Organic Skincare 101: Meaning, Benefits & Tips from Industry Experts
Experts from the most prominent organic skincare brands in India reveal organic skincare routines and top ingredients to pamper and rejuvenate your skin.
Growing up, I found all the solutions to my regular skin problems in my grandma’s kitchen garden. Be it a hideous pimple, tanned skin, adamant dark spots, or dry flaky skin, out came scoops of besan, a cup of milk, a spoonful of natural aloe vera gel extracted from the plant, drops of honey, or virgin coconut oil as magical skincare remedies from grandma’s kitchen garden. But time and urban life leave telltale signs on our skin, and grandma’s kitchen isn’t as handy in our lives in metros as it once used to be. If you miss the scrumptious taste and scent of natural skincare as much as I do, unsung heroes from the indelible breed of mindful skincare could be what you are looking for. Dig into my conversations with Kama Ayurveda and Dr. Taruna Yadav, Senior Ayurveda Doctor from Forest Essentials, to unwrap the secrets of organic skincare products.
Table of Content:
- What is Organic Skincare?
- Benefits of Using Organic Skincare Products
- Organic Skincare Recipes for Dull and Dry Skin
- Organic Skincare for Oily Skin
- How to Choose Organic Skincare as per Skin Concerns
What is Organic Skincare?
Long before the beauty industry conversation was snowed under with the hyped miracle-words like 'hyaluronic acid, retinol, snail mucin or niacinamide', there existed a science as old as time, and as precious and natural as our Mother-Earth - Natural, Organic Skincare, also known as Ayurveda. The term 'organic skincare' is not just a marketing buzzword, but a practice that keeps these traditional skincare practices alive. These skincare products are made from natural ingredients that are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or chemical fertilisers. The ingredients are often plant-based, think aloe vera, rosehip oil, or shea butter in their purest form.
Benefits of Using Organic Skincare Products
When we say organic, it means that right from the sowing of the herb, to the processing and then creating the product, there shouldn’t be any form of chemical contamination in the form of fertilisers, pesticides or harmful chemical preservatives. Organic skincare products are focus-driven, allowing the essential micronutrients to repair, nourish and renew the skin, while being kind to Mother Earth and supporting sustainable practices in the long run. Dr. Taruna Yadav shares, “The main principle of Ayurveda is that whatever you use for health and beauty has to be Pure, Fresh, Natural, Organic and Seasonal. Ayurveda does not advocate chemical fertilisers or ingredients grown out of season. This is what gives Ayurvedic ingredients their potent properties. Beauty products which are made of “living” substances, such as organic plants or their extract, are balanced by nature and contain the vibratory energy that constitutes life. These living substances contain all the purifying, nutritive and balancing properties necessary to nurture the skin and slow down the ageing process. Organic products are like the perfect foods for the skin. They allow your skin to breathe, relax and attain a healthy glow in the most natural way possible."
Organic Skincare Recipes for Dull and Dry Skin
Problems associated with dry skin, like dry flakes and skin patches, can be aggravated during the summer and especially, winter season. It’s a popular myth that the summer season has a drastic impact only on oily skin. It is extremely important to take care of dry skin during the dry season and protect your skin from the UV rays and the constant sweat, if your city is a humid one. Ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, and oatmeal can add a lost supple and smooth feeling to your skin.
Expert-Approved Skincare Regime for Dry Skin
Dr Yadav shares a step-by-step skincare regimen for all newlyweds, or brides-to-be, with dry skin.
Morning Regime
Step 1: Cleansing
Opt for a hydrating cleanser like the Mashobra Honey, Lemon and Rosewater Facial Cleanser from Forest Essentials, made with the infusion of moisturising and balancing ingredients that gently cleanse the skin without disturbing the natural pH of the skin.
Step 2: Apply a Hydrating Serum
Start the morning ritual with a hydrating serum that is enriched with Vitamin C to brighten dull and tired skin. The Skin Boosting Activating Serum Rasa is a perfect choice made of orange peel, Glycolic Acid from Sweet Potato and Liquorice extracts
Step 3: Tone the skin
Follow up with a velvet textured toner that has naturally derived Hyaluronic acid and Aloe Vera juice that soothes the skin. The Tejal Balancing Water from Forest Essentials also comprises Sweet potato, and Gotu Kola extracts that act as humectants, other with Aloe vera and hyaluronic acid.
