As winter approaches and temperatures drop, many people experience noticeable changes in their skin. These changes often present as dryness, itching, and dullness. In this insightful blog post, we will explore the realm of Ayurvedic remedies specifically designed for winter skincare. Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of medicine, offers a wealth of natural solutions to heal and nourish the skin during the colder months. Get ready to discover five easy-to-implement Ayurvedic remedies that effectively promote skin health and vitality throughout winter.
During winter, our skin faces several challenges including:
1
Dryness:
During cold weather and times of low humidity, the lack of moisture in the air can cause our skin to become dehydrated and lose its natural moisture, leading to dryness and discomfort.
2
Cracked heels:
When exposed to cold temperatures and wearing heavy footwear, our heels can be prone to painful cracks and fissures. These cracks can make walking and standing uncomfortable and may require extra care to heal.
3
Itchiness:
The combination of dry air and harsh fabrics can contribute to skin itchiness. The lack of humidity in the air can strip away our skin’s natural moisture, while rough fabrics can further irritate the skin, leading to an uncomfortable itching sensation.
4
Chapped lips:
In cold and windy weather, our lips are particularly vulnerable to dryness, cracking, and chapping. The harsh elements can strip away the moisture from our lips, leaving them dry and prone to painful cracks. Proper lip care and protection are essential to keep our lips smooth and hydrated.
5
UV damage:
When surrounded by snow, we may be exposed to increased UVB rays due to the reflective nature of snow, which can amplify UV light exposure by up to 80%. This heightened exposure can lead to further skin damage, including sunburn and premature aging. It is crucial to apply sunscreen and protect our skin from harmful UV rays, even during snowy conditions.
To care for your skin during winter, it’s important to:
Moisturize regularly: Use a rich and hydrating moisturizer to nourish and protect your skin.
Wear appropriate footwear: Invest in warm and comfortable shoes to prevent cracked heels.
Choose gentle fabrics: Opt for soft and breathable fabrics to minimize itchiness.
Use lip balm: Apply a moisturizing lip balm to keep your lips hydrated and prevent chapping.
Apply sunscreen: Even in winter, protect your skin from UV damage by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
Let’s embrace the wisdom of Ayurveda and embark on a journey towards radiant and resilient skin despite the challenges of winter!
1
Oil Massage (Abhyanga):
A fundamental practice in Ayurveda for winter skincare is the daily oil massage, known as Abhyanga. This ritual not only moisturizes the skin but also improves blood circulation, relieves muscle tension, and calms the nervous system. Use warm sesame oil or nourishing herbal oils like almond or coconut oil for this massage. Pay special attention to dry-prone areas such as elbows and knees.
Ayurvedic face masks made from natural ingredients provide deep nourishment to the skin. Create a simple and effective mask by mixing equal parts of honey and yogurt. Honey moisturizes and has antibacterial properties, while yogurt soothes and hydrates the skin. Apply the mask to your face and neck, leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and rinse with lukewarm water. Experiment with other Ayurvedic ingredients such as turmeric, sandalwood, and aloe vera for additional skin benefits.
Hydration is crucial for maintaining skin health, especially during dry winter months. Ayurveda suggests drinking warming herbal teas to stay hydrated from the inside out. Consider teas with ginger, cinnamon, and licorice, which provide warmth and have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These herbal teas help flush out toxins from the body, promoting clear and healthy skin. Remember to opt for warm water throughout the day and minimize caffeinated and sugary beverages that contribute to dehydration.
4
Nourishing Diet with Ghee:
Your diet plays a significant role in the health of your skin. Including ghee or clarified butter in your diet can benefit your skin during winter. Ghee is rich in essential fatty acids and has moisturizing properties that combat dryness. Incorporate ghee into your meals or consume a teaspoon of warm ghee on an empty stomach in the morning. Additionally, include foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, to boost collagen production and enhance skin elasticity. A balanced and nourishing diet supports overall skin health and resilience.
5
Hydrating from the Inside with Triphala:
Triphala, a traditional Ayurvedic herbal formulation consisting of three fruits (Amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki), is known for its detoxifying and rejuvenating properties. Consuming Triphala powder with warm water before bedtime helps cleanse the digestive system, promoting healthy skin from within. A clean and balanced digestive system is integral to Ayurvedic principles of skin health. Triphala aids in digestion, assimilation of nutrients, and elimination of toxins, contributing to a clear and radiant complexion.
This winter, embrace Ayurvedic remedies to nourish and care for your skin. Incorporate these five ingredients into your skincare routine and experience the science-backed benefits they offer. From oil massages to herbal face masks and hydrating herbal teas, these Ayurvedic practices will help you maintain healthy and vibrant skin throughout the winter season.
Hyperpigmentation, or dark spots on the skin, is a prevalent issue, particularly in India. The higher melanin content in brown skin makes us more susceptible to this condition compared to Caucasians. Achieving an even-toned complexion is a top priority, and while the beauty industry offers various treatments, the power of Ayurvedic formulations and ingredients cannot be overlooked.
Sun Exposure: Long-term exposure to UV rays can lead to sun damage and the formation of dark spots (also known as age spots or sunspots, dark spots are a common manifestation of pigmentation)
Hormonal Imbalances: Internal changes in the body, such as fluctuations in hormone levels or conditions like PCOS, thyroid issues, or pregnancy, can contribute to skin pigmentation.
Melasma: Genetic predisposition often causes melasma, which appears as large brown patches on the face, especially during or after pregnancy.
Post-Inflammatory Pigmentation (PIH): Marks left behind by pimples, acne, or eczema are referred to as post-inflammatory pigmentation.
REVERSING SKIN PIGMENTATION:
Ayurvedic formulations and skin pigmentation creams with various ingredients have shown promising results in reducing pigmentation with regular usage. Additionally, advancements in cosmetic treatments have provided effective solutions.
In Ayurveda, an imbalance of Pitta and Vata is believed to contribute to skin pigmentation. Alongside using Ayurvedic skin pigmentation creams and oils, adopting a healthy and balanced lifestyle is crucial.
TIPS TO TREAT AND PREVENT SKIN PIGMENTATION:
Maintain a routine aligned with your body’s circadian rhythms: wake up early, meditate, eat healthy meals, and sleep early.
Stay hydrated: drink 8-10 glasses of water daily to prevent dehydrated skin.
Consume seasonal fruits, leafy green vegetables, legumes, and antioxidants to counter free radical damage.
Minimize sun exposure: wear dark-colored clothing, sunglasses, and hats, and apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin.
Incorporate a hydrating night cream that reduces melanin production and imparts a natural glow.
Avoid excessively sour, salty, and spicy foods. Instead, consume foods with bitter, astringent, and sweet tastes.
Opt for warm meals instead of extremely hot or cold food.
Try to avoid eating stale food and opt for freshly cooked meals whenever possible.
While hyperpigmentation is a common concern, embracing Ayurvedic treatments and following a holistic approach can help reduce pigmentation over time. By understanding the causes, exploring effective Ayurvedic ingredients, and implementing preventive measures, you can achieve a radiant and even complexion.
Turmeric, with its vibrant yellow-orange color, has been revered for centuries due to its healing properties and cosmetic benefits. In this blog post, we will delve into the myriad ways in which turmeric can benefit your skin. From bestowing a natural glow to aiding in acne scarring, turmeric offers a wide range of potential advantages.
Turmeric boasts antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components that can enhance the radiance and luster of your skin. You can create a homemade turmeric face mask by combining small amounts of Greek yogurt, honey, and turmeric. Apply this mask to your face, leave it on for 15 minutes, and then rinse it off with water.
