Dark spots can be a common concern for many, often leading to a search for effective remedies. While makeup might offer a quick fix, it's essential to understand the real cause behind these spots. 

At the heart of this issue is melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its color. But why does it sometimes result in dark patches? What triggers its overproduction?

Let's delve into the science behind dark spots and explore effective ways to diminish them.

Another problem that’s closely linked with dark spots is skin pigmentation. So, let’s understand what skin pigmentation is and how it is related to dark spots. Later in this article, we’ll explore the causes of dark spots on the face and body and list some natural remedies to get rid of dark spots. In the end, we will be looking at some preventive measures to reduce the appearance of such dark spots. Let’s get started.

What causes dark spots on the face and body?

Dark spots are caused when certain parts of the skin produce more melanin than the other areas. Apart from sun exposure, hormonal changes, inflammation, conditions like diabetes also influence the production of melanin.

Some of the most common reasons behind dark spots are discussed below:

• Hormonal changes:

Hormonal changes can be a leading cause of skin pigmentation, especially for women. Melasma is a type of skin pigmentation that appears in the form of dark patches, usually on the cheeks or forehead. This condition is prevalent after pregnancy.

• Sun exposure:

Exposure to the harmful UV rays of the sun can cause dark spots to appear on the skin. Freckles, sunspots, solar lentigines, or liver spots are the most common type of pigmentation that can be developed due to exposure to the sun. These can be prevented by healthy sun screening habits developed at a very young age.

• Side effects of medication:

Certain medications can cause specific side effects, such as skin pigmentation and dark spots. NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs produce the most common reactions.

• Inflammation:

Dark spots may also occur after skin inflammation or injuries to the skin. These can be caused by acne or even eczema. 

• Irritation due to certain products:

Sometimes, the use of certain products like perfumes or certain hair products can cause skin irritation, causing dark spots to appear on the skin.

• Diabetes: 

Diabetes can also cause certain areas of the skin to produce more melanin, leading to dark patches.

As you can see, there are varying reasons for developing dark spots, which brings one crucial question. How to remove dark spots from our skin?

First, we’ll look at some of the most effective natural remedies to help get rid of dark spots.

Home Remedies For Dark Spots On Face

Did you know that some of the most effective solutions for dark spots might be sitting right in your kitchen pantry? Nature has blessed us with a plethora of ingredients that not only nourish our insides but can also address various skin concerns.

Let's explore these age-old home remedies that have been passed down through generations and understand how they can be your skin's best friend.

1. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera isn't just a plant; it's a skin savior. Comprising 90% of the body's amino acids and a powerhouse of vitamins A, B, C, and E, its benefits are manifold. From anti-aging to skin nourishment, aloe vera addresses dark spots, reduces skin discoloration, and even offers pain relief with its antiseptic properties.

How To Use:

• Apply Aloe Vera juice or pure Aloe Vera gel directly to areas with hyperpigmentation.
• Let it sit for 30 minutes during both morning and evening routines.
• Rinse your face with lukewarm water.

2. Turmeric

Turmeric's active compound, curcumin, is a powerful antioxidant with anti-melanogenic effects. This means it can naturally reduce melanin production, lightening dark spots and bestowing a radiant, clear complexion.

How To Use:

• In a bowl, mix one teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1-2 teaspoons of milk, and one teaspoon of lemon juice.
• Blend until you achieve a smooth paste consistency.
• Apply the paste to your face, allowing it to sit for 20 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water and follow up with your favorite moisturizer.
• Witness a noticeable difference in just 2 days, as this regimen naturally fades spots.

3. Oatmeal

Oatmeal, often celebrated for its soothing properties, also offers a natural remedy for dark spots. Its exfoliating properties help in removing dead skin cells, which can reduce the appearance of dark spots over time. The amino acids in oatmeal help to lighten blemishes and discolorations on the skin.

• Grind whole oats to a fine powder.
• Mix the oat powder with lemon juice, known for its skin-lightening properties.
• Add a touch of honey for its moisturizing and antibacterial benefits.
• Apply the mixture to areas with dark spots and let it sit for 20 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, gently massaging in circular motions.
• Repeat regularly for best results.

4. Tomato paste:

Tomato paste is a valuable tool against dark spots. This is mainly due to its rich lycopene content, a powerful antioxidant. Lycopene protects the skin from sun-induced damage, a primary cause of dark spots.

Tomatoes also have natural astringent properties, which tighten the skin and make dark spots less visible. Their vitamin C content can inhibit melanin production, potentially lightening these spots. 

Additionally, the mild acidity in tomatoes provides gentle exfoliation, promoting skin renewal. This results in a brighter complexion. 

• Extract the pulp from a fresh tomato to get tomato paste.
• Apply the tomato paste evenly on your face.
• Allow it to sit for about 10 minutes.
• Rinse with cold water for a refreshing feel.
• Experience skin that's soft, silky, and radiates health.

5. Manjistha:

As a potent blood purifier, Manjistha treats the skin from within, promoting a radiant and youthful complexion. Its unique combination of sweet, bitter, and acidic flavors classifies it as an effective pitta pacifier. For addressing dark spots, Manjistha capsules can be consumed once or twice daily. You can also use it as a face pack -

• Mix Manjistha powder with honey to form a smooth paste.
• Apply the mixture evenly across your face.
• Leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
• Rinse thoroughly with water and pat your skin dry.

6. Buttermilk

Buttermilk, a natural source of lactic acid, is an excellent remedy for rejuvenating the skin. Lactic acid aids in exfoliating dead skin cells, paving the way for a brighter complexion and lightening dark spots. 

• Dip a cotton ball into fresh buttermilk.
• For oily or acne-prone skin, add a few drops of lemon juice to the buttermilk.
• Gently apply the mixture directly onto the dark spots.
• Allow it to sit for 20 minutes.
• Rinse your face with clean water.
• With consistent use, you'll notice a clearer complexion and diminished dark spots.

7. Masoor Dal ( Red Lentils):

Red lentil, commonly known as Masoor dal, is a potent remedy for hyperpigmentation on the face. Packed with antioxidants, these lentils offer numerous skin benefits, promoting a clearer and more even complexion.

• Grind dried red lentils to a fine powder.
• Mix the powder with water or yogurt to form a smooth paste.
• Apply the paste evenly on your face, focusing on areas with hyperpigmentation.
• Leave it on for 20 minutes.
• Rinse off with cool water.
• With regular application, you'll observe a reduction in hyperpigmentation and a brighter skin tone.

8. Green Tea Extract:

Packed with antioxidants, especially catechins, green tea helps combat skin damage and reduce the appearance of dark spots. 

• Brew a strong cup of green tea and allow it to cool.
• Dip a cotton ball into the cooled green tea.
• Gently dab the cotton ball onto areas with dark spots.
• Leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
• Rinse off with cool water.

9. Sandalwood:

Sandalwood, revered in traditional skincare routines, is a potent solution for dark spots. Its has natural skin-brightening properties.

• In a bowl, combine 1 teaspoon of sandalwood powder, 1 teaspoon of orange zest, and enough orange juice to form a thick paste.
• Apply the mixture to your face, giving special attention to areas with dark spots.
• Allow the mask to sit for 20 minutes.
• Gently rinse off with lukewarm water.
• For best results, repeat this process two to three times a week

10. Apple Cider Vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is renowned for its acidic properties and rich content of acetic acid, making it a popular choice for addressing skin concerns, including dark spots. Its natural exfoliating effect helps in reducing the appearance of these spots, promoting a more even skin tone.

• Dilute apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of water to ensure it's gentle on the skin.
• Soak a cotton ball in the diluted ACV solution.
• Apply it directly onto the dark spots, ensuring even coverage.
• Leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
• Rinse off thoroughly with lukewarm water.
• Repeat this process daily or every alternate day for optimal results.

11. Yogurt

Rich in lactic acid, Yogurt not only exfoliates the skin but also addresses discoloration and age spots. Beyond just lightening, Yogurt enhances the skin's tone and texture, while its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce redness and irritation.

• Take a tablespoon of plain yogurt in a bowl.
• Using clean fingers or a brush, apply the yogurt directly to areas with dark spots.
• Allow it to sit on the skin for 15-20 minutes.
• Rinse off gently with lukewarm water.
• For best results, apply daily or every alternate day

12. Papaya

Papaya owes its skin-rejuvenating properties to the fruit acids it contains, specifically alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). These AHAs serve as chemical exfoliants, aiding in the removal of dead skin cells, revealing a brighter and more youthful complexion beneath.

Particularly beneficial for those with dry skin, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines, papaya is a natural solution to get glowing skin.

• Mash a few pieces of ripe papaya in a bowl to form a smooth paste.
• Apply the papaya paste directly onto areas with dark spots or the entire face for an overall glow.
• Let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
• Wash off gently with lukewarm water.
• Use this treatment 2-3 times a week for optimal results.

13. Saffron 

Revered in Ayurveda for its skin-enhancing properties, Saffron is known to brighten the complexion, reduce dark spots, and impart a radiant glow. Rich in antioxidants, saffron combats free radicals, preventing skin damage and promoting an even skin tone.

• Soak a few strands of saffron in 2 tablespoons of water or milk for a couple of hours.
• Once the liquid takes on a golden hue, apply it directly to the areas with dark spots using a cotton ball or your fingertips.
• Allow it to sit for 15-20 minutes.
• Rinse off gently with lukewarm water.

Repeat this process 2-3 times a week for best results.

14. Cucumber

Known for its cooling and hydrating properties, cucumber is rich in vitamins and antioxidants that help reduce dark spots and soothe irritated skin. Its natural astringent properties help tighten the skin, making dark spots less noticeable.

• Grate a fresh cucumber to extract its juice or blend it to form a smooth paste.
• Apply the cucumber juice or paste directly onto areas with dark spots.
• Let it sit for 15-20 minutes, allowing the skin to absorb its nutrients.
• Rinse off gently with cool water.
• For best results, apply daily or every alternate day.

Read - How To Use Tea Tree Oil For Dark Spots?

What is skin pigmentation?

You might have come across terms like 'skin pigmentation' or 'hyperpigmentation' and wondered if they're just fancy names for dark spots. Let's help you with the answers - 

Skin pigmentation, often referred to as hyperpigmentation, encompasses a range of conditions that result in darkened patches of skin. At the core of this is melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its hue.

While melanin is typically spread evenly, certain triggers can cause parts of the skin to produce more melanin, leading to dark spots. Common culprits include prolonged sun exposure and hormonal changes.

Dark spots are just a subset of skin pigmentation issues. 

Regardless of the type of pigmentation, one universal remedy is diligent sun protection. Whatever the type of pigmentation, it can be managed by limiting sun exposure and regular use of sunscreen.

Best Skin Care Habits To Prevent Dark Spots

With dark spots, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Here are some tips to prevent the appearance of dark spots on the skin:

• Prioritize Sun Protection: Sunscreen is your first line of defense. Opt for one with an SPF of at least 20 and make it a habit to reapply every 2 to 3 hours, especially when outdoors.
• Nourish from Within: A balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals can do wonders for your skin. Prioritize fruits and vegetables that are nutrient-dense to maintain a radiant complexion.
• Add Supplements: If your diet falls short, consider nutritional supplements. Over-the-counter options like Vitamin C and other antioxidants can help bridge dietary gaps.
• Quit Smoking: Smoking isn't just harmful to your lungs; it can also impact your skin. Research links cigarette smoking to various skin issues, including dark spots.
• Extra Sun Safeguards: Enhance your sun protection by donning a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. These accessories offer additional defense against the sun's harsh rays.

Kama Ayurveda’s Natural Sun Protection is effective in blocking UVA and UVB rays and preventing the appearance of dark spots. It is a gentle, non-comedogenic, non-greasy formula suited to sensitive & oily skin.

Ayurvedic Treatment Of Dark Spots

There are traditional Ayurvedic ingredients as well that use the energy of herbs and oils to treat dark spots. Below are a few Ayurvedic treatments that you can regularly use if you are suffering from dark spots.

1. Kumkumadi Thailam 

The legendary Kumkumadi oil is prescribed for dull, pigmented, damaged, and aging skin. If your concern is how to remove dark spots from your face, then this Ayurvedic treatment is perfect for you. The key ingredient, Saffron, helps illuminate the complexion and repair pigmentation. Kama’s Kumkumadi Miraculous Beauty Fluid Night Serum is one such oil suitable for the face.

After cleansing, dampen your skin. Take 3-4 drops of Kumkumadi oil on your palm, apply over the face with fingertips and gently massage onto the skin until fully absorbed. Allow it to work overnight for the best results. For nightly use only and should not be applied during the daytime.

2. Nalpamaradi Thailam 

Nalpamaradi Thailam is a powerful skin brightening and de-tanning treatment. It is a mix of Sesame oil, Vetiver, Turmeric, Gooseberry, and Indian Madder. The potent Turmeric present in the oil has antioxidant properties that repair pigmentation, uneven skin tone and marks.

To use the oil for dark spots and pigmentation, gently massage it into the skin, ensuring the affected body parts are covered. The treatment works best if left on for 30 minutes. Cleanse post-treatment with a mild cleanser. This oil may stain yellow due to ingredients such as Turmeric; hence suitable precautions must be taken while using it.

3. Jwalini Oil

Described in the Ancient texts, Jwalini Oil is the ideal treatment for clear skin. It contains herbs that are processed in pure Coconut milk and Sesame oil. It is an excellent after-sun remedy that treats tan and hyperpigmentation. You can apply it all over your body. It’s suitable for all skin types but not ideal for those with acne-prone skin. 

To get the best results, take an appropriate amount onto palms and massage gently into skin until well-absorbed. Leave on for 30 minutes and wash off with a mild cleanser.

4. Ayurvedic Night Cream For Dark Spots

As we sleep during the night, our skin is busy rejuvenating and repairing itself. Using a suitable night cream overnight can reduce the appearance of dark spots and can even fade the existing dark spots.

Kama Ayurveda Rejuvenating and Brightening Night Cream is an Ayurvedic night cream that works effectively to remove dark spots from your skin. It is rich in Saffron, which lightens and brightens the uneven skin, reduces dark circles and pigmentation marks while also repairing fine lines, age spots, and other signs of aging.

Dark Spots vs. Acne Scars

Distinguishing between dark spots and acne scars is vital, as their treatments diverge significantly. While dark spots tend to be superficial, acne scars delve deeper, often causing more lasting damage. What we might brush off as mere dark spots could, in reality, be underlying acne scars.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation refers to the brownish spots that linger after a bout of mild to moderate acne. These marks, though persistent, fade over time. In contrast, acne scars result from damage to deeper skin layers, typically stemming from moderate to severe acne episodes.

We are all guilty of popping zits, and it turns out that this is the most common reason for acne scars. Some of the types of acne scars are:

• Ice Pick Scars: Deep and narrow, these scars have jagged edges, often resembling enlarged pores.
• Boxcar Scars: Characterized by broad, rectangular depressions with sharp edges.
• Rolling Scars: Broad depressions with a gentle slope, true to their name.

Scars result from excessive tissue growth and can be challenging to eliminate entirely, though they may face over time. On the brighter side, dark spots can disappear over time, ranging from a couple of months to a few years.

Other Pigmentation treatments:

There are other dark spot treatments as well, which involve the use of chemicals. We do not recommend these treatments as they are not suitable for all skin types and might cause side-effects.

However, to provide you with complete knowledge on the subject, we’re listing some of these chemical treatments. Remember to consult a dermatologist and take professional advice before going forward with any of them.

1. Face acids:
   Face acids work by exfoliating and shedding the top layer of your skin so that new cells emerge and take the place of old cells. The process evens out the skin and makes it smoother. Various acids are available in the market, but the most common ones are Vitamin C and Salicylic acid.
2. Chemical peels:
   Chemical peels use acids at a stronger concentration to peel the outer layer of the skin. It is advisable to consult a dermatologist before going ahead with chemical peels to treat dark spots.
3. Laser peel:
   Laser peel treatment uses targeted beams of light to treat hyperpigmentation and dark spots. There are different types of laser peels. Your doctor or skin care specialist will assess your skin and suggest the best form of treatment.
4. Intense pulse light therapy:
   IPL therapy is a type of non-ablative laser treatment that is also known as photo facial. IPL therapy usually requires multiple sessions. It promotes collagen production within the skin.
5. Microdermabrasion:
   Microdermabrasion is a clinical procedure used to treat hyperpigmentation that affects the epidermis only (superficial scarring). It works best on superficial scars.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dark Spots

1. How to remove dark spots on face overnight?

While we all want quick solutions to our skin problems, it's not possible to altogether remove dark spots from the face overnight. There are, however, some things that you can do to get rid of them quickly.

1. Try out this natural remedy - Take out potato juice and massage it into your skin every day. 
2. Use a night cream or night serum to treat your dark spots. Allow it to work overnight for the best results.

2. How to remove dark spots caused by pimples?

As we discussed earlier in the article, spots caused by acne or pimples are called acne scars. Unlike dark spots, they are not caused by pigmentation and are difficult to remove. In Ayurveda, Red Sandalwood is considered a useful ingredient for lightening acne scars. You can use Anti-Acne Face Pack with Red Sandalwood as one of the ingredients to lighten dark spots caused by pimples.

