The use of essential oils dates back to the era of ancient civilizations. The Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians extracted fragrant essential oils from plants (eucalyptus, lavender, rose, tea tree oil... the list goes on) to use in their wellness and beauty regimens. Queen Nefertiti is said to have offered essential oils to the gods. And Paris is rumored to have given Helen of Troy a decadent massage using drops of ylang-ylang, clary sage, and chamomile.

Aromatherapy—the therapeutic use of essential oils inhaled or absorbed through the skin—is extensively practiced throughout the world today. (The term was technically coined by French chemist René-Mauric Gattefossé in the 1930s.) Practitioners in India and China use it to heal both body and spirit. Western science has deemed it an effective treatment for pain, as well as a positive therapy for depression, anxiety, sleep issues, and other ailments. It's a staple in wellness routines and a holistic beauty treatment. And because it taps into our sense of smell, one of the most primal parts of ourselves, aromatherapy can been known to evoke strong memories and potentially enhance our short-term memory.

One of the many benefits of using essential oils is that they are non-habit forming and entirely natural. And the possibilities and effects are abundant. Different oils provide different results, whether it be relaxing lavender to induce calmness or uplifting lemon to invigorate the mind and senses. You can apply oils directly to the skin through massage or inhale them by adding a few drops to a hot bath, steam diffuser, or piece of cotton on your bedside table. 

Psychological and physical wellbeing are intricately tied together—and one can influence and sway the other, sometimes without our even realizing it. Given that our mood and mental state can vary frequently because of life and environmental stressors, aromatherapy offers a consistent, natural, non-invasive treatment that alleviates stress.

Incorporating aromatherapy into our daily lives is simple. It neatly fits into our morning or evening routines. At UMA we've crafted our wellness blends to naturally enhance your wellbeing. Whether you're seeking a better way to unwind, a natural mood elevator, stress relief, or a healthy alternative to caffeine, each of our oils are pure lusciousness for skin and aromatherapy for senses, proving that an ancient therapy is just as relevant today as it was centuries ago. 

LaToyia liked how the ancient science of wellness approached the body holistically. She and Joe began incorporating Ayurvedic principles into their lives. They quickly saw "a great change" in how they felt. "By fusing this health practice with other things that we've learned, our journey got sweeter," says LaToyia, who loved following the Ayurvedic guidelines of pairing certain foods to your dosha. LaToyia continued to study Ayurveda. She became a certified herbalist and eventually opened The Laya Center, an integrated holistic healing center, spa, and co-working space in Kansas City that incorporates ancient African and Ayurvedic methods. "We wanted to be the hub of information, the sanctuary of peace, and the voice of encouragement to make a difference in people's lives," she says.

That "difference" can be found through many offerings at the Laya Center: natural methods for injury recovery; yoga; herbal therapies; holistic retreats. LaToyia and her team also perform various Ayurvedic treatments including Abhyanga massage, an Ayurvedic approach to massage that focuses on vital points of the energetic and anatomical body. A practitioner performs Abhyanga using warm medicated oils and powders to promote healing, stimulate digestion, draw out impurities, and stabilize the systems in the body.  It's an incredible treatment that Mays credits to helping her digestion. "I love the way I feel after," she says. "Invigorated and relaxed at the same time."

Practitioners at The Laya Center perform Abhyanga a few different ways. The main therapy incorporates whole body oil pulling (a continuous flow of oil over the body) and focuses on Marma Points (energetic points on the body). There is also a shortened version of the therapy that focuses on the head, ears, and feet, and a "Four Hands" version—"two people at once," says Mays—that is a 45-minute therapy. Each version incorporates dry herbs to detoxify and promote digestive health, increase stamina, increase longevity, and slow aging. LaToyia describes it as an amazingly energetic experience, one that "really sends a sensation, a connection, through your body."

The benefits of Abhyanga are profound. The treatment clears Kapha aggravation and other obstructions of the body's channels including, heaviness, stagnation, sluggishness, blockages, and stickiness, says LaToyia. It can also increase strength, reduce cellulite, promote quality sleep, cleanse and rejuvenate the skin, prevent headaches, strengthen muscles, ease stiffness, and reduce stress. 

LaToyia urges clients to maintain the balance and benefits of Abhyanga by performing self Abhyanga massage at home, which highlights something she loves about both the treatment and Ayurveda: connection. "In India they often give each other massages in their home practices," she says. "Even the younger kids will give the elders massages. I love that. Everyone is connected. Everyone feels they can play a part in healing each other."

Because, after all, how we connect with ourselves and those we love is our most powerful form of currency. The treatments we incorporate, the foods we ingest, are all the keys to greater wellbeing—and we hold the power to choose what they are, just as LaToyia and her family did. And in all of it there's always one very special elements, she says. "That ingredient is love."

To learn more about The Laya Center and its Abhyanga treatment visit: www.layacenter.com.

While many of us maintain a religious daily skincare routine, we often give body care much less attention. Save it for an occasional massage or a day at the spa, right? 

The reality is that the rest of our bodies, not just our face, benefits from regular care—even beyond applying a daily moisturizer. In Ayurveda, the mind, body, spirit and external environment are deeply connected, and each element informs the others. Our bodies help us weather through our daily routines. Their aches, fatigue and discomfort—or, on the opposite end, their energy, litheness and strength—reflect the way we treat them, from how well we sleep to what kind of exercise we get to what we eat and drink. External factors like sun exposure, seasonality and pollution can also affect how our bodies and skin feel on a day-to-day basis. 

Taking good care of our bodies not only promotes healthy, radiant skin, but it can also treat problems like joint pain, aches, scarring and poor circulation. Certain body care practices, such as dry brushing and self-massage, can also boost our overall health by promoting natural detoxification and a boosted circulatory and lymphatic system. Furthermore, many grounding body care rituals provide a space of mental grounding and tranquility, leaving you feeling more in touch with yourself and your body as a result. 

Caring for your body doesn’t have to wait until your next spa appointment. Have a free Friday night or an upcoming day off? Here’s an indulgent step-by-step body care routine that will leave you feeling rested, relaxed and rejuvenated. Many of these steps are fast and easy to incorporate into your daily routine. By figuring out which ones you like best, you can make slow but powerful changes to your body care approach. 

Step 1: Set Up Your Space for Success

Set out fresh towels, put on your favorite album, dim the lights. Light a wellness candle to instantly fill your space with tranquility.  When given care and attention, your space can play a vital role in inducing calm and boosting your mood, and you’ll feel deliciously ready for a night of self-care.

Step 2: Dry Brush Your Skin

Dry brushing is a powerful Ayurvedic wellness practice that involves running a thistled brush over the skin in firm motions. These stimulating movements exfoliate the skin while also boosting circulation and lymphatic flow, which in turn promotes natural detoxification and radiance. By strengthening the lymphatic system, dry brushing can also reduce swelling and inflammation. Its exfoliating, grounding and tranquilizing effects perfectly prime the skin to reap the nutrients and hydration of an essential oil bath. 

Dry brushing involves making short, delicate strokes beginning from the feet and moving upward to the back, stomach, arms, chest, and neck. The chest and stomach should be brushed in circular motions. Here’s a graphic breaking down the steps for an effective dry brushing session.

Step 3: Add a Soothing Essential Oil to Your Bath

Adding a few drops of essential oils to your bath is a great way to target your specific wellness needs while instantly elevating your bath with an aura of luxury. Lavender oil, for example, both improves mood and relieves pain and inflammation, while chamomile lightens age spots and hyperpigmentation. For more on the benefits of various essential oils, you can check out our Oil Files blog feature.

For a formula that was crafted specifically to bring relaxation and nourishment to baths, try our Oprah-approved UMA Pure Calm Wellness Bath Oil, which incorporates calming neroli, lavender, clary sage and more. To use, add 2 tablespoons to your bath for an instantly aromatic, indulgent self-care experience.

Step 4: Pamper Your Feet with a Foot Massage

Our feet can sometimes be one of the most neglected parts of our body—despite the fact that they literally carry us through each day. That period after you bathe and dry off your feet is a perfect time to give yourself a Ayurvedic foot massage. 

To do so, find a comfortable sitting position with your feet on the ground, and place a towel underneath your feet. Using an essential oil, massage each toe (and in between the toes), the soles of the feet and the ankle and calf areas. Our UMA Pure Calm Wellness Body Oil makes a luxuriously calming, hydrating partner to the Pure Calm Wellness Bath Oil, providing instant moisture while tightening and brightening the skin.