Turmeric’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities may help mitigate flares and other symptoms of psoriasis. It can be used as a supplement or incorporated into your diet. Consult a healthcare professional to determine the appropriate dosage.
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties specifically target pores and soothe the skin, potentially reducing acne breakouts and resulting scars. Its ability to diminish scarring makes it a promising option for clearing up acne breakouts.
Scabies Treatment:
A combination of turmeric and neem has demonstrated efficacy in treating scabies, a condition caused by microscopic mites that leave a rash on the skin.
In India, there is an age-old tradition of using turmeric powder to stop bleeding and promote healing in open wounds. The presence of curcumin in turmeric aids in wound healing by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. It helps accelerate the healing process of skin wounds. For best outcomes, it is advisable to apply curcumin as part of an optimized formula.
Potential for Other Dermatological Conditions:
While further research is necessary, turmeric exhibits potential in alleviating other skin conditions such as eczema, alopecia, and lichen planus.
Dosage and Absorption: Turmeric has low bioavailability, meaning that the body absorbs only a small amount of it. Exercise caution to avoid excessive consumption and observe how your body reacts before increasing the dosage. Consult your doctor if you are taking other medications.
Skin Staining and Allergic Reactions: Turmeric can temporarily stain the skin and may cause irritation, redness, and swelling if you are allergic. Before applying it to your face, perform a patch test on your forearm. If you are allergic to turmeric as a spice in food, refrain from using it.
The key to creating a turmeric face mask is to combine turmeric powder or extract with a thickening agent to form a paste. The ingredients may vary depending on your skin concern:
For acne and antibacterial concerns, mix turmeric with warm water and honey.
For hyperpigmentation and wrinkles, blend turmeric with yogurt and lemon juice for added nourishment and brightening effects.
For irritation, combine turmeric extract with aloe vera gel to naturally soothe the skin.
For antioxidant power, simply mix turmeric with water. You may add a small amount of almond or rice flour to thicken the mask for easier application.
Regardless of the recipe you choose, leave the mask on for around 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, then follow up with your preferred toner, serum, and moisturizer. Avoid leaving the mask on overnight, as turmeric may stain lighter skin tones. If staining occurs, try washing your face with milk. Use the mask up to 2-3 times per week.
Roses are not merely symbols of love and beauty; they have played a crucial role in skincare rituals across cultures. Cleopatra’s beauty regime famously included roses, emphasizing their timeless appeal and effectiveness. Beyond their enchanting aroma, roses are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, offering a holistic approach to skin health.
Abundant in antioxidants like vitamin C, roses combat free radicals and oxidative stress, neutralizing factors that hasten skin aging. Using rose-based products can strengthen skin cells, promoting longevity and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Soothing Skin Redness and Irritation:
The anti-inflammatory properties of roses aid in calming skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, and eczema. Regular use of rose water or rose-infused products can reduce redness and promote a balanced, even skin tone.
Boosting Collagen Production:
Essential for maintaining skin elasticity and firmness, collagen production is enhanced by the vitamins A and C found in roses. This not only aids in skin repair but also helps maintain a youthful and vibrant complexion.
Improving Skin Tone and Texture:
Rose products, thanks to their vitamin C content, can lighten hyperpigmentation and scars. Regular use can lead to a brighter, more even skin tone and smoother texture.
Deep Moisturization:
Rose’s natural oils possess exceptional moisturizing capabilities, making it an ideal remedy for dry skin. These oils effectively lock in moisture without clogging pores, ensuring supple and hydrated skin throughout the day.
Regulating Sebum Production:
Rose offers a natural solution for those with oily skin. Its astringent properties help tighten pores and balance sebum production, resulting in a clearer and matte complexion.
Rose also holds potential benefits in treating various conditions:
Hyperacidity: Increased stomach acid levels can cause digestion issues. Regular intake of rose powder, known for its cooling properties, can help reduce acid levels and improve digestion. It acts as an appetizer, eliminating toxins and controlling hyperacidity. To alleviate hyperacidity, take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of rose powder with mishri before lunch and dinner.
Diarrhea: Diarrhea, caused by contaminated food or weak digestion, can be managed with rose powder. Its absorbent properties aid in nutrient absorption and help control loose motions. To alleviate diarrhea, take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of rose powder with mishri before lunch and dinner.
Menorrhagia: Excessive menstrual bleeding, known as raktapradar, is often caused by imbalanced pitta dosha. Rose helps regulate pitta dosha due to its cold and astringent properties. To manage heavy menstrual bleeding, consume 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of gulkand (rose petal jam) with water before lunch and dinner.
Acne & Pimples: Rose, with its astringent and cooling properties, is beneficial for acne-prone skin. It helps remove excess oil and dirt, preventing clogged pores. By balancing aggravated pitta, rose helps prevent acne and pimples. For acne management, apply 4-5 drops of rosewater on a cotton ball and gently wipe your face before bedtime.
Eye Strain: Rosewater provides instant relief from eye strain due to its healing and cooling properties. Soak two clean cotton balls in rosewater and place them on your eyes for 15 minutes. Alternatively, splash water mixed with a few drops of rosewater to refresh tired eyes.
Rose Water Toning: After cleansing, spritz rose water on your face to tone and prepare your skin for moisturizing. This not only refreshes the skin but also tightens pores and balances pH levels.
Rosehip Oil for Anti-Aging: Apply a few drops of rosehip oil at night to target signs of aging. Rich in retinol and vitamin C, it promotes cell turnover and collagen production.
Rose-Infused Masks and Scrubs: Whether DIY or store-bought, rose-infused masks, and scrubs exfoliate dead skin cells and deliver intensive moisture, revealing radiant and refreshed skin.
Rose Petals in Baths: For a luxurious spa-like experience, add rose petals to your bath. Not only does this soothe the skin, but it also relaxes the mind.
While roses are generally safe for all skin types, it’s important to:
Patch Test: Always perform a patch test before trying a new rose-based product, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Pure and Organic: Opt for products that use pure, organic rose ingredients to avoid skin irritation from pesticides and chemicals.
Conclusion: Rose and Turmeric – The Ultimate Skin Allies
Turmeric offers numerous benefits for the skin, including natural radiance, wound healing, relief for psoriasis, reduction of acne scarring, and treatment for certain skin conditions like scabies. Whereas, Rose provides profound benefits for the skin, such as anti-aging, moisturizing, soothing, and brightening effects. By incorporating rose into your skincare regimen, you embrace a legacy of beauty and well-being that has withstood the test of time, nourishing and caring for your skin.
*However, it’s important to use caution, considering dosage, potential allergies, and interactions with medications. Always consult a healthcare professional before adding turmeric to your skincare routine.
Chapped lips can be a problem throughout the year, caused by various factors such as cold weather, dry air, sun exposure, and even cosmetic products. While lip balms are helpful, Ayurvedic remedies offer natural and effective solutions to nourish and protect your lips. In this blog, we will explore Ayurvedic tips and home remedies to maintain soft, moisturized lips.
Exfoliation – Preparing Your Lips for Nourishment
Exfoliation is key to removing dead skin cells and allowing lip balms to penetrate and moisturize the new skin. Here’s a simple lip scrub recipe you can make at home:
Mix 1 tablespoon. of an exfoliating ingredient like sugar or sea salt with 1 tablespoon. of an emollient such as honey or oil.
Apply the scrub in a circular motion using gentle pressure.
Remove the scrub with a damp washcloth.
Avocado Butter – A Nourishing Emollient
Avocado butter, known for its emollient and thickening properties, is an excellent ingredient for lip balms. It contains beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants that help hydrate and protect the lips. You can purchase organic avocado butter or make your own using organic avocados in a food processor. Apply as needed with your fingers or a cotton swab.