3. How to remove dark spots on face fast?

Removing dark spots from the face is a slow process. While some chemical treatments may help you remove dark spots on face fast, they might have side-effects. 

We recommend that you start by developing sun-screening habits and apply night cream or night serum that helps in removing dark spots. Occasionally, treat your face with natural ingredients like lemon juice or potato juice to further accelerate the process. We’ve already shared a list of natural remedies in the article.

4. How to use lemon on face for dark spots?

Lemon is the most common natural ingredient used to treat dark spots as it is rich in Vitamin C. It’s easy to use lemon on your face for dark spots. Just squeeze the lemon into a bowl and add equal parts of water. Applying lemon juice on the skin without diluting might result in irritation. Use a cotton ball to apply the mixture directly to the areas with dark spots on your face and hands. If your face has any bruises, cuts, or dry skin patches, make sure you avoid them while applying lemon on your skin.

Conclusion

In most cases, dark spots on the skin are not a cause of concern, except for cosmetic reasons. However, it is advised to see a doctor if any of the dark patches on the skin either itches, bleeds, tingles, or changes in colour or size as these may be indicators of skin cancer. It is also important to understand that all of the solutions mentioned above might not suit everyone. It is advisable to do a patch test first before applying anything to the face. Home remedies and healthy skincare habits are for everyone, but remember to consult a doctor before trying out chemical peels and other hyperpigmentation treatments. 

References -

• Research on skin hyperpigmentation in indian population- by National Center for Biotechnology Information: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5029232/
• Are Natural Ingredients Effective in the Management of Hyperpigmentation? A Systematic Review- by NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5843359/
•  New Study Links Traffic-Related Air Pollution to Facial Dark Spots- a study by Elsevier: https://www.elsevier.com/about/press-releases/research-and-journals/new-study-links-traffic-related-air-pollution-to-facial-dark-spots
•  How to fade dark spots in skin of color- BY American academy of dermatology : https://www.aad.org/skin-care-secrets/fade-dark-spots
• Dark patches on the face may be melasma - by Harvard Health: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/dark-patches-on-the-face-may-be-melasma-2018101915058

This evening, watching a gorgeous girl in a TV show describe herself as “not being very pretty or attractive” got me thinking about my definition of beauty and wanting to ask you - what’s yours?

What is beauty? Well, the oxford dictionary defines it as, “A combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight."

But, what do you think beauty is? Is it the symmetry of your face, it is your bone structure, body shape, color, race, age, weight, or how flat your stomach is? Do you think beauty is what you see on the TV popularised by culture or trends? Or is beauty down to the facialists and makeup artists who transform your face and bring about a bloom of youth in you?

Each culture has a different perception and definition of beauty. For example, the Kayan tribes believe that long giraffe necks are the ultimate sign of beauty. So, people there from age five start priming their necks with heavy brass rings. Similarly, people from several parts of Asia often consider pale and white skin a sign of affluence and beauty.

There are chances that some of these cultural and regional definitions of beauty affected you while growing up.

Redefining what beauty really is

Have you ever looked into a mirror that is completely steamed and fogged up after having a hot and steamy bath? Well, I think that is how we tend to view our beauty.

We can see ourselves, but the mirror has been fogged up by various life experiences and memories as we grew up. And we struggle to fit into our own definition of our beauty. Hence, it’s time we redefine what being beautiful really means to us.

Ayurveda defines true beauty as “Roopam, gunam, vayastyag, iti shubhanga karanam”.

Here roopam is the outer beauty (reflected by a healthy hair and clear, radiant complexion) , gunam is inner beauty (reflected by warm personality and an innocent heart) and vayastyag is lasting beauty (reflected by feeling young and healthy). This holistic definition of beauty is in reach for everyone and is closely associated with overall physical and mental health.

Real beauty lies in the acceptance of yourself and in realising that all of your flaws are a part of you and make you who you are. Beauty is the radiance of spirit, kindness to ourselves, and to others, having a good character, strength and self-confidence. In simpler words, beauty is being healthy both emotionally and physically.

These are not just my words, an annual beauty survey conducted recently on over 20,000 male and female consumers in 20 markets across the globe revealed that looking healthy is the top-rated definition of beauty. This was followed closely by “hygiene and cleanliness,” “inner confidence,” and “being comfortable in your skin” whereas “looking presentable,” “maintaining a youthful appearance,” “looking your best” fell lower on the list.

Factors Affecting A Beautiful Body

Most beauty tips focus on giving you some hacks that promise instant fix to your problems. But if you focus on the factors listed below, you’ll genuinely experience feeling beautiful.

• Stress

The primary cause of significant hormonal imbalances inside your body is stress. It also affects your skin by damaging the skin’s barrier function, which reduces its ability to absorb and retain moisture. This dehydrated skin looks dry, patchy, and becomes flaky over time. In ayurvedic terms, stress is related to the balance of the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha).

The easiest way to combat stress is to include exercise in your daily routine. Going for a walk and doing yoga and meditation everyday helps in managing stress.

• Sleep

Lack of sleep at night makes you feel sleepy and tired the next day. It also makes your skin deal with the lack of rest, which is why the radiance is lost. Problems such as under-eye bags, saggy skin, and dark circles arise. Ayurveda claims that having 7 to 8 hours a day is not enough; one should sleep at the right time as well.

• Poor Nutrition

Ayurveda chants, “Food is medicine when consumed properly.” What you eat determines how healthy you feel. Make sure you eat foods that are rich in Vitamins and Minerals to maintain a healthy gut and to keep your skin glowing. For detoxifying your skin, add colorful fruits and vegetables to your diet and get supple and acne-free skin.

• Not Applying Sunscreen

Even if your job doesn’t require you to stay outdoors, even then, your skin gets exposure to the harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun that cause lasting damage. Hence, you should make use of natural sunscreens with SPF 21 or above. Otherwise, the rays penetrate your skin, weaken the collagen cells, lead to pigmentation and tanning in the long run.

Of course, smoking affects your body adversely. But, do you know that it strips your skin of essential nutrients and oxidants, leading to degradation of the basic units of skin-collagen and elastin?

These affected units will lead to uneven skin, sagging and appearance of fine lines. A study has also proved that smoking blocks the pores in the skin which results in acne.

• Environment

Different types of environmental pollutants have their own effects on our bodies and skin. For example, chemicals such as tar and oil can cause acne or folliculitis as they clog our pores while other materials can cause fluids to build up in the skin and result in tissue break down. They can also lead to issues like bacterial infections, hair loss, and skin pigmentation. If you are not careful, extreme climatic conditions can also damage your body and skin.

It’s essential to wear suitable clothing according to the weather, to apply sunscreen regularly and to keep your face covered to protect it from environmental damage when the air is severely polluted. It is also essential to cleanse your skin in the morning and at night and to use natural oils such as Moringa Oil to reverse the skin damage caused by pollution.

Beauty Tips For Skin And Hair

We are constantly bombarded with products, opinions, and advice galore when it comes to skincare and hair routines. I don’t blame you if you are confused and your skincare routine is all over the place. From your dermatologist asking to include more antioxidants in your diet to your grandmother asking you to ditch the chemicals and go all-natural, everyone has their own opinions and advice.
So, to make your life easy, I’ve stockpiled some beauty tips that are proven to be effective and are simple to follow. Trust me, following even a few of them, will help you feel more beautiful and radiant.

The Best Skin Care Tips for Face and Body

One of the most common mistakes that people commit while trying to take care of their skin is trying to follow what others suggest or what works for them. Ayurveda strongly emphasizes how every individual is different.

1. Know your skin type and how it responds to the weather

The first step is to identify what doshas are prominent on your skin. Here are a few characteristics of different doshas. You might have one or more of them. You might also realise that a few of these doshas get aggravated by change in weather.

Vata Skin Type - Your skin is thin, dry, has fine pores and is usually cool to the touch. You may experience excessive dryness in some weather and your skin easily shows signs of ageing and stress.

Pitta Skin Type - Usually fair in colour and warm to touch, Pitta skin is thicker and can break out easily. This type of skin is also more prone to rashes

Kapha Skin Type - This skin type is thicker and oilier. While people with Kapha skin types don’t have to worry about ageing till much later, they frequently suffer from excessive oiliness and have enlarged pores that attract dirt and cause pimples.

2. Learn to treat your doshas

While understanding your doshas and treating them is a long process, here are a few beauty tips for your based on your dosha.

Vata Skin Type - Your skin needs moisturisation and hydration as it’s unable to retain moisture. So, make sure you drink ample water and apply natural and nourishing moisturisers to your skin. In winters, you can even apply coconut oil for hydration.

Pitta Skin Type - Your skin is sensitive and you should protect it from harsh conditions like excessive sun exposure. Use natural cleansers and creams meant for sensitive skin and apply sunscreen before you step out.

Kapha Skin Type - Your skin is prone to attracting oil and dirt and hence, you should focus on cleansing well. Apart from cleansing at least twice a day, exfoliate your face once or twice a week.

3. Bathe your skin with milk

When you have irritated or inflamed skin, try having a milk bath for its soothing and calming effects. Milk has tremendous softening and moisturizing properties, thanks to its fats and lactic acid content. You can even dip a cotton ball into a small bowl of raw milk and apply all over the face and neck once a day. This helps in removing the dirt from your pores. Full-fat milk or cream-based masks are wonderful for soothing and nourishing your skin. If you are a vegan, try coconut milk as it has similar properties.

4. Use A Dry Brush To Scrub Your Skin While Bathing

According to Ayurveda, using a natural bristle dry brush on our body is a key to toned and firm skin. It is great for places that retain fluid and helps cellulite. You have to start with your feet, massage in upward, circular motions towards the heart and then rinse it off.

For Vata and Pitta skin types who have sensitive and dry skin, it’s recommended to use softer brushes that are effective but less abrasive from exfoliation. For Kapha skin, you can use a natural bristle brush.

5. Use Aloe Vera On Face On A Daily Basis

Aloe Vera is not just for sunburns. It also helps in making the skin smooth, supple and younger-looking. While some use it as a toner or treatment, others swear by a daily swig and sip it in a juice. You can simply apply Aloe Vera all over your face and neck, leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes and then rinse it off with plain water.

6. Learn To Give Yourself A Massage With Oils

You might have heard that an Ayurvedic massage helps in managing stress, but did you know that it also boosts the radiance of your skin? Abhyanga, an ayurvedic massage done with warm oil not only moisturizes you deeply, but also gives you a radiant looking skin afterwards. When done regularly, it offers many health benefits. You can actually give a massage to yourself by working from your face down to the soles of your feet. Even a two-minute massage before bed with a suitable oil can do wonders for your skin.

Read - Which body massage oils are recommended by Ayurveda?

7. Apply Facial Oils

My face goes through a lot every day, it tackles the tests of the weather, regular touches like scratching my nose and rubbing my eyes etc.. I thought maintaining a youthful and healthy glowing skin is impossible. But thanks to Ayurveda, I found some facial oils that balance my dosha, detox my skin and provide it with a youthful nourished glow I have been searching for. One of them is the timeless recipe called Kumkumadi Oil which is suitable for all skin types. For a naturally glowing skin, you can choose a natural facial oil according to your skin type/dosha and start using it on your face regularly.

8. To Cure Dry And Flaky Lips, Mix Sugar And Vaseline

Are you a self-proclaimed lipstick addict? If you don’t give your lips a treatment once in a while, do they look unhealthy? Do they look cracked and sore all the time? If yes, then you should definitely try this hack. Mix sugar and vaseline together and massage on your dried and tired lips. It works just like a lip scrub. Also, make sure you apply a natural lip balm on your lips at least once a day to provide your lips with a healthy dose of hydration.

9. Do not forget the good old CTM

One common skin care regimen for all skin types is the popular CTM - Cleanse, Tone and Moisturize routine. Every morning and night, make sure you wash your face with a natural cleanser and then use a toner like Rose Water that is suitable for all skin types. In the morning, follow it up with a day cream and at night, follow it up with a night cream or a night serum.

Want to try CTM but don’t know how to get started? Kama’s Day Care Regime and Night Care Regime are great to begin with!

What To Eat For Healthy skin

It’s futile to use expensive products for your skincare routine and makeup routine when you don’t eat healthy. Because ultimately no matter what you apply from the outside, it is what you eat that makes you glow. Look at the following beauty tips about eating your way to a healthy and glowing skin.

10. Eat At least Five Portions Of Raw Fruits And Vegetables Everyday

Free radicals, pollution, sunlight and smoking can cause wrinkles and age spots. So, to help protect your skin from cellular damage and free radicals, eat fruits and vegetables that contain powerful antioxidants. Beta Carotene, found in sweet potatoes, pumpkin and carrots, and lutein found in papaya, spinach and kale are potent antioxidants that are important for healthy skin and normal skin cell development. Aim at least five portions of food rich in antioxidants in a day.

11. Go For Low GI Carbs

The GI (glycaemic index) is a system that ranks carbohydrate-based foods on how quickly and slowly that gets broken down into glucose in the body. Try to eat low GI or slow-releasing carbohydrates like beans, pulses, porridge etc. High GI foods like sugary drinks and biscuits damage collagen and accelerate wrinkles.

12. Eat Enough Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants, supports the immune system, helps blemishes heal properly and promotes radiant skin. Vitamin C is needed for the body to produce collagen which helps in strengthening the capillaries. Vitamin E protects from cell damage and supports skin growth. Foods high in vitamin C and vitamin E include oranges, papaya, strawberries, blueberries, broccoli, guava, almonds, avocados, hazelnuts, sunflower, beetroot and corn oils.

13. Eat Plenty Of Zinc

Zinc in the body is responsible for the normal functioning of sebaceous glands in the skin, keeping skin soft and supple and repairing skin damage. Foods that are rich in Zinc include whole grains, seeds and nuts.

14. Stay Hydrated

Dehydration makes your skin look dry, tired and slightly grey. It needs moisture to stay healthy and flexible. While all fluids count towards your daily intake, water is the best source of hydration. You should at least drink six to eight glasses of water a day.

Keep a large bottle of water on your desk to remind you to drink while working. Caffeine-free herbal teas also do the job pretty well. Also, fruits and vegetables like watermelon, cucumber and courgette contribute to overall fluid intake. The added benefit is that the minerals that these foods contain accelerate the hydration of your body and skin.

Best Hair Tips

14. Use a hair Protection Serum Before Using Your Hot Tools

Well, we all love our hair after a blowout or a heat styling session. We also know that excessive styling can do a number on our hair. No, I am not saying that we need to part with our hot tools totally, but we should make one adjustment to our routine when we are using heat to style hair. We should apply a protective products like heat-protecting serum or a spritz first before straightening, curling or blow-drying our hair.

15. Learn how to shampoo your hair properly

There are different shampoos for oily, dry and combination hair types. So, find the appropriate one that suits you better. Also, make sure you cleanse your scalp and the hair roots properly. Shampoo should always be concentrated on the scalp, washing lengths and hair tips will lead to dry and dull hair that lack lustre. Scalp that produces oil sheds the skin regularly and must be cleaned properly. This oil if not cleaned well from the scalp can lead to scalp odour, stench, dandruff and stickiness.

16. Try Paper Towels For Beachy Waves

Hair stylists recommended using a paper towel to help air-dry your hair while keeping your curls intact. Instead of blasting the curls with hot water and crushing them with a heavy towel, simply scrunch up your damp curls with a paper towel and to help them spring to life. In the mornings, you can wet your hair and do the same thing without using a hair dryer.

17. Replace Your Hair Towel With An Old T-shirt

Use a clean T-shirt instead of a regular towel to wrap my hair after you shower. Doing so can cut down frizziness and breakage. Try this simple hack to get softer, smoother and shinier hair.

Homemade beauty tips

We might be using an endless array of products daily for our skin and hair. But once in a while going back to what our grandmas used to repeatedly tell us is fun and nostalgic, not to mention, very effective.

There are certain age-old remedies that are very effective and have stood the test of time. Even Ayurveda recommends us to follow them to look and feel beautiful. Dive in to know some of these ‘dadima ke nuske’.

18. Quick Restoring Masks

The following face masks help in curing skin problems naturally and bring out the lost radiance. You can prepare most of these yourself by using the ingredients in your fridge/kitchen.

For Lifeless And Dull Skin
Mix apple juice and honey and apply a thin layer to your face. Leave it for 5 minutes.

For Dark Circles And Puffy Eyes
Finely grate one potato and apply it to the area under your eye. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse it off with plain water.

For Irritated Skin
An irritated skin can be calmed with a buttermilk mask, just apply on your face and neck for about 15 minutes and rinse it off.

19. A Natural Exfoliant pack - Ubtan

Mix one teaspoon of besan or gram flour, a pinch of turmeric powder, half a teaspoon of milk, a few drops of lime juice and add water to get a smooth paste. Apply this paste all over the face and leave it on for about thirty minutes until it dries. Rinse it off with plain water. Lime juice and the lactic acid in milk mildly brightens and exfoliates the skin. Being a fantastic antiseptic, turmeric helps with acne and of course, besan is a great exfoliating agent.