Step 5: Give Yourself a Hydrating, Refreshing Self-Massage

Now that you’ve given your feet some much-needed TLC, you can move on to the rest of your body with a self-massage. One of the greatest virtues of an Ayurvedic self-massage is the fact that it is extremely personalizable. You can focus on areas experiencing dryness, joint pain or muscle aches—all while providing deep hydration, boosting circulation, providing the skin with essential nutrients and improving memory and focus. 

Taking care to pay special attention to your own particularities, you can hydrate and nourish your newly-washed skin by massaging it all over with a body oil, balm or other moisturizer. Our UMA Absolute Anti Aging Body Balm incorporates toning, wrinkle-reducing and brightening ingredients like neroli, grapefruit and sandalwood to provide luxurious hydration without leaving behind any residue. 

And there you have it! In 5 simple steps, you can transform a dull night in into a transformative self-care experience. You can mix and match specific practices to perfectly suit your needs, and practices like dry brushing or giving yourself a quick post-shower massage are simple enough to do every day. You’ll find that a little bit of body care goes a long way toward a healthy, happy and rejuvenated self. 

Ah, summer. Time to hit the beach, break out the barbecue essentials and spend some serious time shopping for sundresses (let's be honest, one can never have too many). But, due to increased humidity and sun exposure, all that summer fun can wreak havoc on your skin. Protecting your skin without weighing yourself down with a cumbersome routine is crucial during the summer - and we've got your covered. With these summer skin care tips you'll be on your way to having a dewy glow all summer long. 

1. Look in your kitchen for cleansers

Feel like you always have a constant sheen on your forehead during the summer? Oiliness and related breakouts are an unfortunate reality during hot, humid summer months. Cleansing is an absolute must, but many synthetic options do more harm than good. Chemically irritated skin is not a good look on anyone. Thankfully, there are a couple natural cleansers are hiding right in your kitchen! Try using apple cider vinegar as a cleanser (limit use to every other day) or try rubbing melon on your face and leaving overnight for a cooling effect.

2. Get dirty - with clay masks

When a stubborn breakout just won't go away your skin may be in a need of some serious rehab. Face masks to the rescue! There are many great DIY options out there, and all are a far cry from the skin damaging chemical peels (don't let us get started on that topic), but all natural options can also be found at high end retailers. A great basis to look for in a store bought mask is a clay like kaolin, which penetrates pores and wicks away excess oil. Just be sure to follow this simple tip when applying clay face masks: apply on clean skin and allow it to only partially dry. Rinse off at this stage to avoid overly drying your skin.

Although there are a myriad number of DIYs, but for those who are looking for a perfectly formulated product with these ingredients and more try our Deeply Clarifying Face Mask. 

3. Practice safe sun

This is pretty simple: SPF, SPF, SPF. While there are not any completely natural options that exist in the sunscreen realm yet, zinc based sunscreen is a great naturally derived option. If you're not planning on being in the sun that often, a quick one-step solution is to invest in a foundation with SPF for basic face protection. Sunscreen blocks out a lot of other minerals and chemicals, so make sure to apply it over your other skin care products! And, we hate to sound like your mom here, but time in the sun often goes hand in hand with dehydration. So keep that water bottle full and try infusing water with cucumber or lemon for flavorful twist. 

4. And if that fails, use natural ingredients to heal sunburn

We've all paid for our over-exposure in the sun with red, painful and blistered skin before. While prevention is the best medicine when it comes to sunburn, treating sunburns the right away can prevent long term damage to your skin. The good news is the plethora of natural treatments out there makes it easy. Aloe vera gel is an obvious choice, but did you know you can rinse your skin in buttermilk to soothe the inflammation? Or make a cold compress out of oatmeal wrapped in gauze? Read more tips here. 

5. Prep your body for bikini season

We are not about to give you suggestions on how to get a six pack in less than two weeks! But we can give you some serious skin care tips you can use all over your body. While the other nine months of the year you've been able to safely neglect everything below the neck, (hello, cellulite and bacne!), it's now time to shape up. For glowing skin, without the weight of a traditional body lotion, try our Absolute Anti Aging Body Oil  like lavender essential oil blended with a carrier like coconut. You'll love how soft and supple it makes your skin, as well as its ability to reduce redness. Feeling more confident in your own skin is the secret to making bikini season less daunting. 

As we battle some crazy days of winter - let this be the season you take control of your skin through the monitoring of the food you consume. Eating the right foods this season (and all year long!) can help you combat signs of dullness, aging, and dryness the all-natural way. Ranging from produce, to nuts and drinks, everything you consume can and will have impact on your skin. Packed with different vitamins and minerals, we catalog our favorite foods that make it easy to achieve the perfect glow this winter. By simply incorporating these foods into your everyday diet, you'd be surprised by how easily you can reinforce your skincare regimen - from within!

Almonds

Almonds are often referred to as the ultimate power food for the chilly winter days. They contain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, B and E, minerals, and several antioxidants. All these nutrients help to keep the skin hydrated, promote skin elasticity, protect against pollutants and free radicals, and help with the regeneration of skin cells.

Broccoli

Adding more vitamin C to your diet can help prevent wrinkles and dryness that may be age or weather-related. Vitamin C provides skin-smoothing effects that are created due to the way it combats free radicals produced from UV rays, and also due to its role in synthesizing collagen, which is needed to maintain the skin’s firmness.

Cocoa

Cocoa may already be your list of things to consume this winter - and its nutrients will make sure you add more of it to your diet! Containing a type of flavonoid called epicatechin, cocoa helps increase your blood flow to the skin, boosting nutrient and oxygen supply - which is essential for keeping skin healthy.

Kale

While quickly becoming one of the most reached-for greens, kale has been proven to be great for your skin and body overall. With high concentrations of Vitamin A, it can help combat the common dry and flaky skin that arises during the winter time. An added bonus is its high Vitamin K content, which can help get rid of tiresome under-eye circles!

Blueberries

No matter what form you decide to consume these, whether it be raw, cooked or dried - blueberries are full of antioxidants. This means that they help protect the skin from free radicals (that disrupt healthy cell production), leaving you with younger and smoother skin. Also commonly found as an ingredient in many skincare products, blueberries have an alkalizing effect, which means they can help prevent red, blotchy skin and other signs of inflammation that occur in an overly acidic body environment.

Flax Seeds

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, flax seeds help keep your skin hydrated - meaning they are one of your biggest allies to help combat signs of aging. Not only will it help reduce inflammation anywhere in the body (and on your skin), flax can also help keep your heart strong by lowering your triglyceride levels.

Avocados

Avocados are great source of vitamins C, E, and monounsaturated fats. Vitamin C helps in the creation of elastin and collagen, which help bind skin cells together creating a softer, smoother surface. Vitamin E and monounsaturated fats help your skin lock in moisture and replenish nutrients in skin. Editor's Note: While we adore Avocados for their skin-boosting benefits, Ayurveda also lays an emphasis on eating seasonally - and often Avocados fall into the summer-food variety of nutrition. If Avocado is not seasonally fit for your area in a given season, we recommend adding this more to a diet at a time it is more seasonally appropriate.

Tomatoes

Already perfect at almost any meal time, tomatoes are so packed with antioxidants and other nutrients that you will want to include these with everything you eat! High in lycopene, tomatoes are one of the most powerful foods in helping protect your skin from free radicals, while also helping to maintain moisture in the skin (which we all know is a must during this season!)

Green Tea

While you’re likely already looking to add hot, soothing drinks to your cold winter days, you’ll be surprised at how beneficial it will be to reach for those green tea bags more often. Consuming green gives you an overall immune system boost, and helps in the recovery of any imperfections on the skin’s surface. Green tea leaves can also be physically used and applied as a face mask, exfoliant, or even a toner to achieve a brighter, more awake look. 

Carrots

Carrots are rich in vitamin A and they are, in fact, great year-round due to beta-carotene infused sun protection. As an antioxidant, vitamin A helps attack free radicals and makes it perfect to help treat skin conditions like pimples and acne, rashes, dermatitis and other skin problems. Packed with potassium, carrots also help combat winter-induced dry skin.