Grape Seed Oil – Hydration and Anti-Aging
Grape seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, making it a nourishing option for lip care. Regular use of grape seed oil can keep your lips hydrated, soft, and supple, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and signs of aging.
Preventing Chapped Lips – Ayurvedic Tips
Avoid licking your lips as saliva evaporates quickly, drying them out further.
Use a humidifier in dry environments to add moisture to the air.
Choose lip products without irritants like fragrance, dyes, or alcohol.
Protect your lips from extreme weather conditions by applying a moisturizing lip cream or balm with sunscreen before going outdoors.
Practice nasal breathing to avoid dry mouth and lips, and consult your doctor for sinus and allergy medication if needed.
UMA Suggest some Ayurvedic Pro Tip:
– Stay hydrated. Make sure to stay hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily. Additionally, you can develop a habit of enjoying this Ayurvedic thirst quencher, which consists of the following ingredients:
⅛ teaspoon cumin seeds
2 cups spring water
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint or basil
1 teaspoon raw sugar
2 small pinches of salt
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
Instructions:
Begin by dry-toasting the cumin seeds in a small skillet over medium-low heat for about 1 minute, or until their enticing aroma is released. Once done, remove them from the heat and proceed to crush them using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder.
Next, combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend briefly until well-mixed. For a smooth consistency, strain the mixture through a cheesecloth or a nut milk bag. This will ensure a delightful texture. Serve the prepared mixture at room temperature.
To preserve the freshness and flavors, refrigerate the mixture in a sealed jar or container. It can be stored for up to 3 days, guaranteeing you can enjoy it on multiple occasions.
Elevate your lip care routine with UMA Absolute Anti Aging Lip Oil! This indulgent lip oil combines the nourishing benefits of avocado oil, grapeseed oil, geranium, and peppermint. Avocado oil deeply hydrates and protects your lips, while grapeseed oil provides essential fatty acids and antioxidants for soft, supple lips. Infused with the aromatic goodness of geranium and peppermint, experience the ultimate lip pampering with UMA Absolute Anti Aging Lip Oil.
With Ayurvedic remedies, you can maintain soft and healthy lips all year round. Embrace exfoliation and nourishing ingredients like avocado butter and grape seed oil, and follow preventive measures to keep chapped lips at bay. Prioritize your lip care routine and enjoy the benefits of Ayurveda for your lips’ well-being.
Couples massage has emerged as a popular avenue for couples to unwind and reestablish their connection. However, if you’re seeking to elevate your massage experience, why not indulge in an Ayurvedic couple’s massage? This time-honored Indian practice of healing and well-being is renowned for its opulent and refined approach to attaining equilibrium and serenity in the body, mind, and spirit.
Undoubtedly, massage plays a pivotal role in alleviating stress, clearing the mind, and relaxing the body. Yet, were you aware that a couple’s massage also bestows a multitude of relationship benefits? It presents an opportunity for bonding and rediscovering intimacy with your partner in an environment of utmost tranquility.
The Power of Touch
Ayurvedic massage is more than just a physical experience, it is also deeply rooted in the power of touch. In Ayurveda, touch is considered to be one of the most essential senses and has long been used as a form of therapy to promote healing and well-being. When two people come together with intention and focus on each other, the power of touch becomes even more profound. This is why Ayurvedic couple’s massage can be such a transformative and intimate experience for couples.
Exploring the Benefits
Apart from its relaxation benefits, massage in Ayurveda aims to balance the three doshas (energies) – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. By stimulating pressure points and using specific techniques, Ayurvedic massage helps restore balance, promoting overall well-being.
Ayurvedic couple’s massage not only has physical benefits but also enhances emotional connection and strengthens the bond between partners. The act of touching in a safe environment fosters trust, communication, and vulnerability.
Abhyanga is a luxurious massage technique that uses warm oil to envelop the entire body, from the scalp to the soles of the feet. Originating from Ayurveda, a traditional Indian system of medicine, Abhyanga is highly regarded and widely practiced for its ability to promote holistic well-being. By combining the nourishing properties of the oil with skillful massage strokes, this therapeutic practice is believed to enhance overall health and vitality. While typically performed by a professional massage therapist, Abhyanga can also be enjoyed as a self-care ritual in the comfort of your own home.
Massage Offers Several Benefits, such as:
ReduceStress:
In a 2011 study, researchers examined how abhyanga affects stress in 20 healthy adults. Participants completed a stress-related questionnaire and had their heart rate measured before and after a 1-hour abhyanga massage. The study found that after the massage, subjective stress levels and heart rates decreased.
ImproveSkinHealth:
According to abhyanga practitioners, one of the main benefits is healthy skin. The oil used in the massage nourishes the skin, improving its overall appearance. Massage strokes are believed to increase skin blood flow, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, cellulite, and scars, improve skin smoothness and softness, and decrease hyperpigmentation.
ReduceMuscleStiffness:
Abhyanga is thought to improve flexibility by decreasing stiffness and increasing mobility in tight muscles. Studies have shown that massage, such as ankle massage and self-massage before stretching, can improve joint flexibility and range of motion.
LowerBloodPressure:
In the same 2011 study, researchers evaluated participants’ blood pressure. After abhyanga, blood pressure decreased in those with prehypertension. Massage can improve blood pressure by expanding blood vessels, promoting blood flow, and reducing resistance in the arteries.
Massage is known to promote lymphatic drainage, although there is no specific research on abhyanga and lymph flow. The physical pressure applied during massage expands lymphatic vessels, encouraging lymph flow. This can be beneficial for conditions like lymphedema, where fluid accumulates in the lymphatic system causing swelling.
The Ritual of Ayurvedic Couple’s Massage
Unlike traditional massages, an Ayurvedic couple’s massage is not solely focused on relaxation. It is considered a ritualistic practice that incorporates various elements to help balance the mind, body, and spirit. This includes the use of specific oils, herbs, and techniques tailored to each person’s individual needs.
The massage is typically performed in a warm and inviting setting, with soft lighting and calming music. The couple is also encouraged to set an intention for their massage, which can further enhance the experience and bring them into a state of deep relaxation and connection.
Take Your Relationship to the Next Level!
It’s easy for couples to become disconnected and lose touch with each other. Ayurvedic couple’s massage offers a unique opportunity for partners to reconnect on a deeper level and strengthen their relationship. By incorporating this ancient practice into your routine, you can not only improve your physical and emotional well-being, but also deepen your bond with your significant other in a relaxing way.
Reconnect and Rejuvenate:
Couples often struggle to find time alone amidst the demands of work and family life. A couple’s massage provides an opportunity to relax and engage together, fostering reconnection.
ASharedBondingExperience:
A couple’s massage offers a dedicated time for partners to catch up and communicate uninterrupted. It can also be a moment to simply enjoy each other’s company in peaceful silence. Sharing a new experience can bring couples closer.
Enhance Affection:
Hormonal imbalances can strain relationships. Massage helps regulate mood by promoting the release of feel-good hormones like oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, fostering intimacy and affection.
Complete Relaxation:
If you’re new to massage and feeling apprehensive, a couple’s massage provides a comforting and familiar environment. It’s an ideal way to unwind and discover the benefits of massage together.
Suitable for all couples:
While a couple’s massage can be a romantic experience, it’s also perfect for bonding and relaxation with close friends or family members. Mothers and daughters, best friends, and others find joy in sharing a couple’s massage as it deepens their connection.