If you don’t want to prepare your own Ubtan everytime, you can simply choose Kama Ayurveda’s Ubtan and directly apply it on your face by mixing it with rose water.

Read - The 2 Best Ayurvedic Ubtan Recipes for a glowing skin

20. Homemade Kohl

Aren’t you guilty of using chemical products for your skin, especially for your eyes since they are the most sensitive ones? Want to make Kohl in a quick and easy way?

You can actually make kohl at home by placing a copper bowl over a diya while keeping it a little gap to allow the flame to get oxygen. You can burn the diya with any type of oil (sesame oil, canola oil or castor oil) and let it flame for about an hour or two. The black residue that is left in the copper bowl can be used as kohl.

21. Three Ingredient Hair Mask For Dull and Lifeless Hair

A simple three-ingredient hair mask can be your saviour from hair dryness. You just need a ripe banana, honey and yoghurt. Blend together mashed banana, two teaspoons of honey and 2-3 tablespoons of yoghurt (depending upon the length of hair) in a bowl. Apply this along the length of the hair from top to bottom and allow it to stay for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Then rinse it off using a mild shampoo.

All these ingredients are loaded with nutrients that keep your hair healthy and strong. Honey is an excellent moisturizing agent and is also anti-bacterial in nature, yoghurt is dense in calcium and vitamin D and bananas are packed with the goodness of antioxidants and potassium. Therefore, when combined together, this hair mask will bring back the lost moisture of the hair and makes it look lively and bouncy.

If you have a very oily scalp, then you can simply apply orange juice and honey on your hair as a hair mask.

To protect your hair some the damage caused by hot tools, you should use a hair protective product. Try this homemade remedy to prepare a hair protective spray on your own.

Take one teaspoon of coconut oil, two teaspoons of your regular hair conditioner, one teaspoon of sweet almond oil, five drops of geranium/ylang ylang/tea tree essential oil and one cup of distilled water. Take a spray bottle and pour half a cup of distilled water, then add the remaining ingredients. Now, top up the bottle with the remaining distilled water. Shake well and use this as your hair protective spray.

Beauty Tips For Men

If you really care about the health of your skin, your body, your hair, then there is nothing wrong in having a bit of a beauty regimen. Beauty isn’t gender specific and there’s no reason for men to care any less about your skin. With the following simple beauty tips for men below, you can keep your body happy without doing overdoing yourself.

22. Keep Your Skin Moisturized

Are you really taking care of your skin- the largest organ in the body? Do you make sure it is healthy and hydrated? If not, then it’s time to start doing it! Drink plenty of water and apply lotion after your shower. Also you need to use two, one for your body and one for your face. Yes, moisturisers and face creams are for men too!

23. Use Shampoo That are Especially For Men

Men should use shampoos that are tailored to them as their scalp is more likely to become itchy, irritated and react poorly to certain ingredients. They also tend to produce more oil when compared to women. So, you should grab a shampoo that can cleanse your hair without over-drying it. Look for shampoos with natural ingredients such as Aloe Vera and Amla for best results.

24. Look Up For Shave Creams After You Groom

Blades can cause irritation and in-grown hairs. So, if you are not using an aftershave cream, then you should immediately start using one. Choose the one with soothing and anti-oxidant ingredients that will save your skin from redness and irritation. Also, do not forget to prep your skin before shaving by washing your face with a mild natural cleanser.

25. Men Must Use Conditioner Too

Most men assume that they don’t need conditioner. Well, if your hair is under two inches then you might be able to get without using it. But, if at all you have longer hair, then you should definitely add a bottle of conditioner to your shower shelf. A conditioner will help you in adding back the moisture your shampoo strips away.

26. Scrub before you shave

Removing dead cells from the skin leaves healthy and radiant skin for both men and women. Exfoliate your skin well by using a face scrub that buffs away dirt, oil and old cells that might be matting down your facial hair and blocking your razor’s path. Use a scrub on your face before you shave. This will close the pores and soothe the skin. After shaving, pat dry your face and apply a lightweight moisturizer made with shea butter or cocoa butter that help in making your skin soft and comfortable.

27. Whiten Your Smile

Healthy white teeth, not only looks good but also saves your time and money at the dentist’s office. You should brush, floss and use a mouthwash on a daily basis. That way, you can lower the risk of gum diseases, cavities, bleeding and infections. If you are a serial smoker or drink a lot of coffee that makes your teeth look yellow and unhealthy, talk to your dentist about whitening options. Simple hygiene adds to your overall beauty!

Conclusion -

These tips are only for you to look and feel healthy and definitely don’t define your beauty. All these beauty tips are useless if you use any external yardstick to measure your beauty. Because ultimately beauty comes from within.

When you look at a flower or a sunset or a piece of art, you don’t judge it. You simply appreciate it for what it is, don’t you? I think it is now time for you to appreciate yourself as you would do to any other masterpiece. It's time for a new mirror that is wiped clean from the fog of comparisons, accusations, expectations and judgement. Take a look, a real hard look and embrace you as you, accept you as you - beauty.

If you ask a woman about what she desires in life, having a picture-perfect glowing skin is one thing that she’ll place on the list. But sadly, there’s no easy fix to get a radiant skin.

The only way to get glowing skin naturally without any makeup, is regular skin care.

But lack of sleep, stress, ageing, pollution, harmful sun rays, excessive smoking, drinking alcohol and following an unhealthy diet rips that natural glow from the skin, leaving it dull and shabby.

Have you been there, too? Then, don’t worry. You cannot always protect your skin from environmental stressors as they are unfortunately a part of our lives. Work related stress also continues to take a toll on our skin health. (1)

However, you can always follow simple remedies and a healthy diet to restore the lost radiance to the skin. Ayurveda has many such glowing skin secrets that can help us in protecting our skin.

Ayurvedic tools like facial oils, packs, scrubs and ubtans gently nourish your skin, cleanse the pores and help the skin breathe better. And what’s more interesting is that you can find most of these ingredients in your kitchen!

So, if you’ve always wondered how you can get a glowing skin, these natural remedies for healthy and radiant skin will be your answer.

1. Apply Turmeric Paste on your skin

Turmeric is one of the most powerful Ayurvedic ingredients for skin. In Sanskrit, it’s known by names such as “Haridra”(“The Yellow One”), “Gauri” (“The One Whose Face is Light and Shining”) and “Kanchani” (“Golden Goddess”). These names and the ancient traditions of women applying turmeric (haldi) on their face are evidence of its ability to reveal a glowing complexion.

How To Make: Mix one teaspoon of Turmeric powder with 4 tablespoons of Gram Flour and add enough milk or water to form a smooth paste.

How And When To Apply: Apply the paste to your face and neck and leave it on for about 15 to 20 mins. Then, rinse it off with plain water. Repeat this process once or twice a week.

Why This Works: Turmeric contains a substance called curcumin which has very strong antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. So, it eliminates the harmful free radicals that damage the skin. Turmeric also keeps the skin supple and glowing by enhancing collagen production. Gram flour makes the skin clean and bright by gently cleansing it. (2,3)

2. Use Saffron and Honey mask on your skin

Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world and not without reason. Only three strands of saffron can be extracted from a single Saffron flower. Saffron is a time-honoured Ayurvedic ingredient that balances all three doshas, nurtures the skin and makes it blemish free and radiant. (4)

How To Make: Soak a few strands of Saffron in one tablespoon of honey and leave it for a couple of minutes.

How And When To Apply: Apply the Saffron-infused Honey on the face and neck and wash it off after 10 minutes. Repeat this three to four times a week.

Why This Works: Saffron is an ancient remedy to get glowing skin naturally. The antioxidants present in it helps in keeping the skin healthy and protects it from sun damage.

3. Use Kumkumadi Oil as facial serum at night

Kumkumadi Tailam (made from 16 unique herbs and oil) is one of Ayurveda's most effective glowing skin home remedies. The name Kumkumadi comes from one of its key ingredients - red-gold Saffron, which is known as Kumkuma in Sanskrit.

How To Make: As the process of preparing Kumkumadi Oil at home is complex and requires many ingredients to be used in the exact proportions, it’s recommended to buy Kumkumadi Oil from Ayurvedic beauty brands. For instance, Kama Ayurveda’s Kumkumadi Brightening Serum has Kumkumadi Oil which will help you get a perfect glowing skin.

How And When To Apply: At night, take (2-3 drops) of Kumkumadi Serum on your palm, apply over the face with fingertips and gently massage onto the skin until fully absorbed.

Why This Works: Kumkumadi oil works as a natural skin illuminator by lightening the skin tone, improves skin texture and brightens dull skin.

Also read - Kumkumadi Tailam: Ultimate Guide To The Miracle Beauty Oil

4. Tone your skin with Rose Water

Rose is a special Ayurvedic ingredient that has soothing properties. It’s known to balance Sadhaka Pitta which in turn controls our emotions and makes us calmer and happier. By removing stress along with impurities from our skin, rose water helps in getting a natural glow.

How To Use: Though there are ways to make rose water at home, we recommend you to use Pure Rose Water prepared by using the steam distillation method. Kama Ayurveda’s Pure Rose Water is one such option.

How And When To Apply: Soak a cotton ball with rose water and apply it all over the face and neck. Repeat this process every morning and evening. Alternatively, store your bottle of rose water in the refrigerator.

Why This Works: Rosewater is generally used as toner as it cleanses and refreshes the skin. By stimulating blood circulation, it also brightens the skin tone and balances the pH of the skin (5).

Also read - 5 Secrets About Kama Ayurveda Rose Water

5. Use Sandalwood Powder on your skin

Sandalwood is famous for its fragrance that’s known as The Fragrance of Paradise according to Hindu religion. Sandalwood induces Saumanasya Janana (Tranquillity, Placidity, Mind-Body Union) and is a long-lasting solution for smooth, taut and younger-looking skin.

How To Make: Mix two spoons of Sandalwood powder and Rose Water in a bowl to make a smooth paste.

How And When To Apply: Apply the paste all over the face and neck and rinse it after 15 to 20 mins. Repeat this twice a week.

Why This Works: The antiseptic properties in Sandalwood prevents pimples, acne and sores from developing. As one of the oldest blood purifiers, it also helps in removing pigmentation and dark spots.

Alternatively, you can use Kama Ayurveda’s Suvarna Haldi Chandan Face Pack. The Pure Chandan Oil in Suvarna is from sustainably sourced trees in Maharashtra, the heartwood of which has taken 60 years to mature.

6. Exfoliate gently with Lemon Sugar scrub

How To Make: Take two teaspoons of Lemon juice and two teaspoons of Sugar and mix them well in a bowl. Add a few drops of honey to prepare the scrub.

How And When To Apply: Apply the mixture on the face, scrub it in the circular motions and leave it on for 10 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water. Scrub this way twice a week.

Why This Works: Lemon helps in cleansing, bleaching and removing the tan from the skin (6,7). The sugar granules work as a scrub and help in getting rid of the dead skin. Lemon is considered as one of nature's best skin brightening agents.

7. Apply ripe Papaya on your skin

Ripe papaya contains an enzyme called papain. It acts as a mild exfoliator which gently removes the top layer of dead cells on the face and makes your skin radiant and younger-looking.

How To Use: Take a few pieces of ripe Papaya and add one teaspoon of Sandalwood powder or Multani Mitti and one teaspoon of honey. Mix these ingredients to get a paste-like consistency.

How And When To Apply: Apply the paste all over the face and neck and leave it for 20 minutes. Rinse off with cool water. Repeat this once every week.

Why This Works: Papaya also helps us in clearing the dirt and oil that can lead to acne and breakouts on the face (8). Multani Mitti absorbs the excess oil and honey moisturizes and hydrates the skin. Honey also helps in reducing the blemishes (10). Overall, this face pack acts as an anti-ageing and skin firming pack which helps you get a glowing skin.

8. Moisturize your skin with honey

How And When To Apply: Apply pure Honey evenly on a clear and damp face and massage it thoroughly for a few minutes. Then, wash it off with lukewarm water. Do this on every alternative day.

Why It Works: The anti-microbial and hygroscopic properties in honey gives you clear and soft skin. As it is rich in antioxidants, honey will reduce blemishes and make the skin soft and healthy (11).

9. Massage your skin with Aloe Vera gel

How To Use: Mix one tablespoon of Aloe Vera gel from the aloe vera plant with a pinch of turmeric and one teaspoon of honey in a bowl. You can also add a teaspoon of milk to it.

How And When To Apply: Apply the mixture all over the face and neck and leave it for about 20 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water and pat dry it. Do this once or twice a week.

Why It Works: The ultimate remedy for skin problems is Aloe Vera. It nourishes, heals and rejuvenates the skin to give it a natural glow (12).

10. Apply ripe Banana paste on your skin

How To Use: Mash a ripe Banana and with it with two teaspoons of milk and make it a smooth paste.

How And When To Apply: Apply the paste all over the face and neck. Leave it on for about 20 minutes and then rinse it off with plain water. Now, rub an ice cube all over the applied area for a few seconds. Do this once or twice every week.

Why It Works: A ripe Banana contains vitamin A, B, C and E, minerals such as potassium, etc. These minerals hydrate the skin, lighten the blemishes and leave it soft and glowing (13).

11. Apply Milk on your skin

How to get glowing skin naturally? The answer lies in one of your most common day-to-day beverages! The lactic acid present in Milk has a mild bleaching action that reveals a brighter complexion.

How To Use: Add two teaspoons of Milk to 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of besan and mix them well to form a homogenous paste. Alternatively, you can simply add Saffron to milk and leave it overnight and use the milk next morning on your skin.

How And When To Apply: Apply the paste all over the face and neck and leave it for 20 mins until it gets dry. Then rinse off the paste with warm water. Do this twice a week for best results.

Why It Works: This remedy is an age-old formula for a healthy and soft skin. People say Cleopatra’s beauty routine too included milk and honey. Raw milk is rich in skin-friendly ingredients such as saturated fat, protein, calcium, and vitamin C. (14)

12. Use Green Tea on face to get a glowing skin

How To make: Boil one tablespoon of Green tea leaves in water until they impart colour. Then turn off the flame and cool it down. Now take 2 spoons of the solution and mix it with 2 teaspoons of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of cream. Mix it well and make a smooth paste.

How And When To Apply: Apply the paste all over the face and neck and scrub it gently in circular motions. Wash it off after 10 minutes with cold water. Repeat the process once or twice a week.

Why It Works: Green tea leaves maintain the collagen production in the skin as they are rich in flavonoids. They help in maintaining the elasticity of the skin and reversing the signs of ageing (15). Green tea leaves also make your skin glow.

13. Drink Bitter Gourd juice for a glowing skin

How To Make: Take 2 or 3 Bitter Gourds, peel them and remove the seeds. Wash them thoroughly with water. Now, cut them into small pieces and blend them with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice. Add salt and black pepper for taste.

When To Drink: Drink the bitter gourd juice early every day or at least every alternate day.

Why This Works: Bitter gourds help in improving digestion and eliminating almost all infections. It’s the best food for skin glow as it works internally by purifying the blood (16, 17).

14. Orange Peel For Glowing Skin

How To Make: Take a few pieces of Orange peel and blend them well with 2 teaspoons of rose water. Make a thin smooth paste.

How And When To Apply: Apply the paste all over the face and neck and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Wash it off with cold water. You can do this once every few days.

Why It Works: The large amounts of citric acid and vitamin 3 in Orange will refresh the skin and relieve acne. It also helps in firming the skin and giving it a natural glow (18).

15. Coconut Oil For Glowing Skin

How To Make: Take a few drops of extra virgin coconut oil and warm it up. You can also add sugar granules to exfoliate the skin.

How And When To Apply: Apply the oil all over the face and neck and massage the skin gently in circular motions. Leave it on for an entire night. You can do this every night before going to bed. To exfoliate the skin, you can also add sugar and scrub your face gently every once or twice a week.

Why It Works: This will work best for dry and dull skin as the oil locks the moisture in the skin. Coconut oil also nourishes the skin with essential fatty acids. It gives glowing skin as the phenolic compounds contribute to its antioxidant activity (19).

16. Ubtan For A Glowing Skin

How To Make: Grind 1 cup of split red lentils (masoor dal) or chickpea flour (besan), ¼ cup of raw rice and 8 to 9 almonds either separately or together. To this, add ½ cup of oatmeal and a pinch of turmeric powder.

Mix this powdered mixture well and add enough water or rose water to make it a smooth paste. Alternatively, you can use Kama Ayurveda Ubtan as it’s one of the most effective glowing skin home remedies.

How And When To Apply: Apply the paste evenly all over the face and neck. You can also apply it all over the body. Let the pack dry and then wash it off with plain water. You can repeat this once every 7 to 10 days.

Why It Works: Ubtan is a face pack recipe that has been passed down from generations. It is mainly used for healthy and glowing skin. The lentils, rice and oatmeal will help in removing dirt and dead cells from the skin (20, 21). We all know turmeric will help in fading out the blemishes and will give a natural glow. Almonds also help in nourishing the skin and keep it hydrated (22).

Diet For Glowing Skin

In Ayurveda, there’s an equal emphasis on eating the right food. A healthy skin is impossible to get and maintain without a healthy diet. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables will help you in getting a younger and glowing skin as they are a storehouse of lots of vitamins and minerals. So, try to include them in your daily diet.

