Have you ever noticed someone who lights up the room when they walk in, seeming to glow from the inside out? That's what you might call the Ayurveda glow—a palpable, radiant beauty that ripples out in all directions.
Ayurveda knows that true beauty is more than skin deep. Everything we do—from the foods we eat to the thoughts we think to how well we sleep at night—affects our physical appearance.
At the same time, there is a rich tradition of Ayurvedic beauty rituals that are all about enhancing beauty from the outside in, reducing the signs of aging, and getting that gorgeous dewy look with natural skin care.
The best part? You don't have to spend a pretty penny to indulge in Ayurvedic skin care. You can start with your favorite Ayurvedic skin care products, and then create your very own luxurious spa day using common, everyday ingredients that you already have in your kitchen.
Here's an Ayurveda-inspired facial treatment that you can do at home, along with a few simple recipes for making your own DIY face mask. Skin care has never been so fun!
The steps, at a glance:
- Cleanse the Ayurveda Way
- Enjoy Gentle Exfoliation
- Do a Mask to Make Your Face Glow
- Massage and Moisturize
Step 1: Cleanse the Ayurveda Way
To begin your beautifying at-home facial treatment, the first step is to cleanse your skin to remove any dirt or impurities.
- If it's the end of the day, you can use ghee to remove makeup and any lingering products.
- Open your pores by applying a washcloth with warm water or taking a moment to do a facial steam. Simply fill a large bowl with warm water, cover your head with a towel, and allow the steam to soften and moisten your skin.
- Cleanse your face with oil. Yep, you read that right! Oil face washing is an age-old Ayurvedic secret that has been making a comeback in recent skin care trends.
It may be counter-intuitive, but cleansing with oil is great for all skin types, including dry skin, oily skin, and sensitive skin. When compared with water, cleansing with oil does a better job of protecting your skin's natural oils and maintaining a proper balance of moisture.
While any oil will do, we recommend using Banyan's Neem Oil for skin that feels calm, clear, and hydrated.
Step 2: Enjoy Gentle Exfoliation
Once your face is clean, it's time for a gentle Ayurvedic exfoliation. This will help invigorate dull skin, open clogged pores, slough off dead skin cells, and promote bright, radiant skin.
There are several ways to exfoliate, and if you already have a favorite product or technique, wonderful!
Be gentle, loving, and kind to your skin, even when it's not perfect.
For some of our favorite homemade scrubs for glowing skin, check out this Rose-Turmeric Facial Scrub and these exfoliating Ayurvedic mask recipes for each dosha type.
Speaking of exfoliating, have you heard of dry brushing? This ancient Ayurvedic practice is basically like an exfoliation treatment for your entire body. You can use silk gloves or a soft bristle brush to massage your skin, which stimulates the lymphatic system and promotes natural detoxification.
Step 3: DIY Hydrating Face Masks for Glowing Skin
Now that you've cleansed and exfoliated, you're ready for the fun part. You can get as creative as you'd like here with your very own Ayurvedic face spa at home, creating decadent herbal facial masks with simple kitchen ingredients.
The basic idea here is that you shouldn't put anything on your face that you wouldn't put in your body. Your skin wants to be nourished with healthy plant-based ingredients, just like the rest of you.
Here are three luxurious face mask recipes we love for a DIY facial at home. Keep in mind that these recipes are adjustable, so if you find yourself without a specific ingredient, leave it out or get creative!
Bright and Rosy Strawberry Mask
This mask combines some of Ayurveda's favorite herbs for the skin—hibiscus and manjistha—with soothing rose powder, healing honey, and fresh strawberry. Strawberries have been shown to reduce redness and irritation in the skin, and even reduce eye-puffiness.1
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe strawberry
- ½ teaspoon hibiscus powder
- ½ teaspoon manjistha powder
- ¼ teaspoon rose powder
- ½ teaspoon honey
Soft and Dewy Blueberry Mask
This mask is simple but powerful, and a great choice for the hot summer months. Oatmeal provides moisture and hydration, while the antioxidant-rich blueberries work to calm redness, support healthy circulation, and promote the body's natural production of collagen.2
Ingredients:
- 8–10 blueberries
- 1 Tablespoon cooked oatmeal
- Dash of raw milk or cream
Cooling Neem Avocado Mask
Neem is one of Ayurveda's most well-known herbs for the skin, thanks to its powerful cooling property that helps to reduce excess heat and redness. In this recipe, neem joins forces with cooling aloe vera, matcha green tea, and moisturizing avocado for a truly soothing experience.
Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon neem powder
- ½ teaspoon matcha powder
- ¼ of an avocado
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera juice
- 1 teaspoon plain yogurt
Directions:
The directions for each of these masks is the same. Blend all ingredients together to create a paste-like texture, using a blender, mortar and pestle, or even a fork. Apply a thin layer to your face with fingers or a paintbrush. Leave on for 5–20 minutes. Wash with a warm washcloth, being careful not to get the mask in your eyes.
*Each recipe makes enough for 3–5 masks. Store in the refrigerator and use within one week.
More Ayurvedic Face Masks
Want more inspiration for DIY face masks that promote gorgeous glowing skin? We got you! Here's a list of recipes to keep you busy for many self-care spa days to come:
- Chickpea and Triphala Face Mask for clear, healthy, gently exfoliated skin.
- Mung Bean Mask with manjistha for supporting a calm and bright complexion.
- Neem-Clay Mask Recipe to cool and soothe troubled and irritated skin.
- Triphala and Honey Mask to smooth, tone, and refine the skin.
Step 4: Massage and Moisturize
The last step of your Ayurvedic facial, for glowing skin that lasts, is to pamper your skin with luxurious moisture and massage.
Massaging your face with your fingertips or a skincare tool, such as a gua sha, helps to stimulate the flow of blood and oxygen and tonify the tissues. This handy little tool has traditionally been used to promote smooth, even, and refined skin.
If desired, you can even take the practice deeper—affecting the state of your entire body—by incorporating Ayurvedic marma points into your self-face massage.
A gentle face massage with Banyan's signature Face Oil is the perfect way to complete your ritual and lock in your skin's natural moisture. Perfect for all doshas and skin types, this nourishing facial serum protects a healthy skin barrier, supports natural hydration, and replenishes smooth and radiant skin.
Another favorite skin moisturizer is Banyan's Beauty Balm, a rich and silky blend that combines a deeply hydrating base of ghee and other oils with nourishing shatavari and a hint of rose geranium.
You can use Beauty Balm as you would any facial moisturizer or apply it before bed to practice slugging—a skincare technique that locks in moisture. Simply slather on a thick coat of Beauty Balm before you go to bed (just protect your linens). This practice can be a wonderful way to complete your home facial and really protect all the luscious goodness you've gifted to your skin.