Step 4: Moisturise
The last step is applying a day moisturiser which is packed with essential nutrients such as Saffron extracts that evens out and tones the skin, and cow’s milk that deeply nourishes the skin. Also, ensure that your face cream has a naturally derived sunscreen in it. The Antioxidant enriched Soundarya Radiance Cream with 24K Gold & SPF25 comprises of 24k Gold Bhasma that leaves an iridescent glow. This moisturiser also has a naturally derived sunscreen from Yashad (Zinc) Bhasma.
Night Regime
Step 1: Cleansing
Cleanse the day’s grime with a traditional evening cleanser. Organic cleansers replenish the natural oils of the skin and fight the daily damage caused by environmental stressors and a fast-paced lifestyle. The Roop Nikhar Gulab Facial Ubtan contains hand-pounded dried herbs, dry fruits and rose petals and is perfect for dry skin.
Step 2: Apply a Night Beauty Balm
Apply a herb-infused lightweight balm to even out and tone the skin and prep it for the night cream. The Ojas Glow Replenishing Night Beauty Balm is antioxidant-packed Moringa oil and Vitamin C enriched with Coconut Milk, along with a floral infusion of herbs including White turmeric and Arjuna bark extracts that even out and tone the skin.
Step 3: Apply a night treatment cream
The last but most important step in this regime is the application of a night treatment cream to allow the restorative process that takes place during sleep. It improves the texture of skin, repairs fine lines, wrinkles and makes the skin soft and supple.
Age-Specific Skin Care for Dry Skin
If you are in your 20s, make sure to opt for products that have skin-enriching ingredients like olive oil and tamarind extracts. If you are in your mid-30s and 40s, you might need to focus on a skincare regimen that protects your skin from wrinkles and age spots. Keep your skin hydrated all the time and opt for products with soybean extract, black currant seed oil and rosemary leaves. Dr Yadav suggests, “For Brides in their 30s, there is more predominance of Pitta, which makes skin prone to dehydration, leading to dryness; therefore, hydrating serums, lightweight facial balms, and oil replenishing serums are a must to infuse adequate nourishment into the skin. Both should invest time in regular massages 2/3 times a week to nourish and tone the skin. Apply the cream of fresh milk on dry skin daily.”
Organic Skincare for Oily Skin
I have often come across a general myth about oily skin - They say the more you wash your face, the more it strips the oil away from your face. Did you know that in reality, it is the exact opposite? When you wash your face with sulphate cleansers too many times, it strips the natural moisture of your face away. This makes the sebaceous glands hyperactive, producing large quantities of sebum. Kama Ayurveda shares, “People with oily skin and acne-prone skin should incorporate ingredients including Turmeric, Amla, Sandal, Neem, Rose, Lavender, Manjishta, Honey, Kumkuma, and Orange peel powder into their beauty regime.”
Daily Regime
They further share, “For oily skin, begin by washing your face 2-3 times with a mild herbal cleanser. Be sure to tone your skin after each wash. Scrub your skin twice a week to deep cleanse your pores and remove excess oil. Then, apply a small amount of day cream, night cream, or moisturiser based on the time of the day. You should also avoid oily, spicy or fried food, and keep watch on your salt and sugar intake.”
Age-Specific Skin Care for Oily Skin
When you are in your 20’s the production of collagen and elastin starts to slow down. Dr Yadav shares, “During the 20s, brides generally have a predominance of Kapha, which makes their skin prone to oiliness; therefore oil oil-balancing, lightweight products which are water-based, gel-based would be the best choice. Facial Ubtans with yoghurt is also recommended for oily skin."
How to Choose Organic Skincare as per Skin Concerns
Here’s a list of approved must-have ingredients by Dr. Yadav in your organic skincare products for specific skincare concerns.
Acne Prone Skin - Products containing Neem, Multani mitti, Aloe Vera, Rose, Nagkesar, Lodhra, Tulsi, and Lavender are best suited for acne-prone skin.
Dark Circles - Products that have potato starch, coffee bean extract, cucumber extracts, papaya, and almond oil are perfect to treat dark circles.
Pigmentation - Saffron, Kasturi Manjal, Turmeric, Liquorice, Cinnamon, Sandalwood, and Ghee work wonders on pigmented skin.
Tan removal - Opt for products with Orange Rind, Lemon Rind, Coconut Water, Anantamool, Honey, and Tamarind.
Kama Ayurveda further shares, “Brides-to-be in their 20s and 30s must ensure they sleep well at night, and remain hydrated through the day. They should remain calm through the process and exercise regularly. They should also take a digital detox whenever possible. As for their beauty concerns, they should refrain from using excessive alcohol-based makeup & hair sprays, and switch to natural products for their skin and hair.”
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