Glowing skin care uses topical creams and lotions made of ingredients available in nature.Much of the recent literature reviews plant-derived ingredients, which may include herbs, roots, flowers and essential oils, but natural substances in skin care products include animal-derived products such as beeswax, and minerals. These substances may be combined with various carrier agents, preservatives, surfactants, humectants and emulsifiers.
Here are five surprising Ayurvedic beauty tips that I have truly benefited from, which you, too, can begin to employ from within to activate your inner glow.
Avoid or Cut Down On Heavy Seafood Intake
Because everything in Ayurveda is customized per individual, one person may be able to safely consume more seafood than another and actually benefit greatly from the seafood. As a general rule of thumb, however, it would be best to cut down on heavy seafood intake, especially if you are seeking to improve your skin in any way.
Do Not Mix Milk With Fruits, Meat, Salt, Vegetables, Or Honey
Ayurveda teaches that are some things that simply do not go together. The above list are called incompatible food combinations, which hinder the digestive process. Healthy,balanced digestion is considered the cornerstone of optimal health in Ayurveda, as healthy digestion reflects solid overall physical health.
And digestion is not just something that happens in the stomach only. Skin is the largest organ of the body and is more vulnerable to disease, infection, injury, and imbalance than any other bodily structure. When we don’t digest our food properly, it not only affects our body internally; it is also reflected in the quality of our skin. That is why we focus so much in Ayurveda on avoiding those foods that cannot be easily digested, such as the incompatible combinations listed above.
I can clearly see how my skin and digestion have improved since I stopped eating incompatible foods in particular.
Go To Sleep and Wake Up Early
Sleep is considered one of the three pillars of health, according to Ayurveda. The body actually heals itself as we sleep at night, ideally by 10pm. When we miss the ideal time for sleep and try to compensate by sleeping excessively during the day, our health suffers, and it shows up adversely on our skin. Excess daytime sleep is also one of the causative factors of skin-related conditions.
Going to sleep and waking up early, between 4-6am, has changed my life in countless ways, giving me tremendous willpower, insight, and clarity, in addition to better skin.
Stop Sunbathing
This one should come as no surprise. Ayurveda is all about addressing the root causes of why health problems manifest in the first place. No matter how much sunscreen you may liberally apply to your face and body, excess sun exposure will definitely damage your skin. It is therefore essential to protect yourself with a hat and/or sunglasses. Whenever you feel the temptation to soak in the sun, ask yourself, is it really necessary?
Do Something to be of Service, Without Any Strings Attached
Mental stress is a huge causative factor for skin problems. From Ayurveda, we learn that Sadvritta, a noble code of social and moral behavior, is an essential part of health that is just as important as what we put into and onto our bodies. So much of our stress in life comes from the kinds of relationships we have with others, as well as our own worries about our current and/or future security, whether that be physical, emotional, financial, etc.
Whenever we are able to step out of our own suffering enough to help another, we are automatically filled with joy. Even if all we can do is spend an hour a week serving soup in a soup kitchen, that one hour can help us connect with our inherent goodness, bringing out our inner glow and light of Sattva (an auspicious, peaceful, noble, and joyful state of mind that Ayurveda psychology teaches is our true state).
Beauty is as beauty does, after all.
All the spiritual traditions of the world stress the importance of selfless service. Ayurveda is no exception – in the Charaka Samhita text, in addition to food and lifestyle corrections, and developing better mental equanimity, it actually lists selfless service as one of the ways to recover from disease.
When we act in beautiful ways, we are able to connect with the most beautiful part of ourselves, which is our own ever-glowing, eternally radiant soul.
Following all of the above secrets has changed my life in countless, wonderful ways. I am thus delighted to invite you on this amazing journey of awakening your true beauty, from within.
This article was first published in the Elephant Journal.
Disclaimer: The content is purely informative and educational in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. Please use the content only in consultation with an appropriate certified medical or healthcare professional.
12 Foods For Naturally Glowing Skin
“Skin that is healthy from the inside glows from the outside.” – can this be considered as the modern day adage?
With heavy pollution and environmental factors like the harsh sun, the stress of balancing work and family life together, along with unhealthy snacking and intake of junk food, glowing skin has become an elusive concept for us. These days, most of us complain about blemishes, acne, and pimples. Makeup only hides them, but a healthy diet keeps them at bay. If we can bring some modifications in our diet and follow the basic CTM (Cleansing, Toning, and Moisturizing) regimen, it is possible to acquire glowing skin naturally.
Fruits and vegetables are the most important food items that could help you achieve blemish and acne-free skin. They contain skin-friendly components that help in rectifying our skin problems from the inside out. Hence, these ‘beauty foods’ will not only keep your body healthy, but also will help you achieve glowing skin. To add to that, they help to maintain the body’s hydration levels at optimum, thus aiding in achieving better skin health.
Here’s a list of some wonderful food items for good skin that will help you in accomplishing your dream skin.
