Ayurveda has a very different approach to skin care from modern medicine. It has been talking about the concept of 'beauty coming from within' for 5,000 years. Its message in a nutshell: how you nourish yourself on the inside is what will be reflected on the outside. We say that we get glowing skin by taking care of our insides and that all skin conditions come from an internal imbalance. Rather than using topical agents alone like creams, lotions, and oils, Ayurveda nourishes the skin and treats its underlying problems at the root using diet, herbs, and then, topicals.

We'll have glowing and plump skin if our digestion is working strong at pulling the nutrients from the foods we eat and the liver at flushing out the toxins that our body doesn't need. On the other hand, we’ll experience skin problems when our body is experiencing an imbalance.

When trying to uncover the root of a skin imbalance, we can look at a few major players: the digestive system, the blood, the liver, emotional experiences and the season. For example, acne or inflammatory skin conditions usually come from a higher level of toxicity in the body. Given the skin serves as a pathway for detoxification, the cause of skin conditions like acne, eczema and rashes amongst others is thought to be due to a liver imbalance. When the liver is taxed with toxins, its functions go down and toxins in the blood and plasma go up. In reaction, the skin attempts to help our internal organs expel metabolic toxins through the skin causing acne. When you're dehydrated, the skin will be more prone to wrinkles and a grey tone because it's not receiving enough hydration at the cellular level. 

That’s why, in Ayurveda, our approach to skincare is rooted in overall good health.

The first step to having good health (and skin!) is knowing what your Mind & Body Type is so you can customize your diet, lifestyle and skincare to your body’s specific needs. If you know your Mind & Body Type, you’ll understand your skin type and the imbalances that it's naturally most often prone to so you can take steps to prevent skin problems before they even begin.

Discover your Mind & Body Type by taking the quiz below.