Every year when the seasons shift from summers heat to falls chill, my body starts feeling so dried out. Not just my skin but my whole body, like it has been zapped of all its moisture. Kiera Kent of Sundara Holistic laid it out for me in a way that made perfect sense. She is a New York based Ayurvedic practitioner with her own beauty line (the above mentioned). As a kid My parents took me to an Ayurvedic doctor for digestive issues, he said my Dosha or mind body type was Vata. Kiera informed me that fall through early winter is Vata season and that “feeling dried out and dehydrated right now is absolutely connected to the onset of Vata season. During this time of year (through approximately mid-February) we want to focus on qualities of moisture, warmth, heaviness and grounding - in both diet and skincare. Increase intake of fluids (broths, teas, warm water), healthy fats, and spices. You'll naturally want to decrease raw foods and other cold foods too.” I have been following her advice, plus using the Sundara Holistic Vata Face Serum and Body Oil. As well as her Brahmi Hair Oil and I have noticed a huge difference!
I asked Kiera to tell me a bit more about how the oils work and why they benefit Vata.
“ The Vata Face Serum and Vata Body Oil are the most grounding, warming, nourishing oils of the whole collection. Since “like increases like,” you always want to counteract a dosha with opposite qualities. Vata skin naturally has the least amount of moisture in it, and is the most prone to dryness, and early aging. This is why Vata-dominant types need more hydration in food and in skincare. Their skin would just drink up the Vata Face Serum, while that serum may be too heavy for another skin type (a skin type that naturally has more moisture in it). For example, Kapha skin is the opposite of Vata skin – it is dominated by earth and water, has the most moisture naturally in the skin, and only needs a very light oil on the face. Vata represents the elements of air and space, and is characterized by dryness, irregularity, motion, and restlessness. The key qualities to pacify Vata are warm, heavy, moistening, nourishing, and grounding. So, every ingredient (both the base oils and the essential oils) in the vata-balancing products was chosen for its warming, grounding, nourishing properties.”
Sundara Holistic includes a full line of skincare for each specific dosha as well as combination products that benefit all three. Check out her site to learn more about Ayurveda and shop her goods. You can also arrange an in person consultation if you are in Manhattan or a Skype consultation for those located elsewhere.
Shop the full collection at www.sundaraholistic.com and follow along @sundaraholisticbeauty.