According to Ayurveda, our dominant doshas inform many areas of our lives, from skincare to diet, and even our personality. Based on the belief that we must keep our unique dosha composition in balance, Ayurveda states that when one or more doshas fall out of balance, we must follow specific protocols to return our dosha composition to equilibrium.
Doshas are the three life energies that define every person's makeup, and are unique combinations of the five Ayurvedic elements – air, ether, fire, water, and earth. While all three doshas are present in everyone, one or two tend to dominate and determine the state of our mind, body, and soul.
Recognizing when our doshas are out of balance acts as a signal for us to make lifestyle changes to help our mind and body rebalance, and return to optimal health. Simple actions like adjusting your skincare practices, diet, or exercise habits can help rebalance our doshic composition.
Are you a Vata, Kapha or Pitta? Discover your dosha with our dosha quiz!
Dating back 5,000 years to India, ancient healers used Ayurveda to heal people with skin and health issues. Want to learn how Ayurveda can help improve your overall health? Read on!
What does your dosha say about you?
Ayurveda tells us that all three doshas – Vata, Kapha, and Pitta – are present in all of us, however, one or two tend to dominate and make us who we are. What's your dominant dosha?
Vata dosha
As the combination of air and ether, Vatas are spontaneous, full of energy, and always on-the-go. Their creativity and imaginative spirit make Vata-dominant individuals more friendly, talkative and welcoming to new experiences. Vatas know how to go with the flow and make the most out of any situation. They're a great group to have around!
Kapha dosha
Kaphas are composed of earth and water, and as a result, are the most grounded personality types of the three. Kaphas are warm of mind, steady of heart, and have a deep sense of inner calm. They value consistency and are not afraid to stand by the things they love. Best of all? Kapha-dominant individuals are incredibly patient, forgiving, and an unfailingly loyal friend who never leaves a loved one behind.
Pitta dosha
With a strong link to fire and water, Pittas are – you guessed it! – fiery, passionate, and strong leaders. They are intense, assertive, sharp thinkers who are determined, hardworking, and deeply admired for their unparalleled drive.
Balancing the doshas
There are many factors that can lead to one or more doshas falling out of balance, including changes in diet, lifestyle, stress, and even weather. Each dosha imbalance manifests in distinct, discernible ways, and by recognizing the symptoms, we can start to make adjustments to return our doshas back to equilibrium.
Vata imbalance
Vatas are active and spontaneous by nature, however, insufficient sleep or nutrition, too much caffeine, excessive physical or mental activity, and an irregular daily routine can cause Vata to go out of balance. With its link to air and ether, Vata represents movement, and when in excess, can make your mind and body feel out of control. You might notice your mind start to race, have trouble sleeping, or experience anxiety. When unattended, this may lead to dryness, loss of appetite, unexpected weight loss, and digestive issues like constipation.
When Vata takes over, try adding some stability into your life and maintaining a regular routine. Go to bed early, stay hydrated, practice meditation, and limit technology use. In terms of diet, Vata-dominant individuals may benefit from root vegetables and warm foods that are high in protein and fats, and are advised to limit alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and chocolate.
Kapha imbalance
With their link to earth and water, Kaphas are calm, grounded, and value structure. Practicing self-care and finding enjoyable hobbies is vital to maintaining a Kapha balance, as too much sleep, lack of activity, overeating, excess "junk" food, and cool, damp climates can cause a change in our Kapha composition.
When Kapha is out of balance, you may notice weight gain, fluid retention, allergies, and sluggishness. To rebalance, Kaphas need mental stimulation and physical activity. Try going on daily walks, finding an intellectual challenge, and practicing daily mindfulness – like yoga! In addition, Kapha-dominant individuals should minimize heavy foods, like red meat, fried foods, and pasta, from their diet, consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and favour warm beverages. In fact, a nice, warm cup of chai is just what Kapha needs!
Pitta imbalance
As the fiery dosha, Pittas are known to be assertive, determined, and driven. But sometimes, their "all work, no play" demeanour can also be their own worst enemy. What Pitta needs most is moderation. Overexertion, excess hot, spicy, and salty foods, feelings of anger and hatred, excess alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine, and exposure to heat can cause Pitta to fall out of balance.
Pitta represents metabolism and transformation, and when unbalanced, affects your body temperature, digestive system, and metabolism. You may experience skin irritation, heartburn, ulcers, hypertension, and even uncharacteristic irritability and anger.
To tame Pitta, take time for yourself and get to bed early. Take cold showers, protect yourself from the sun, and enjoy non-competitive exercise, like swimming, cycling, or yoga. A pitta-pacifying diet favours cold beverages, like coconut water, and includes cooling spices like fennel, coriander, cardamom, and turmeric. Avoid chili peppers, vinegar, salt, alcohol, tobacco, caffeinated beverages, and chocolate.