Some of the best fruits for glowing skin are papaya, oranges, guava, mangoes and kiwi. Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, bell peppers and green leafy vegetables also will give you a glowing skin. Remember, what you eat also reflects on your skin.

Read - 17 Best Foods For Glowing Skin According to Ayurveda

To conclude, following these glowing skin tips and using the best products for glowing skin can help you maintain a clear, radiant skin. If you need help in creating the best skin care routine for yourself, you can book a free consultation with our Ayurvedic beauty experts. 

Is acne your biggest skin concern? Does your acne leave behind scars that don’t fade away with time? If yes, then you are not alone. As many as 90 percent of the world population is affected by acne at some point in their life.

What’s worse is that research has shown that acne can affect a person’s self-esteem and confidence. Acne can cause a lot of anxiety and the medications used to treat acne often result in side-effects of their own.

So, the question becomes - Is there a way to treat acne naturally? 

And, the answer is using Tea Tree Oil for acne

You might have noticed Tea Tree Oil becoming a popular ingredient in skin care products and it’s not without reason. Tea tree oil is a natural way of curing skin ailments. It is capable of treating a wide range of problems be it blisters on your skin, or cold sores or hair fall or even acne. 

Native to Australia, the pure essential oil of Tea Tree is prepared by distilling the leaves of a tree named as Melaleuca Alternifolia. This oil is a well-known topical antiseptic and anti-fungal treatment with superb acne fighting properties. 

Let’s now understand how tea tree oil actually works on the skin to prevent and treat acne.

How To Use Tea Tree Oil For Acne Spots?

Applying tea tree oil to acne spots can be an effective way to harness its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, it's important to use it correctly to avoid skin irritation. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Dilute the Tea Tree Oil: 

Pure tea tree oil is potent and can be harsh on the skin if applied directly. Dilute it with a carrier oil like coconut, jojoba, or almond oil. A general guideline is to mix 1 part tea tree oil with 9 parts carrier oil.

2. Perform a Patch Test: 

Before applying it to your face, do a patch test on a small area of your skin, like the inside of your elbow, to ensure you don't have an allergic reaction.

3. Cleanse Your Face:

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser to remove dirt and excess oil. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel.

4. Apply the Oil to Acne Spots: 

Using a cotton swab or a clean fingertip, apply a small amount of the diluted tea tree oil directly onto the acne spots. Avoid rubbing or spreading it over large areas of the skin.

5. Leave it On: 

Allow the oil to penetrate your skin. There's no need to rinse it off as it should absorb naturally. However, if you have sensitive skin, you might want to rinse it off after 20-30 minutes to avoid irritation.

6. Moisturize: 

After the tea tree oil has been absorbed, follow up with a non-comedogenic moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated.

7. Repeat: 

You can apply diluted tea tree oil to your acne spots 1-2 times a day. However, if you notice any redness, burning, or irritation, reduce the frequency or discontinue use.

8. Monitor Your Skin's Response: 

Pay attention to how your skin reacts over the next few days. If you notice improvement without irritation, you can continue using it as part of your skincare routine.

Remember, while tea tree oil can be effective for mild acne, it might not be suitable for more severe cases. In such instances, it's best to consult with a dermatologist for appropriate treatment.

How Does Tea Tree Oil Help With Acne?

Acne develops when dirt, oil or bacteria gets accumulated in our pores. Those of us who have larger pores are at a greater risk of developing acne. 

If you're dealing with acne, it might be because your skin is making too much oil and not shedding dead skin cells properly. This can clog your pores. 

Also, a bacteria called propionibacterium could be causing redness and swelling, and it's tough to get rid of. Here’s how tea tree oil works on acne -  

1. Attacking Acne-Causing Bacteria

Tea tree oil's primary weapon against acne is its ability to combat bacteria. It contains a potent component called terpene, which is effective in killing the microbial action on the skin. 

Specifically, terpene targets Propionibacterium, the bacteria primarily responsible for acne formation. This action not only treats existing acne but also prevents future breakouts. 

Studies have shown that terpinen-4-ol, a major component of tea tree oil, is particularly effective in treating acne, potentially more so than traditional chemical treatments like benzoyl peroxide.

2. Cleansing and Preventing Clogged Pores

Tea tree oil goes beyond just eliminating bacteria. It also acts as a natural cleanser, penetrating and unclogging pores. This is crucial because clogged pores, filled with oil and dead skin cells, are prime spots for acne formation. 

Unlike some cleansers that can't penetrate oil-filled pores, tea tree oil mixes with the natural oils produced by the skin, allowing it to cleanse these pores deeply and effectively.

3. Regulating Sebum Production

For those with oily skin, a common contributor to acne, tea tree oil can be a game-changer. It helps regulate sebum production, reducing the likelihood of excessive oiliness. By controlling sebum levels, tea tree oil minimizes the chances of pores becoming clogged with oil, which is a key factor in acne development.

4. Accelerating Skin Healing

Tea tree oil is not just about prevention; it also aids in healing. Its properties inhibit the growth of harmful parasites and bacteria on the skin, promoting a faster healing process. This is particularly beneficial for those trapped in a cycle of recurring acne.

5. Treats Acne Scars

Recent studies, including one from PubMed in 2015, have highlighted tea tree oil's effectiveness in minimizing the appearance of hypertrophic acne scarring. This suggests that tea tree oil can be a supportive treatment in conjunction with other dermatological procedures for acne scars.

If you’re convinced that the tea tree oil is a natural healer and one of the safest ways of curing acne, let’s explore how to actually use it to get rid of acne.

Also read - How To Use Tea Tree Oil For Dark Spots?

Other Ways To Use Tea Tree Oil For Acne

Tea tree oil does not cause side-effects when used in low concentrations on the skin. But if used directly in high concentration, it might cause irritation.

Before using it as a remedy for your acne, first dab a drop of it onto your skin, if it doesn't cause any irritation or redness then, you can carry on with your remedy preparation. Otherwise, dilute it to the extent that your skin does not react to it. 

Now, let's dig deep into it to explore the best and doable ways of getting rid of acne on the skin by using tea tree oil. 

1. Diluting Tea Tree Oil with Honey

Honey is naturally antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, which makes it useful for treating acne when combined with tea tree oil. It also soothes acne spots and improves overall complexion.

To prepare the mask, blend honey and tea tree oil into a smooth mixture. Store this blend in a glass container to keep it safe from extreme temperatures. To apply, use a cotton swab or earbud to gently dab the mixture onto the acne spots. 

Let it sit for several hours before rinsing off with warm water and gently patting your face dry. This remedy is versatile and can be used either during the day or at night, depending on what works best for your routine.

2. Diluting Tea Tree Oil with Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a well-known healer of the skin. If most skin care products tend to dry out your skin, you should use aloe vera and tea tree oil together to treat your acne. Simply scoop out fresh aloe vera gel from the leaf of the aloe vera plant and add a few drops of tea tree oil to it. 

To apply, rub a small amount onto clean skin at night before bed. Make sure your hands are clean before dipping into the container. Rinse with warm water in the morning.

3. Diluting Tea Tree Oil with a carrier oil

You can use Tea Tree Oil after diluting with a carrier oil such as Coconut Oil, Almond Oil or Sesame oil. 

Add one or two drops of essential oil to a teaspoon of your chosen career oil and blend well. When combined, Coconut oil and Tea tree oil produce a magic combination, effective in reducing redness, rashes and acne.

4. Making A Tea Tree Oil Scrub

If you're struggling with clogged pores, a homemade scrub can be more effective than face masks. You can easily create a tea tree oil scrub with ingredients from your kitchen. Here's a simple recipe:

You'll need:

• ½ cup of sugar
• ¼ cup of coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of organic honey
• 10 drops of tea tree oil

Combine all these ingredients in a bowl and mix them thoroughly. Gently massage the scrub onto your skin in circular motions for 2-5 minutes, focusing on areas with clogged pores. Rinse off with warm water and pat your face dry.

After scrubbing, it's crucial to apply a moisturizer. Scrubbing deeply cleanses and opens up your pores, which, while beneficial for removing impurities, can also make your skin more vulnerable to bacteria and fungi. Moisturizing helps to protect your skin by sealing these open pores and keeping your skin hydrated.

Pro tip - If making your own tea tree oil scrub at home is too much trouble, we have the perfect scrub for you that combines tea tree oil with natural exfoliators Walnut Shell Powder and Sugar. It also has powerful anti-acne ingredients such as Coconut Oil, Neem, Holy Basil and Calendula.

5. Add tea tree oil to your cleanser

Incorporating tea tree oil into your daily skincare routine can be as simple as adding it to your cleanser or moisturizer. 

Simply add 2-6 drops of the oil to your regular cleanser, adjusting the quantity based on how sensitive your skin is. When using the cleanser, massage it gently onto your skin in circular motions, which helps the tea tree oil absorb effectively. 

However, be careful around the eyes to prevent irritation. This method is especially useful for those with acne-prone skin and can be safely incorporated into your daily skincare regimen.

If you're uncertain about how tea tree oil will interact with your current cleanser, consider trying a specialized product like our Anti-Acne Cleansing Foam, which already contains tea tree oil as a key ingredient for combating acne.

Read - Which Is The Best Face Wash For Pimples and Marks?

6. Add Tea tree Oil To Your Bath

If you’ve acne on your chest, back and other parts of the body, then you should try this method.

You need to add a few drops of tea tree oil in a bucket of water or Jacuzzi/bath-tub. This will alleviate congestion and add fragrance to your bathing experience. You can try this method once a week as too much use of tea tree oil can cause some side effects. 

Also read - 8 Ways To Use Tea Tree Oil For Healthy Hair

FAQs about Tea Tree Oil For Acne

In the next segment, we will answer your most common doubts related to using tea tree oil for acne. Let’s get started.

How to use tea tree oil for acne scars?

Acne scars are caused when acne penetrates deep into your skin, whereas active acne is limited to skin pores. Studies on tea tree oil have suggested its effectiveness on mild to moderate acne only. But, you can try reducing your acne scars by using tea tree oil and aloe vera mixture.

How to dilute tea tree oil for acne?

For diluting tea tree oil for acne you need to mix it with any carrier oil (coconut oil, sesame oil or almond oil), aloe vera gel, warm water or honey. 

Which is the best tea tree oil for acne in India?

It’s recommended to use 100% pure and natural tea tree oil for best results. In India, Kama Ayurveda offers Pure Tea Tree Essential Oil that is 100% percent natural and clears out acne and pimples.

Alternatively, you can also explore. Kama Ayurvedas’s Anti-Acne range. It has a Tea Tree oil based cleanser, a natural toner and a face pack to help you get rid of acne. 

Can tea tree oil cause any side effects?

Well, tea tree oil is a safe option for most people but can result in symptoms like redness, swelling or irritation in some cases. Always perform a patch test before using the product extensively.

Can I put tea tree oil directly on my skin?

If you've performed the patch test and your skin didn’t show any sign of irritation, then you can directly apply it on your skin in small quantities. Otherwise, it is recommended to dilute the tea tree oil and then use it for topical application.

Conclusion

Ayurveda considers Tea Tree Oil as a must-have essential oil in your medicine cabinet. Don’t miss out on such a valuable essential oil as you have got a chance of curing your acne without any chemicals.

Once your acne cycle is on the onset, you are advised to keep a clean cloth/handkerchief always with you as a failure in maintenance of cleanliness on your part would result in worsening the situation. Reduce the intake of oily food items to further increase the speed of recovery.

References:

1. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/tea/treeoil.htm
2. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa064725
3. https://clinmedjournals.org/articles/ijdrt/journal-of-dermatology-research-and-therapy-ijdrt-2-032.php?jid=ijdr#
4. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-113/tea-tree-oil

Dark circles are quite common and usually don’t imply a serious health concern. However, their appearance still causes a lot of stress among people. Even if you take good care of your skin and have a healthy complexion, appearance of those darkened areas under the eyes will make you look old, tired and dull.

And, that’s quite frustrating!

If you are struggling with this problem, then don't worry. Like all skin problems, the science of Ayurveda provides us simple remedies to treat dark circles as well. 

Ayurveda identifies stress as the biggest enemy for the eyes. 

Be it physical or environmental stress, long working hours, sleepless nights or protracted crying, all of them disturb the natural doshic balance of your eyes. The skin under the eyes becomes thin and the blood vessels underneath it become visible as dark circles. 

In some cases, however, dark circles is a genetic issue that is further aggravated due to stress. 

We cannot remove these stressors from our lives completely. However, we can find ways to prevent dark circles and get rid of them naturally.

The simplest way is to set aside some time everyday to take care of the skin under our eyes so that it recovers from day-to-day stress. Irrespective of the cause of dark circles, soothing your eyes with the Ayurvedic ingredients will help you get relief from the problem. 

How to remove dark circles naturally?

The skin under the eyes is very thin and could be irritated by trying chemical products. Let’s explore natural home remedies which will surely help you lighten the skin tone under your eyes, without harming the skin in any way!

• 1. Use rosewater to soothe the under eye skin

Dark circles appear due to darkening of the thin layer of skin under the eye. Rose Water lightens the skin tone and provides a soothing and calming effect. The refreshing fragrance of rosewater relaxes the senses. 

How to use -

Take cotton pads and soak it in water. Then, soak the wet cotton pads into rose water. Apply these rose water soaked cotton pads onto eyes at least twice a week. Use only pure and natural rose water to get best results. 

• 2. Apply cold tea bags on your eyes

The skin under the eyes will lighten when the dilated blood vessels constrict in due time. This can be achieved by a simple procedure. Apply cold tea bags on your eyes at night. The polyphenols and catechins found in tea help in reducing the dark circles by constricting dilated blood vessels and reduce the dark circles.

How to use -

Take two tea bags, preferably of green tea and add it to 300 ml of refrigerated water. Finally, dip the tea bags into it and press out excess water. Apply it onto the eyes for 10-15 minutes, after that wash your face with cold water. Try it twice a day for effective results.

• 3.  Saffron for removing dark circles

Saffron is used as an Ayurvedic medicine for skin problems for since a very long time. It has antioxidant & anti-inflammatory properties, they help in reducing the complexion of the skin. It even cures the fine lines and dark circles that result from ageing.

 How to use-

Take a spoon full of milk (raw), add some strands of saffron into it, let it soak for some time. Now, your mixture is ready.

Apply the mixture with help of finger tips on dark circle prone area. Apply it overnight and wash it next day. If seems messy, you can wash it after 15 minutes with cold water. Continue the process for a few weeks for better results.

Alternatively, you can use Ayurvedic night creams that are rich in Saffron. Kama Ayurveda’s Rejuvenating and Brightening Ayurvedic Night Cream is a powerful Ayurveda based formula created from with the finest of Saffron from Kashmir which helps in reducing dark circles.

• 4. Apply Kumkumadi Oil under the eyes

Kumkumadi Tailam is considered Ayurveda’s invaluable gift to mankind for its uncanny ability to eradicate skin related issues and bring out the skin’s natural glow. 

One of its most well known benefits for skin is reducing dark circles and other signs of ageing. The name Kumkumadi comes from one of its key ingredients - red-gold Saffron.

How to use -

At night, take two drops of oil onto your palm and apply on your dark circle with ring finger. Do this for both the eyes and leave it to work overnight. You may use Kama Ayurveda’s Kumkumadi Oil Miraculous Beauty Night Serum every night to get rid of dark circles.

• 5. DIY Coffee and Honey Scrub for dark circles

Coffee is believed to have antioxidants in large amount, therefore it is often used to treat problems of puffy eyes, swollen eyes, or even dark circles. Coffee contains caffeine which is a natural skin toner that improves blood circulation and reduces dark circles. 

Let’s see how to make a coffee scrub for your eyes.

How to make -

Take one tablespoon of organic coffee powder. Also, one tablespoon of honey and mix the paste well. Honey is a natural moisturizer that helps in absorption of caffeine in the skin for reducing the dark circles. 

Apply the mixture around your eyes especially on dark circles. Leave it overnight or after 30 minutes, if you experience any irritation.

• 6. Apply lemon juice to get rid of dark circles

Lemon has bleaching properties and is rich in vitamin C. It helps in lightening the skin and reduce the appearance of dark circles. The regular use of lemon juice also strengthens the thin skin area under the eyes and reduces pigmentation and darkening.

How to use -

Take small quantity of lemon juice. Now, take a small quantity of tomato juice. Mix it well. Apply the mixture of both juices under your eyes with the help of cotton pads. 

After drying, reapply it, let it dry for 10-15 minutes, and wash it. You can apply it daily for good results.

• 7. Massage aloe vera gel under your eyes

One of the most promising beauty picks is aloe vera gel as it soothes the skin and nourishes it deeply. Aloe vera gel has no side effects and you can use it afresh just by plucking the aloe vera leaf from your garden. It reduces dark circles by hydrating the skin and boosting blood circulation.

How to make - 

Take an aloe vera leaf from your garden, slit it open with a kitchen knife. Scale off the gel part only. Apply the gel onto dark circle prone area, gently. 