Also: Try UMA Face Oils for dramatic hydration and glow! With their vitamin- and emollient-packed formulation, our blends will multiply the skin boosting benefits you will achieve with these dietary changes. Our face oils are formulated in an ultra-light, non-comedogenic and highly-absorbent pomegranate oil base, rich in vitamins A, K, D & E, as well as punicic acid - great for collagen renewal!

So here's to perfectly radiant, hydrated skin even on the chilliest winter day!

Moisturize religiously
Laugh lines, which run from the corners of your mouth toward your nose, are caused when your skin creases as you giggle, laugh, and smile – eventually becoming apparent even when your face is at rest. Dry skin can exacerbate the appearance of these lines – and can become even more obvious when make up rests inside of these creases. Make sure to moisturize regularly – and multiple times per day in harsh weather – to minimize the appearance of laugh lines. For more lasting results, apply a daily lip treatment with collagen boosting properties!

Make a DIY Exfoliant
Create a gentle sugar scrub at home – we suggest a teaspoon of almond oil combined with a teaspoon of brown sugar – and massage around your mouth area, targeting your laugh lines specifically. The exfoliating action will stimulate circulation and slough away dead skin, creating a mild swelling effect that will temporarily minimize the lines around your mouth.

Incorporate a primer into your make up routine
Primers are a powerful addition to your beauty regimen, when used properly! They help fill in laugh lines and create a smooth canvas for your favorite foundation, BB cream, or tinted moisturizer – helping you avoid the accumulation of pigment we mentioned before. Just be sure to apply moisturizer a few minutes before applying primer, to prevent dryness.

Ditch the cigarettes
This goes without saying, but aside from the negative implications smoking has for lung and heart health, the chemicals in cigarettes can drastically impact the collagen and elastin levels in your skin, making you much more susceptible to laugh lines.

Protect yourself from the sun!
Sun damage can exacerbate the severity and appearance of laugh lines, so make sure you’ve incorporated SPF into your daily skincare routine! In the sunny summer months, pay special attention to how much time you’re spending outdoors, and wear a wide brim hat to protect your delicate facial skin from UVA and UVB damage!

For a rich and reparative face oil that’s also 100% organic, try our Total Rejuvenation Night Face Oil. It works in harmony with your body’s nighttime restorative functions, so you’ll wake up each morning with skin that is nourished and deeply moisturized!

On busy mornings, we tend to race out the door, armed with a half eaten bagel and a makeup bag – but all too often, we forget the most critical piece of armor in our organic skincare regimen: sunscreen! Sun damage is one of the biggest offenders when it comes to fine lines, wrinkles, and the pesky brown spots on your face that never seem to go away. But, fear not – many of the visible effects of sun damage are reversible, and it’s never too late to take steps to counteract them! Before looking to solutions like lasers or surgery, try some of these fuss-free tips for reversing sun damage, and rejuvenating, renewing your skin!

1. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Sunshine strips the moisture from your face, and slows the rate at which cells replace themselves. This results in dry skin, blemishes, and clogged pores. So, in addition to drinking 2 liters of water a day, remember to keep your skin topically hydrated with a potent moisturizer or face oil! This will help prevent new fine lines and wrinkles from forming, and soften the appearance of existing ones. For a deeply moisturizing, anti-inflammatory formula that has been developed for damaged skin, try our Total Rejuvenation Night Face Oil! If masks are more comfortable territory, try our Deeply Clarifying Face Mask, ensured to tighten and hydrate the delicate skin on the face. 

2. Exfoliate Regularly

Sun damage can cause a buildup of dead skin cells, which make skin appear blotchy and uneven. Exfoliation removes these dead cells and exposes a new layer of fresh, undamaged skin. This will allow moisturizers and other topical or organic beauty products to penetrate troublesome areas more effectively, for maximal results! Options for exfoliants include packaged versions, natural homemade scrubs, or AHA’s (alpha hydroxy acids).

3. Dark Spots, Be Gone!

The dark spots on your skin may be a result of an overproduction of melanin in your skin, as a result of exposure to UV rays. This is a sign your skin is trying to protect you from UV radiation, by churning out a thicker layer of protective pigment! Vitamin C based products can be a great way to fade these spots, and correct uneven pigmentation. Organic skin care products that aid in the absorption of naturally derived vitamin C (e.g., neroli essential oil and orange essential oil) are especially effective, as our body is better equipped to process natural variants than synthetic ones! Retinoids, derived from vitamin A, are also great for speeding up the cell turnover cycle, and stimulating collagen production, thereby reducing the appearance of uneven pigmentation.

4. Get Your Antioxidants - From The Inside Out

Antioxidants act as anti-inflammatory agents, and protect our collagen and elastic tissues from the free radicals that can cause sagging skin and fine lines. The breakdown of collagen due to sun damage and age causes wrinkles and fine lines to appear. Antioxidant-rich topical creams and face oils are a great addition to your skincare routine or blemish solution - but don’t forget to consume antioxidant rich foods as well! Stock up on cherries, pomegranates, and green tea, which deliver the same antioxidants that fight inflammation and improve skin elasticity internally.

5. Say YES to SPF!

Sunscreen every day is a must, rain or shine. Using a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher will protect you against both UVA and UVB rays, thereby minimizing sun exposure and allowing your skin to better heal existing sun damage. There are a plethora of options on the market, and great naturally derived options like Coola and Suntegrity, which are packed with nutrition for the skin as well!

And, if you missed it, check out our 4 suggestions for how to get that glowing sun kissed summer skin!

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably well aware that pure essential oils can have amazing implications for facial skincare, ranging from wrinkle reduction to acne control! Now, we’re sharing some of our favorite picks for body oils (essential and otherwise) that promote healthy, radiant skin – from your head to your toes! For the perfect product that contains all the mentioned oils for the ultimate moisturizing experience, try our Absolute Anti Aging Body Oil.

Lavender Oil

By now, the ubiquitous scent of lavender can be found in everything from air fresheners to laundry detergent, but despite its prevalence as a synthetic scent, essential oil of lavender packs a serious therapeutic punch! It’s one of the most diverse essential oils on the market, and especially useful if you have skin that has been subject to sun damage, scarring, or other distress. People who suffer from skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis can also benefit from using lavender essential oil as a treatment in addition to getting rid of acne scars– it’s known to soothe itching (and alleviate the anxiety and stress these conditions can cause!) Lavender is a great, soothing oil selection for all ages and skin types – and naturally derived lavender essential oil has a scent that is far superior to the synthetic imitations that are all too common in popular scents and cleaning products!

How To Use

As with all essential oils, lavender oil shouldn’t be applied to the skin directly! For a soothing, and highly moisturizing experience, try using a rich carrier oil like virgin coconut oil – which you likely have in your kitchen or beauty cabinet already! Take a few spoonfuls of coconut oil, and mix in 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil (the essential oil should, at most, make up 5% of the solution, so divvy up your proportions accordingly). Let the oils mix together, and apply to skin once a day – if you’re worried about feeling greasy, do so just before a shower. Otherwise, let the treatment soak in overnight for calm, supple skin in the morning!

Rosehip Oil

Nip dehydrated skin in the bud (pun intended, of course!), with moisturizing and divinely scented rose hip oil. This oil is a great addition to one’s summertime skincare routine, as dry summer weather can lead to dull, flaky skin. Rosehip oil is not an essential oil, but rather a pressed seed oil, derived from the seeds of a wild rose bush. In addition to its use for dry skin, it's packed with vitamin A, and is an effective, natural skin care treatment for dermatitis and other skin infections (including acne!)

How to use

Rosehip oil can be applied, in small amounts, directly to problem areas on your face or body using a cotton pad. As with any new oil, do a small patch test on the interior of your elbow to ensure you don’t experience irritation! You can also use it over your favorite lightweight face moisturizer to help your face retain moisture and keep out toxins from the air and environment!

Neroli Oil

Vitamin C rich neroli oil is an ideal skincare choice for mature skin, as it can work wonders on age spots and sun damage (try our Absolute Anti-Aging Face Oil to see what we mean!) If you’ve been noticing wrinkles on your forehead, neck, décolleté, or hands, try adding neroli essential oil to your regimen to noticeably diminish their appearance and rejuvenate skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce skin redness, and its regenerative properties stimulate rapid cell turnover, which leads to a visible reduction in the appearance of fine lines, and more youthful skin overall. For a rich and fragrant body oil, use neroli essential oil just as you would use lavender!

