This article is written by the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda. Interested in studying Ayurveda? Become an Ayurveda Health Counselor with our 750 hour online certification. Use the code Sahajan for $750 towards your tuition. 

Your skin acts like a window into the rest of your body, revealing clues about your age, stress levels, diet, quality of sleep, and more. Most people long for a glowing, blemish free complexion. The reality is that your skin comes into contact with a range of harmful stressors on a daily basis. While the skin may appear to be a tough barrier, it's actually quite sensitive. This article will share how you can soothe different types of skin stress and restore your healthy glow with Ayurveda.

1. How to Nourish Dry Skin

Dry skin is particularly common in fall and early winter as the temperatures drop and the winds pick up. It's also a sign you may be dehydrated. When you're dealing with dry skin, not only is it dry to the touch, the skin can appear prematurely aged, wrinkled, fragile, and flaky.

To remedy dry skin, try a daily Ayurvedic facial massage (mukha). Using your fingertips, gently massage sesame oil into the skin to inject some much needed moisture. This will leave your skin feeling soft, supple, and smooth. Also, make sure to stay hydrated by drinking warm water with a pinch of mineral salt and squeeze of lime.

2. How to Calm Inflamed Skin

Inflamed skin tends to be irritated, itchy, and prone to breakouts such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and acne. To calm skin irritation, avoid inflammatory foods such as processed snacks, sodas, and alcohol. If your skin is oily and prone to acne, try avoid heavy, rich, oily foods such cheese, ice cream, and fried foods too.

Instead, favor a lighter diet and include some cleansing bitter greens such as kale, arugula, or endive. Amalaki, a powerful anti-inflammatory herb, can help reduce the source of skin inflammation. A cool bath or a light massage with coconut oil can also help soothe hot, irritated sensations on the skin.

3. How to Brighten Dull Skin

In Ayurveda, dull, lifeless skin is usually a sign of poor circulation or weak digestion. To stimulate circulation, make sure to move your body each day. A hot bath, a massage, or even some simple stretches will help get your blood moving! A cup of fresh ginger tea is an easy and invigorating option to wake up cold or sluggish circulation.

Encouraging regular elimination will also improve dull skin. To do so, try using a tongue scraper and have a cup of hot water first thing every morning. Ayurveda's most famous formula, triphala, helps keep the bowels moving if you are prone to constipation. Also, favor easy to digest foods such as soups and stews, or Ayurveda's signature dish, kitchari, to promote daily elimination.

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