Massage for few minutes in circular motions until it holds onto your skin. After 10-12 minutes wipe it out using soft moist cloth. Try this remedy at least twice a day - once in the morning and once before bedtime. You’ll see visible results soon.

• 8. Apply cold milk to the eyes

Lactic acid in milk is vital in fighting ageing and pigmentation associated with the skin. Moreover, the coolness of milk provides relaxation to blood vessels present in the under eye region.

How to use - 

Take half a cup of cold milk and dip two cotton pads into it. Place these cotton pads on the affected areas. For faster results, do this twice a week.

• 9. Apply crushed mint leaves under eyes

Mint is a well-known Ayurvedic ingredient for treating skin issues. Methanol present in mint leaves reduces water retention under the skin which relieves puffiness and soothes tired eyes. 

How to use -

Take 8-10 leaves of mint, crush them by adding a few drops of water and make a smooth paste. Now, apply this paste on your dark circles, let it dry for 10 minutes. After that, wash it with cold water.

• 10.  Apply potato juice for soothing under eyes

The most common vegetable, potato has great amount of starch and enzymes in it. The astringent properties and enzymes reduce the inflammation and helps in tightening of skin. Therefore, helping in reduction of dark circles.

How to use-

Take a potato, grate it. Squeeze the grated potato to obtain the juice. Now, clean the juice with the help of muslin cloth. 

Take cotton balls, dip them into potato juice. Apply it onto your dark circles, let it be there for 10-20 minutes. Then, wash it with cold water. Do this exercise once in two days, at least.

• 11. Apply Turmeric Powder Paste under eyes

Turmeric is well known for its antioxidant properties and is a proven Ayurvedic healer. It has a powerful compound called curcumin which enhances the glow of the skin. It effectively reduces the melanin production and helps in overcoming dark circles.

How to use -

Take few mint leaves, crush them and strain the juice. Take one teaspoon gram flour, half teaspoon turmeric powder and add it to the juice of mint leaves to make a paste.

Apply this mixture onto the affected area, leave for 15-20 minutes. Try it thrice in a week for better results.

• 12.   Apply Argan oil to remove dark circles caused by ageing

Argan oil contains Vitamin E and fatty acids that helps in retaining moisture to the skin. It also has high antioxidant properties that relieves signs of ageing like dark circles. Ageing is a natural cause of dark circles. Fat and collagen around the eyes reduces as we age and the skin becomes thinner. Through thin skin, blood vessels become more visible. 

How to use - 

Take few drops of Argan oil. Warm the oil but do not heat it directly. Wash the fingertips to perfection.

Apply the oil on affected areas while massaging it in circular motions. This will help your skin in absorbing the oil. Apply it everyday and leave it overnight to get a rejuvenating and young skin.

• 13.  Apply baking soda on dark circles to brighten the skin under the eyes

Baking soda is easily available as a cooking ingredient in most of the households. However, not many people know that it has complexion enhancing properties. Its regular use helps in getting rid of dark circles. 

How to use -

Take warm water and add one teaspoon baking soda to it. Dip two cotton pads into this paste and place it under your eyes for 10-15 minutes. For quick results, try this remedy once a day.

• 14. Amla for renewed skin under the eyes

Alma is a natural antioxidant that rejuvenates the skin to reveal a healthy glow. It is also rich in vitamin C which helps in regenerating the skin cells and removing dark circles caused by environmental stress.

How to use - 

Take one teaspoon amla powder and add honey to it. Mix it well to make a smooth paste. Apply it regularly on the affected areas for 10-15 minutes.

• 15.  Apply grapeseed oil under the eyes

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of grapeseed oil make it a boon for fighting against the dark circles. The massaging of oil reduces the stress on the blood vessels, thus ensuring proper blood flow resulting in reduced dark circles.

How to use -

Take few drops (3 drops) of Grapeseed oil. 

Apply the oil using your fingertips while gently massaging in a circular motion. Let the skin absorb the oil. Leave it overnight, you can try it twice a day.

• 16.  Apply cucumber slices to soothe your eyes

Cucumber is a popular remedy for dark circles. The cucumber contains a lot of antioxidants which help in soothing the eyes, therefore, improving the dark circles at a very fast rate.

 How to use-

Take a cucumber of medium size and peel it off. Now, cut slices of moderate thickness. 

Keep a slice of cucumber on each of your eyes for 10-15 minutes. You can try it very often like two times in a day. 

• 17.  Licorice Root and Vitamin K for removing dark circles

The Licorice root extract is full of iso-flavonoids which help in keeping pigmentation at bay. Vitamin K promotes proper blood circulation, therefore reducing the dark circles naturally.

How to use-

Take a Vitamin K capsule, empty its content into a spoon. Now, add 3 to 4 drops of Licorice root extract into it. Give it a nice stir, until you get a thick and smooth paste.

Spread it with the help of fingertips or ear buds. Apply on the dark circles prone area and wash it after 10 minutes. Try it once every day. 

Alternatively, you can apply Kumkumadi Tailam under the eyes every night before sleeping. Kumkumadi Oil has licorice root as one of the key ingredients.

• 18.  Almond oil to remove dark circles naturally

Almond oil contains lots of vitamins and mono-saturated fatty acids which help in lightening of skin tone. The vitamin E present in this plays a major role in overcoming dark circles. Most importantly, almond oil also provides nourishment to the skin.

How to use-

Take 3-4 drops of almond oil.

Massage the oil onto your dark circles before going to bed at night. Do it for at least 2-3 minutes in circular motions so that the oil gets absorbed in the skin.

• 19.  Orange juice for reducing dark circles

We all know that oranges are rich in vitamin C. The dark circles are sometimes a result of improper blood flow. The presence of vitamin C along with citric acid facilitates the proper flow of blood. Thus, effectively reducing dark circles.

How to use-

Take an orange, peel it off. Squeeze the juice out of it. Do not throw the peel of orange as it is also helpful in fighting with dark circles.

Apply the juice with the help of cotton pad. Leave it for 30 minutes and then, wash it gently with cold water. Try it once everyday.

• 20.  Apply Orange Peel Extract with Rose Water under your eyes

Orange peel extracts contain Vitamin C, Phosphorus and Magnesium that helps in lightening the skin and removing dark circles. The combination of orange peel powder and rosewater works brilliantly as the rosewater soothes the under eye area.

How to use -

The orange peel rich in citric acid can be dried and then make a fine powder can be made out of it. Mix this fine powder with few drops of rose water, thus making a smooth paste.

Now, apply this orange peel paste onto your skin. Then, massage it gently such that it acts as a scrub. Wash it after 10 minutes with tap water. You can try it twice a week.

• 21. Apply Castor Oil under your eyes

The dark circles may result from dead skin cells or ruptured and pigmented cells. Castor oil is a proven Ayurvedic solution to rejuvenate the skin and produce new cells. Not only this, castor oil also conditions the dry and dull under eye region, therefore, making it lighter and brighter. 

How to use-

Make the right choice regarding the brand of castor oil. Take a few drops of castor oil on a cotton swab. Apply castor oil using the cotton swab. Leave it overnight for procuring better results. Try it everyday before going to bed.

• 22.  Apply Jojoba Oil under your eyes

Jojoba oil penetrates the different layers of the skin to repair it from within. It helps in rejuvenating the dried skin and provides the required nourishment to the skin. Therefore, reducing the dullness and dryness.

How to use-

For this, you should only buy organic jojoba oil. Spread few drops of jojoba oil on a cotton swab. Apply the oil on the affected area, leave it overnight. For fast results use it everyday before getting to bed.

• 23.  Apply ice cubes under your eyes

If we improve the blood circulation under eye region, the dark circles can be reduced. The ice cubes help reduce stress in the blood vessels under the eyes by increasing the proper blood flow.

How to use -

Take 2-3 ice cubes and keep them on the affected area. 

If you’re getting irritated by trickling water then, you can place the ice cubes in a clean cotton handkerchief first and then, keep it on your eyes. You can try it whenever you feel like.

• 24.  Apply Olive Oil to your eyes 

Olive oil is effective for dark circles as it contains fatty acids which nourish the skin and reduce the dark circles by lowering the skin tone in under eye region. 

How to use-

Try to buy authentic organic olive oil for better results. Apply it using the fingers or cotton swab. 

Massage for 2-3 minutes until the oil gets absorbed. Leave it overnight. You can try it daily.

• 25.  Apply tomato juice on your eyes

Tomato contains bleaching properties which help in lightening the skin tone of dark circle prone area. Lycopene, a phytochemical found in tomatoes helps in keeping the skin wrinkle free.

Since centuries, Fuller's Earth, or Multani Mitti has been used as a quintessential Indian home remedy for a clean, bright and revitalised skin. It is a potent healing clay with active ingredients that absorb impurities like accumulated sebum, sweat, oil and dirt from the clogged pores. 

With its natural earthy aroma, it one of the earliest substances to be used as a beauty mask. Till date, it’s used as an effective Ayurvedic beauty treatment to make your skin radiant and appealing by getting rid of blemishes and acne scars.

From reducing dark spots to improving the overall skin texture and complexion, multani mitti has a solution for all skin problems. Using it is the simplest way to get that smooth and supple skin that you’ve always wanted.

If you’ve never used Multani Mitti before, let’s walk you through the many ways to use miracle clay to get the best benefits for your skin.

5 Multani Mitti Face Packs

The best thing about Multani Mitti is that it can be combined with other ingredients to make it suitable for different skin types and to treat various skin problems. It has lime which kills the harmful bacteria and cleanses the skin deeply. 

It is also rich in minerals like Aluminium Silicate and Magnesium Silicate that provide the clay its excellent adsorbent properties. Whenever you apply Multani Mitti on your face, it leaves you feeling fresh and radiant. 

If your skin becomes dull and you start noticing fine lines and wrinkles, you can use Multani Mitti to tighten up your skin. It also has a cooling and soothing action due to which it’s used more regularly during summers.

1. 1. Multani Mitti Face Pack For Oily Skin

Excessive production of sebum results in oily skin. While sebum is essential to protect the skin from environmental pollutants, when it’s produced in very high amount it results in a lot of skin issues. 

If you have oily skin, you might notice that your skin attracts a lot of dirt and even looks dull from time to time. This makes you prone to acne, pimples and skin infections. The excess sebum attracts impurities from the surroundings that block the pores.

Multani Mitti is immensely helpful for those who have oily skin type. Even with a single application you will notice that the excess sebum from your skin surface is absorbed. It also prevents clogging the pores which clears acne and helps in getting a soft and smooth skin.

How to use - 

To make Multani Mitti face pack for oily skin, combine one spoon of Multani Mitti with the following ingredients -

• Half a spoon of Orange Peel Powder
• 1/4th spoon of Turmeric Powder (haldi)
• One spoon of lemon juice
• One spoon of honey. 

You will get a thick paste by mixing these ingredients and apply it on your face. Let the face pack completely dry and then wash it off with water. This pack will reduce excess oil from the face and improve the overall structure.

Alternatively, you can use Kama Ayurveda’s Suvarna Haldi Chandan Face Pack. It is a 100% natural face pack and is a combination of Multani Mitti with powerful Ayurvedic ingredients like Turmeric, Sandalwood, Orange Peel Powder, Oatmeal and Rose. Combine it with Lavender Water/Vetiver Water or Aloe Vera for oily skin.

Why it works -
The high concentration of Vitamin C in Orange Peel makes it a powerful source of antioxidant protection for skin. Orange Peel Powder helps minimise oiliness in skin and complements Multani Mitti in its mattifying action, by minimising the appearance of enlarged pores

1. 
   2. Multani Mitti Face Pack For A Brighter Complexion

The secret behind a glowing complexion is deep cleansing. Every day your skin is exposed to dust, pollutants and chemicals that sometimes penetrate deep into the skin and cause it to look dull. It also makes the skin age faster and causes fine lines and wrinkles.

Want to clean your face efficiently and get rid of these impurities? Multani Mitti will help you cleanse the skin deeply and remove the toxins from the innermost layers. 

How to use -

To make Multani Mitti face pack for combination skin, combine one spoon of Multani Mitti with the following ingredients -

• Half a spoon of Sandalwood Powder
• 1/4th spoon of Turmeric Powder (haldi)
• Rose water or Milk

Mix the ingredients to prepare the paste. Apply the face pack and leave it on until it dries completely and then wash it off with water.

Alternatively, you can use Kama Ayurveda’s Suvarna Haldi Chandan Face Pack. It has the complexion enhancing ingredients Turmeric and Sandalwood which make it an effective Ayurvedic Face Pack. Mix it with Rose Water for youthful vibrance, smoothness and luminosity.

Why it works -
In Sanskrit, Turmeric is referred to as Gauri meaning 'The One with a Shining Face'. As a natural, anti-inflammatory exfoliator, Turmeric is briskly, but gently clarifying. Together, Multani Mitti combined with Sandalwood and Turmeric produces a smooth, blemish-free, and luminous complexion.

1. 3. Multani Mitti Face Pack For Dry Skin

Multani Mitti can make dry skin soft and supple by combined with other skin nourishing ingredients. It is rich in Calcium which acts as a natural moisturizer and protects the skin from harmful effects of the sun, thereby preventing it from dryness and dullness.

How to use - 

Here’s how you can prepare Multani Mitti face pack to add radiance to dry and dull skin. Start with the following ingredients. 

• One spoon crushed and ground almonds
• Half a cup of milk

Add these ingredients to Multani Mitti to prepare a face pack of suitable consistency. Apply it on your face and leave it on until it gets dried completely (or for about 30 minutes). Wash it off when it dries completely.

Alternatively, you can use Kama Ayurveda’s Suvarna Haldi Chandan Face Pack. It has Multani Mitti mixed with other ingredients that are well-suited for dry skin. Use it with Rose Water or Mogra Water as both of them work well for dry skin. You can also add crushed almonds/almond oil and milk/yogurt to this face pack.

Why it works -
Almonds and milk combined with Multani Mitti provides dry skin the much needed hydration and nourishment.

1. 
   4. Multani Mitti Face Pack For Acne and Blemishes

Multani Mitti is an effective natural treatment for acne and blemishes. With regular use, even acne scars can be healed. Its antibacterial action and its ability to regulate sebum production prevents and treats acne. It clarifies and smoothens the overall skin texture.

How to use - 

To prepare Multani Mitti face pack for acne and blemishes, add the following ingredients to two spoons of Multani Mitti -

• One spoon of Neem Leaf powder
• 1/4th spoon of Turmeric Powder
• Rose Water

Prepare the paste using these ingredients and apply it evenly on your face. Let it dry completely before washing it off with water.

You can use Kama Ayurveda’s Suvarna Haldi Chandan Face Pack for this. It has Neem and Rose which make it an effective Multani Mitti face pack for acne and blemishes. Add Vetiver Water or Lavender Water to prepare the face pack for even better results.

Why it works -
The absorbent, exfoliating, deep-cleansing and anti-bacterial properties of Multani Mitti, along with the antibacterial action of Neem, helps in reducing acne and give a blemish-free glowing skin. Rose works as an astringent which helps in reducing large pores that attract impurities and result in acne.

1. 5. Multani Mitti Face Pack for Pigmentation And Tanning

Multani Mitti soothes sunburns and clears pigmentation caused by sun exposure. It has a cooling effect and its anti-tanning properties make it an effective treatment for skin pigmentation conditions like Melasma that are caused due to sun exposure.

How to use - 

To use Multani Mitti for treating pigmentation, combine with one spoon with Multani Mitti with the following ingredients. 

• 2 spoons of papaya fruit pulp
• 1 spoon oatmeal powder
• 1/4th spoon turmeric powder
• 1/4th spoon sandalwood powder
• Rose water

Prepare a smooth paste by mixing these ingredients and apply it evenly on your face. Let it dry and then wash it off with water.

Alternatively, use Kama Ayurveda’s Suvarna Haldi Chandan Face Pack to treat pigmentation. It has Oatmeal, Turmeric, Rose and Sandalwood among other Ayurvedic ingredients which make it an effective Multani Mitti face pack for pigmentation and tanning. You can add papaya fruit pulp to it to make it more effective.

Why it works - 
Anti-inflammatory and deeply hydrating, oatmeal is a boon for dry, allergy-prone and sensitive skin types. It complements anti-tan properties of Multani Mitti and helps in treating skin issues resulting from sun exposure. 

How Multani Mitti Benefits The Skin?

As you can see, Multani Mitti can be combined with different ingredients to make face packs to treat specific skin issues. Irrespective of your skin type, it will definitely give you the following benefits.

• Improves skin texture and brightens the complexion
• Fights acne and pimples
• Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
• Reduces skin inflammation and protects the skin against allergens
• Has a cooling effect that gives relief from rash, itching and irritation
• Detoxifies the skin and helps in getting rid of pollutants and impurities
• Prevents acne and pimples
• Treats sunburns, tanning and pigmentation

For best results, apply Multani Mitti on your face twice a week. If you use it too often, then it might strip your skin of its natural moisture content. 

FAQ about using Multani Mitti Face Packs

Here, we’ve discussed some common questions about using Multani Mitti for face.

1. 1. Can Multani Mitti be used as a scrub?