Shrankhla Holecek 00:03 Hello, I’m Shrankhla Holecek, the founder and CEO of UMA, an ayurvedic beauty and wellness collection. This is the Uma Elements podcast. Each week, I’ll be having a conversation with someone I greatly admire on the topics of ayurveda, holistic healing, spiritual well being, and alternative health. By sharing wisdom together, we will unlock a secret that, as ancient as they are, Ayurveda and other ancient modalities are as modern and relevant today as ever.
Shrankhla Holecek 00:41 Today we’re chatting with Jessica Defino on the Uma Ayurveda podcast. Jessica is a beauty culture critic writing for multiple outlets like the New York Times, Vice, and Vanity Fair. Referred to by the Sunday Herald as the woman the beauty industry fears the most, Jessica fearlessly offers unfiltered insight into the world of beauty products. Her expertise encompasses natural, holistic, and sustainable skincare as she delves into the profound impact of beauty culture on individuals physically, psychologically, and spiritually. In this captivating episode of the Uma Ayurveda podcast, we engage in a thought provoking conversation with Jessica, exploring her unique perspectives on beauty and its products in the modern world.
Shrankhla Holecek 01:33 So, Jessica, welcome to the Uma Ayurveda podcast. You know, and as I was just saying, I absolutely adore your work, and I’m so excited to talk through this undoubtedly scintillating ideology experience body of work that you’ve accumulated over such an incredible period of time. But we must start with the two gripping lines in the opening paragraph of your introduction, which is ghost writing for Kourtney Kardashian and going head to head with dermatologists. Tell us a little bit more about that.
Jessica Defino 02:11 Well, first of all, thank you so much for having me. I’m so excited to chat with you. And yeah, it’s funny, I always get questions about this ghostwriting for the Kardashian business, and it does kind of relate to my skincare journey and going head to head with dermatologists. So before I started writing in the beauty industry, specifically, one of my last positions was working as an assistant editor on the Kardashian Jenner official apps. So I was part of the five person launch team that launched all five of those apps in 2015, I think it was. And part of what my job entailed was creating content for the Kardashians and the Jenners. So I primarily worked on Khloe Kardashian and Kendall Jenner’s apps.
Jessica Defino 02:57 But I wrote a little bit for all of the sisters. So it was content, everything from outfits to beauty, know, Kourtney’s healthy recipes and things like that. And it’s interesting because I think it did inspire a lot of my skincare journey because it was a super high stress environment. There was a lot of pressure. I was on call twenty four seven, and you’re creating content that’s going to be read by millions and millions of people. So it was super stressful. And a lot of skin conditions are triggered by chronic stress, as we all know. So towards the tail end of my time working on these apps, I developed something called dermatitis, which is like a chronic skin condition. That dermatitis is kind of a catch all phrase that means, like, something’s going on with your skin, but we don’t really know what. And so I was going to dermatologist all the time, just, like, praying for an answer, and nothing seemed to work.
Jessica Defino 03:57 And I’d kind of always had, quote unquote, problem skin. I don’t like saying the words problem skin because, as I found out over the years, any skin issue or skin problem is really just your body trying to communicate with you. But over the years, I dealt with acne.
Jessica Defino 04:12 I had been on accutane, I’d been on antibiotics, I’d had medicated treatments, I’d had retinoids, all of it. And what dermatologists prescribed for my stress induced dermatitis was topical steroids. I ended up being on topical steroids for two years, and they really got rid of the dermatitis at first, which was wonderful, but eventually they triggered this steroid resistant case of dermatitis that took over my whole face and thinned my skin barrier and caused something called skin atrophy, which is basically like the permanent thinning of your skin, to the point where my skin was too sensitive to handle anything. I couldn’t use the steroids anymore because it was too dangerous.
Jessica Defino 04:56 I couldn’t use really anything topical, even, like washing my face with water hurt, because that’s how compromised my skin was. And so I didn’t really have anywhere to turn except trying to heal my skin from within, through diet, through lifestyle changes, through mindfulness practices, and through really soothing, gentle, natural ingredients, and through healing my own skin that way, without any help from dermatologists, I learned so much about how the skin actually functions. And I started to ask, like, wait, why isn’t anybody talking about this? How come all the women’s magazines I’ve read over the years haven’t mentioned any of this? How come a dermatologist never told me how my skin really works? And how this medication is really going to affect it. And it kind of kick started this passion I have for really getting the truth out there about skincare.
Shrankhla Holecek 05:55 Thank you for sharing that. There is so much in there, starting with the fact that a not surprised at all that the Kardashians have to thank you for, for their success over the years. I appreciate the candor about that journey because one of the things about Ayurveda that I find more and more gratifying every day is how empowering the idea of your wellness and your beauty and the most profound ways to help that is within you. Most of the angles in us, and it’s nice to have one other very important data point in you that resonates with that conclusion. So thank you for sharing that with us and thank you for all the work that you continue to do in this space. And speaking of that work, and I think you started to go in this, in this world, or at least until very recently.
Shrankhla Holecek 07:08 And predominantly, beauty writing has traditionally been very product driven, mostly sort of product reviews. And you see that it’s an ecosystem where a lot of the revenues are driven by magazine revenues, are driven by ads, and that’s just how things work. How have you found the courage and now the audience to pursue writings about minimalism, personal experience with healing yourself, which is not really driving dollars, but is at the truth, what our skincare and wellness approaches should at least start from going all natural and listening to your intuition. How have you gone so successfully against the tide?
Jessica Defino 07:57 Right? I think you mentioned the word courage, and I don’t think it was courage at first. I think it was just being really naive about the beauty industry. Like I said, I wasn’t super involved in the beauty industry at all, or beauty writing or beauty media before I had healed my own skin post steroids. So to me it was a genuine question, like, wait, why isn’t this stuff being talked about? Does nobody know? I’m going to get out there and I’m going to tell the truth.
Jessica Defino 08:25 So my first push to really start writing about this less product heavy approach to skincare and approach to beauty, I think I was just very naive. And the more that I worked in the beauty industry, the more I realized, oh, this is why nobody’s been talking about it. Because finding the answers within yourself and through natural ingredients that you can’t put a patent on doesn’t make anybody any money.
Jessica Defino 08:53 It doesn’t make the platforms and the publications that are publishing these articles money. It doesn’t make beauty brands money. It doesn’t make dermatologists money. So eventually I started to realize, okay, this is why it hasn’t been talked about. But by that point, I was so driven in my mission that there was no choice for me. I’m not going to write about products. I’m not going to push more products on consumers, because I always say, if products were the answer, we would all have perfect skin. There are millions of products out there. None of them work. None of them work. Otherwise, we would have no skin issues left to solve. And I think it’s resonating with a lot of people.
Jessica Defino 09:36 I think that we have reached this peak of consumption, especially with the skincare boom of the past couple of years, two to three years at least, with the ten step skincare routines and the overflowing shelfies. And I think it’s finally starting to hit the general consumer that, wait, I have all these products, and I still have all of these skin issues, and I’m still trying to solve them with more products. And something doesn’t add up.
Jessica Defino 10:05 So I’ve been so pleasantly surprised that this message is really resonating with people. And I think collectively as a whole, we’re kind of fed up with having to buy into these solutions that don’t actually work. And yeah, I think people are ready for this message. And because they are ready for this message, it’s in turn helping push this kind of content on major publications. Some of the stories that I’ve had published, I’ve kind of been in disbelief, like that Vogue would publish something on a super minimalist skincare routine. Know, I wrote a piece for Vogue about sheet masks and how we shouldn’t be using sheet masks anymore.
Jessica Defino 10:48 And it’s like, very exciting to see some of these publications which have previously pushed very consumerist messages catching on to kind of this less is more ideology.