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Ylang ylang is another multipurpose essential oil that can promote healthy skin all over the body – regardless of skin type. Ylang Ylang essential oil benefits helps skin control natural oil production, making it especially useful during warm summer months when hot weather can stimulate excess oil production. It also has strong regenerative properties, for skin that looks fresh, all over! Just like lavender and neroli essential oils, try mixing ylang ylang essential oil with a nourishing carrier oil like avocado or almond for an indulgent experience.

Carrot Seed Oil

Last, but not least – carrot seed essential oil is a lesser known oil that still delivers substantial benefits to the skin! It’s packed with carotene and vitamin A, which are both known to tighten skin, and revitalize dull complexions. It’s also high in naturally occurring SPF, and can provide a level of sun protection without the harmful chemicals prevalent in many chemical based sunscreen products. Carrot seed essential oil is also a great, earthy-smelling alternative to some of our more floral suggestions – perfect for those of us who prefer a more organic scent. Use it with a carrier oil in the same proportions as with the other essential oils we mentioned earlier. Personally, we love the combination of carrot seed essential oil with jojoba oil!

At long last, the sun is shining, and we can retire our parkas and winter boots. Of course, summer means bathing suits, bare skin, and the waxing appointments that come along with it! If preparing for summer sunshine sounds like a chore to you, here are five of our favorite suggestions for no-fuss, natural skin upkeep, all summer long!

Sun Protection

Of course, this is an obvious one – but important enough to drive the point home, yet again. While it’s always best to stay out of the sun during peak hours, wear wide brimmed hats, and cover your skin, this isn’t always realistic, so SPF is key! With some studies indicating that chemical sunscreens may have endocrine disrupting properties, we prefer a zinc oxide based sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB light physically. There are also DIY options that take advantage of the naturally occurring SPF properties in certain oils, like carrot seed and red raspberry oils.

Sun Damage

If you didn’t heed our first piece of advice, or just got unlucky, you may be the victim of summer’s greatest foe – the sunburn. There are few things worse than a raw sunburn, and the itchy pink skin it causes, but thankfully aloe vera has some incredible soothing properties. It will reduce the inflammation and redness of your sunburn, and help prevent infection with its natural antibacterial properties. It’s always a great idea to have an aloe plant on hand, but for those of us without green thumbs, most drugstores offer a plethora of aloe vera gels. Just remember, the less adulterated with additives, the more effective it will be!

Full Body Moisture

Summer is the season of (sometimes excessive) shaving and waxing – and this can cause our arms and legs to appear dry and scaly. This is why we turn to rich moisturizers like shea butter, coconut oil, and almond oil, to renew the moisture our skin has been stripped of, and to keep our gams looking healthy and fresh! We recommend using our Absolute Anti Aging Body Oil for all skin's needs in the summer. 

Midday Skin Refresher

As much as we love getting our daily dose of vitamin D, sunshine often equates to sweat! If you’re looking for a quick skin pick-me-up, try a spritzer that combines rose water and witch hazel. The witch hazel will act as a natural anti-inflammatory, as the rose water tones your skin and restores its balance (not to mention, smells lovely!) Take half a cup of organic rose water and add 3 drops of witch hazel oil, and pour into a mini spray bottle. Store in the fridge overnight, and keep it in your bag for rapid refreshment!

And there you have it – four natural ways to achieve a full-body glow this summer. For summer time facial skincare, check out our Deeply Clarifying Face Oil and our Beauty Boosting Day Face Oil – two of our favorite, ultra-light blends, for lasting moisture (without any of the grease!)

There’s something magical about makeup’s ability to transform your look – and mood. Something as simple as a sweeping cat eye or a bold lip can dramatically change your energy! But, in order for makeup artistry to have its best effect, it’s crucial to care for the canvas – your skin.

Face oils help maintain the skin’s natural glow, by locking moisture and nutrients into its outermost layer. Healthy skin is key to ensuring facial makeup can be applied smoothly, and that it stays flawless throughout the day, without any unwanted cracking, flaking, or peeling!

Skincare oils not only deliver nutrition to the protective lipid layer of the epidermis, but also penetrate deeper layers of the skin. Lipophilic (or fat-loving) oils permeate the lipid layer to deliver water and active compounds to the dermis layer underneath. These bioactive ingredients stream oxygen and micronutrients through the blood of the dermis, fortifying the elastin fiber and collagen matrix that maintains the skin’s structure – in other words, enhancing its firmness and youthful appearance. Thick facial creams, on the other hand, can create a waxy layer of residue that clogs pores and makes makeup appear uneven.

Face Oil Works for Every Season

Spring – As much as we all love a fresh spring breeze, this is the season when pollen-filled winds can leave your skin looking red and inflamed. Petroleum-based products, especially those with softening agents, often contain allergens that exacerbate redness and inflammation. Face oils are a great alternative, as they provide a protective barrier for the skin and keep environmental factors like pollen and free radicals from penetrating the epidermis. Many face oils also have natural antibacterial and antifungal properties, to keep skin free of harmful impurities.

Summer – Summer is the season of sun kissed skin – and sun damage. Vitamin-C rich oils like rose essential oil and neroli essential oil can effectively diminish sunspots, burns, and pigmentation – all signs of excessive sun exposure. Using face oils in warm weather may seem counterintuitive, but absorbent oils with clarifying ingredients like juniper berry and clove naturally disinfect skin, to keep pores clean despite summertime sweat!

Fall – Fall brings about dramatic shifts in weather that can wreak havoc on skin. As humidity lessens and winds pick up, skin dries out quickly. To prevent this, use lightweight face oil over your moisturizer to keep it from evaporating on your face. Fall is also a great time to use regenerative facial oils containing ingredients like sandalwood, to reverse summer sun damage and prep your skin for the winter months ahead.

Winter – The lipids in face oil create a natural barrier that holds moisture close to the skin, to ensure your skin looks and feels hydrated, even in the face of harsh weather and winter storms. This is also the perfect season for a substantial night oil that provides deep skin repair and overnight moisture replacement.

Oils for Your Skin Type

Dry Skin – It may be counterintuitive, but the face mists and sprays we tend to spritz our selves with in summer can have negative implications for moisture retention. When these sprays evaporate, they take water-soluble moisturizing compounds in the skin’s outer lipid layer with them. Oils strengthen this lipid barrier, creating a water sealant and protective barrier that keeps out free radicals and toxins.

Oily or Acne-Prone Skin – Excess oil production in the sebaceous glands clogs pores and hair follicles. Acne-causing bacteria can then cause the infection and inflammation that we experience as acne. Artificial drying agents can lead to skin breakage, creating a cycle of dryness and continued infection. Tea tree and clary sage oil mitigates excess oil production as they preserve sebum, for skin that feels hydrated even as natural oil production is limited!

Sensitive Skin – Antibacterial and antifungal face oils may prevent infection and the resulting inflammation that causes sensitive skin to feel itchy and look red. Oils like azulene-rich chamomile are also beneficial for sensitive skin, as they have a deeply soothing and repairing effect on irritated skin.

Mature Skin – Face oils are especially beneficial – in fact, almost necessary – as the skin matures. Mature skin produces fewer lipids, becoming thinner over time and losing its ability to retain moisture as effectively. This leads not only to dryness, but also vulnerability to damage from the sun and bacteria. The right face oils can help the skin retain its natural moisture, and combat visible signs of aging. Rose oil is excellent at hydrating and nurturing maturing skin, while frankincense works at the cellular level to promote renewal and collagen production.

Tips and Tricks

1. For a long-lasting, dewy look, mix a drop of your favorite face oil into your foundation or tinted moisturizer before applying it. The lipophilic oils create a bond between make up and skin, for more staying power – and a natural looking glow.
2. Walnut and avocado oils provide a great deep conditioning treatment for lips – dab some on before you go to bed at night, for smoother application of lip color the next day!
3. Pure essential oils for face oils work hand-in-hand with facial peels and Retin-A products, which can strip skin of natural oils as they work to regenerate it. Highly emollient and healing face oils penetrate even more deeply into skin that has been recently peeled, and speed up the healing process.
4. Use sweet almond or virgin coconut oil as a makeup remover. Both will remove makeup quickly and with minimal scrubbing, so you don’t aggravate your skin – especially the delicate area surrounding the eyes.
5. Under-eye makeup and powder can look caked on as the day progresses – solve this problem by applying a small amount of face oil (especially one loaded with rose oil, like our Ultimate Brightening blend) under the eyes and around crows feet prior to applying make up. Not only will this prevent cakiness – it will also calm under-eye redness and brighten dark circles, for an instantly “awake” look.
6. For dry patches on the skin, exfoliate with a gentle sugar and charcoal scrub, and then apply a light layer of oil. This will even out the texture of the skin and allow for smoother makeup application.