The Ayurvedic skincare routine
Ayurveda incorporates all aspects of your lifestyle and environment into your skincare practices to add a new level of specificity to your typical twenty-first-century skincare routine. Plus, it focuses on using only natural, plant-based ingredients that are gentle on the skin.
Before we get into dosha-specific products, follow this time-honoured Ayurvedic ritual as a guide, and you'll find your skin will be brighter, softer, and beautifully clean in no time!
No. 01 – CLEANSE
Cleansing your skin twice a day is essential to remove the environmental pollutants and dirt that clog your pores. When skin isn't cleaned well, the chances of breakout increase. We recommend using cleansers with natural ingredients that won't strip away the natural oils of your skin, such as aloe vera, neem, tulsi, and sandalwood.
No. 02 – EXFOLIATE
Exfoliating removes dead skin cells from your skin's surface that dulls skin tone. Ayurvedic scrubs, such as Ubtans, are 100% natural, containing ingredients like oatmeal that are gentle on the skin and can be used regularly.
No. 03 – MASK
Ayurvedic face masks soften your skin and improve skin tone and texture. Choose one based on your dosha, apply evenly over your skin, and leave until it dries. Wash the mask off with cold water and gently pat dry. To avoid over-detoxifying and drying your skin, apply a face mask no more than once or twice a week.
No. 04 – TONE
Toning refreshing your skin, seals your pores, and keeps your skin hydrated. Choose an alcohol-free toner designed for your skin type for best results.
No. 05 – HYDRATE
Aloe-based facial gels provide an ideal amount of hydration for your skin, locking in natural moisture while helping the top layer of skin bond together. This helps to smooth and soften the skin. As a bonus, aloe vera has shown to increase collagen in your skin to reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
No. 06 – APPLY SERUM
A facial serum with the right combination of herbal oils can help treat many skincare issues, keep pores in check, and lock in moisture. Always apply serums to the skin before heavier creams, lotions, or make-up.
No. 07 – MOISTURIZE
Apply a nourishing lotion, face oil, or balm on your face and neck to lock in moisture and protect your skin from dehydration.
No. 08 – APPLY SUNSCREEN AND BB CREAMS
Using sun protection year-round is vital to protect from sunburns, sunspots, and minimize the appearance of fine lines and imperfections. Zinc Oxide in your sunscreen and BB cream can filter out UVA and UVB rays to protect against cell damage, while Titanium Dioxide is an active mineral ingredient that also protects from UVB rays and is considered to have no risk of skin sensitivity.
No. 09 – CARE FOR YOUR BROWS, LASHES, HAIR, AND LIPS
When we think "skincare", your brows, lashes, hair, and lips may not come to mind, but they are still an important part of your non-step beauty routine. All day, your brow, lash, and hair follicles are exposed to toxins, dryness, and chemicals, and can fall out if not nourished with hair nourishing oils.
Additionally, lips can easily chap and dry out. Dead skin cells can make your lips lose their natural colour, and result in dark, pigmented lips. Use natural lip balms and scrubs regularly to maintain beautiful, healthy lips.
This 9-step skincare routine is a tried and true Ayurvedic ritual that ancient healers have been following for centuries.
How to build a dosha-based skincare routine
At Bombay Beauty Co, we design 100% natural, Ayurvedic skincare products for all doshas. Based on your dominant dosha, here is what you need to know about your dosha-based skincare routine.
Vata skincare
Vata skin is typically characterized by dryness and dehydration, and is prone to fine lines and wrinkles. To treat consistent dryness, Vata skincare routines are centred around moisturizing with hydrating and nourishing products that can lock in moisture and protect the skin from further dehydration.
Start with a natural cleanser, like our No. 01 - Purify - Almond & Milk Cleanser, to gently lift impurities, replenish dry skin, and maintain moisture levels. Almond is known to help balance the absorption of moisture and water loss, and improve complexion and skin tone.
To encourage healthy skin turnover, use an exfoliator to gently remove dead skin cells at least two to three times per week. Ayurvedic scrubs, like our No. 02 - Exfoliate - Oats & Sandalwood Ubtan Microfoliant, contain natural ingredients like oatmeal, which are gentle on the skin and can be used regularly.
Next, toning is an essential step for any dosha to refresh the skin, seal your pores, and keep your skin hydrated. Try our tridoshic No. 04 - Refresh - Rosa & Oats Toner, made with pure rosewater and rose essential oils to balance the skin, gently lift impurities, and relieve any itchiness that may come with dry skin.
