🌿 Then vs Now: Why Skincare is a Need, Not a Luxury

🌸 Have You Ever Wondered…

Why your grandmother had glowing skin without a single drop of sunscreen?

Why our school photos looked so “child-like”… but today’s kids look like mini-adults?

Why parents say, "We never did all this skin care — why do you need it?"

You’re not alone.

Many of us are caught in this thought

"Am I doing too much… or am I just doing what’s necessary for today’s world?"

Let’s take a gentle journey together — across time — from mud facial  to moisturizers,

from oil baths to serums

from the scent of shikakai to the importance of sunscreen.

💬 This blog isn’t just about skincare.

It’s about understanding how the world has changed,

and why caring for your skin today is not vanity — but vital Ayurvedic self-care.

👵 THEN: NATURAL RADIANCE — NO PRODUCTS, JUST PRACTICES

Ever noticed how our mothers and grandmothers looked effortlessly beautiful?

✨ No sunscreen

✨ No serum

✨ No moisturizer

Yet their skin glowed. Why?

Let’s go back for a second.

🟢 Their secret wasn't in skincare products, but in their lifestyle:

Weekly oil baths (Abhyanga)

Natural ubtan powders (green gram, turmeric)

Homemade food – no processed junk

No screen time, zero pollution

Seasonal lifestyle – aligned with Ritucharya & Dinacharya

Their world supported healthy skin.

Nature was their skincare.

👩‍🦰 NOW: OUR WORLD, OUR CHALLENGES

Fast forward to today.

Constant exposure to sun, smoke, and pollution

ACs and screens drying out our skin

Blue light, late nights, stress, hormonal imbalance

Synthetic skincare, harsh soaps

Imbalanced doshas due to food, sleep, habits

Even children face skin issues — pimples, tanning, early pigmentation!

🗣️ "Why are you doing all this skincare? We never did it!"

Dear parents — you are absolutely right.

You didn’t. Because you didn’t need to.

But today’s world is not the same.

Your generation had nature as protection.

We need support and shield.

💡 Skincare today = Modern tools + Ancient wisdom

Let’s break it down 👇

🌞 1. Why SUNSCREEN is Vital Today

(aka your Ayurvedic armour against Agni)

According to Ayurveda:

Sun = Agni = can cause Pitta dosha imbalance

Too much exposure = Vyanga (pigmentation), Twak kshaya (skin aging), Daha (burning)

🧴 Sunscreen is not makeup – it’s protection!

It blocks UV rays that damage Rakta dhatu (blood layer) & Twak (skin).

🪔 Use natural options with:

Zinc oxide

Aloe vera

Turmeric extracts

📌 Apply daily, even indoors. Your skin will thank you!

💧 2. Moisturizer = Rasayana for Your Skin

In Ayurveda, dry skin = Vata imbalance.

Moisture = comes from Rasa dhatu (nutritive fluids)

🧴 Moisturizers help to:

Rebuild rasa

Lock hydration

Prevent flaking and early lines

Best choices:

Cow ghee-based cream

Aloe vera gel

Almond or sesame oil infused creams

📌 Use post-bath & before sleep.

✨ 3. Serums – The Modern Lepam

Think of serums as Ayurvedic “taila lepas” in a modern bottle.

💧 They’re concentrated. They go deeper.

💧 They act on Mamsa & Rasa dhatus for long-term healing.

💡Use:

Vitamin C or Kumkumadi oil for glow

Niacinamide for spots

Manjishta-infused oil for pigmentation

📌 Use after cleansing, before moisturizing.

🧴 Sample Daily Skincare (Ayurvedic + Modern Style)

🌞 Morning Routine:

✅ Herbal face cleanser (Green gram + neem)

✅ Rosewater spritz

✅ Kumkumadi / Vitamin C serum

✅ Moisturizer (Aloe / Ghee)

✅ Sunscreen

🌜 Night Routine:

✅ Cleanse gently

✅ Nalpamaradi / Kumkumadi taila massage

✅ Moisturizer

✅ Herbal milk or turmeric latte for inner glow

🪔 Weekly:

Abhyanga (oil bath)

Ubtan with besan, rice flour, neem, manjishta

🧠💖 The Psychology Behind Skincare: It’s More Than Skin Deep

Skincare is not just an outer ritual… it’s an inner healing process too.

Many think applying cream or oil is just physical —

But in truth, it’s also emotional self-care.

🌸 Here's why skincare matters to your mind and emotions:

1. 🪞 Boosts Self-Esteem

When your skin feels clean, soft, and healthy, you naturally feel more confident.

This boosts your self-image and reduces social anxiety — especially in young adults.

Ayurveda calls it "Manasa Sharira Saukhyam" — inner and outer balance.

2. 🧘‍♀️ Calms Your Nervous System

A gentle skincare ritual — like massaging your face with oil — activates your parasympathetic nervous system (your body’s calming mode).

It tells your brain: “You are safe. You are cared for.”

Ayurveda beautifully calls this Sparsha Chikitsa — healing through touch.

3. 💆‍♀️ Reduces Stress & Anxiety

Touching your skin with love and attention increases oxytocin and reduces cortisol.

That means:

Less stress.

Better sleep.

Balanced hormones.

 A simple act like applying kumkumadi taila mindfully can be a meditative moment in your day.

4. 💭 Creates Daily Mindfulness

Instead of rushing into the day, skincare invites you to slow down and connect with yourself.

It becomes your daily self-check-in:

How do I feel today?

What does my skin need?

Am I taking care of myself inside-out?

This is especially powerful for teenagers, women with PCOS, postpartum moms, and anyone dealing with emotional changes.

🧘‍♀️🌿 Ayurveda Says: “Twak (Skin) is the Mirror of Your Manas (Mind)”

If the mind is anxious, angry, or overwhelmed,

the skin will show it — as acne, dullness, rashes, or dryness.

That’s why in Ayurveda:

Sattvic food,

Calm routines,

and skin rituals with herbs and oils

are not separate — they all work together for emotional peace.

💖 Final Thought on Psychology & Skincare:

"Skincare is not just beauty care — it's emotional grounding.

It’s your way of saying: I deserve love, calm, and healing."

So the next time you apply a serum or massage your cheeks with warm oil,

remember — you’re not just caring for your skin,

you’re nourishing your nervous system and healing your heart to

🎯 The Reality Check

Our grandmothers didn’t need skincare.

But we’re living in a world that’s chemically charged, stress-filled, and disconnected from nature.

We need skincare —

Not for vanity… but for balance, health, and prevention.

💬 Let’s Say This Together:

 “I don’t do skincare to impress others.

I do it to protect my skin, balance my doshas, and feel confident in my natural glow.”

✨ Glow Naturally. Heal Deeply. Live Traditionally.

Skincare isn’t new. Ayurveda has always had it — in every taila, ubtan, and ritual.

Today, we just mix ancient healing with modern tools.

🕉️ Let’s respect our roots… and adapt with awareness 🌿

By Dr. Subha R