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A calming summer facial for all

May 24, 2018

images (4)Pitta types often get very rosy faces at this time of year, especially after  a glass of wine or other alcohol (very heating!) As blood and skin are important Pitta sites in the body, excess heat can quickly show up in hot, inflamed skin. Skin conditions such as Rosacea are also due to high Pitta. Convert your bathroom to a home spa once a week to cool and calm the skin and prevent summer skin problems.

If you’re unsure what skin type you have, Vata dominant skin is fair, thin, dry or aged with fine lines. It needs nourishing and moisturising. Pitta dominant skin is fair to medium with red tones, freckles and moles. It is typically combination, sensitive skin. It needs soothing and hydrating. Kapha dominant skin tends to be normal to oily. Kapha skin often has the least issues being nice and supple, but does need cleansing and revitalising.

Try the following easy steps and recipes for Summer skin care (all recipes tailored to pacify Pitta and cool and calm the skin):

1.  Cleansing to remove external layer of sebum, sweat, dirt and bacteria

Ayurvedic cleansers or ‘ubtans’ are applied to damp skin, excluding the eye area. These brighten the complexion as they accelerate skin cell renewal. They also have the following benefits:

  • Improves local blood circulation which stimulates cell growth
  • Refine skin texture leaving it smoother and softer
  • Removed dead skin cells and unplug pores
  • Leaves skin more receptive to absorbing subsequent masks and massage oils

Combine some of the following Pitta reducing ingredients to make your own Summer ubtans, then grind in a blender or with a pestle and mortar (but best results achieved with a blender). The starches and enzymes in these cereals, pulses and nuts will be activated during treatment and work to cleanse the face:

To help cool skin: Chick pea flour, Chamomile flowers (eg: use a chamomile tea bag), Rose petals, Liquorice root, Fennel (again, find a tea bag!), Turmeric, Lemongrass, Cardamom, Mint (fresh or a tea bag), and Neem powder (specialist Ayurvedic herb from health shops).

To help dry skin: fdd Fine oatmeal, ground almonds, or powdered milk.

Mix a small amount with flower waters or herbal teas such as rose water, chamomile tea, cucumber juice, or aloe vera. Otherwise luke warm water will also work well. Apply to face then wipe off gently after a few minutes and rinse with cool water.

2.    Massage nourishes the skin and balances the doshas

Facial massage encourages blood and lymph to the facial tissues, giving a radiant look (as anyone who treats themselves to regular facials will know). The face is so responsive to massage because it is packed with many nerve endings and delicate muscles. Focus on pressure points for relaxation too. Try the following face massage after your cleansing ubtan:

  • Smooth skin outwards and upwards under the eyes and cheekbones
  • Make smooth movements across the forehead
  • Make smooth movements up neck with flat hands
  • Make small circular movements on jaw line, cheeks and forehead
  • Circle the mouth gently, then the eyes, finishing with pinching eyebrows outwards
  • Use fingertips to apply pressure around the eyes, nose and temples, between the eyes and forehead.   Then apply pressure in downward movement from inner eye across cheekbones.
  • Finish with smoothing movements outwards and upwards over the cheekbones.

 

3.    Steaming liquefies obstructed toxins, opens clogged pores, releases toxins

Traditionally you would steam the skin at this stage but in Summer this is best avoided as it is too heating. Instead, achieve similar effects by using a cold compress, with rose water or water which has been boiled with ground coriander seeds and then allowed to cool.

 

4.    Masks for nourishing or cleansing

Soothing and hydrating masks for Pitta dominant skin can be made from ingredients readily to hand in your kitchen. Leave on for 10-15 minutes as you relax, and rinse with cool water:

  • Cucumber mask: Mix 1 tbsp grated cucumber + 1 tbsp yoghurt. Add green or white clay (available from Neal’s Yard Remedies, Aromantic or other beauty suppliers) clay to stiffen mixture and bind.
  • Mask for Rosacea/ acne: Mix 1 tbsp grated cucumber with clay and chamomile/ rose water .
  • Parsley mask: Mix 2 tsps clay with 2 tsps witch hazel water (or rose water), add 3 tsps sunflower oil and 3 tsps chopped parsley.

5.    Toning removes greasiness remaining, closes pores and freshens.

Apply a cooling toner to the skin with a cotton ball or with a hand pump mister. In Summer,  Rose water or witch hazel are both very calming.

6.    Moisturising is needed by all, including oily skin, to nourish, protect, soften and smooth

Lighter moisturisers are ideal for day-use with a more nourishing moisturiser at night. Use upward strokes from chin for the face and downward from the chin for the neck to relax muscles and increase circulation. Handle the skin around the eyes carefully as the skin here does not have oil glands so is tender and sensitive. For a home made Ayurvedic cooling Summer moisturiser, combine 1 part liquorice tea, 1 part aloe vera gel and 2 parts sunflower oil. Use on face and neck. Ghee is also very cooling (though you have to like the smell to use on your skin!) Try equal parts of ghee and aloe vera or just ghee.

lotus-aum-thumb818527The following books are recommended to learn more:

  • Inner Beauty, Reenita Malhotra (2005)
  • Ayurvedic Beauty Care, Melanie Sachs (1994)
  • Home-made herbal cosmetics, Dr S Suresh Babu