Ayurveda is a system of traditional healing from the subcontinent of India. Ayurvedic medicine emphasizes natural, life-prolonging practices including massage, yoga and herbal treatments. The word ayurveda means 'the science of life,' and the ayurvedic philosophy is founded on the principle that all life thrives in a state of harmonious health. Ayurvedic beauty tips can help create supple skin and lustrous hair the natural way.
Eat Spices
Using spices in cooking aids digestion, which detoxifies and nourishes the skin. The Maharishi Ayurveda newsletter recommends turmeric as the skin's best friend, due to its cleansing and antioxidant properties. Cook leafy green vegetables in a blend of turmeric and other spices; the iron and calcium in the greens will give cheeks a rosy glow. Eating foods with chemicals and preservatives can result in breakouts and rashes, so stick to fresh natural foods, eating plenty of fruits for skin suppleness and whole grains to nourish the skin and encourage skin cell regeneration. Drink plenty of water to keep skin hydrated.
Use Natural Masks
For an instant glow, mix equal amounts of lemon juice and honey, spread it over the face, leave it on for 10 minutes, then wash it off with tepid water, suggests the beauty editors of India Parenting magazine. To reduce bagginess and puffiness around the eyes, ayurvedic beauty maven Shahnaz Husain recommends potato juice--the cooled water strained from cooking potatoes. Blot it around the eyes, rest for 10 minutes, then wash it off with cool, fresh water. For acne outbreaks, Shanaz recommends spreading a layer of pure, plain yogurt over the face daily; leave it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with cool water.
Use Henna Hair Treatments
Henna forms the base for natural hair dyes, but henna leaves can do much more than change hair's color. They form an important part of ayurvedic treatment for lustrous locks. Ayurvedic doctor Smita C. Yavagal, writing in Our Karnataka, an online newspaper for the Mysore region of India, recommends steeping henna leaves in sesame oil in the sun for seven days, then applying the mixture to the scalp two hours before washing hair to alleviate dandruff. Henna powder mixed into a paste with tea, lemon juice and flowers of white and red hibiscus, steeped overnight in an iron pot and then thickened with egg white and left on the hair three to four hours before washing, can impart a deep hair color without chemical dyes. It also fights premature graying caused by insufficient protein.
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