Here’s how you can care for your skin, the old-school way
More often than not, slapping on a face mask is amongst the top three self-care rituals most of us indulge in. While peel-off masks, exfoliating treatments, gel masks and sheet masks (no, we’re not a fan of them—here’s why) may seem to pass as lucrative options, there is perhaps nothing like face masks offering the goodness of ingredients that have been vouched for in Ayurvedic texts from eons ago—think honey, milk, saffron, aloe vera, sandalwood and so forth. When you invest in products that feature Ayurveda-inspired recipes, you can experience them through formulations that are stabilised, processed and lab-tested to eliminate any possibilities of skin irritation or damage that could possibly occur if such natural ingredients are used in their raw form.
We list eight of the best face masks that allow you to enjoy the nourishment of Ayurvedic ingredients in a sophisticated, user-friendly fashion.
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Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask, Kora Organics
This face mask-cum-exfoliator makes for a great choice for those on the move for it ticks off the rituals of both scrubbing and masking. Infused with turmeric, rosehip seeds, Aspen bark, papaya, aloe vera, rose and other essential oils, this face mask does have a slightly gritty texture that makes it effective for exfoliation, especially if you wash off the mask in circular motions, leaving you with glowing, smoother skin.
Looking for a basic yet effective clay mask? This no-frills offering from Pahadi Local features mineral-rich clay extracted from the higher altitudes of the Himalayas. It’s a one-stop solution for oily skin, easing up congestion, unclogging pores, controlling sebum production and detoxifying the skin for a clear and fresh complexion.
This creamy lepa-textured mask contains honey and multani mitti along with other botanical ingredients like rose, gotu kola, neem, manjistha, cinnamon and ylang ylang. Besides the lush feel it imparts, this award-winning face mask is a remedy for skin affected by pollution The mask’s purifying formulation soothes the skin and reduces the appearance of pigmentation and fatigue.
This face mask begins to work in just about two minutes. Its saffron-tinged, marmalade-texture spreads on the skin without the taut sensation that otherwise accompanies clay-based masks. While saffron is the hero ingredient, it also comprises aloe, mango and banana pulp extracts, papaya enzyme, licorice and turmeric to lend radiance, nourishment and pliancy to the skin.
Prepared with a recipe that endorses the brand’s ‘farm-to-face’ promise, this powder-based face mask claims to soften and brighten by exfoliation that is propelled by ingredients like masoor dal , almond flour and colloidal oatmeal. As far as the skin-pacifying ingredients are concerned, the mask contains calendula, saffron flower powder, rose flower oil and sesame seed oil. The blend of varied ingredients makes it suitable for most skin types.
Fabricated primarily for the kapha skin type, or skin that is prone to oiliness, dullness, enlarged pores and a thicker epidermis, red clay is the ingredient that headlines this face mask along with manjistha, menthol, white clay, green tea, aloe vera and red sandalwood among others. The purifying blend provides a deep-cleansing effect, leaving the skin fresher and free of impurities and excess sebum.
If you’re struggling with irritation, redness or acne-prone skin, trust the neem-first concoction to come to the rescue. The key ingredients include clove, vitamin E, manjistha, sunflower oil, almond oil and turmeric. Rich in antioxidants and anti-bacterial properties, this face mask does a great job at healing common skin concerns and infections and regulating oil production, ridding the skin of whiteheads, blackheads, blemishes and pigmentation.
Trust this face mask to be a brightening quick-fix. The pulverised face mask boasts of two of the most highlighted ingredients in Ayurveda—turmeric and sandalwood, along with orange, rose,multani mitti and colloidal oatmeal, making it a 100 per cent natural solution to illuminate the skin and alleviate blemishes, dark spots and dullness. If you have dry skin, whip up the mask with yoghurt or honey, and in case you have oily skin, add rose water, vetiver water or aloe vera gel to create a pasty consistency.