Autum is so transformational!
It marks the end of heat and humidity (at least here on the east coast of the USA) and the beginning of a cooler dryer shift.
Autumn is expansive and cooling, it’s dry and spacious, as if beckoning us to make room in our bodies for the momentous new energy thats literally being blown towards us.
The days are shorter as we begin to reset academic and professional goals, paving the way for creativity, planning and the execution of objectives.
I absolutely adore this time of year, however despite the enthusiasm of my mental and spiritual self, my physical body doesn’t seem to be a fan.
My skin goes from a golden shinning brown to a dull, ashen, wrinkled mess. My skin literally begins to wrinkle and crack in tandem with the dry falling leaves. My hair, once curly and soft turns to straw, my coils become limp and frayed. My lips crack, my eyes water, it’s just not a great time for my skin.
So to combat the extreme autumnal changes of my east coast climate, I draw upon my Ayurvedic knowledge to restore balance and vitality to my skin and hair.
If you struggle during the autumn, to maintain your skin’s moisture and elasticity, here are some great Ayurveda inspired tips to help you bring about harmony naturally.
Treat Your Autumn Skin to Some Ayurvedic Wisdom:
Moisturize your skin with heavier oils to restore balance
During the summer I use coconut oil, it’s light and cooling and provides just enough moisture but in the autumn, coconut oil isn’t enough. Some great autumnal oils to use on your skin are: olive oil, sesame oil and avocado oil. You can apply these oils (or a blend of all three) directly after your bath to keep skin soft and supple.
Moisturize the ends of your hair and your scalp with oils to prevent dryness and breakage
During the summer months, I just use a touch of jojoba oil at the ends of my curly hair to impart a bit of moisture. Those oils are great for the summer but don’t pack enough punch for me during the autumn months. Some great autumnal hair oils for your ends are: sweet almond oil, organ oil, and marula oil. For your scalp, try black seed oil.
Moisturize your lips naturally with pure shea butter to combat wind damage and dryness.
Tired dry eyes love soothing castor oil. I steam a washcloth and then apply a pea sized drop of castor oil to each eyelid. I rub the castor oil around my eyes (eyes closed of course!) then apply my warm steamed towel for ten minutes. I use the towel to wipe any remaining castor oil from my eye lids and voila!
Just as we change the way we dress and the way we eat for the seasons, we also have to shake up our self care routines.
Autumn is amazing!
But just because the leaves are becoming dry and brittle, it doesn’t mean your skin and hair has to as well. With a few insightful tweaks to your beauty care routine, your skin can glow like it did during the summertime.
After all autumn is too ephemeral. Get outside and enjoy it, because the moment you begin to layer on the sweaters, indulge in pumpkin spice everything, and get used to the cool evening breeze through your open window, winter moves in and shakes things up again!
For more DIY natural skin care ideas, check out my latest book Natural Beauty from the Outside In, where you’ll find 70 Ayurveda inspired hair and skin care recipes.