Shrankhla Holecek 11:00 And in what you were saying, I think those are sort of the valuable cues that we must all seek and respond to, even if our personal journeys don’t take us on the path of minimalism, realize that, look, there is something to be said because a lot of these magazines and publications do eventually respond to where the populist belief system is going. They’re not going to publish something, in my humble opinion, that people are going to be like, what? I’ve never heard of this phenomenon.
Shrankhla Holecek 11:36 So, like you said, touches upon a tide of curiosity and changing mindsets about this very vital piece of knowledge. Evolution in our skincare journeys, if you will. One final question on your relentless pursuit of sort of true north. And we’re starting to talk about sort of some of this budding enthusiasm and awareness in people. However, I think still we’re maybe a few steps away from sort of this mass adoption of feeling like we’re empowered to jump on our own journey of exploration and understanding what’s right for us until, let’s say, we have 100 of you talking very plainly and openly about these topics.
Shrankhla Holecek 12:34 Sometimes claims do feel meaningless, and we are in positions to get influenced by greenwashing, for lack of a better word, or other claims that really are meaningless. And you do such an excellent job of just sort of quite provocatively taking them head on. How do you recommend people find authenticity in everything, sort of their personal selection of minimalist products or what to use? What are some of the things that you found helpful?
Jessica Defino 13:07 I think the best answer to this is also very simple. And it’s just like, be curious and ask questions, and that will lead you to the brands and the products and the practices that are right for you. For example, if a brand launches a new product and it says this moisturizer reduces wrinkles, ask how. Look for that information. How does it do that? What ingredients is it using to do that? How do those ingredients interact with my skin? What are the studies on that? Don’t take anything that a brand tells you at face value. Really be curious about it.
Jessica Defino 13:48 And I think the more curious you are and the more digging you do, the more you can kind of see where the cracks are in some of the marketing language and some of the logic and where it aligns with facts and truth and where it aligns with just pushing a product and making money. I think another thing that’s really not talked about enough is listen to your intuition. I think in modern society, we don’t really trust ourselves anymore.
Jessica Defino 14:18 We’ve gotten so used to companies and corporations telling us what we need and what’s right and what will help that we kind of ignore our own instincts. And some of the most profound healing that’s happened to my own skin has been because I followed my gut about what to leave behind, what natural ingredients to try, what practices to incorporate. Even with ayurveda, there are so many healing systems that I could have chosen when I was looking for something. But something about learning about Ayurveda just felt right in my gut. And that led to profound healing, not only in my skin, but in my gut, in my digestive system. And I think it’s really undervalued. Just listen to your instincts. Ask questions.
Jessica Defino 15:12 I think something that’s also been helpful for me in terms of what brands and what products to trust is. There’s this great quote, and it says, who profits from your insecurity? Who profits when you have this feeling? And if you’re feeling insecure about something, about something, about your skin or the way that you look, or aging, just ask yourself, who profits when I feel this way? Is it good for me or is it good for a brand and their bottom line? And just asking myself that simple question has helped me realize, like, okay, I don’t actually need this certain product.
Jessica Defino 15:52 I don’t actually need like a retinoid or botox or lip filler, because it’s not benefiting me, it’s benefiting somebody else. And I know inherently that that’s not the right choice for me. It’s not something that’s going to serve my highest self or my highest good, because it’s not for me. It’s for a corporation to make money off of me.
Shrankhla Holecek 16:14 I love that. And a lot of that resonates with me personally on account of sort of some of the healing philosophies of ayurveda, which in my mind, sort of live alongside traditional western treatments that you might need to go to an emergency room for. But one of the first things when someone is exploring ayurveda, and they come from a very traditional western medicine mindset, is the subjectivity of ayurveda versus the objectivity of western medicine.
Shrankhla Holecek 16:47 And those two often clash. Often in the west, what works for 70% is often chosen as the thing that must work for everyone. Whereas in ayurveda, healing is very personalized and individual. Sort of how a vaccine receives approval versus how an ayurvedic physician will take you through your life. And again, this is not a comment on what we should do when it comes to medication. It’s just about opening our mind up to taking that leap of faith in going back to trusting our intuition and what might be right for me.
Shrankhla Holecek 17:28 Because you might be the 30% when it comes to retinol or a steroid not being right for you. And if it’s not feeling right on your skin, persevering in using that, just because it’s worked for 60 70% of the people can sometimes be ignoring that intuition that’s keeping you alive, that’s there to protect you and nurture you. I sort of try to think about that balance a lot in life, and I’m glad you touched on that. Before we move on, I realize that everything that you are sharing and saying has come from such an incredible body of research. You’re talking to so many experts. As I can see in all your work, is there any resource in terms of a book or, I don’t know, a website that you have found very valuable as a resource in your journey?
Jessica Defino 18:35 Oh, there are so many. I love going on submed submed.com to research the skin and the skin’s inherent functions. Obviously, like scientific data for a lot of natural ingredients, natural healing practices is sorely lacking, and that’s because you can’t really make money off of it. And studies cost a lot of money.
Jessica Defino 19:01 So if there’s not money making potential for something, it often doesn’t get studied. That being said, there are some really fascinating studies out there about how the skin inherently functions, what it’s designed to do, how it works, all of these intricate moving parts. And that has been an amazing learning resource for me. The book Skin Cleanse by Adina Grigore was my first introduction to this kind of more minimal take on skincare, and I find myself constantly referring back to that book. I also found the book the beauty of Dirty Skin by Dr. Whitney Bow really helpful.
Jessica Defino 19:40 It’s all about the microbiome and the skin barrier and how that’s basically like the skin’s built in protective system. And when your barrier is intact and your microbiome is healthy and thriving, the skin really does take care of a lot of the hard work itself. We don’t need to rely on products as much.
Jessica Defino 19:59 And there’s a book that just came out that I am fascinated by. It’s called Clean the New Science of Skin by James Hamlin. And it’s kind of about the rise of soap and how soap and all of the kind of cleansers that we use today are really marketing inventions and not necessarily the best things for our skin. So it’s all about how to be hygienic and clean without relying on these traditional, very stripping cleansers and soaps and shampoos. It’s a fascinating read.
Shrankhla Holecek 20:33 Thank you. People are undoubtedly going to love those, and we’re going to put them at the bottom of the podcast just for easy sharing. Moving on from that and sort of honing into some of the things that you have come to see as myths, and you just talked about one great one around the use of soap and marketing. Tell us a little bit about the favorite myths you’ve debunked over the years.
Jessica Defino 21:02 Sure. I think my favorite is the idea that dead skin cells are bad and must be exfoliated away every day. I think this is a really common myth that we kind of all grow up with, like, even the name dead skin cells. Sounds like, oh, that’s bad. You don’t want something dead on your face. It makes your skin dull. It makes your skin dry and flaky. In reality, that’s not the case at all. Dead skin cells, scientifically, they’re known as corneocytes.
Jessica Defino 21:32 They actually are part of the body’s built in defense system, moisturization system. They hold moisture. They actually shape shift. Like, once your skin cells reach the corneocyte stage, they become wider and flatter so that they can hold on to more moisture. There’s so much built into dead skin cells that our skin actually needs. They serve a purpose, and our skin actually self exfoliates when they are ready to be shed. So we don’t really need to go in with an exfoliator every day or even at all. Most people, once or twice a week is fine, or you don’t have to exfoliate. But learning the actual function and biological purpose of dead skin cells was such a game changer for me.
Jessica Defino 22:21 And I’m constantly telling people, like, no, you really want your dead skin cells. They’re helping you so much.