Ayurvedic skincare routines emphasize using herbal oils to keep pores in check and lock in moisture for a healthy glow. Designed for all doshas, our bestselling No. 06 - Glow - Rosa Facial Oil Serum is a unique blend of Damascus rose oil and seven other essential oils, and is carefully curated for an anti-aging effect, brighter appearance, and a visibly even skin texture.
Lastly, moisturizing is the cornerstone of a Vata skincare routine to lock in moisture, heal, and protect the skin from further dryness. Our No. 07 - Nourish - Kokum Butter Face Balm is light and airy, and specially formulated with essential oils, oats, kokum and shea butter for maximum hydration, without leaving a greasy film.
Kapha skincare
Kapha-dominant individuals typically have oily, thick skin with enlarged pores. When out of balance, Kapha becomes more prone to breakouts and attracts more impurities from their environment. These skin concerns are best managed through regular internal and external detoxification and control of excess sebum production.
Using a natural cleanser, start with a deep cleanse to gently lift dirt and environmental impurities from the pores and maintain moisture levels. We recommend our pure, non-foaming No. 01 - Clarify - Green Tea & Oats Cleanser for the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the green tea, which help reduce sebum production and treats acne.
Next, apply an Ayurvedic face mask once or twice a week to gently slough away dull dead skin and absorb impurities for softer, brighter looking skin! A relaxing blend of white kaolin clay, rose petals, and oats, our No. 03 - Detoxify - White Clay Face Mask is specially designed for oily and sensitive skin to absorb excess oil, fight acne, and tone skin.
An essential step in any skincare routine, toning helps to refresh the skin, seal your pores, and keep your skin hydrated. Try our tridoshic No. 04 - Refresh - Rosa & Oats Toner, made with pure rosewater and rose essential oils to balance the skin, gently lift impurities, and reduce excess oil.
Aloe-based facial gels, like our No. 05 - Hydrate - Rose & Cucumber Facial Gel, are perfect for oily skin types, as they lock in natural moisture while helping the top layer of skin bond together. This helps to smooth and soften the skin, and even treats the flakiness that may be caused by oily patches.
Lastly, Ayurvedic skincare routines emphasize using herbal oils to keep pores in check and lock in moisture for a healthy glow. Designed for all doshas, our bestselling No. 06 - Glow - Rosa Facial Oil Serum is a unique blend of Damascus rose oil and seven other essential oils, and is carefully curated for an anti-aging effect, brighter appearance, and a visibly even skin texture.
Pitta skincare
Pitta skin is described as soft, warm, and sensitive. As a result, Pitta-dominant individuals are more prone to tanning, acne, and sunspots, making cooling herbs and sun protection a crucial part of a Pitta skincare routine.
Start with a gentle, non-foaming cleanser with natural ingredients like aloe, rose, or green tea, to lift impurities and maintain moisture levels. A unique blend of green tea, rose, oats, and lavender, our pure No. 01 - Clarify - Green Tea & Oats Cleanser is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties to help treat acne and soothe skin irritations.
Next, apply an Ayurvedic face mask once or twice a week to gently slough away dull dead skin and absorb impurities for softer, brighter looking skin! A relaxing blend of white kaolin clay, rose petals, and oats, our No. 03 - Detoxify - White Clay Face Mask is specially designed for oily and sensitive skin to absorb excess oil, fight acne, and tone skin.
An essential step in any skincare routine, toning helps to refresh the skin, seal your pores, and keep your skin hydrated. Try our tridoshic No. 04 - Refresh - Rosa & Oats Toner, made with pure rosewater and rose essential oils to balance the skin, gently lift impurities, and soothe skin irritations.
Aloe-based facial gels, like our No. 05 - Soothe - Aloe & Lavender Facial Gel, are perfect for sensitive, acne-prone skin, as they lock in natural moisture while helping the top layer of skin bond together. Known for its soothing properties, both aloe vera and lavender have cooling properties, which help control and reduce acne-causing bacteria.
Lastly, Ayurvedic skincare routines emphasize using herbal oils to keep pores in check and lock in moisture for a healthy glow. Designed for all doshas, our bestselling No. 06 - Glow - Rosa Facial Oil Serum is a unique blend of Damascus rose oil and seven other essential oils, and is carefully curated for an anti-aging effect, brighter appearance, and a visibly even skin texture.
Discover your dosha
Want to learn how to customize your skincare routine with modern Ayurvedic formulations that restore your skin's natural brilliance? Discover your dosha by taking our dosha quiz to learn more. Then, come back to make sure you're following the best skincare tips for your dosha!