In most areas, winter is the time that comes with skin dryness, which may be responsible for stealing your natural glow. The winter season brings the busy holidays as well as opportunities for outdoor play with snowboarding, skiing and snowshoeing. Whatever winter activity you are enjoying, there is an experience that seems to be the norm for many this season: dry skin. 

Winter skin and doshas in Ayurveda 

According to Ayurveda, winter is the time to pay extra care to your skin because the skin is dry and it's ready to absorb all the nourishment we are giving to it. Moreover, it's important to take care of your skin because we all know that beauty comes from within, so making a skincare routine is important for radiant and healthy skin. This is where dosha takes place; the winter season is the time when the qualities of kapha and vata doshas are high in the atmosphere and may be imbalanced both internally and externally. This means in winter it's important to maintain vata in balance but not to aggravate kapha. 

If we want to balance vata, then we have to consider some steps to include grounding, moisturising, warming and calming principles into your daily routine. The steps are:

Give yourself a massage 

During winter, it's better to start the day with a gentle massage with warm oil. Self-massage with warm oil is a practice that helps keep the body warm by improving circulation and offering assistance to reduce stress, provide moisture and protection, and calm the mind, among other benefits. During the winter season, it’s recommended to use vata massage oil or sesame oil before taking a bath every morning. These oils are grounding, warm and nourishing, perfect for balancing vata. 

Use soaps and warm water wisely 

While bathing or washing your face, make sure to use water that is not too cold or hot, and avoid using soap on areas that are already grubby. Hot water and not using the soap properly can strip away the required oil from your skin. When you wash your face, use a gentle Ayurvedic soap that can be supportive and cleansing for your skin. Banyan soaps use herbs for balancing dosha, along with essential oils that are gentle enough to use on a daily basis for proper cleansing and skin moisturising from head to toe. 

Support your scalp 

While dandruff can be a sign of fungal infection, it can also be dryness due to lack of blood flow to the scalp. Spend a few minutes in the evening to massage the scalp with the oil to bring blood flow. Try herbal oils for scalp massage such as Bhringraj oil or Brahmi oil. The steps to massage the scalp are:

  1. Warm the oil of your choice and gently apply it to the scalp and the ends of your hair 
  2. Massage your head using gentle, slow, clockwise circles
  3. Leave the oil for at least half an hour or overnight 
  4. To remove the oil, you can dry shampoo your hair by applying the shampoo before getting it wet, then wash it gently. 

Be sweet to your feet 

  1. Whether you are going for winter walks or out braving the slopes, give a massage to your feet before going to bed. Soak them in warm water with dry ginger or the combination of rosemary oil and lavender essential oils. After soaking for 10 minutes, use a moist pumice stone to remove dead skin cells that build up on the bottom of your feet. 
  2. After this, take a beauty balm or a few drops of castor oil and rub it into the heels or pads of the feet. Now put on a pair of socks and take the clean feet to bed. This treatment is calming and grounding and a wonderful way to relax. This treatment also helps to warm the kids before bed. 

Put best for your face 

Facial skin takes a beat during the winter season because it is exposed to various elements. Before going outside, prepare your skin by using a non-soap-based facial cleanser or wash your face with oil. The skin is still moist. Apply some sesame oil to your neck, face and lips. If your skin is already dry, then you may add one drop of castor oil to the moisturiser you are using. It’s essential to apply oil to the face because oil itself will not do the trick. When you are going for an outing, don’t forget to cover your face with a scarf. 

Eat a Vata-calming diet 

To support your skin completely from the inside and outside, it is important to stimulate your digestive fire. A healthy and robust digestive fire supports nourishment of all the layers of tissue and is the major performer in supporting overall skin health. In winter, a vata-calming diet of grounding foods helps to keep the digestive fire functioning at its best. The diet includes:

  1. Warm soups, chilies, and stews are considered perfect food for winter.
  2. Hearty grains and well-cooked vegetables help to keep the vata dosha balanced without being too aggravating. 
  3. Dairy products are also beneficial for vata as they contain an oily quality and are heavy, but use caution; dairy can be cooling and heavy for kapha. 

Conclusion 

Accepting Ayurvedic practices is a powerful way to protect the skin and give nourishment to it during harsh winter. By focusing on using herbal remedies and warming oils, you can easily deal with the dry skin caused by freezing winds. These practices help to balance the body and bring a natural glow to your face. If you are not getting relief from Ayurveda winter dry skin UK by following the practices mentioned above, then you can consult with the Ayurvedic specialist Geetanjali Kansal at Ananata Ayurveda, who can advise you on natural care steps and recommend a natural Ayurvedic oil that helps to give moisture to your skin.