Stay tuned for more tips on keeping skin healthy, from the inside and out!

Save your skin from sun damage with these straight-from-the-pantry face masks.

Sun exposure, while beneficial for vitamin D production, can take a toll on our skin, depleting its natural moisture and causing damage at a cellular level. The aftermath can be dryness, premature aging, and even skin disorders in severe cases.[1]

Don't worry, you can shield your skin and restore it at home with Ayurvedic tips.

A Homemade mask made from natural ingredients gives your sun-kissed skin a personalised boost. Packed with antioxidants, nutrients, and hydration powerhouses, these masks act as a rescue remedy, replenishing moisture, soothing irritation, and enhancing your skin's natural resilience. It's like treating your skin to a little luxury and saying 'thank you' while enjoying the comfort of home.

1. Honey & Papaya Mask: This blend combines hydrating honey with papaya enzymes. It gently exfoliates and moisturises, relieving sun-induced dryness. Mash half a ripe papaya, mix with a tablespoon of honey, apply to your face, leave for 15 minutes, and rinse.
2. Avocado & Aloe Vera Soothing Mask: Creamy avocado and soothing aloe vera nourish and repair. Blend avocado with fresh aloe vera gel, apply to your face, relax for 20 minutes, and rinse off.
3. Oatmeal & Cucumber Mask: Cool oatmeal and cucumber soothe sunburn and reduce inflammation. Blend cucumber with oatmeal until thick, apply to the face for 15 minutes, and wash off with cold water.
4. Yogurt & Turmeric Mask: Probiotic yogurt and turmeric brighten and rejuvenate. Mix yogurt with turmeric, apply evenly on your face, and rinse off after 20 minutes.
5. Coconut Oil & Green Tea Mask: Antioxidant-rich green tea and moisturising coconut oil. Brew strong green tea, let it cool, mix with coconut oil, apply to your face, and leave for 15 minutes before rinsing.

Detoxify your skin with UMA's Honey Lemon Face Mask

Treat your skin to these luxurious homemade face masks! These regal masks showcase the elegance of natural skincare. Your skin will love this pampering session, leaving it refreshed, rejuvenated, and absolutely glowing.

Leaves are turning auburn, pumpkin-scented everything is sneakily taking over our lives. Fall is coming… and we love it! In Summer we are ripe, full, at our peak and ready for action. We are open to the world, out in the sun, having drinks with friends on rooftops, barbecuing by the pool. It’s a time to be outgoing. As the leaves fall, we naturally begin to direct the heart and mind inward. Fall is a time for containment, balance and introspection, to come back to a place of peace and tranquility as we let go of what is no longer needed.

At Uma, we see Fall as a time to cultivate self-love and to lay the foundation of our well being for the rest of the year. Just as the trees are drawing in and letting go of their leaves, it’s time for us to let go of our tension so that we can make space for that which nourishes us and strengthens us. Through the month of September we are proudly launching three new products! Each new arrival will help still your mind and heart as you take time to practice self-love.

Absolute Anti Aging Face Mask

Do we have a treat for you? The Absolute Anti Aging Face Mask concentrates 12 of the most powerful youth-boosting ingredients in the world to fight all signs of aging in a short 7 minutes. Saffron is the primary ingredient in this indulgent mask. Did you know it takes over 4k crocus flowers to make just one ounce of saffron?! This miracle spice was the secret behind the luminous, baby-soft skin of the royal women of India who were known for complexions that never seemed to lose their luster. Papaya and watermelon extracts deliver a robust dose of vitamins, while tightening pores. Rich yogurt extracts boost cellular turnover while pure almond extracts deeply nourish and hydrate skin. Deeply antioxidant honey and turmeric fight environmental damage, and potent doses of Vitamin E restore elasticity and firmness. Shop the New Absolute Anti Aging Face Mask.

Absolute Anti Aging Eye Oil

The eyes have long been considered the windows to the soul – and in the ancient Indian world of silken veils and secret glances, they were beacons of depth, knowledge, and strength. However, despite its powerful symbolism, the delicate eye area is often the first to give away signs of stress, age, and environmental damage. We’ve bottled a time-honored Ayurvedic formula of potent botanical extracts and luxurious oils to rejuvenate and refresh the eyes – so they can do justice to the mind and soul they embody. Frankincense and Sandalwood essential oils prevent signs of aging, as rich Rose essential oil deeply hydrates the skin, leaving it soft and supple. Geranium essential oil stimulates circulation, while eucalyptus oil invigorates the under eye area, eliminating puffiness and other signs of fatigue. Coming to you late September.

Ultimate Brightening Mask

With a silky smooth texture, this delicate yet indulgent blend is abundant in the sweetly scented and deeply hydrating rose oil that was prized by Indian royalty – and will be cherished by your skin. This fast-acting mask instantly promotes radiantly healthy skin, creating a luminous complexion and a dewy glow for all skin types, including acne-prone and sensitive skin. Rose extract deeply hydrates. Sandalwood powder calms inflammation. Saffron fades dark spots and evens tone. Honey and almond extract repair skin cells while providing nutrition. Vitamin C-packed tomato extract rapidly brightens the skin and reduces the appearance of acne scars and sun damage. Powerful botanicals like cinnamon and lemon work to deliver antioxidants deep into the dermis, and combat the effects of free radicals and the toxins that lead to uneven pigmentation, fine lines, and other signs of aging. Launching late September.

Ayurveda Tips to Remember for Fall

Ayurveda considers a seasonal routine an important cornerstone of health. Fall is considered a vata season: crisp, dry, windy, cool, subtle, and erratic. By making diet and lifestyle choices that counter the effects of vata, you can better navigate Fall and maintain a sense of inner balance.

Acting in Autumn as we did in Summer can lead to sickness and imbalance. The outgoing activities of Summer are over, it’s time to start saving our energies. Instilling small and easy self-care practices at the beginning of Fall will prepare you for the changing seasons and for the cold to come. Take time to gather and collect your spirits, to turn inward so that you are nourished once winter comes around.

A practical rule of thumb for day-to-day life is to follow the Ayurvedic principle that opposites balance. Vata season’s cold and unpredictable nature can be neutralized by filling your life with warmth and stability. Loving date nights by a fire, sipping on a warm cup of tea with a good read… think of activities that make you feel nurtured and grounded. As women we often battle with the thought that self-care is selfish or too time consuming as we glorify the busy in our lives. The truth is, without self-care you can’t care for others. Find the self-care practices that make you feel full of life, and commit to honoring them. Masking is the perfect weekly indulgence, as it encourages you to carve out time solely focused on nurturing your needs. Make yourself the homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte you’ve dreaming of all Summer, slather on your favorite Uma mask, sit back, relax and indulge in your not-so-secret Scandal obsession. What a better treat than to feel instantly refreshed and beautiful?

Your diet is a powerful way to soothe seasonal imbalances. Remember to eat what is in season and focus on nourishing foods that are high in protein, high in fat, and served warm. Have fun with warming spices and oily garnishes like clarified ghee. Breakfast of hearty grains like oatmeal and quinoa porridge topped with apples and dates are perfect for Fall. Lunch and dinner should be hearty and grounding – think soups, steamed root vegetables, and stews. In general, you want to eat less raw, frozen and cold foods.

Savor the simplicity of Fall by establishing a daily routine. Wake up early to enjoy the stillness of the early morning hours. Awaken your senses and uplift your mood by massaging Pure Bliss Wellness Oil between your toes, onto the bottom of your feet, pulse points, and temples. Take a deep inhale from your hands and enjoy the aromatic experience as it stimulates confidence and mental energy, and preserves physical and emotional balance. Further your sense of wellness and stability with some gentle yoga and ten minutes of meditation.

