The
Ayurvedic Approach to Beauty
Ayurvedic
Skin Care for Air Predominant Skin
The
fundamental element Air imparts lightness and delicacy to the
skin.
Does
your skin feel dry and taut most of the time? Air is the element
most predominant in your skin.
Air
predominant skin tends to be on the dry side and is almost always
very dry during the winter months. This skin type tends to also
be dry during the summertime. The pores are a little larger than
those of the space predominant skin type.
Air
predominant skin is particularly sensitive to cold and windy weather.
This skin type is also delicate, but not as delicate as space
predominant skin. Like space predominant skin, air predominant
skin is prone to flaking, bruising and getting scratched.
How
to care for air predominant skin
Diet
If
you have air predominant skin, you should avoid dry foods and
favor foods that are a little unctuous. Food should be not too
hot, spicy, cold or dry. Spices that are too hot or too drying,
such as turmeric and black pepper, can dehydrate this type of
skin if used in large quantities or alone. Do not skip or delay
meals. Here are some suggestions for foods to include in your
daily diet:
- Use
a small amount of ghee (clarified butter) or olive oil in your
cooking. This will provide your skin the necessary lipid support
from within.
- Rice,
oatmeal or buckwheat, cooked with a little ghee or olive oil,
are the recommended grains.
- Mung
dhal is a good lentil for this skin type; however, a blend
of 80% mung dhal and 20% urad dhal or 80% masoor dhal and 20%
urad dhal are even more beneficial combinations.
- Eat
lots of tender asparagus and parwal
or pointed gourd (Latin Trichosanthes diocia Roxb.). Summer
squashes such as lauki and
zucchini are very nourishing for air predominant skin. Add a
little of the spice mix for your skin type to vegetables and
other dishes (see box, top right).
- Cook
with fennel; fennel is the best spice for this type of skin.
- Have
stewed apples and pears, cooked with a few cloves, for breakfast.
- Sweet
juicy fruits of the season make excellent snacks. They are both
cleansing and hydrating.
- Drink
lots of pure water through the day. Favor spring water with
a pH of 7.5 for balanced hydration.
- Drink
whole organic milk. Boil milk before you drink it to make it
more digestible. Add 1/4 teaspoon ghee
(clarified butter) to warm milk for additional lubrication from
within.
- Soaked
and blanched almonds and soaked walnuts provide nourishment
as well as lipid support. Almonds and walnuts can be cooked
with milk, oatmeal, pudding or couscous.
- Feed
your skin from within with Amalaki
Rasayana. Rasayanas are ayurvedic herb combinations designed
to provide holistic support--they nourish, protect and balance
the skin for long-term health and a natural glow.
Protection
Since
your skin is susceptible to cold and dry windy weather, and dehydration
is always a problem, keeping the skin properly hydrated and lubricated
is important:
- Protect
as much of your skin as possible when you go out on cold windy
days. Draw a light scarf across the lower part of your face
and pull a cap down over your forehead.
- Wear
a protective coating of natural moisturizer on your face and
hands and a lip balm to protect your lips.
- Drink
extra water to support moisture balance from within. Favor spring
water with a pH of 7.5 for balanced hydration.
- As
a rule, stay away from skin care products containing harsh chemicals
and artificial preservatives. Your skin is delicate, and is
likely to suffer damage over time with constant exposure to
chemical substances in skin care products.
Lifestyle
Individuals
with this type of skin generally tend to be susceptible to the
effects of mental stress. When mentally fatigued, a person with
air predominant skin tends to get agitated, and this can create
a vicious cycle of ongoing mental stress, resulting in dull skin
and dark circles under the eyes. Follow these suggestions to reduce
mental stress:
- Going
to bed early is essential to stay rested. Do not work late into
the night.
- Take
short breaks when performing tasks that require extended periods
of intense mental focus.
- Walking
for 20 minutes in the early morning will clear your mind.
- Practice
deep breathing when you feel mentally tired.
- Remember
that laughter is powerful medicine for your skin and for your
overall well-being as well.
- A
daily full-body massage with a relaxing massage oil can help
revitalize the mind and body. Don't forget to massage the scalp
to help reduce mental stress. The Ajara
Herbal Hair and Scalp Oil is balanced for all hair types
and includes potent ayurvedic herbs that balance the mind and
nervous system while they nourish the scalp and hair.
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