skin’s elasticity.  HLA helps repair cellular damages for a naturally radiant, age defying skin.

Herbal extracts of Fennel, Calendula, Neem, Chamomile and Sandalwood also aid in the repair of  skin cells, and help alleviate dry, flaky skin conditions without stickiness or dullness during the winter months.

Follow the best practices in vata season. With the right Ayurvedic skin care approach, you can ensure that your skin is at its best in every season!