Finish your day with an indulgent night routine. Take your time washing the day away and spoiling your skin and hair with your favorite oils. Gently massage the Absolute Anti Aging Eye Oil around the eye using your fingertip, move from the outer corner to the inner corner of the eye. A blend of Clary Sage, Lavender and Chamomile sets the tone for a peaceful evening as it calms and soothes the skin, while promoting stress relief, alleviating tension and reducing anxiety. You should feel warm, cozy and relaxed just like wrapping yourself up on your favorite chunky scarf on the first crisp day of Fall. Ahh...

As Summer turns to Fall, remember to be kind to yourself. Maintain a daily routine, be gentle to your body, give it enough sleep, nourish it with hearty foods, and stay warm with your favorite cozy sweaters. Make self-care practices a regular part of your day. Give yourself the love and time you need to relax, recharge and enjoy life!

Implementing a few common yoga poses into your routine can have substantial positive implications for healthy skin—and overall wellness. (As with all exercise, remember to start slow. If you're a beginner, take your time with simple poses until you're gradually able to attempt more difficult ones. And drink water at the end of your practice—this will help further flush the body of toxins.)

Downward Facing Dog

This ubiquitous pose is an iteration of the forward bend. It helps combat the natural effects of gravity by allowing the head to naturally fall toward the ground. This forward motion encourages blood to flow to the face, bringing with it oxygen and other nutrients that support skin regeneration and fight free radicals.

Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

This simple pose allows your body to be still and for you to focus on deep, rhythmic breaths. Proper, efficient breathing aids in supplying your muscles with a steady source of oxygen— a crucial ingredient for healthy skin. The flow of oxygen into and out of the body keeps your systems running functionally and purges the body of toxins. Furthermore, Ujjayi breathing, an ancient breathing technique in yoga that involves breathing through your nose and completely filling your lungs while slightly contracting your throat, promotes mental clarity and focus.

Seated Twist (Bharadvaja’s Twist)

The Seated Twist encourages digestive health by helping to rid toxins and impurities from the organs, which can often manifest in the form of acne and other skin ailments. Deep, cleansing breaths are necessary when conducting this pose.

Warrior I

Physically strenuous, this pose increases the heart rate and circulation throughout the body. It also prompts sweat, an effective way to cleanse the body of impurities. Alternatives to Warrior I include the Chair Pose and Half Moon Pose.

Corpse Pose (Savasana)

It seems incredibly simple but the corpse post is challenging for it requires total relaxation. This pose is an opportunity to meditate and do yogic breathing—deep, cleansing breathing coupled with a release of muscular tension throughout the body that allow for a natural sense of calm and reduction in anxiety. With consistent practice this can prevent visible signs of stress on the skin including wrinkles and frown lines.  

Sleep is as essential to optimal health as nutrition and exercise. Getting adequate, quality, and consistent shut-eye is crucial for supporting brain function, maintaining a healthy immune system, and perpetuating physical and emotional wellbeing. A good night's sleep improves our mood and encourages a sharper mental focus and alertness. And it has an incredible impact on how we look and feel.

The National Sleep Foundation recommends that the average adult should sleep between seven and nine hours a night (the magic number varies person to person). Generally, anything more or less has been linked to increased blood pressure, inflammation, risk of heart disease and stroke, weight gain, and cognitive impairment. It's important to note that quality shut-eye—restorative sleep that is unfragmented throughout the night—is as essential as the quantity.

Given the growing body of research on the essentialism of good sleep, it's still puzzling. Sleep plagues so many of us—so much so that the CDC says about a third of Americans aren't getting the sleep they need. Considering that, as well as the incessant stress and static of daily life, it's no wonder that so many of us are functioning at tired, sub-optimal levels. Ayurvedic texts say that insomnia can be caused by increased vatta or pitta. (The Doshas—vata, elements of space and air, pitta, the elements of fire and water, and kapha, the qualities of earth and water—are the primal energies found throughout the human body. An imbalance of doshas affects our health and wellness, including sleep, according to Ayurvedic medicine.) Sleep or any imbalance is a call to realign balance in the body. And even as elusive as it can be, there are simple remedies to help get the body back in balance. 

Follow a Ritual

How we spend our days can impact how we sleep. The same goes for how we transition into bedtime. It's pretty intuitive: If we're running at full speed all day consumed by technology and adrenaline this frenetic energy can stay with us after we tuck in. Research shows that following a relaxing nighttime routine can reduce sleep problems. It doesn't have to be super prescriptive; try what works for you. The key is marking the transition from day to night so your body and mind knows it's time to wind down.

Clear your mind. Journaling, mediation, or a similar meditative practice can help with mental clarity and ease.

Take a warm bath or shower. This can help to physically and emotionally wash the day away. It also helps the body temperature to drop after, which research shows induces sleepiness. Add a few drops of our Pure Calm Wellness Oil, which has Roman Chamomile that promotes tranquility. 

Do yoga. Practicing this spiritual and ancient discipline before bed has been shown to lower stress levels, relieve tension, calm the mind, and aid in better sleep. There are several simple poses you can do in bed:

• Legs Up Against The Wall (Viparita Karani): Sit facing your wall or headboard at a distance of about 5-6 inches. Lie back and extend your legs up against the wall, letting your arms rest by your sides. Breathe gently and feel the stretch in the backs of your legs. This pose calms the mind and relieves tightness and cramping in the legs and back.

• Child’s Pose (Balasana): Kneel on the floor and sit on your heels. Fold your torso over your bent legs with your arms extended outward or to the sides. Breathing deeply, rest your forehead against the ground. Child’s pose gives us an opportunity to breathe into the back of our torsos and stretch out our spines. It can also ease tension in our thighs and hips.

• Corpse Pose (Savasana): Lie flat on your back with your arms outward, palms facing up. Let your body relax and feel heavy. Often the last pose of any yoga session, the corpse pose allows your body to focus your attention on your breathing.

Eat mindfully

Keep dinner on the light side. Try  to avoid a lot of protein-heavy foods a night, as these can charge your digestive system to work hard and interrupt restful sleep. (Ayurvedic wisdom recommends eating your heaviest meal in the middle of the day.) If you're craving a bedtime snack consider these foods (in small portions) that contain amino acids and vitamins known to help to promote quality sleep.

• Tryptophan is an amino acid known to cause the body to produce more serontonin, the chemical in the body needed to make melatonin, the hormone that induces sleepiness. Tryptophan-rich foods include certain dairy products,  like Greek yogurt, and walnuts, bananas, salmon, and eggs.
• Carbohydrate-rich foods with high glycemic indexes can trigger greater amounts of insulin allowing more tryptophan to reach the brain. Consider a small bowl of organic jasmine rice.
• Vitamin B6-rich foods, such as salmon, halibut and tuna, are essential for making melatonin. You can also try eating potassium-rich bananas or making a green salad with chickpeas. Kale and collard greens are filled with calcium, which can help the brain use tryptophan to manufacture the melatonin. Try a bowl of fresh cherries for a melatonin boost.
• Magnesium and potassium rich foods can also help replenish electrolytes lost during the day to promote sleep. Have a small handful of organic almonds, cashews, or pumpkin seeds, or a banana. High quality dark chocolate is also rich in magnesium, just be mindful of the caffeine levels.
• Herbal tea, particularly chamomile, can relax your muscles and can act as a mild sedative. Mix in a spoonful of honey to raise insulin and allow tryptophan to work more effectively.

• Though it may help you fall asleep faster, alcohol can induce less restful sleep, night sweats, and headaches. If you are drinking alcohol in the evenings, balance each drink with a glass of water to dilute its effects.

Set the (Sleep) Scene

Think of it as the if you build it, you will sleep, mentality. Set up your bedroom space so it honors intimacy and sleep. This will, in turn, honor your health. Follow these tips:

• Make the bedroom dark for sleeping hours.
• Avoid television, phones, and other sources of blue light.
• Reduce clutter and lean into a clean, calming palette (think soothing blues, whites, and grays)
• Dress your bed in breathable sheets made of natural and organic materials.
• Clean your bedding weekly. This will help reduce dust mites and other allergens that can interfere with quality sleep.
• Rethink your mattress. Many conventional brands make mattresses with toxic flame retardants, antimicrobial additives, and polyurethane. Consider one that is made with natural latex and organic wool and cotton.
• Embrace essential oils. Massage 4-5 drops of Pure Rest Wellness Oil between your toes, onto the bottom of your feet, pulse points, temples, behind the ears, or all four for the ultimate experience. Take a deep inhale from your hands to enjoy the aromatic experience. 