Shrankhla Holecek 22:29 And indeed, it is a very fitting revelation in a time that a lot over exfoliation is happening in all sorts of ways. At home in dermatologists office, it again keeps going back to sort of thinning skin barriers and sort of forgetting how our skin and our body is our best defense against everything.
Shrankhla Holecek 22:54 We’re talking about tens of thousands, millennia of evolution versus something that may have just been discovered. And I think sometimes we forget to respect our bodies for what they’re able to do and how they’ve come up with mechanisms to thrive, such as dead cells that sort of evolve to protect you. I’ll encourage everyone to check that article out and do some of their own research on this. And speaking of your stories, I also found the story on seed cycling fascinating and magically informative. A lot of us struggle with acne in big and small ways.
Shrankhla Holecek 23:37 It’s not something that leaves us in adolescence. And, of course, while inviting everyone to go check out that story on Cosmo, could you share some high level takeaways for our listeners from that story?
Jessica Defino 23:52 Sure. So seed cycling was something I discovered maybe two years ago when I was dealing with a lot of hormonal acne, and nothing that I was trying was working. And the biggest realization that I had about hormonal acne eventually was like, it’s happening because of my hormones, which is an internal issue, and no amount of external skincare is really going to change that. So I started looking into ways to balance my hormones from within with food, and I discovered seed cycling.
Jessica Defino 24:22 So, basically, the premise of seed cycling sounds a little wacky, a little out there, but it’s eating different seeds every day in accordance with the phases of your menstrual cycle. So on day one of your cycle, to day 14, you eat a tablespoon each of pumpkin seeds and flax seeds. And then on day 14, to the end of your cycle, to the next time your period starts, you eat a tablespoon each of sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. And each of these seeds has nutrients in it that help naturally balance your body’s natural hormone fluctuations throughout your cycle.
Jessica Defino 25:02 So some of the seeds are really good at binding estrogen when there’s excess estrogen in your system, and they help the body kind of eliminate that excess estrogen more easily. Other properties are antiandrogen. So when your progesterone and the different androgens in your body are surging around the time when you would normally PMS, these seeds help kind of mitigate that surge so that your hormones stay kind of on an even keel throughout your whole cycle.
Jessica Defino 25:32 And this normally isn’t used as a way to treat hormonal acne. Seed cycling has been known as a natural remedy for PMS, for PCos. It really helps with mood regulation, with bloating, with cramping. But when I read all that, I was like, wait. Hormonal acne really is just another side effect of PMS, of imbalanced hormones. I bet this would help my skin. So I tried it, and within a month, my skin had transformed. So it’s something that I still practice to this day.
Shrankhla Holecek 26:07 How encouraging. Thank you for sharing that. So, knowing all that, you know, what are the two or three practices that you recommend someone first turn to in making the leap to this whole intuitive, sort of raw and native pursuit of beauty?
Jessica Defino 26:29 I think the first thing is to really learn about how your skin inherently functions. The skin is built to self cleanse, to self moisturize, to self exfoliate, to self heal. And I think for me, it was very transformative to kind of learn about how my body already knows what to do.
Jessica Defino 26:54 And it really helped me trust my body and trust my skin and kind of thank it and acknowledge it and have gratitude for all that it’s trying to do for me. And part of understanding how the skin and the body inherently function is understanding how everything is so interconnected, and that anything that pops up on my face, whether it’s like a blemish or a dry patch of skin or a dermatitis outbreak, these are all communications from within. And that communication could be, hey, your hormones are out of balance.
Jessica Defino 27:28 Or it could be, hey, you’re under a lot of stress right now, and you need to kind of slow down and reevaluate what you’re doing day to day. Or it could be, hey, you’re using way too much skincare, and your barrier is compromised. But kind of understanding how it all fits together really helped me find some sort of appreciation and love for my skin, even when it was not, quote unquote, cooperating with me. And then I think it’s also really important to reevaluate your relationship to beauty and how it impacts your life. For me, when I first started to dive into this more intuitive, mindful take on skincare and beauty, it was because dermatitis had taken over my whole face, and I was red, scaling, flaky, oozing. It was bad. I couldn’t wear makeup. And I realized that I had been basing all of my self worth on how I looked.
Jessica Defino 28:33 And when I couldn’t look what I considered to be pretty or beautiful, and I couldn’t wear makeup, my sense of self worth was completely shot. And it made me really think about the ways I had related to beauty and the beauty industry and beauty marketing my whole life. And really kind of based a lot of my identity on what I looked like. And I think just understanding that and thinking about it and maybe trying to detach a little bit from this value we place on external appearances has been invaluable. One in my skin healing journey, but also in my emotional and mental health. And to do that, some of the tools that I used were daily meditation, breath work, a gratitude practice. And it sounds funny, because none of them are products and none of them really have to do with your skin. But I credit those things with healing my skin more than anything.
Shrankhla Holecek 29:38 That makes a tremendous amount of sense to me. Jessica, when you talk about, especially coming from my personal experience on this, even though I grew up with ayurvedic principles and within nature, I think that when I moved here, I was so fascinated and enthralled by a different lifestyle, I went headlong into trying different things and products. And I think somewhere along the line, my personal intuition did get weakened.
Shrankhla Holecek 30:10 I would throw coffee and alcohol at problems and sheet masks at things. So sometimes going back to listening to that intuition and just embracing all of you does require practices that don’t seem like traditional skincare practices, but instead journeys of just knowing yourself emotionally, metaphysically and so on. So that totally makes sense to me. And some of those were also tools I relied on and still rely on when I feel a little bit off kilter or off balance and different strokes for different folks, as it were. Traditional meditation doesn’t really work for me.
Shrankhla Holecek 30:57 So I practice a form called transcendental meditation, which I find is I should be doing more of. But that’s the one practice that I found I was drawn to when I first learned it and that I was able to practice. So even within those pieces of advice, I think there’s a lot of personal exploration. But I love those and can definitely endorse that they worked for me. I know those are practices and I know your work in ingredients and what to avoid has been profound. What are two or three ingredients that you actually love for your skin?
Jessica Defino 31:42 I love this question. So the first is manuka honey. Manuka was kind of the first natural ingredient that I used and saw such a huge improvement in my skin and my dermatitis and my acne. And it kind of turned me on to this whole concept that, wow, natural ingredients actually can be very powerful. There’s always this misconception that if it’s from nature, it’s weak or it’s not going to have the same effect as like a prescription or a pill, but they can be so powerful. But manuka honey, I love. I use it as my cleanser every morning.
Jessica Defino 32:15 So I just put raw honey on damp skin and massage it in and then rinse it off. I’ll use it as a face mask. So just slather it on for like 20 minutes and rinse. It’s a really great spot treatment too. So if I have any pimples, I just dab a little bit of manuka on it. I’ll leave it there all day if I’m just working from home. And it’s so healing. Manuka specifically has very high antimicrobial properties, higher than any kind of honey. It’s also full of DHA, which is really great for your skin barrier. It’s a humectant, so it draws moisture into your skin. I mean, there’s really nothing that manuka can’t do. It’s my favorite. I’m also a huge fan of jojoba oil. That’s what I use kind of as my daily moisturizer.
Jessica Defino 33:02 I love jojoba because it’s a very close match chemically to human sebum. So sebum is kind of your skin’s built in moisturizer. As we all know. My skin particularly doesn’t produce enough sebum. I was on accutane for a long time, which kind of attacks your sebaceous glands. So my skin is kind of chronically dry now. And so I love jojoba to give me the kind of moisturization that my skin is naturally inclined to want. And that means it’s also pretty universally compatible. Like anybody with any skin type, whether you’re dry or oily or sensitive, will do well with Jehovah for the most part. So, yeah, I would say those are my two heroes.
