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A holistic approach to wellness that touches on the body, mind & soul.
Varying from household to household, many South Asian remedies for better skin are believed to be rooted in the ancient medicinal science of the Indian subcontinent, Ayurveda, which is still practiced today. Put simply, the ancient medicinal practice aims to heal from the inside out – a holistic approach to wellness that touches on the body, mind and soul. When it comes to beauty, Ayurveda beauty is comprised of three pillars: roopam, outer beauty defined by healthy hair and skin; gunam, meaning inner beauty; and vayastyag, which roughly translates to longevity (or looking and feeling younger than your age).
With the rebirth of natural wellness globally, the science of Ayurveda beauty, particularly roopam, has seen a rise, once again being incorporated into synchronous beauty regimes across the globe. As a science, Ayurveda isn’t so straightforward, with factors like seasons, skin type and the unique composition of your body (or dosha) influencing the remedies a specialist may prescribe to each individual. However, all-natural Ayurveda beauty remedies are largely practiced by women (and men) of South Asian heritage without the consultation of a specialist. Why? They simply ask their mothers.
Knowingly or unknowingly, the historical tradition of Ayurveda beauty remedies, and remedies tweaked and inspired by the ancient tradition, have survived the test of time – having been passed down generation to generation, mother to child. We explored some of the natural beauty remedies still practiced by women with roots in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, who inherited these DIY recipes from their own personal lineage.
Doyel’s Remedy for Glowing Skin
Ingredients:
1 Mix ingredients together until you reach a smooth consistency
1/4 cup plain yogurt or ¼ fresh milk
1-2 teaspoon of neem powder
Method:
Will you add this pair to your rotation.
Mix until it becomes a paste. Then add 1-2 teaspoon of neem powder and mix again.
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teaspoon rose water.
After the mask has been washed off completely, rinse face with cold water to close your pores.
Mix until it becomes a paste. Then add 1-2 drops of lemon juice and mix again.
Doyel’s mother has been using this remedy on her face since she was 9 and she almost never had breakouts growing up. When she moved from home, she stopped using it for a few years and saw a significant change in skin discoloration. Since re-introducing this remedy, she has already seen her skin improve drastically over the past year.
Yeasmine’s Remedy for Spot Purification
Ingredients:
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5-6 School of Sustainability
Method:
We sure hope so.
Leave on for 20-30 minutes
To decay out neem leaves, Yeasmine recommends putting them out in sun, which may take a few days. Alternatively, you can pop them in microwave for a 2-3 minutes.
Eeman’s Remedy for Skin Exfoliation
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon honey
1 Leave on for 20-30 minutes
1 teaspoon sugar
Method:
Mix till thick paste forms then rub into skin in circular motions
teaspoon rose water
A quick and easy fix, this scrub is easy to put together with items in your kitchen and has been used as a natural beauty remedy for centuries across the world.
Haya’s Remedy for Moisturising Dull Skin
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
1 teaspoon Multani Mitti fullers earth
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1 drop pure rose water
1 teaspoon of neem powder
1 Mix till thick paste forms then rub into skin in circular motions
1 tablespoon squeezed lemon
1 tablespoon yogurt
Method:
Mix all ingredients and apply onto face evenly.
teaspoon rose water.
Rinse.
If you can’t find the ingredients you need for this remedy in your regular grocery store, Haya recommends paying a visit to your local Indian store, particularly for ingredients like Multani Mitti and neem powder.
If you don’t have time for DIY, you can check out these beauty brands creating ready-made products inspired by the science of Ayurveda: Pratima, Ajara, Sahajan, Skinveda and Arya Essentials.
