Page 89 - Healthy (March - April 2020)

CLEAN BEAUTY

W h a t ’s

y o u r

We’re used to thinking about our skin type
in terms of oily, dry or combination. But
according to ayurveda, there’s much more to it
s k i n
W O R D S B Y B E L L A B I N N S

d o s h a ?
THE EXPERTS

SHEILESH SHAH
is the founder of the hile trend forecasters might suggest we’re hurtling
ayurvedic and natural W towards a future of AI beauty routines dominated by
skincare brand Urban tech, there’s a 5000-year-old wellbeing philosophy
Veda. He has been rising quietly to the fore. Ayurveda – roughly translated
working in the world
from Sanskrit as ‘the science of life’ – is an ancient system of holistic
of ayurvedic beauty wellness that’s suddenly fashionable again. And it’s really no surprise.
for over 35 years
Based upon the belief that each of us is comprised of ive elements
(urbanveda.com)
– earth, ether, air, water and ire – ayurveda works on the principle that
an individual’s constitution is governed by a dominant ‘dosha’, or set
of combined doshas, relating to these elements. When your unique
dosha constitution is in balance, you experience good health and
mental harmony, but when your dominant dosha becomes aggravated –
for instance, by poor diet, hormonal changes or stress – it manifests in
symptoms that afect the wellbeing of both mind and body.
DR PRATIMA RAICHUR In simpliied terms, ayurveda is the process of continually balancing
is a pioneer in the the doshas – vata, pitta or kapha. It may be centuries-old, but this
ayurvedic skincare field, personalised approach and holistic methodology chimes perfectly with
and has been practising our modern-day quest for tailor-made wellness rituals. ‘In Western
ayurveda professionally culture, there’s been a major shift in consciousness regarding what it
for over 40 years. means to be healthy and balanced,’ explains Dr Pratima Raichur, an
Author of best-selling ayurvedic doctor, author and founder of PRATIMA Ayurvedic Spa and
book Absolute Beauty, Wellness Centre in New York. ‘In addition to the popularity of yoga,
she is a chemist, ayurveda’s sister science, there’s a new generation of seekers asking
botanist and doctor more questions and looking for truths that feel more genuine and
of ayurvedic medicine aligned with our natural state.’
and naturopathy
In particular, ayurveda’s natural approach to skincare – including
(pratimaskincare.com)
a wealth of medicinal herbs and spices – has started to pervade the
Western beauty market, with the number of brands employing doshic
principles steadily on the rise. ‘Ayurveda lends itself perfectly to what
consumers are looking for at the moment: natural, clean products that
help us to maintain balanced, good health,’ says Sheilesh Shah, founder
of ayurvedic skincare brand Urban Veda.
‘Many studies have been conducted on the extracts that are used
in ayurveda and the beneits that they bring. While ayurveda has been
using them for thousands of years, these herbs are now starting to be
used globally,’ he says. Think turmeric, ashwagandha, aloe and more.

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