Shrankhla Holecek 33:46 That is tremendous, along with just everything that you’ve shared with us over the last 30 minutes. Jessica, in parting, is there anything else that we didn’t touch on that you’d like to share with our listeners today?
Jessica Defino 34:03 I don’t know. I feel like we covered so much. The one thing that I was going to add in somewhere that I forgot to mention was, I know a lot of the times, the things that I write about, especially the more mindful aspects of beauty, the inner work of skincare can come off as a little out there. And a lot of people are like, nah, I’m not into meditation for my skin. Just, like, give me the active ingredients.
Jessica Defino 34:28 Give me something to put on. So, one thing that I have found super helpful for anybody who’s kind of skeptical about the idea that what you do on the inside will reflect on the outside, is there is an entire branch of dermatology that is dedicated to this mind skin connection, and it’s called psychodermatology, and it’s the merging of psychiatry and dermatology. And realizing that there was, like, a scientific link between the two really helped me trust what I was experiencing from this more mindful approach to beauty.
Jessica Defino 35:03 So I’ll just go through the basics of psychodermatology to give a brief explainer. But in utero, your skin, your brain, and your gut start off as the same bit of tissue, and there they form a link that lasts forever for your entire life. So the brain, the skin, and the gut are just inherently interconnected in ways that science can’t even fully explain. But that’s why if you have digestive issues, you’ll often see that show up on your skin.
Jessica Defino 35:34 If you’re super stressed out, you’ll see that show up on your skin. Even things like goosebumps. When you’re afraid and you get goosebumps, that shows the Mind skin connection. Or if you’re embarrassed and you blush, that shows the Mind skin connection. So psychodermatology really explores all of this connectivity in scientific terms. And what they found is that things like stress, if you’re stressed out from anything that’s happening in your life, it actually compromises your skin barrier.
Jessica Defino 36:07 So your skin barrier doesn’t work as well. Your skin starts to leak moisture, it becomes dry, it becomes more susceptible to bacteria and sunlight and pollution. So there really is that clear link between stress and how it’s affecting your skin negatively. What I find really fascinating is the research into how your mind can control your skin to heal.
Speaker 4 36:35 So there’s some really fascinating research on how meditation actually strengthens the skin barrier, how gratitude actually does the same thing. And so for anyone who’s kind of skeptical about some of these more woo woo, for lack of a better word, concepts, I always love to point them in the direction of psychodermatology and the studies that are there, because I just think it’s so fascinating to see western medicine and scientists acknowledge this connection in a way that people can say, okay, maybe this works. Maybe I’ll try it.
Shrankhla Holecek 37:09 I love that. Jessica, is there one or two places, or should we just google that? Because even as someone who sort of buys into that philosophy hook, line and sinker, I am so excited to learn about sort of like a scientific basis behind this. Where do you recommend we might look for an early peak?
Jessica Defino 37:29 So I’ve written a few articles on it. So there’s an article on fashionista.com just about psychodermatology in general that I wrote. I’ve written about breath work and how it affects that kind of mind skin connection for the cut. I’ve also written about gratitude and the mind skin connection for the cut. And the book that I mentioned earlier, the beauty of Dirty Skin by Dr. Whitney Bow. She has a whole chapter on how meditation affects the skin barrier, as I would, I would recommend those. And then from there, from those articles, there are individual experts in each one that you can kind of research and look into because there is so much to share there.
Shrankhla Holecek 38:11 Amazing. Love that. Jessica, thank you so much for taking the time and sharing this wealth of information with us as well know sort of leaning into your personal experience, because I think that makes it resonate so much more with every human being in that you’re sort of exploring beauty and wellness and everything in between in such a personal, wholesome, education led way. It’s been lovely chatting with you. It’s always lovely reading all of your work, and I look forward to bringing more of you to our audiences over the next few months and years.
Jessica Defino 38:55 Thank you so much. It was so great to talk to you.
Shrankhla Holecek 38:58 And likewise, thank you.
Shrankhla Holecek 39:01 You can learn more about Jessica’s work through Jessicadefino.substack.com. That is Jessicadefino.substack.com, as well as her newsletter, the Unpublishable. As we conclude this episode, we invite you to delve deeper into the world of Ayurveda with Uma. Please subscribe to the UMA Ayurveda podcast. To continue this transformative journey with our series of conversations that we hope you’ll find enlightening, visit umaoils.com, that is umaoils.com. For an even more immersive experience exploring not only our luxury ayurveda products, but also an array of inspired wellness, insight, and lifestyle tips.
The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, holds great significance in various East Asian cultures. It symbolizes new beginnings, prosperity, and the arrival of spring. This festive occasion is marked by family reunions, traditional cuisine, and vibrant decorations.
Beyond the joyous celebrations, preparations for the Lunar New Year encompass skincare rituals deeply rooted in ancient Chinese culture and traditions. UMA, a luxury skincare brand that combines age-old Ayurvedic principles with modern science, offers a range of products to help you achieve radiant and rejuvenated skin for this special occasion.
Exploring the Similarities of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Skincare [1]:
Incorporating elements from Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), both patient-centered approaches aimed at promoting health and improving quality of life, UMA and TCM share commonalities in their holistic strategies. They utilize botanical sources and philosophies to classify individuals, materials, and diseases. TCM views humans as conduits between celestial and earthly elements, while Ayurveda perceives the universe as composed of combinations of five elements, present in all scales of life.
In the Chinese skincare routine, herbal ingredients like ginseng, goji berries, and licorice root are often incorporated for their believed anti-aging properties. UMA, as an Ayurvedic luxury brand, blends these ingredients into their products and more. Additionally, Chinese traditions practice the Tui Na massage technique [2], focusing on acupressure points similar to the Murma points in Ayurveda.
Achieve the Lunar Glow: UMA’s Recommended Skincare Routine:
Elevate your routine with UMA Ultimate Brightening Rose Toner, a balancing toner that hydrates and promotes radiance. Pamper your skin with this rejuvenating toner.
Indulge in UMA Pure Rest Wellness Oil, crafted to nourish and relax your skin. Immerse your senses in this Ginseng essential oil blend, promoting relaxation and overall well-being. Treat your skin to a pampering experience.
Enhance your routine with the Gua-sha or UMA Kansa Wand, a traditional tool for facial massage. By gently massaging your face, promote circulation and enhance skincare absorption. Incorporate this practice for relaxation and radiant skin.
Combat signs of aging with UMA Absolute Anti Aging Eye Oil. Diminish fine lines and wrinkles, giving your eye area a youthful glow. Achieve a vibrant complexion with this must-have oil.
Complete your routine with UMA Beauty Boosting Day Face Oil, an ultimate beauty elixir packed with antioxidants. This multi-functional serum suits all skin types, including dry and combination skin. With orange, geranium, and lavender, our lightweight formula instantly brightens and nourishes, leaving your skin luminous. Hydrate and rejuvenate with this exquisite elixir.
Turmeric Face Mask: Ancient Beauty Secret for Radiant Skin [4]
Turmeric holds a special place in DIY masks for brides in the Middle East. Interestingly, Chinese women also hold this vibrant orange root in high regard. In ancient China, women used turmeric masks to reduce wrinkles and achieve an even skin tone. A simple recipe calls for one tablespoon of almond milk, one teaspoon of honey, and one teaspoon of turmeric. For a thicker consistency, yogurt or a touch more honey can be added. Almond milk is particularly favored due to its vitamin E and antioxidant content. Applying the mixture with a face brush (as turmeric tends to be messy!) and leaving it on for 10 to 15 minutes yields skin that rivals that of an empress.
