Jackie Parker Jackie is the founder of MotherOfHealth.com and is a practicing Ayurvedic and Pancha Karma specialist who graduated from the California College of Ayurveda, a state approved program recognised by the American Institute of Vedic Studies, Dr. David Frawley, and Dr. Subhash Ranade.   Jackie has successfully studied with Dr. Mishra, Dr. John Douillard, Robert and Melanie Sachs. Her focus is to assist clients in setting up daily and seasonal routines to establish a healthy lifestyle and release stress to ward off disease. Website: www.MotherOfHealth.com

Ayurveda takes a holistic approach to skin care and recognises that the skin is not separate from the rest of the body. Ayurvedic skin care not only treats the skin, but treats the whole body and the whole person. In Ayurveda radiant skin and beauty can only be achieved when one is in balance or healthy. Our skin is a reflection of what is going on inside and we can’t expect to have have beautiful glowing skin unless our diet and lifestyle are in harmony with our constitution. What goes in our bodies shows on our skin. 
 
All skin types need to follow certain guidelines for beautiful radiant skin. From an Ayurvedic perspective, glowing skin is a result of good diet, digestion, getting to bed on time, eating regular meals and following a regular daily routine. Also, skin is an organ that breathes and absorbs, so think of body products as food. If you cannot eat it, Ayurveda suggests not to use it on your skin. Skin eats and whatever you feed it is ingested by the blood stream to become raw material for tissue building.   
 
Ayurveda recognises that each person has a unique skin type, so the first step is to find out yours, and how to best care for it.
 
Vata Skin
Vata skin has the same qualities as air and space. In general is thin, dry, delicate with fine pores and cool to the touch. If you have a lot of Vata in your constitution and are imbalanced your skin will be rough, flakey and excessively dry with possible eczema. The greatest challenge for Vata type skin is its disposition to early wrinkles and loss of elasticity.  
 
To care for for Vata type skin:
- Start the day with a cup of hot water into which the juice of one lemon has been freshly squeezed. (Antibacterial and promotes regular elimination)

- Avoid exposing skin to cold, windy weather.

- Take a Vata pacifying diet that focuses on organic whole grains, leafy greens, warm mildly spiced soups and stews. 

- Eat plenty of sweet juicy fruits that provide hydration and drink lots of water.  Licorice, chamomile & ginger teas are especially beneficial. 

- Make sure you are getting a little healthy fat in your diet for internal oleation and lubrication. Ghee and olive oil are good choices.

- Give yourself a daily abhyanga (warm oil massage) with Vata Abhyanga oil or sesame oil.

- Use gentle skin care products because Vata type skin is delicate it will not tolerate products with chemical ingredients.

- Find ways to ground and calm yourself such as meditation, pranayama, and gentle yoga.

- Calming essential oils of lavender, rose and sandalwood are ideal, but should always be diluted to avoid irritation of skin.
  
Pitta Skin
Pitta is mostly fire, so Pitta skin tends to experience heat imbalances like acne, heated rashes, rosacea, liver spots and pigment disorders.
If you have a predominance of Pitta in your constitution, your skin is ruddy, pink, or red and you are prone to freckles and moles. Pitta type skin is warm and of medium thickness. Pitta type skin is very fair, sensitive and sunburns easily.
 
To care for Pitta type skin:
- Start the day with a cup of hot water into which the juice of one lemon has been freshly squeezed. 

- Avoid the sun and heat.

- Take a Pitta pacifying diet that is not too spicy, hot, sour or salty.  Avoid meat and alcohol which are both heating. Steamed vegetables that focus on leafy greens are best.  

- Eat plenty of sweet, juicy, cooling fruit like coconut, melons, and blueberries.

- Drink lots of water and Pitta pacifying tea.  Aloe juice and rose water are also beneficial.

- Cook deliberately with coriander, cumin and fennel.

- Give yourself a daily abhyanga (warm oil massage) with Pitta abhyanga oil or coconut oil.

- Use natural skin care products free of chemical ingredients. Products that include Rose as an ingredient may be helpful for Pitta type skin. 

- Cooling essential oils of rose, honeysuckle and lavender are recommended.
 
Kapha Skin
Kapha type skin tends to have all the qualities of water and earth. If you have Kapha type skin, it is pale, thick, oily, soft and cool to the touch.  Kapha type skin ages well and doesn’t wrinkle much. It is the most tolerant of the three types but can sometimes be greasy, have large pores and blackheads when imbalanced.  

To care for Kapha type skin:
- Start the day with a cup of hot water into which the juice of one lemon has been squeezed.

- Kapha type skin are prone to accumulating toxins more than the other types so frequent facials to draw out impurities are advised.

- Exfoliate with a mask at least once a week.

- Avoid heavy, greasy, cold, sweet foods. Avoid deep-fried foods.

- Take a Kapha pacifying diet that favours organic vegetables and pungent spices like black pepper and ginger to stoke the digestive fire.

- Drink a tea with Kapha pacifying herbs like ginger, blackberry, lemon balm, parsley. 

- Exercise daily to improve circulation.

- Stimulating essential oils of basil, camphor and wintergreen that clear the channels.
 
In general, look for products that are non animal tested, free of synthetic perfumes, colorants, alcohol, petrochemicals, mineral oil and never, never go to bed without washing your face and removing makeup!

Be radiant! Be beautiful! Be well! Jackie Parker www.MotherOfHealth.com

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