“Gosh, I just love my cellulite.”- Said no woman ever.

Cellulite is simply something that no female ever speaks of fondly, mainly because we’ve all either been sucked in by expensive “anti-cellulite” tools (like creams, pills and laser treatments) that just don’t work or we’ve tried minimally effective natural treatments that didn’t quite work well enough to keep us onboard. But with a bit of regularity, patience, and an upgraded plan-of-attack, we can steadily chip away at those stubborn fat deposits and reclaim victory over our derrieres.

1. EXERCISE

Because we were never getting away with avoiding squats. Banishing cellulite simply won’t work unless we firm up the layers of muscle that sit directly under the fat. The key is to work these muscles from all angles which is why the following re-vamped exercises are going to become your new best friends:

(Starting first and foremost with the Perfect Squat Position. Hands on hips, natural curve in your lower back, pelvic floor engaged and bottom of the belly button gently pulled in towards the spine. Shoulders rolled back and down. At the lowest part of your lunge the upper part of your working leg should be parallel to the floor and knees no further forward than your big toe.)

• Clock work lunge: From standing; step forward (to your 12 o’clock) with your right leg to a full lunge, left leg nearly touching the floor then return to standing. Now take a big step out to the right (to your 3 o’clock), keeping your left leg straight and your back vertical for a side lunge. Return to standing where you will finally complete one more lunge stepping back (to your 6 o’clock) this time with your right leg.

Repeat 15 times, then with your left leg stepping to your 12, 9, then 6 o’clock.

• Plie Squat with raised heel: Stand with your feet a little wider than hip width apart, feet turned out slightly. Bring your left heel off the floor and keeping it up, do 15 slow, perfect squats. Repeat with your right heel off the floor.
• Squat with calf raise: Perform a Perfect Squat, straighten your legs then transfer your weight into the balls of your feet and do a slow and controlled calf raise, i.e., Go onto your tippy toes then lower.

Repeat squat and calf raise 15 times.

Work up to 2 or 3 sets of these exercises. Try adding just one of these exercises to the end of your normal workout 3-4 times a week (or even better all of them!) and smile as you show cellulite the door.

2. DIET

Arguably the most important element of cellulite banishing. Beginning with a well known fact: It’s all about water.

If picking off cellulite one bump at a time inspires you to drink the adequate amount of water each day, then you will hear no complaints from us. If you struggle to drink enough water (and even if you don’t!), try adding slices of orange, lemon and ginger to a jug of water. Let the jug sit in the fridge for 30 minutes then enjoy your naturally flavored and FAR better option to soda, fruit juice or any other kind of ‘vitamin (read: sugar) water’. Oranges aid with healthy blood circulation, lemons help aid digestion (and freshen breath), and ginger is a notorious immune system booster. This concoction is not only totally delicious, but also strengthens your stance against cellulite by improving blood circulation from the inside - so drink up!

The reason adequate water intake is so important in combating cellulite is that it’s ironically the first step in eliminating excess fluid retention. Eliminating fluid retention will noticeably reduce the ‘bulging’ effect of fat deposits, that are full of water. Minimizing salt intake, drinking more water and eating naturally diuretic foods such as celery, fennel, asparagus and cranberries will help flush your body of excess water.

This also helps to avoid the pronounced look of cellulite under dehydrated skin. Eating healthy fats in the form of nuts, seeds, olives, etc. encourages the fluid to stay inside the skin cells as opposed to taking up residence in the fat cells. By plumping your skin, it hides the smaller (/dehydrated) fat deposits. Genius!

Also, if you don’t already include flaxseed in your diet, you might want to start.. Flaxseed is your diet's secret weapon against cellulite due to hormone modulators called lignans, which lower excess estrogen levels. Why would I want to lower my estrogen levels, you ask? Sneaky estrogen is involved in cellulite production as it triggers the production of fat cells and encourages fluid retention. Adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of flaxseed (you may also know it as linseed) daily to a smoothie, a sauce/ dressing or just sprinkled over a salad/ vegetables will turn your meal into a high performance cellulite assassin. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower also warrant a mention as worthy diet inclusions for their assistance in the matter.

3. DRY BRUSHING

We’ve gone through the ways you can fight cellulite from the inside but your final line of defense comes from the outside in the form of dry brushing. Dry brushing works by causing microscopic scratches on the skins surface which triggers blood to come to the rescue improving circulation to the brushed area and essentially renewing the skin. Using a vegetable bristle dry brush, brush gently up and towards the heart, in semicircular motions, just until the skin becomes slightly red.

The way we supercharge it? Pure essential oils.

Oils like cypress, juniper berry and patchouli will help with fluid retention from the outside while rosemary, cinnamon and citrus oils will help to further improve blood circulation. Mix 3-4 drops of your desired oil(s) with a tablespoon of a carrier oil like almond or jojoba oil and massage into the skin. Your skin will feel completely revitalized and may even tingle slightly. You’ll also smell divine! For all the benefits mentioned and even anti aging properties, try Absolute Anti Aging Body Oil that will leave skin feeling tighter and looking brighter. 

Yes, this fighting talk of banishing cellulite has us all riled up too, though let's take a second to remind ourselves of how proud of our bodies we should be, no matter what age or what stage in life's journey we are on. After all, it's our bodies that stand by us and support every day in accomplishing every awesome thing that we do. So give that body a hug and a thank you!

Meanwhile, we do hope that this pep talk has inspired you to shake off any sign of defeat that cellulite has may have previously inflicted! Armed with this new supercharged approach to feel as confident as possible, you can show off that cute behind in celebration of not only how good you look - but also how healthy and strong you feel!

Editor's Note: A form of this article was originally published in The ChalkBoardMag, for whom founder Shrankhla Holecek has written a series of articles on Ayurveda and its powers of natural healing.

Within Ayurveda, energy is a function of the Kapha principle. Lack of energy, lethargy, and listlessness can be attributed to an imbalance in the body’s Kapha. As we delve into understanding Kapha imbalance and how to counter it, it is interesting to note that the Kapha principle also governs the anabolism function of the body (anabolism is defined as constructive metabolism, in which larger, more complex molecules are formed from smaller ones). Excess Kapha leads to increased anabolism. It should come as no surprise that poor energy and sluggishness is often accompanied by another symptom of the Kapha imbalance: weight gain.  

To beat fatigue, we’re going to draw upon a comprehensive approach rooted in Ayurveda wisdom that focuses on lifestyle habits, diet, meditation, and natural remedies.

Honor Your Emotions

I'd like to talk about your emotional lifestyle. Within Ayurveda, we are encouraged to observe emotions and allow them to dissipate. Repressing emotion will cause mental imbalance which invariably manifests itself into imbalances of a physical nature, causing discomfort and disease. The Kapha principle naturally tends to create traits of attachment, possessiveness, greed and envy. So is the recommendation to exhibit these traits in full force as they arise? Not quite, and the distinction from repression is subtle, though very powerful. When we experience these feelings—which are often considered socially-unacceptable—instead of going with our knee-jerk reaction of hiding them away in the darkest parts of memory, we must allow ourselves to observe and release. Let’s say you’re feeling greed come on: allow yourself to become aware of it, watch the greed unfold, learn about it, watch it reach its natural peak, and then release it. Once you stop judging your emotions, you will find it easier to not repress them, and eventually to release them fully. Naturally, your Kapha will become balanced (or, in the case of other feelings, Vata- and Pitta- imbalances will similarly heal) and you will find yourself delightfully energized.

Follow an Ayurvedic Diet

Consider Yoga and Pranayama

Kapalabhati Pranayama or “Cleaning Breath” is a powerful breathing technique to stimulate energy. Start by sitting in a comfortable position and taking in a deep inhale. Exhale rapidly in quick, short powerful breaths (some inhalation after each exhale is to be expected and normal). Perform for 5-6 minutes, alternating one minute of breathing exercise with one minute of rest. This exercise is also believed to help tremendously in fat metabolism.