Multani Mitti is rich in iron which helps in improving blood circulation on face and helps in growth of new cells. Scrubbing with Multani Mitti will help in getting rid of dead cells and make the skin look vibrant. To use Multani Mitti as a scrub, you can add freshly ground walnuts, almonds and sugar granules. Use this paste to gently scrub your face.

If you are looking for natural scrubs, you can also use Ayurvedic Ubtan for scrubbing. Read about best ubtan recipes for a glowing skin.

1. 2. Can Multani Mitti get rid of dark circles?

To use Multani Mitti for dark circles, combine it with half a potato grated finely. To this add lemon juice and yogurt to prepare a paste. Apply it underneath your eyes and leave it on for 20 minutes before washing it off.

1. 3. Can I use Multani Mitti Face Pack daily?

It’s not advisable to use Multani Mitti on face daily as it may rip the skin of its natural moisture and cause excessive dryness. You may use Multani Mitti Face Pack twice a week.

1. 4. Can I store Multani Mitti?

Multani Mitti has a long shelf life so it can be stored. Storing it in an air-tight container is helpful. You can even keep it refrigerated to increase its shelf life. Buy only 100% natural and pure Multani Mitti for long shelf life.

1. 5. How to use Multani Mitti to prevent visible signs of ageing?

You can combine Multani Mitti with Sandalwood which prevents premature aging, Oatmeal which prevents age related dehydration, Rose which prevents lines & wrinkles and Orange which a powerful antioxidant. You can even use Kama Ayurveda’s Suvarna Haldi Chandan Face Pack as it has all these ingredients combined with Multani Mittu and it is helpful in reducing visible signs of ageing.

1. 6. Are there any side effects of using Multani Mitti?

There are no known side-effects of using Multani Mitti. However, in some cases skin might be allergic to natural face packs. Perform a patch to be sure that the face pack is suitable for your skin type.

Conclusion 

Multani Mitti is one of the most useful traditional skincare ingredients. It helps skin in different ways like diminishing pore sizes, removing blackheads and whiteheads fading freckles, soothing sunburns, cleansing skin, improving blood circulation, complexion, reducing acne and blemishes and gives a glowing effect on skin as it contains healthy nutrients.

The best way to use Multani Mitti as a part of your skincare routine is in the form of face packs.

References -

1. Multani Mitti Benefits for Face and Skin Conditions - https://www.ayurtimes.com/multani-mitti-fullers-earth-benefits-uses/#multani-mitti-for-dry-skin
2. Activation and Clarifying Properties of Fuller’s Earth - https://insa.nic.in/writereaddata/UpLoadedFiles/PINSA/Vol09_1943_1_Art15.pdf
3. Formulation and Evaluation of Cosmetic Herbal Face Pack For Glowing Skin - https://www.ijrap.net/admin/php/uploads/1887_pdf.pdf

If you are fed up with health issues related to your scalp and couldn’t find a long term solution for it, you have landed at the right place, where you’ll find a natural cure for your hair and scalp problems. 

Tea tree oil is an essential oil that has been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. It can do wonders and make your hair and scalp healthy. Using tea tree oil on your hair and scalp is the most natural way of cleansing your hair without causing any damage or dryness.

It is often said that scalp related problems are genetical, but in today’s time, pollution and other environmental factors play a huge role as well. 

Tea tree oil has antimicrobial properties which makes it an excellent cleaning agent. Using it on your hair helps in fighting all many types of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that accumulate in hair and scalp from the environment.

Before we explore how this tea tree oil does wonders for your hair, let’s understand a little more about this essential oil.

What is tea tree oil?

The natives of Australia living in Queensland region cultivated Tea Tree shrubs extensively. Tea tree oil is extracted by the steam distillation of fresh leaves and wood from these tea tree shrubs. This essential oil is pale yellow or clear in color and has a fresh camphoraceous odor.

What makes tea tree oil so popular among common masses? At least once, you must have got a recommendation for using tea tree oil for any particular problem related to your body. 

Once the medicinal properties of Tea Tree oil were discovered, it became a popular anti-septic used for curing cuts, burns, and boils.

Tea tree oil has since been used as a medication, from acne to cold sores, blisters to fungal infection, dandruff to bacterial infection and many more. If you have any of the above-mentioned ailments, tea tree oil can become your savior. 

The use of tea tree oil for treating hair and scalp problems is comparatively recent. Today, tea tree oil is used as an ingredient in a lot of hair products. Let’s now have a look at the many benefits of tea tree oil for hair and understand how to use tea tree oil to solve our hair problems.

Why use tea tree oil for hair?

When you talk about hair health, it’s actually the scalp that you are referring to. The scalp has follicles, the minute openings that are responsible for the growth of hair. When these follicles are clogged by the pollutants which are present in the atmosphere, you start facing hair problems like hair fall.

Tea tree oil has proven to be beneficial in such cases where problems like dandruff and hair loss are prevalent due to improper cleaning of hair follicles leading to clogging of dirt and impurities. 

Overexposure to the sun is another problem for the hair as it depletes the natural moisture of the hair. This hampers the growth of hair resulting in dead skin and dryness of hair. Tea tree oil moisturizes your scalp and provides it with the essential nutrients and supplements that would support the growth of hair.

In the coming section, we’ll explore how to use tea tree oil for hair to treat the most common hair problems.

How to use Tea Tree Oil For Hair?

Using tea tree oil is therapeutic for hair. It has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties that are useful for the hair. Using tea tree oil makes hair follicles more receptive to nutrition and this promotes overall hair growth. 

Now that you know how tea tree oil tends to improve hair and scalp health, let’s have a look at a few ways to use tea tree oil for hair and make it a part of our hair care regime. It’s important to note that tea tree is powerful and should not be applied directly to the hair.

• 1. For Daily Cleansing - 

Daily cleansing with tea tree oil includes using tea tree oil with your shampoo. Take a few drops of tea tree oil and a small amount of shampoo. Mix both the tea tree oil and shampoo so that the consistency of the mixture is maintained. Apply the mixture on wet scalp. This would result in clean hair follicles and ensure good health of hair.

• 2. Hair Growth Treatment - 

Tea tree oil improves blood circulation and removes all toxins from the scalp, paving way for healthy hair growth. It also stimulates the dormant hair follicles and brings them to life. It prepares the hair and scalp to absorb nutrients efficiently, which helps in hair growth.

To use tea tree oil as a hair growth treatment, mix it with any carrier oil like Coconut, Almond, or Sesame oil. Apply the mixture of oil onto your scalp and massage it. You can even give yourself a hot oil treatment by warming the oil prior to its application. After washing the hair, you’ll get a refreshing feeling and your scalp will be free from any fungi and bacteria that may have got deposited over time.

Read - 10 Hair Growth Oils Recommended by Ayurveda

• 
  3. For Hair And Scalp Dryness -

Tea tree oil is very useful in treating hair dryness. It provides supplements to the scalp and removes blockages in the hair follicles. With the use of tea tree oil, the hair grows with a healthy amount of nutrients and this prevents hair from becoming dry and brittle. Conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, which lead to scaly dry patches on the scalp can also be treated with tea tree oil.

For treating dryness related issues, you need to mix the tea tree oil with a carrier oil like Coconut oil or Olive oil and massage it for 10-15 minutes onto the scalp. Wash the hair normally and repeat this process daily and you’ll observe some changes.

• 4. For Dandruff -

The root cause of dandruff varies from person to person. Oily, irritated skin, bad hair hygiene and skin conditions like contact dermatitis, or fungal infections can result in dandruff. The anti-fungal action of tea tree oil helps in removing dandruff without causing any dryness. 

Add 10-15 drops of tea tree oil with every ounce of shampoo and massage it onto the hair. Let it stay there for at least 3-5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. By acting as a natural conditioner, it soothes the scalp and prevents flakiness. 

• 5. For scalp itchiness -

If you have itchiness, dryness or dandruff, then tea tree oil hair mask will help you to overcome these problems. First, choose a base for your hair mask. Both avocado paste and yogurt have a thick consistency and are suitable for this. Add honey to the base along with a few drops of tea tree oil. Apply the mask onto hair and then massage it with fingers onto the scalp. Wash it off after 15-20 minutes.

6. For oily scalp -

Tea tree oil controls the excess oil production by the sebaceous glands and keeps the scalp moisturized. It is non-comedogenic which means it does not clog the pores and decreases bacteria on the skin’s surface.

You can mix baking soda, tea tree oil, and honey and apply the paste to your scalp. Gently massage it for about 10 minutes. Leave it on for 30 minutes before washing it off. This can be repeated twice a week to maintain the pH of the scalp, remove extra oil and keep the scalp healthy.

7. For getting rid of lice

Hair lice are caused by bad scalp health and are transferred from scalp to scalp. They are harmful to overall health as they suck the blood from the scalp, causing inflammation and itchiness. Tea tree oil has insecticidal properties that help in providing relief from hair lice. Components like 1,8-cineole and terpinen-4-ol are present in tea tree oil which kill lice. The oil also prevents lice eggs from getting attached to hair and scalp.

To use tea tree oil to clear lice, mix about 7-8 drops with a spoon of any vegetable oil and leave it overnight. Wear a shower cap to allow better absorption into the hair. In the morning, remove the shower cap and comb with a fine comb 5-6 times before washing off with a hair cleanser.

8. For daily conditioning

You can make a tea tree oil spray to use as a leave-in conditioner. All you need to do is take distilled water and add some drops of tea tree oil to it. Some people even add chamomile tea to this spray. Irrespective of what ingredients you use to prepare your spray, it should contain about 5 percent tea tree oil. Store this mixture in a spray bottle and spray it on your hair whenever you like to give it a dose of natural conditioning.

FAQ about using Tea Tree Oil for hair

Can I apply tea tree oil without any carrier oil or shampoo?

It is not recommended to apply tea tree oil directly onto your scalp as it is extremely concentrated and is like to irritate the skin.

For how much time can I leave tea tree oil on my scalp?

Tea tree oil ensures the health of your hair. So, it can be left on hair overnight for deep penetration if it is diluted with a carrier oil. With the continuous use of tea tree oil, the scalp will regain its lost moisture and nutrients resulting in shiny, smooth hair.

Can tea tree oil cause any side effects?

The use of tea tree oil can result in allergic reactions. If you are using it for your hair then, try to get fresh tea tree oil otherwise preserved tea tree oil can result in allergies on your scalp. Before using tea tree oil directly onto your scalp, perform a patch test on your skin.

Which is the best tea tree oil in India?

Kama Ayurveda’s Tea Tree Oil is steam distilled from the leaves and twigs of Tea Tree and is 100% natural. It is very beneficial for the health of hair and scalp with its ability to soothe dry flaking, remove dandruff and can even be used for the treatment of lice. It is one of the best tea tree oil available in India.

References - 

1. 1. Tea Tree Oil For Seborrheic dermatitis - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2888552/
2. 2. Treatment of dandruff with 5% tea tree oil shampoo - 10.1067/mjd.2002.122734
3. 3. Tea tree oil. (2016). - nccih.nih.gov/health/tea/treeoil.htm
4. 4. A review of applications of tea tree oil in dermatology. - 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2012.05654.x

Great skin is a result of good skincare habits and a healthy lifestyle. 

While it’s essential to follow a good skin care routine, it isn’t complete in itself. The 5,000 year-old-science of Ayurveda emphasizes on the mantra ‘True beauty comes from within’.     

For this reason, Ayurvedic skin care routine focuses on balancing the whole body and supporting the digestive system with a healthy diet while treating each individual according to her specific dosha.

Sounds difficult? It isn’t. 

Once you become intuitively tuned to understand what your skin needs, you’ll be able to approach skin care and beauty in a holistic manner. Below, we’ve broken down the key elements of chalking out the perfect skin care routine for yourself. 

Let’s get started.

THE BASICS OF SKIN CARE

Your skin care routine essentially consists of these three basic steps.

• Cleansing - Removing impurities from the skin
• Toning - Balancing the skin
• Moisturizing - Hydrating the skin

The main objective of following a skin care routine is simply to reveal your best natural skin and a glowing complexion. 

Following this basic CTM routine helps you understand how your skin’s changing with time. Sometimes, you might need to tweak the products that you’re using based on how your skin is responding to the current weather conditions. 

Think of these steps as a way to revisit your skin twice a day to establish a relationship with it.

At Kama Ayurveda, we believe natural and organic products are the best skincare treatments that we can give to our skin. Regular exfoliation combined with a regime of CTM (Cleansing, Toning & Moisturizing) can take you a long way in your skincare journey.

PATIENCE IS THE KEY TO A GREAT SKIN

How many times have you decided to be regular with your CTM only to give up in a week or so? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.

But remember, all good things take time. There’s no magical product that can restore your skin’s glow and health quickly. 

The entire point of creating a skin care regime for yourself is to stick to it long enough to see results and changes. So, don’t forget all about taking care of your skin until you've got an important event to attend. 

Because of so m any options available in the market, it’s important to remember a few things while choosing products for your skin.

• A lot of skin care brands promise instant solutions to your problems. Harsh chemicals used in these instant solutions do more harm than good in the longer run.
• Organic and natural skincare products are the most gentle on the skin. Choose products with minimum possible side-effects and no chemicals.
• Results only come with consistent use. Use a product regularly for at least six weeks to observe changes. 
• As an exception, discontinue the product if you experience skin breakouts, rashes or irritation.
• As a conscious customer, opt for organic and vegan products that are not tested on animals and are cruelty free. Products that cause harm to the planet are not going to be good for your skin, either.

#1 CLEANSING 

Cleansing your skin twice or thrice a day is essential to remove the environmental pollutants and dirt that clog the pores. When the skin isn’t cleaned well, the chances of breakouts increase.

Cleansing the skin is pretty-straight-forward. However, finding a suitable cleanser for your skin isn’t.

We recommend using natural cleansers that gently remove impurities and make-up without stripping the skin of its natural oils. It helps to know your skin type and your Ayurvedic dosha.

Below, we’ve listed some of the best Ayurvedic ingredients for cleansing that you should look for in a cleanser.

1. Aloe Vera - Referred to as the miracle plant in Ayurveda, its cooling and gently hydrating properties make it a wonderful addition to any skin regime.
   
   
2.  Neem - Ayurveda refers to Neem asSarva Roga Nivarini ('Universal Cure of Ailments'). It’s calming for acne-prone skin.
3.  Tulsi - Tulsi (Holy Basil), is the 'Queen of Herbs' known for its cleansing and toning properties.
   
   
   4. Sandalwood - Ayurveda says that Sandalwood induces Saumanasya Janana ('Mental Coherence & Placidity'). It is a powerful antiseptic, that curbs excessive sebaceous gland activity and cools inflamed skin.

READ - HOW TO CLEAN FACE LIKE A PRO - 6 SIMPLE STEPS

#2 TONING

READ - 5 SECRETS ABOUT KAMA AYURVEDA ROSE WATER

#3 MOISTURISING

The main purpose of using a moisturizer is to hydrate and nourish the skin.

Regular cleansing of face and exposure to the environment results in the skin losing its natural moisture. The skin’s natural ability to retain moisture also reduces as we age. Therefore, it’s recommended to use moisturizer as part of your skin care routine throughout the year.

Ayurveda recommends using natural ingredients for skin moisturization. The requirements of the skin vary according to the skin type. Look for Ayurvedic ingredients like Coconut Milk, Sesame Oil, Essential Oils in your face moisturizers. Shea Butter and Kokum Butter are recommended for moisturizing the body.

DO YOU NEED A SEPARATE NIGHT CREAM?

CTM needs to be your morning and night skin care routine. However, your day and night moisturizer has different functions.

Your day cream is ideally of lighter consistency and provides your skin with adequate protection from environmental stressors and the radiation from the sun. It also prevents skin breakouts and gives a healthy glow to the skin.

Your skin’s requirements vary from season to season. You can actually ditch your day cream for sunscreen in summers. But don’t forget your night cream as it repairs the skin after a tiring day out in the sun. We’ve combined some of our best skin care tips for summer in this blog.

READ - CLEANSE SHEILD HEAL - SUMMER SKIN CARE TIPS BY KAMA

#4 PROTECTING AGAINST THE SUN

An extension of moisturizing, sunscreen is considered the most important skin care product for use all round-year. By using sun protection daily, you can minimize the appearance of fine lines and imperfections in skin texture. 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A SUNSCREEN?

First of all, it’s important to note that there are two kinds of sun radiations namely UVA and UVB rays. A broad-spectrum sunscreen is able to block out both types of radiation. For this, ingredients like Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are used. Both of them are non-comedogenic and suitable for sensitive as well as acne-prone skin.

Zinc Oxide is a naturally occurring mineral and one of the safest skin-protecting ingredients against the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays. It filters out both UVA and UVB rays, thus forming a shield that keeps UV radiation from penetrating the skin and causing cell damage. 

Titanium Dioxide is another active mineral ingredient that works naturally to block the sun’s rays. It protects skin from UVB radiation and is considered to have no risk of skin sensitivity.

Sunscreen that contains these ingredients is called physical blocker while the sunscreens with ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate are called chemical blockers. 

Note - Chemical blockers can irritate and cause skin reactions for those with sensitive skin, while all-natural physical blockers are completely safe for the skin.

HOW AND WHEN TO APPLY SUNSCREEN?

