Decoding Ayurvedic Skincare

“Derived from Ayurvedic formula”, doesn't this term sound familiar? Well, it is, especially in the array of clean beauty. Ayurvedic skincare has made a special place in the hearts of clean beauty connoisseurs. But a lot of us are not really thorough with what it is. And we have taken it into our hands to decode the Ayurvedic skincare for a better understanding of all our readers. 

To begin with, what exactly is Ayurveda? More than 3,000 years ago, India gave birth to a natural medication system known as Ayurveda. The Sanskrit terms Ayur (life) and Veda are where the phrase "Ayurveda" originates (science or knowledge). Ayurveda hence means "knowledge of life" which is used to restore life and balance. It is a very elaborate guideline for any and every disease and procedure to treat, heal and avoid the same. Its three primary classics, Atharvaveda, Charak Samhita, and Sushruta Samhita, include in-depth descriptions of approximately 700 plants! Ayurveda offers a number of remedies to treat skin-related concerns out of which, ‘aging’ has been of great interest amongst people. More than 200 herbs, minerals, and lipids are described in its literature as ways to preserve and improve the skin's health and appearance.

In ayurvedic knowledge, there are three doshas that are said to determine a person's skin type. The structure of the body and mind is made up of these bioenergetic or life forces which are:

-Vata (wind)

-Pitta (fire)

-Kapha (water and earth).

Each person has a dominant dosha that shapes their physical constitution and personality. To elaborate a little more on the skin type, a Vata dominant person has dry, rough skin that wrinkles easily if not moisturized on a regular basis. High Pitta people have oily skin prone to acne and rosacea whereas Kapha skin is cold and oily, with a propensity for pimples, whiteheads, and water retention. With the focus on these three Doshas, or as the western sciences describe it ‘skin types’, Ayurveda helps one guide through a beauty regime that is suitable and effective. It also largely believes that the imbalance is caused by shifts in natural urges, stress, diet, etc. 

The Ayurvedic regime has always been popular and had a strong influence over the clean and conscious beauty industry, and the rise of the same is only ever increasing. “Over the last two years, we have noticed a marked increase in the inclination towards Ayurveda-based products, as part of a larger shift towards cleaner, organic, and natural beauty,” a spokesperson from a renowned e-commerce platform tells Business Standard. “This shift has aided the surge in demand on the platform and has been accelerated with the pandemic, resulting in consumers becoming more conscious about their purchases, looking for natural but also effective ingredients.” A regime that has ever existed in every nook and corner of the Indian household is now in growing demand across seas and nations. Global Ayurvedic Market was valued at US$ 4.5Bn in 2017 and is expected to reach US$ 14.9Bn by 2026 at a CAGR of 16.14%.

Although growing at a blooming speed, a percentage of people still fail to see the elaborative science and efforts behind the same. Free of chemicals and toxins, it is believed to be ineffective, which is almost a lie as ayurvedic skincare has long existed amongst the South Asian community and they stand by it. “A common misperception is that while natural stuff is safe, it is often too mild to work. However, Indians have long used natural materials such as turmeric and chickpea flour for skin care, and perceive them as safer alternatives to chemically laden cosmetics,” says Arush Chopra, chief executive, and co-founder of Just Herbs (an Ayurvedic brand onboarded on Vanity Wagon amongst many others). But with all the power moves that the clean and conscious beauty sector is pulling, ayurvedic skincare is being revolutionized by keeping the roots intact and converging into recent needs of the time.