Knowing your skin type gives you clues as to what you should eat and how to plan your daily routine to balance and nourish your skin. Knowing your skin type also gives you the key to customizing your skin care routine. For instance, the M•SPA Youthful Skin routine has four steps: cleansing with the Youthful Skin Cleansing Bar or Youthful Skin Cleansing Gel; toning with the Youthful Skin Toner; replenishing with the Youthful Skin Oil, and nourishing with the Youthful Skin Cream. While all of these products are designed for all the skin types, how often you use them will vary, depending on your skin type. Here are some examples.
The Key to Vata Skin
If you have Vata skin, your skin doesn’t retain as much moisture as other skin types. For that reason, adding moisture is your priority. Apply the Youthful Skin Cream generously on your face before you go to bed at night and in the morning after cleansing. The Youthful Skin Cleansing Gel is especially designed for dry Vata skin, because it restores moisture balance at the same time as it cleanses and removes make-up. It’s also best to use Youthful Skin Oil each night before bed. Avoid skin care products with chemical preservatives or ingredients because these will only dry and damage your skin.
Keep your skin moisturized from the inside by drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day and eating plenty of sweet, juicy fruits. Eat warm, nourishing foods and avoid drying foods, such as crackers. Be sure to keep a regular routine and regular eating habits. Get to bed early, and include a daily abhyanga or oil massage to moisturize your entire body. Use Vata Churna and Vata Tea to nourish and balance Vata skin.
The Key to Pitta Skin
If you have Pitta skin, your treatment program should focus on calming your sensitive skin. You’ll want to stay away from excessive heat and too much direct sunlight. Tanning salons, steam facials and long hours in the sun can damage your skin. One of the best ways to calm your skin is by calming the tactile nerves. The Youthful Skin Cream contains Sensitive Plant and other natural essences of herbs that not only deeply moisturize but deeply nourish the tactile nerves as well. Because Pitta skin types have more oil in their skin, you probably want to apply the Youthful Skin Oil every other day instead of every day. Use cool temperature water for cleansing and bathing, but not ice-cold, as that can freeze the pores in the skin.
Avoid hot, spicy foods and too much exercise in the sun. Pitta Churna and Pitta Tea will have a cooling, balancing effect. Make sure you fall asleep before the Pitta time of night, which starts at 10:00 p.m. Avoid synthetic chemicals, preservatives and harsh ingredients on your skin and also in your food. Eating organic foods of the sweet, bitter and astringent tastes and drinking pure water will help calm your skin and stop breakouts.
The Key to Kapha Skin
Proper cleansing is the most important thing you can do for Kapha skin. Frequent deep cleansing should be the basis of your beauty regimen. To do this ayurvedically, first loosen the impurities by lubricating the skin. Pat your face with warm milk for five minutes before you go to bed. Then in the morning, use Youthful Skin Clay to exfoliate. Because you’ve loosened the impurities first, your skin won’t be damaged when the impurities are released. Repeat this routine twice a week.
On a daily basis, cleanse with the Youthful Skin Cleansing Bar and apply the Youthful Skin Toner. Use Youthful Skin Oil only every second day. Choose your moisturizer wisely to avoid oily build-up on your skin. Ayurvedic texts recommend herbs that detoxify as you moisturize, and these herbs are found in the Youthful Skin Cream. This formula prevents oiliness from building up on the surface.
You’ll also want to avoid eating foods that are excessively oily and heavy. Eat more light, astringent and bitter foods, such as cooked vegetables prepared with Kapha-pacifying spices such as those found in Kapha Churna, and sip Kapha Tea. Olive oil in small quantities is a good cooking oil for Kapha types, as it is light and easy to digest. Make sure you exercise every day to keep your body’s detoxification and digestion systems in good order.
