The popularity of Ayurvedic skin care serves as further evidence that the beauty industry is always seeking inspiration from around the world. While cosmetics used to be associated with patchouli and other heady scents, the latest breed of Ayurveda-inspired skin care draws upon the 5,000-year-old Hindu system of medicine that emphasizes using herbs and other natural ingredients to treat and nourish the skin, inside and out.
Ayurvedic Skin Care
Ayurvedic skin care principles revolve around eight herbal ingredients, each targeting a pillar of skin care. As described in Ayurveda, these eight foundational herb groups are:
- Vayasthapana, for age-defying skin nourishment
- Varnya, herbs such as sandalwood for a brighter complexion
- Sandaniya, plants that promote cell regeneration; Vranaropana, for wound healing
- Tvacha, which includes skin-nurturing gotu kola and rose petals
- Shothahara, anti-inflammatory herbs
- Tvachagnivardhani, herbs that affect enzyme imbalance and skin metabolism
- Tvagrasayana, antioxidant-rich herbs to slow down the aging process
Key Ingredients
The amla fruit and the gotu kola plant are particular cornerstones of Ayurvedic skin care. Amla, or emblica officinalis, promotes collagen production and helps prevent photo-aging by inhibiting exposure to ultraviolet rays, reports a 2010 study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Centella asiatica, commonly dubbed gotu kola, has also been used for hundreds of years. This anti-inflammatory plant similarly encourages collagen synthesis and strengthens the skin, reports a 2013 study in Advances in Dermatology and Allergology.
The Ayurvedic Philosophy
Ayurvedic skin care is inseparable from the larger world of the Ayurveda, particularly its philosophical underpinnings. The Ayurveda emphasizes the universal connectedness of all living and nonliving things. To maintain this harmony, the Ayurveda advises practitioners on diet, exercise and relationships, encompassing preventive and curative practices including massage, meditation and herbal therapy.
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