As we embark on a journey towards timeless beauty and perpetual youth, we are thrilled to unveil UMA’s Absolute Anti Aging Plump and Repair Face Cream – an extraordinary creation that combines ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with modern scientific advancements. This remarkable potion is not just another anti-aging cream; it is a testament to sophistication and elegance, offering unparalleled results.
At the core of our face cream lies a fusion of celebrated Ayurvedic ingredients, meticulously handpicked for their renowned anti-aging properties. Organic lotus, turmeric [1], and adaptogenic extracts [2] work harmoniously to repair, fortify, and reinforce the skin’s natural barrier. The result? Improved elasticity, radiance, and a visible reduction in dryness, redness, and sensitivity.
What sets UMA’s Absolute Anti Aging Plump and Repair Face Cream apart is the high efficacy of liposomal versions of ceramides [3] and hyaluronic acid [4], meticulously formulated to optimize bioavailability. This means that our cream penetrates deep into the skin, delivering transformative effects at the cellular level. Say goodbye to wrinkles and hello to fresh, youthful-looking skin.
Scientifically proven and backed by extensive research, UMA’s Absolute Anti Aging Plump and Repair Face Cream addresses signs of aging with precision. It shields against environmental stressors, repairs skin damage, and boosts hydration, ensuring your skin stays nourished and rejuvenated.
In just 7 days of twice-daily use, you will witness the transformative power of UMA’s Absolute Anti Aging Plump and Repair Face Cream. Your skin will be revitalized, illuminated, and rejuvenated, leaving you with a newfound radiance that speaks volumes.
We understand that purity and efficacy are of utmost importance to you. Each ingredient in UMA’s Absolute Anti Aging Plump and Repair Face Cream is carefully selected to reflect our commitment to both. From the exquisite lotus extract [5] to the potent ceramides, turmeric extract, vitamin E [6], hyaluronic acid, and gotu kola [7], every element in our formula plays a vital role in delivering exceptional results.
As we introduce our face cream, we invite you to join us on this invigorating journey towards timeless beauty. Embrace the elegance and luxury that our cream embodies, and experience the profound effects it has on your skin. This is not just another product; it is an indispensable addition to any skincare routine.
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The cream’s transformative powers are extraordinary, working wonders on the deepest layers of your skin. Its potent blend of rare botanicals and antioxidants restores your skin’s natural radiance, delivering a visage that glows with health and youth.
Forbes recently featured UMA in their article “15 New Skincare And Wellness Products To Travel With And Use In 2024.” They praised UMA for its innovative approach, stating that it “Merging time-tested Ayurvedic practices with rigorously researched botanicals like organic lotus and turmeric” The article further mentioned that “this dreamy moisturizer visibly plumps and restores skin within one week of daily use.“
Esteemed skincare enthusiasts have marveled at the cream’s ability to repair and rejuvenate, targeting fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. Users have reported visible results in as little as a few weeks, with widespread approval from the skincare community.
Our very own UMA skincare enthusiast Donika raved about its effectiveness in combating signs of aging. She loves this product, especially for “reducing the appearance of crow’s feet around her eyes. It has made a noticeable difference in diminishing wrinkles and fine lines.” Donika highly recommends it to anyone looking for an effective anti-aging solution.
UMA’s Anti-Aging Plum and Repair Face cream is more than just a skincare product – it is the top choice for those seeking the best cream for aging skin and the best moisturizer for aging skin over 30.
Furthermore, The Strategist highlighted UMA’s reputation “Known for its collection of Ayurvedic face and body oils, UMA has launched its first face cream.” They described the face cream as another product designed to “boost barrier function,” further solidifying UMA’s commitment to providing effective skincare solutions.
In addition to its remarkable results, UMA’s Anti Aging Plum and Repair Face Cream has also received praise for its exquisite scent and luxurious texture. Made with only the purest ingredients, this cream feels like a treat for the skin.
Mili, our esteemed customer, described it as an absolute delight to the senses, with an exquisite texture that is light as air yet impossibly luxurious. They compared the application to “a personal hydration cloud,” providing a splash of pure, refreshing hydration that lingers longer than expected. In just one week, Mili was enamored with the cream, praising its charm and undeniable results.
As more people discover the benefits of UMA’s Anti Aging Plum and Repair Face Cream, it is becoming a staple in the routines of those who value the effectiveness of their skincare products.
Ah, summer. Time to hit the beach, break out the barbecue essentials and spend some serious time shopping for sundresses (let’s be honest, one can never have too many). But, due to increased humidity and sun exposure, all that summer fun can wreak havoc on your skin. Protecting your skin without weighing yourself down with a cumbersome routine is crucial during the summer – and we’ve got your covered. With these summer skin care tips you’ll be on your way to having a dewy glow all summer long.
1
Look in your kitchen for cleansers
Feel like you always have a constant sheen on your forehead during the summer? Oiliness and related breakouts are an unfortunate reality during hot, humid summer months. Cleansing is an absolute must, but many synthetic options do more harm than good. Chemically irritated skin is not a good look on anyone. Thankfully, there are a couple natural skin cleansers are hiding right in your kitchen! Try using apple cider vinegar as a cleanser (limit use to every other day) or try rubbing melon on your face and leaving overnight for a cooling effect.
2
Get dirty – with clay masks
When a stubborn breakout just won’t go away your skin may be in a need of some serious rehab. Face masks to the rescue! There are many great DIY options out there, and all are a far cry from the skin damaging chemical peels (don’t let us get started on that topic), but all natural options can also be found at high end retailers. A great basis to look for in a store bought mask is a clay like kaolin, which penetrates pores and wicks away excess oil. Just be sure to follow this simple tip when applying clay face masks: apply on clean skin and allow it to only partially dry. Rinse off at this stage to avoid overly drying your skin.
Although there are a myriad number of DIY face masks, but for those who are looking for a perfectly formulated product with these ingredients and more try our Deeply Clarifying Face Mask.
This is pretty simple: SPF, SPF, SPF. While there are not any completely natural options that exist in the sunscreen realm yet, zinc based sunscreen is a great naturally derived option. If you’re not planning on being in the sun that often, a quick one-step solution is to invest in a foundation with SPF for basic face protection. Sunscreen blocks out a lot of other minerals and chemicals, so make sure to apply it over your other skin care products! And, we hate to sound like your mom here, but time in the sun often goes hand in hand with dehydration. So keep that water bottle full and try infusing water with cucumber or lemon for flavorful twist.
4
And if that fails, use natural ingredients to heal sunburn
We’ve all paid for our over-exposure in the sun with red, painful and blistered skin before. While prevention is the best medicine when it comes to sun protection, treating sunburns the right away can prevent long term damage to your skin. The good news is the plethora of natural treatments out there makes it easy. Aloe vera gel is an obvious choice, but did you know you can rinse your skin in buttermilk to soothe the inflammation? Or make a cold compress out of oatmeal wrapped in gauze? Read more tips here.
5
Prep your body for bikini season
We are not about to give you suggestions on how to get a six pack in less than two weeks! But we can give you some serious summer skin care tips you can use all over your body. While the other nine months of the year you’ve been able to safely neglect everything below the neck, (hello, cellulite and bacne!), it’s now time to shape up. For glowing skin, without the weight of a traditional body lotion, try our Absolute Anti Aging Body Oil like lavender essential oil blended with a carrier like coconut. You’ll love how soft and supple it makes your skin, as well as its ability to reduce redness. Feeling more confident in your own skin is the secret to making bikini season less daunting.