Food For Glowing Skin
1. Dark Green Leafy Vegetables
Adding them to your daily diet is one of the easiest ways to enhance the skin’s natural radiance. Loaded with antioxidants, essential vitamins, and nutrients, dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chard, radish leaves, mustard leaves (sarson ka saag), lettuce, coriander, parsley, broccoli, and arugula help rid our skin of dullness and enhance the skin’s glow. This tops the list of best foods for glowing skin any day.
2. Fruits
- Mangoes are rich in antioxidants and vitamin A, which prevent premature aging, retain the skin’s elasticity, and grow new skin cells.
- Banana is rich in vitamins A, B, and E and prevents premature wrinkling of the skin.
- Papaya helps shed all the dead skin cells and clears your skin of all impurities.
- Oranges and kiwis are rich in vitamin C that protects our skin against the onset of wrinkles and boosts collagen synthesis. Other vitamin C-rich fruits are guavas, grapefruit, and strawberries. Vitamin C also protects the skin from sun damage and promotes cell turnover, thus preserving the youth and beauty of our skin.
- A glass of warm water with honey and lemon juice lightens your skin tone and keeps it clean.
- Apple helps maintain a toned look and makes your skin look younger.
g.Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are full of antioxidants that wipe off blemishes from your skin.
3. Healthy Fats
Foods rich in unsaturated fats, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids are essential for providing the skin with a healthy dose of natural oils (good fats), which in turn reduce infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation, acne, scaly skin, and redness. We can acquire smooth, healthy and glowing skin through consumption of nuts like walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds and fish like salmon, tuna, trout, and herring. These are the perfect sources of ingredients required for a glowing skin.
4. Carrots
This easily makes its way into the list of skin-friendly food! Containing high levels of beta-carotene, vitamin A, and antioxidants, carrots can give us healthy skin from the inside by flushing out toxins. It protects our skin from sun-induced damage, preventing premature aging and wrinkles. It helps to keep your skin silky soft and smooth. Sweet potatoes and yam are other options that show similar results.
5. Eggs
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Rich in vitamin B complex, eggs help in keeping skin smooth, blemish free, and also prevent aging. They also contain zinc that is critical for a supple skin. Egg yolks are rich in biotin which is essential for a vibrant and youthful skin. The vitamin A present repairs cell damage and keeps the skin healthy and glowing.
6. Avocados
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They are rich in vitamin E that helps slow down the skin-damaging process. They also help in retaining moisture and preventing premature wrinkling, acne, dullness, etc. It is a perfect superfood for the skin. An easy way to include it in your diet is to drink a cup of avocado juice every day.
7. Brown Rice
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Brown rice contains magnesium, vitamins, and antioxidants that protect the skin from blemishes and acne breakouts. The proteins present repair damaged skin. It is also rich in fiber and ceramides that retain the skin’s moisture, keeping it hydrated.
8. Green Tea
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Free radicals are formed when the skin is exposed to the sun’s UV rays, and these are highly responsible for premature aging. Green tea, which is rich in antioxidants, washes these free radicals out of the body, thus preventing premature aging. It also fights acne by lowering levels of DTH, the acne-producing hormones, leaving your skin healthy and young.
9. Red Wine
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It has the ability to retain the skin’s original glow and prevent aging. The antioxidants present in it are responsible for this. Now, you have a good excuse to stop by the liquor store.
10. Dark Chocolate
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The antioxidants present in dark chocolate protect your skin from free radicals and keep it soft and young for long. It also shields the skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun, protecting the skin from sunburns. It keeps your skin soft and naturally hydrated.
11. Water
This has been said since times old, water can make us glow from head to toe. Drinking lots of water throughout the day will keep your system internally hydrated, which in turn directly reflects on your skin. Water helps us not only by flushing out the harmful toxins from our system, but also by keeping those ugly wrinkles at bay and giving us naturally glowing skin. Keep a bottle of water handy and sip when you crave for your favorite cola the next time.
Food for Acne-Prone Skin
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There are certain foods, apart from the ones listed above, that especially help your skin to fight acne.
- Include a pinch of herbs like thyme, rosemary, and mint in your diet to fight acne.
- Cucumbers clear the clogged pores that flare up acne.
- Yogurt clears your skin and also eliminates all harmful bacteria from your body.
Food for Dry Skin
Dry skin is another problem in itself. A lot of nourishment is needed, and the following foods are said to boost dry skin health.
- Flax seeds, salmon, and walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids.These foods help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and thus, prevent dry skin from becoming drier. They also help keep the skin soft and smooth while boosting its elasticity.
- Eggs are rich in proteins, biotin, and essential vitamins, which further help the skin in fighting dryness.
Eat right and your skin will respond with a wonderful glow. If you have any more foods to share which we have missed out, feel free to share them in the comments section below.
References
- Lewis C. Clearing Up Cosmetic Confusion. TGC magazine
- “Skin ageing: natural weapons and strategies”. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013: 827248. doi:10.1155/2013/827248. PMC 3569896 . PMID 23431351.
- Abdulla S. Nature – International Weekly Journal of Science, 5-13-1999