As a rule of thumb, apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure, and reapply at least every two hours. Physical sun blockers like Kama Ayurveda’s Natural Sun Protection can be applied last in your skin care regimen, but before applying any make-up. It’s a natural broad-spectrum sunscreen that suits all skin types. 

Sunscreen is the most crucial part of your skin care routine and should be used every day to maintain healthy skin.

Noticed your skin getting tanned lately? We’ve got some simple remedies for you to undo the damage. 

READ - HOW TO REMOVE TAN - 10 EFFECTIVE HOME REMEDIES

MOVING BEYOND THE BASICS

Now that we’ve discussed the basics, let’s move on to understanding what else you should add to your skin care routine. These additions are based on your skin type. For instance, if you’ve large pores, face packs are recommended for you. And if your skin is dry, then regular oil massage is useful.  

Let’s explore a few great additions to your skincare routine.

#5 AYURVEDIC TREATMENTS AND FACIAL OILS/SERUMS

The age-old science of Ayurveda focusses on herbal oils as a means for treating various skincare issues. When applied on the skin, these naturally-sourced healers cure skin problems, keep the skin pores in check and locks in moisture for a healthy glow.

WHAT IS A FACE OIL OR FACE SERUM?

In recent times, face oils and face serums have become popular as an alternative or addition to using creams. We recommend facial oils made from Ayurvedic herbs as they are 100% natural. 

Below are some popular Ayurvedic herbal oils that are recommended for use as face oils. 

Kumkumadi Oil - The legendary Kumkumadi Oil is prescribed for dull, pigmented, damaged skin. It has special qualities that help skin look young, radiant, and healthy.
READ - KUMKUMADI OIL - ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE MIRACLE BEAUTY OIL

Neem Oil - Rich in antioxidants, Neem Oil has been used for centuries for treating both skin disorders. Its antibacterial action treats skin issues such as acne, rashes, hyper-pigmentation, burns, and abrasions while protecting and moisturizing the skin.

READ - HOW TO USE NEEM OIL FOR SKIN?

WHAT ARE AYURVEDIC SKIN TREATMENTS?

Unlike facial oils/serums, Ayurvedic skin treatments are herbal oils that can be applied all over the body. The various types of Ayurvedic body treatment oils include brightening natural oils and de-tanning oils. 

These oils can be massaged all over the body as the Ayurvedic practice of Abhyanga, also known as self-massage. Some of the popular Ayurvedic body oils are -

1. 1. Coconut Oil - is a natural conditioner for dry and sensitive skin.
   
   
2. 2. Almond Oil - is an excellent emollient for dry, flaky, irritated skin. It is also a pure and natural dry skin serum that smoothens the skin from head to toe.
   
   
3. 3. Nalpamaradi Oil - is a powerful de-tanning treatment that repairs pigmentation and treats sun-damaged skin.
   
   
4. 4. Sesame Oil - repairs skin damage caused by harmful UV rays and can also be used as a massage oil. It absorbs easily to skin.

READ - HOW TO USE NALPAMARADI TAILAM TO REMOVE TAN

#6 EXFOLIATION

Exfoliation is simply a process of removing the dead cells from your skin’s surface. Irrespective of your skin type, you’ll benefit from exfoliation as it removes the build-up of dead cells that cause skin dullness. 

Wondering how often should you exfoliate? Well, that depends on your skin type and the face scrub that you choose. 

Ayurvedic scrubs such as Ubtan are 100% percent natural and contain ingredients like oatmeal and chickpea flour that are gentle on the skin. If you’re using such Ayurvedic scrubs for your face and body, you can even use them regularly. When using other scrubs, exfoliate once or twice a week.

READ - THE 2 BEST AYURVEDIC UBTAN RECIPES FOR A GLOWING SKIN

Unlike the chemical scrubs that have plastic microbeads, herbal face scrubs are made with natural substances that give an exfoliating effect to the skin. Almonds, Oatmeal, and Chickpea flour are some ingredients to look for in natural scrubs.

#7 FACE MASKS AND FACE PACKS

Our skin has to fight various environmental damages like pollution and sun exposure on a regular basis. Which is why, since ancient times, women have been using natural masks to deep clean the pores and exfoliate the skin to achieve a healthy glow. 

These face masks are skin remedies that work wonders in keeping acne, pigmentation, aging, and other concerns at bay. By using natural masks regularly, you can heal your skin and combat stubborn skin issues.

Ayurvedic herbal face masks can be used weekly. They absorb oil and can have a mild exfoliating effect — so they’re great for oily areas. Some ingredients to look for in your natural face masks are - Multani Mitti, Ashwagandha, Sandalwood, and Turmeric

Face packs are also recommended as a part of bridal skincare regimen a month prior to the wedding. They soothe the skin and help in relaxation. 

READ - BRIDAL SKIN CARE - 11 PRE-BRIDAL TIPS FOR A GLOWING SKIN

#8 LIP CARE

Taking care of your lips is an extension of skin care. So, don’t forget to include it in your skincare routine.

The most common problem that our lips go through is dryness and chapping. Sometimes, the build-up of dead cells on the lips leads to lips losing their natural colour. This causes dark and pigmented lips.

The ancient science of Ayurveda suggests a Vata-balancing diet and other natural ways to hydrate, moisturise and nourish the lips. It’s recommended to use a natural lip balms and lip scrubs regularly to maintain beautiful and healthy lips.

#9 AYURVEDIC DIET FOR GLOWING SKIN

As we mentioned at the beginning of the blog, Ayurveda emphasizes on the importance of a good diet to bring out that healthy glow. What you eat and how you feel shows on your skin.

So, as the last part of your skin care routine, we’re listing some food items to include in your diet for a glowing skin.

1. Water - This one’s a no brainer. You definitely need to have at least 2 litres of water if you want your skin to remain hydrated.

2. Fruits - Having seasonal fruits provide your skin with its dose of nutrients like Vitamins and antioxidants. Want a clean skin with no blemishes? Start eating fruits regularly.

3. Green Leafy Vegetables - Full of antioxidants and essential nutrients, green leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, lettuce are great for your skin.

4. Yogurt - A lot of skin ailments are caused by stomach issues. Having yogurt everyday is the easiest way to maintain a healthy gut and combat these issues.

5. Green Tea - Green tea is known to protect your skin from signs of ageing. It’s loaded with catechins which help in improving overall health of the skin.

It’s important to stick to healthy food choices and avoid extra sugary, processed and fatty foods that are known for causing skin problems. In addition, make sure you exercise everyday to improve your overall gut health and bring out a healthy flow on your skin.

SKIN CARE ROUTINE - CONCLUSION

In this blog, we’ve talked about the different elements of a skin care routine and their functions for your skin. We’ve also discussed how taking care of your gut and your stress levels is just as important as using the right products on your skin. 

Now, you’re ready to build your own skin care routine by picking up the elements and products that are most essential for you. So, get started!

Ubtan, a name that resonates with tradition and timeless beauty rituals of India. While it might sound exotic to some, for many, it evokes memories of vibrant Haldi ceremonies that are a part of Indian wedding rituals. 

Picture a golden-hued paste, meticulously crafted from nature's finest ingredients, applied to a bride and groom amidst joyous celebrations. 

That paste is none other than Ubtan, a traditional Ayurvedic recipe to detoxify the skin and body. 

Ayurvedic massage with Ubtan (also known as Ubvartan) is one of the vital steps of the ritual of Solah Shringar, the sixteen ways of beautifying the woman’s body during the marriage. 

It’s believed that exfoliating the body with ubtan prepares the bride and the groom to detach from the old life (through the removal of dead cells from the skin) and prepare for the new. 

Rooted in ancient Indian scriptures, Ubtan's origin can be traced to the Vedic era. Ubtan has been used since those times for beautification and protection of skin.

What is Ubtan?

Ubtan, a treasure from Ayurveda, is a body cleanser rich in herbs and minerals that promise fresh, healthy skin. This mix, with its delightful aroma of herbs, spices, grains, and nuts, deeply purifies the skin, revealing a natural glow.

While there are many Ubtan recipes, most include ingredients like Oatmeal, Chickpea flour, Almonds, Turmeric, Masoor dal, Neem powder, and Fennel. Some even enrich their Ubtan with Saffron and Sandalwood powder to get a radiant skin.

This special combination in Ubtan not only cleans and scrubs the skin but also leaves it feeling soft and silky.

9 Benefits of Ubtan For Healthy Glowing Skin

Want glowing skin? Ubtan is an old and trusted way to get it. If you're thinking, "Why should I use Ubtan regularly?" just look at its benefits. Here's why many love Ubtan for natural skincare.

1. Brings Out The Natural Glow

Gentle exfoliation with natural ingredients like Gram flour leaves the skin feeling fresh. Sandalwood powder is known for brightening the skin complexion. Regularly using ubtan to exfoliate your body and face will help you get radiant and spot-free skin. 

2. Cleanses The Skin Deeply

Beyond mere surface cleaning, Ubtan delves deep to remove dirt and impurities. Even a single application can show a marked difference, making it a superior alternative to many commercial face washes.

3. Makes You Look Younger

Turmeric, a key component in Ubtan, combats signs of aging. Its antioxidant properties rejuvenate the skin, restoring its natural luster and hydration. Moreover, Turmeric and Sandalwood act as natural toners and acne deterrents.

4. Helps in Removal of Facial Hair and Ingrown Hair

While not a complete solution, Ubtan can assist in reducing facial and ingrown hair. Historically, it was used on infants to gently exfoliate and remove body hair.

5. Helps You Get a Clear Skin

Ubtan is adept at diminishing acne scars, blemishes, and pigmentation. Sandalwood aids in fading age spots, sun spots, and acne scars, ensuring an even skin tone and improved complexion. 

6. Heals and Prevents Skin Allergies

With ingredients like Gram flour and Turmeric, Ubtan is effective against skin allergies, rashes, and boils.

7. Has Natural Cooling Properties

Components like Sandalwood and Rose water in Ubtan shield the skin from harmful UV rays and provide a cooling effect, especially beneficial after prolonged sun exposure.

8. Hydrates and Nourishes The Skin

Ubtan not only balances oil production but also hydrates the skin. Its rich vitamin and mineral content promotes healthy cell regeneration, ensuring a radiant complexion.

9. Tightens the Pores:

Sandalwood powder in Ubtan acts as an astringent, refining and tightening skin pores.

Before we look at various ubtan recipes, let’s explore these ingredients for ubtan and understand their unique benefits for the skin.

Ayurvedic Ubtan Recipe Ingredients

Though there are many variations that can be made to Ubtan to make it suitable for the specific needs of your skin, the traditional Ayurvedic recipe for Ubtan uses the following ingredients to form the paste.

1. Oatmeal - The Perfect Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin

Oatmeal is ideal for sensitive skin because it is an excellent moisturizer with skin healing, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and itch relieving benefits. The gritty nature of oats makes it an excellent scrub for sensitive skin that cannot tolerate the usual exfoliators.

2. Turmeric - For Healing The Skin

Turmeric is an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent which has Kapha and Pitta balancing properties. Turmeric is also an antiseptic that helps with clearing out skin pigmentation and evens out the complexion. About a pinch of turmeric is added to prepare ubtan paste as per the traditional Ayurvedic recipe.

3.  Almond - For Gentle Exfoliation

Almond replenishes the lost nutrients in the skin, reduces acne and makes the skin look healthier. Almond powder is made by soaking the almonds in fresh cream or milk for a few hours and then grounding the almonds after peeling off their skin. To prepare ubtan, almonds are used in its powdered form.

4. Neem - The Ultimate Remedy For Acne-Prone Skin

Traditionally, neem leaf extract has been used in face packs for acne-prone skin. Due to its anti-bacterial properties, Neem powder is prepared from neem leaves and added to Ubtan. 

5. Sandalwood Powder - For Natural Glow

Sandalwood (Chandan) is also a natural astringent that tightens the pores so that skin appears super smooth and naturally radiant. It also has a soothing smell that relaxes the senses. If you suffer from acne, then the anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of sandalwood can help you in reducing and preventing acne. However, it’s not advised to use ubtan on active acne. 

6. Fennel - For Deep Cleansing

Fennel is a wonder herb from the parsley family known for its cleansing properties. It unclogs the pores by pulling out all the excess oil, dead skin cells, dirt, etc and also helps in fighting wrinkles. 

The cleansing and toning effect of fennel on the skin is especially helpful for those with oily skin. Fennel is also added to ubtan to use it for removing ingrown hair.

7. Green Gram Flour and Chickpea flour - For Nourishing The Skin

Green gram flour or chickpea flour are other important ingredients of Ayurvedic ubtan recipe. They are rich in rejuvenating vitamins such as Vitamin A, B, and C which provide a natural glow to the skin. Either or both of them can be used to prepare ubtan paste. They also serve as an effective skin-lightening agent and reduces skin pigmentation to reveal a healthy complexion.

How to make Ubtan at home?

Now that you know about the key ingredients of Ubtan, you can combine them to create your own ubtan paste at home. 

1. Ayurvedic Ubtan for body

Grind eight to nine almonds (preferably soaked overnight and peels removed) and grind them to get almond powder. Now, combine them with a cup of gram flour and half a cup of oatmeal. Now, add about a tablespoon of neem powder, a pinch of turmeric and about half a tablespoon of fennel powder. Make a thick paste by adding rose water. 

Apply this paste all over your body and let it dry for some time. Once the paste is dry, scrub it off gently and wash with normal water. For those having dry skin, milk can be added to prepare the paste instead of water.
If you don’t have the time to collect the necessary ingredients and prepare your own ubtan, then you can use Kama Ayurveda’s Ubtan Soap Free Body Cleanser. It is one of the best Ayurvedic ubtans and has all the key ingredients that balance and retexturize the skin. It’s 100% percent natural cleanser with no harmful laurel sulfates.

There’s no simpler way to treat your body with the goodness of Ayurvedic ubtan. You can simply add water to it and apply it all over your body. 

Exfoliating with this Ubtan leaves you feeling alert and refreshed with skin that is noticeably smoother and glowing.

This ubtan evens out the skin tone and reduces the appearance of cellulite. It effectively clears away dirt, oil, and impurities without drying out the skin and hence it’s suitable for sensitive skin as well.

2. Ayurvedic Ubtan For Face

To make an ubtan face pack, combine one tablespoon of sandalwood powder, one tablespoon of oatmeal and 3 tablespoons of chickpea flour (besan) in a mixing bowl. 

To this, add half a tablespoon of neem powder, half a tablespoon of fennel powder and a pinch of turmeric. Now, add six to seven finely grounded almonds (preferably soaked overnight and peels removed). 

Take the desired quantity of the powder and make a paste by using water. For oily skin, use rose water to make the paste and for dry skin, you can use milk or yogurt.

If you don’t have the time to collect the necessary ingredients and prepare your own ubtan, then you can use Kama Ayurveda’s Mridul Soap Free Cleanser. It’s an exfoliating ubtan face pack that cleanses skin.

One of the finest Ayurvedic cleansers, this product boasts all the essential Ubtan ingredients for the face. Not only is it 100% natural, but it's also free from harmful laurel sulfates.

This herbal powder, when mixed with Rose Water or milk, becomes a cleansing paste. It clears dirt, oil, and impurities without taking away the skin's natural oils. Additionally, it tightens facial pores, gently exfoliates, and enhances the skin's overall texture.

Brightening ingredients like sandalwood and turmeric help in bringing out a glowing complexion. For this reason, this ubtan can also be used on brides. Since this is an all-natural and soap-free facial cleanser, it is suitable for sensitive as well as damaged skin.

FAQs about Ubtan

Here, let’s answer your most common doubts about using Ubtan for your skin.

1. Can we apply ubtan on body daily?

Since ubtan is a 100% natural paste, it can be applied to the body daily. For regular application on face, Mridul Soap Free Cleanser is recommended. 

2.  Are there any side effects of ubtan?

There are no side effects of ubtan and it’s suitable for sensitive skin as well. However, you may perform a patch test.

3. What is Ubtan called in English?

Ubtan originated in India and has its roots in Ayurveda. It’s known as Ubtan only.

4. Does Ubtan remove facial hair?

Ubtan contains ingredients like turmeric and gram powder that are effective in removing hair however, the hair removal will depend on the thickness of hair and the skin type. It’s effective in removing the body hair of babies.

5. How to use Ubtan for oily skin?

For oily skin, you can add ingredients like lemon and curd that help in reducing the oiliness of the skin.

6. How to use Ubtan for dry skin?

For dry skin, add moisturizing ingredients like honey, milk powder, milk or cream to your ubtan paste.

7. Are there any readymade Ubtans that I can buy?

Kama Ayurveda’s Ubtan Soap Free Body Cleanser is a ready-to-use ubtan. You can simply add Rose water or Milk to it and start using it on your body.

References

1. Evaluation of Ubtan- A Traditional Indian Skin Care Formulation
2. Standardization and Evaluation of Ubtan - a traditional Indian unani formulation
3. Topical Curcumin: A Review of Mechanisms and uses in Dermatology
4. Sandalwood for Skin Ageing - A review

It’s almost here! The day you’ve dreamt about since you were a little girl. It’s your special day, with all eyes on you. And you deserve the perfect flawless skin. 

But like all good things, getting there will take extra effort and care. 

After all, bridal skin care requires you to go beyond your regular skincare routine. 

Great makeup can be a good fix, but that natural bridal glow makes all the difference, and, of course, makes the photographer’s job so much easier. 

So, don’t forget the importance of bridal skin care and the time it takes for your skin to actually start showing results. Starting early is crucial and we strongly recommend that you start getting serious about bridal skin care months before the wedding day. 

We know how busy you are with organizing the wedding, so we won’t ask you to make radical changes. Simple adjustments to your daily lifestyle and beauty regime will get you that special glow. 

Wedding preparation for the bride is incomplete without following these basic pre bridal tips for beauty. So, let’s get started!

Bridal Care Before One Year Of Marriage

Are you thinking that one year prior to the wedding is too early to start prepping your skin?

Then, you’re wrong. Certain skin conditions like dry patches, tanning, and pigmentation take a long time to be completely treated.

1. Start getting regular body massages

The ancient science of Ayurveda emphasized the importance of body massages with treatment oils to treat skin problems. Oil massages are a great way to provide nourishment to the skin and provide deep relaxation. 

You can use special 100% natural Ayurvedic treatment oils for treating skin issues like tanning and hyperpigmentation. Such treatments have special importance in Indian bridal preparation before marriage.

Pro Tip - Jwalini is prescribed in Ayurveda as a treatment for smooth, soft and clear skin. It also helps in reducing skin irritation and itching. Nalpamaradi Thailam is another Ayurvedic treatment that works as a natural skin illuminator and detanning oil for face and body.

If tanning is a major concern for you, you can read in detail about using Nalpamaradi Thailam to remove tan.

Bridal Care Before 6 Months Of Marriage

Six months before the wedding is a relatively less stressful time and you can make time for healthy habits and lifestyle. Here’re a few things that you can get started with to bring out your natural bridal beauty.

2. Start following a healthy diet

It’s no mystery that whatever you eat reflects on your skin. 

Therefore, our first pre-bridal tip isn’t about following any elaborate bridal skin care routine but about identifying the right diet for you. You may consult a dietician to chalk out a personalized diet plan for you.

We strongly recommend slowly eliminating sugar and carbs from your diet. Avoid munching on junks like chips, chocolates, ice creams, or sodas as they are the first to cause bloating and skin breakouts. Instead, start following a balanced diet consisting of fruits, green vegetables, and protein.

Start sipping on hydrating liquids like coconut water and lime water. Also, consider including green tea in your diet for a healthy dose of anti-oxidants.

Pro tip - Avoid making any drastic changes to your diet for losing weight. Often, such crash diets backfire and you end up gaining extra weight. Remember that the idea is not to starve yourself but to give your body all the nutrition it needs while cutting out on the junk.

3. Start getting facials

6 months before the wedding is a good time to start getting monthly facials. 

Always get your salon professional to patch test the products before using them on your face. If there are any specific skin issues that you want them to address, speak to them prior to the facial so that they can recommend the right products for you.

Facials provide the deep cleansing and hydration that preps your skin better for makeup.

Pro Tip - Starting early with facials helps in identifying the right salon professional for you. You wouldn’t want someone new to treat your skin days before the wedding. So, getting someone to understand your skin early enough ensures that you’ve plenty of time to address any skin issues that might turn up.

4. Get plenty of good quality sleep

The last thing you want around your wedding day is dark circles around your eyes. Hence, we recommend you to get into the habit of sleeping about 8 to 10 hours every night.  

Trust us when we say that sleep is everything! When do you think all the regeneration and creation of cells and body tissues happens? It’s when we’re sound asleep. Not only this, the relaxed breathing state during sleep calms our central nervous system and reduces stress.

So, don’t underestimate the importance of good sleep for the health of your skin and your mind. 

Pro Tip - Add a drop or two of Lavender essential oil on a piece of tissue paper/ handkerchief/ cotton and place near your pillow when you go to sleep to be able to sleep and relax better. 

Bridal Care Before 3 Months Of Marriage

We’ve talked about how important it’s to get started early. Here, are a few pre-bridal tips that you should start at least before 3 months of marriage.

5. Double cleanse at night

Pre wedding skin care at home starts with daily cleansing!

With all the dirt and pollution, your skin has to endure all day, make sure you take your skin cleansing extra seriously. Use all natural makeup remover, loaded with natural butter and oils, that are gentle but deeply clean any dirt and makeup from your skin pores. 

Follow up with foaming cleansers that are not harsh on your skin and leave it nourished and hydrated.

If you can make time for it, you should perform a complete clean up of your face at least once a week. Here are 6 simple steps you can follow to do face clean up at home. 

6. Go All Natural To Detox Your Skin

Three months before the wedding, stop using any products that contain harsh chemicals. Switch to natural products that don’t cause any harm to the skin. This detox will be extremely beneficial for you. 

Another way to detox your skin is regular exfoliation. 

Over time, dead cells tend to build up and leave our complexions looking dull and lifeless. Removing this layer of dead cells will leave your skin looking fresher and more vibrant. Start by exfoliating with a gentle scrub once a week and then move towards scrubbing twice a week if your skin can tolerate it. 

Pro Tip - Natural scrubs that are gentle on the skin bring out the best results. For instance, Kama Ayurveda’s Kumkumadi Brightening Scrub has finely ground sweet almonds that are great for the skin and natural exfoliators.

7. Start Practicing Yoga

It’s a well-known fact that sweating makes your skin glow and is great for bridal skin care. Ayurveda’s sister science, Yoga recommends asanas that make you perspire, tone your body and improve blood circulation. It’s no surprise then that it’s one of the most followed beauty tips for a bride.

Meditation helps reduce stress levels and build mental strength. Practicing a combination of Yoga and meditation during these hectic, fast-paced days will make the run-up to your wedding enjoyable and give you flawless skin.

Pro Tip - Identify the areas in your body where you need toning and focus on the asanas that help you reduce fat around those areas. Also, remember to massage your body with rich body butter to avoid getting stretch marks from losing fat.

8. Focus On Eye Care

Eyes are delicate areas and can show signs of stress, fatigue, and aging more quickly than other areas. Three to six months before the wedding is a good time to start focusing on them.

Whether it's dark circles, puffiness, or fine lines, starting early gives you time to see what works best for your skin. 
We recommend Kama Ayurveda’s Eye Contour Renewal, a fast absorbing serum that instantly revives and hydrates the under eye area

Beauty Tips for Bride Before 2 Month Of Marriage

As you move closer to the wedding day, you can feel the stress build-up. But fret not, as you’ve been taking good care of your skin, now you only need to maintain its health.

9. Keep yourself super hydrated

Between all the hustle-bustle of wedding preparation, it’s easy to forget something as simple as having enough water. 

The key to glowing skin is water. So, plan your diet accordingly. Include lots of watermelons in your diet and set reminders to ensure that you drink water regularly, even on your busiest days. Improve your intake of green vegetables, fruits and treat yourself with herbal teas as they hydrate the body really well.

10. Do not forget CTM and your night routine

It’s just two months before the wedding, so don’t go overboard and just stick to the basics. 

Even when you start getting busier, do not your forget your morning and night skincare routine. Cleanse, tone and moisturize twice a day and apply your night cream/ face serum at night. Also, make sure that you apply a generous amount of sunscreen whenever you step out.

Cleansing will help your skin breathe better, toning will tighten your pores and moisturizing will make your skin soft and supple. Together, these simple things will help your skin immensely and will bring out the best look with the makeup on the big day. 

Beauty Tips for Bride Before One Month Of Marriage

11. Start applying face packs

You’ve worked hard for your skin all these months and now, it’s just one month to your wedding. All you need to do now is maintain your facial glow and relax. 

Applying face packs regularly is helpful for this. Not only are face packs and face masks great for your skin, but they also give you an opportunity to take out some time for yourself and unwind.

Pro Tip - You can use all natural face packs that contain Multani Mitti. They enhance the complexion, improve skin texture and are soothing for the skin. Kama Ayurveda’s Suvarna face pack is one such 100% natural face pack and contains Multani Mitti as the key ingredient along with skin brightening ingredients like Haldi and Chandan.

12. Manage stress

Stress can cause skin breakouts and make you look dull. So yes, do take steps to manage your stress on a daily basis. 

You are better at identifying what will help you the most. For some, it’s a relaxing full body massage or scrub. If you find massages relaxing, you can use Kama Ayurveda’s Sugandahi Rejuvenating Body Treatment Oil to give yourself a soothing massage. 

You can also try meditating for about 10 minutes in the morning or at night. 

Choose healthy ways to manage your stress. Do not binge eat or start having junk or alcohol. Think positive thoughts and remember that the day is going to be beautiful and memorable. Your bridal care is done and you’re completely ready for your wedding day!

13. Avoid Touching Your Face

Did you know that our hands are exposed to countless bacteria and germs throughout the day? Every time you touch your face, you're potentially transferring these germs onto your skin, which can lead to breakouts, acne, and other skin irritations.

Sometimes, face-touching is a response to stress. If you find yourself touching your face out of habit or nervousness, try to keep your hands occupied with a stress ball or other object.

14. No New Products

One of the most important rules in pre bridal skin care is to avoid new products close to your big day. New skincare products can sometimes cause unexpected reactions, such as redness, breakouts, or allergies. 

Skin often needs time to adjust to new products. Even if a product is beneficial in the long run, it might initially cause purging (where skin temporarily looks worse as it clears out impurities), which you want to avoid right before your wedding.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you found these pre-bridal beauty tips helpful for your skin. We’d like to conclude by saying that having beautiful and glowing skin isn’t just for the wedding day. If you develop some great habits during the months before the wedding, then, try to keep up with them to maintain that radiant and clean look always!

We all know that healthy and glowing skin requires effort and regular care. But, let’s admit, we get lazy and often forget about following our skincare routines. Only when it’s time for a special occasion or outing, we actually get serious about taking care of our skin!

Are you one of those people who start taking your skin seriously only when faced with skin issues like acne and hyperpigmentation? If yes, then this blog is for you!

Here we’re going to talk about the simplest and most effective way to get a radiant skin - a face clean up.

What Exactly Is A Face Clean Up?

As the name suggests, face clean-up is a simple skin care regime to get rid of dead cells and dirt. Not only it reveals a radiant skin, but also keeps blemishes and acne at bay!

The best part is that you can pamper your skin with a face clean up at home as well. All you need to do is follow the right steps in the right order and of course, use the best products for your cleanup. 

Few of the basic steps for face clean up are cleansing, scrubbing, steaming, removal of blackheads and whiteheads and applying a face pack. 

If you clean up your face twice a week, you will definitely notice a change in skin texture and appearance. All you need to do is take out 30 minutes from your busy schedule for your skin, twice a week!

Sounds simple, right?

Difference Between Facial And Cleanup

Does a cleanup seem similar to a facial to you? Let’s clear out the confusion by understanding the difference between the two skincare regimes.

If you look at the basic steps, a facial and cleanup are quite similar. 

But, there’s one stark difference - In addition to the basic clean up steps - cleansing, scrubbing, steaming, removal of blackheads and whiteheads, and applying a face pack, facial includes a relaxing massage as well. 

Therefore, a facial not only improves your skin texture but also improves the blood circulation. 

A good facial takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes and might include special products to treat specific skin problems. Since facials are more elaborate, you need a facial only once in four to six weeks. While you can do a facial at home, it’s recommended to get it done through a professional only. 

Face Clean Up Guide - 6 Simple Steps

Inspired to try out a face clean up at home? We’ll make it easy for you by explaining the simple steps and identifying some of the best products for you to use! 

Using natural ingredients or all natural products is recommended for regular skin care regimes as they give the best results without depleting the skin of its natural moisture. For a regular skin care regime like face clean up, you’re better off not using any products with harsh chemicals. 

We know how difficult it is to stick with complex regimes, so we’ve made this one really simple to follow.

Let’s start with the first basic step.

1. Cleansing

Start by checking if your face has any residual makeup. You can use all natural make-up remover to gently remove any leftover makeup. All natural make-up remover is kind on sensitive skin and replenishes dehydrated skin.

Start by applying the make-up remover your skin massaging gently, with circular movements. Pay attention to sensitive areas (eye-lids, under-eyes), and stubborn makeup (lips). Use only damp tissue/cotton/washcloth to wipe off, for fuss-free cleaning.

For the next step of cleansing, wash your face thoroughly with a mild cleanser, and pat the skin dry with a soft towel. Do not use hot water for this as it may dry out your skin. 

This method of cleansing is called double cleansing. Since a cleanser alone can’t remove all the dirt and makeup, oil cleaning with make-up remover helps in removing any remaining traces.

Pro Tip  - Honey is a natural cleanser. If you’ve oily skin, you can apply lemon and honey to your face for cleansing and then wash it off after 5 minutes. 

2. Steaming 

Once your face is clean, use a facial steamer or a container full of boiling water to steam your face. You can even add a few drops of essential oil to the water for a moisturising effect. 

For steaming, keep your face a few inches away from the bowl or steamer and cover your head with a towel. Steam for as long as your skin can sustain (not more than 5 minutes) and then gently wipe the face using a facial tissue. 

This step is helpful for oily skin. Steaming also helps remove toxins, cleanses your face even further and aids in getting rid of blackheads and whiteheads. After steaming, you can use a blackhead remover to start scraping the stubborn blackheads.

Pro Tip - After steaming, you can massage ice cubes in a circular motion to your face. This will help in tightening the pores and bring the skin temperature back to normal.

3. Scrubbing  

Do you know why your skin appears dull? It’s because of the dead skin cells that accumulate over time.

This brings us to the third step of the face clean up - Exfoliation.

Exfoliating your skin is a great way to get rid of these dead skin cells and it also prepares the skin to absorb other products better. Choose a natural scrub that is gentle on the skin. Use it to scrub your face for about 3 minutes. Avoid putting too much pressure while scrubbing as it can damage your skin. Leave it on for about 3 minutes before you wash it off. 

Unlike the chemical scrubs that have plastic microbeads, choose herbal face scrubs that are made with natural substances that give an exfoliating effect to the skin. 

For instance, Kumkumadi Brightening Ayurvedic Face Scrub has finely ground Sweet Almonds - rich in Vitamins E & D. It nourishes and nurtures the skin while lifting away pollutants and impurities for a glowing complexion. 

Pro Tip - You can mix equal parts of brown sugar and lemon to prepare a scrub at home and exfoliate your skin naturally.

4. Applying Face Pack 

The idea of putting on a face pack and relaxing is so soothing! But a face pack (or a face mask) does a lot more than just calming your nerves.

Irrespective of your skin type, the application of a moisturizing face pack makes your skin soft and improves your skin tone. However, it’s important to pick a suitable face pack for your skin type.

Apply the pack over your face evenly and relax. Leave it on until it dries, which is generally about twenty minutes to half an hour. Once dry, wash the mask off with cold water and pat dry.

Pro Tip - If you’ve oily or combination skin, you’ll benefit immensely from face pack that has multani mitti as the key ingredient. If you’ve dry skin, then you can prepare a face pack using banana, honey, and yogurt. These natural ingredients have cleansing and tightening effects on the skin.

If you’ve acne issues, then use special anti-acne face packs that have special ingredients that help in removing acne and scars.  

5. Toning

Toning is another important step of face clean up. It’s refreshing to the skin, seals the pores and keep the skin hydrated. Use a chemical-free and mild toner as per your skin type. Read our complete guide on how to use toner for some great tips!

Kama has a range of 100% pure natural toners that you can start with. Kama Ayurveda’s range of pure, steam-distilled toners include distillations of Rose, Lavender, Vetiver & Mogra that act as wonderful natural skin toners, keeping the skin hydrated and have a slight natural fragranced.

Pro Tip - Cucumber juice is a simple homemade toner that is refreshing in summers and helps in maintaining pH balance.

6. Moisturizing

Now, let’s move to the final and most relaxing step of face clean up - moisturization.

Moisturizing helps to keep your face hydrated and also addresses specific skin issues. Apply a nourishing cream on your face and neck. You may even use a moisturizing serum or an anti-aging night cream if you’re doing the face clean up at night. 

Pro Tip - Coconut Milk, Sesame Oil, Olive Oil, and Aloe Vera are natural moisturizers. You can apply them to your face for hydration or use creams based in these natural oils. Kama’s Eladi Hydrating Ayurvedic Cream is an excellent moisturizer suitable for all skin types.

Conclusion

In the end, we’d like to conclude by summarizing the many benefits of a face cleanup. 

•  ● Regular face cleanup keeps your skin free of excess dirt and impurities.
•  ● It ensures that your skin remains refreshed and rejuvenated. 
•  ● It keeps the skin pores unclogged and clean which helps in reducing breakouts and other skin issues. 

A face clean up twice a week keeps the skin hydrated and prevents skin issues caused by dryness, such as flakiness and itchiness. It also brightens your skin and reduces tanning and pigmentation. 

If you have a bunch of skin care products that you swear by, you can use them for cleaning your face at home. However, if you love all-natural products, you can explore the range of Kama Ayurveda products and choose the ones suited to your skin type for a face clean up.