Incorporate Natural Herbs and Botanicals

Alfalfa (try it in a tea!) and Aloe Vera are excellent natural remedies for balancing an aggravated Kapha. Cinnamon is a detoxifying herb that also strengthens and energizes tissue. A decoction of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and clove is a powerful Kapha balancer. Essential oils have a long history of providing great support to improving your energy levels, and in fighting fatigue. Peppermint, Rosemary and Eucalyptus can help naturally unlock healthy energy reserves that will last you through the day. Uma’s Pure Energy Wellness Oil blend harnesses the powerful effects of these and six other carefully selected essential oils formulated in expert traditions to provide all day health energy, all naturally.

Years ago, Dr. Zohreh Sadeghi had hit “rock bottom.” She was diagnosed with IBS, anxiety, depression, and many other ailments. “I had tried everything,” she tells Shrankhla, but nothing truly helped her—until she discovered Ayurveda.  To say the least, she dived right into the practice and moved to Kerala, India. “The decision to pursue Ayurveda was completely an overnight decision for me,” she says. “It was something that I can’t quite explain. It was a voice within me.” What ensued was a path of healing, learning, and liberation—and eventually, a new career. Since, Zohreh has founded Roha, an Ayurvedic healing center in San Francisco. She dives deep with Shrankhla to unpack all that Ayurveda has taught her.

Episode Transcript:

Vogue Magazine calls Candice Forness “the Ayurvedic Facialist With a Massage Technique So Good, You May Cry”. They continue “You come out looking fresher and feeling like you’ve had a full-body detox, even though she only works on your face and neck,”. I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of being on Candice’s table and can fully endorse that Candice’s technique is like no other. Candice is trained in the Ayurvedic facelift massage and has a strong understanding of Ayurvedic skincare and aromatherapeutic botanicals - which gives her unparalleled insight into the world of Ayurvedic beauty.

Candice Forness' Website: https://www.candiceforness.com/

Episode Transcript:

Lifestyle

Assess your emotional lifestyle. Ayurveda encourages us to observe our emotions so they may dissipate, as repressing emotions causes mental imbalance. This, in turn, leads to physical imbalances that manifest as illness or discomfort. 

The Kapha principle tends to create traits of attachment, greed, and envy – which, of course, we don’t recommend exhibiting in full force. However, when we experience these often ‘socially-unacceptable’ feelings, we may feel a knee jerk reaction to suppress and hide them deep within our minds. Instead, Ayurveda advocates an “observe and release” mentality that is predicated upon being aware of our emotions – even those we perceive as negative – and learning to understand them. Make an effort to allow your emotions to unfold and reach their natural peak – then, acknowledge and release them! By avoiding the impulse to judge your feelings, you’ll find it easier to avoid repressing them, and will ultimately be able to release them fully. The mental balance you feel will fuel greater physical balance, and you will find yourself delightfully energized!

Diet

Avoid foods that increase Kapha, such as dairy products like ice cream, cheese, and yogurt or sweet & sour fruits like grapes, plums and grapefruits.  Other foods to avoid include sweet potatoes, cucumbers, and tomatoes, as well as pork and beef. Instead, incorporate fruits like apples, apricots, peaches and persimmons, and vegetables like asparagus, beets, eggplant, garlic, and cabbage. Use oil sparingly, choosing almond or sunflower when you do. Although cow’s milk (and its derivatives) should be avoided, goat milk alternatives actually work to reduce Kapha.  Sip water at meals, and remember – when finished, your stomach should be a third full of food, a third full of water, and a third full of air. Find more details on a kapha-balancing diet here.

Yoga

These practices can have a profound impact on improving energy levels and fighting fatigue. Begin your day with a sun salution to create a healthy circadian rhythm and capitalize on the energy of the sun! This will also help unlock energy reserves in the body to support an even energy flow and healthy metabolism throughout the day. Focus on asanas that create focus and blood flow in the stomach, head, and chest, to invigorate a healthy Kapha. Strengthening and stretching motions can have a similar effect – not to mention benefits for weight loss and muscle tone! Spinal twists and back bends like the camel, boat, and bow poses will also release spinal energy, while the lion, palm tree and half-wheel poses will help you gracefully harness your new-found energy flow!

Kapalabhati Pranayama 

This Cleaning Breath is a powerful breathing technique to stimulate energy. Start by sitting in a comfortable position and taking in a deep inhale. Exhale rapidly in quick, short powerful breaths (some inhalation after each exhale is to be expected and normal). Perform for 5-6 minutes, alternating one minute of breathing exercise with one minute of rest. This exercise is also believed to help improve your body’s fat metabolizing process. Also try the Ego Eradicator and Breath of Fire! Keep in mind that there are some situations where you should avoid the breath of fire - when you are pregnant, on the first day of your menstrual cycle, or just after eating. 

Natural Remedies

Alfalfa (try it in a tea!) and Aloe Vera are excellent for balancing an aggravated Kapha. Cinnamon is a detoxifying herb that also strengthens and energizes tissue. A decoction of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and clove is a powerful Kapha balancer. Essential oils also have a long history of improving energy levels and battling fatigue. Peppermint, rosemary and eucalyptus can help naturally unlock healthy energy reserves that will last you through the day. Uma’s Pure Energy blend harnesses the powerful effects of these and six other carefully selected essential oils, expertly formulated to provide a healthy source of energy, all day long.

Kapha is one of the three main principles that govern the human constitution. Within the practice of Ayurveda, all matter is believed to be made up of five elements: Prithvi (Earth), Agni (Fire), Jal (Water), Vayu (Air) and Aakash (Ether).  They manifest in the human body as three basic principles: Vata (Ether and Air), Pitta (Fire and Water) and Kapha (Earth and Water). These three principles - vata-pitta-kapha – govern all the biological, psychological and physiopathological functions of body and mind. Disease and bodily discomfort are considered to stem from an imbalance in these principles. 

A core philosophy in Ayurveda is that a healthy inside is necessary for a healthy outside. While that is quite relevant to maintaining healthy skin in general, it becomes particularly significant in the management of some of the hardest-to-treat skin conditions like rosacea and adult acne. The difference in the Ayurvedic approach (from traditional medical treatments) lies in pacifying the internal aggravating factors while addressing topical issues.

In this article we touch on time-tested practices from Ayurveda for management of four complex skin problems: Rosacea, Eczema, Psoriasis and Adult Acne.

Let’s start with foundational healthy-skin practices with great benefits for all.

1.  Include More Turmeric and Iron in your Diet: Ayurvedic doctors (and recently, many skincare experts!) recommend consuming nearly a tsp. a turmeric a day. Luckily, you have lots of ways to get your fill: cook with it, drink it in your favorite green juice - and if nothing else, pop an organic turmeric capsule! Great for pregnant women, turmeric also promotes healthy skin in newborns! Meanwhile, iron deficiencies can cause a host of issues from pale skin to dryness and itch, so make sure you are getting enough iron as well. Excellent sources include beets and carrot juice.           

2. Use Less Soap, and Wash at the Right Temperature:  Soap generally shouldn’t be used on your face on a daily basis, unless you live in a tropical climate or have a job that requires spending all day in dust and grime. Soap use depends on dosha as well! Pitta skin tends to be a little more oily, so soap can be used more often (about three times a week). The recommended water temperature when washing your face depends on your dosha as well. Pittas should wash in cool water, kaphas in tepid water and vatas in warm-hot water.

3. Massage with Oil: Massaging oil over your whole body is an excellent way to promote circulation and detox, both necessary for fighting skin ailments. The recommended types of oil: Vatas should use sesame oil, pittas should use sunflower oil and kaphas should use corn or canola oil.                       

Ayurveda for Rosacea: Rosacea is believed to emanate from a “pitta imbalance” and solutions focus on bringing your pitta into balance. Since there is no medical “cure” for rosacea in Western medicine, paying attention to the internal factors that cause the condition are crucial. Someone with a pitta imbalance is considered to have a “hot body” according to Ayurvedic tradition and a diet of cool, sweet and stabilizing foods should replace foods that are salty, sour or pungent. Try a pitta-pacifying diet.

Skip your skin-aggravating morning face wash for honey. Apply a layer of honey to the face before jumping in and remove with a warm washcloth while in the shower. A chamomile compress can be very helpful when experience a flare up, as chamomile is an excellent natural treatment for the redness. A cold cucumber paste applied to the skin can also provide rapid relief. Pitta balancing yoga poses like boat, bridge and chair will also help.

Ayurveda for Eczema: “Dry” skin conditions such as eczema, are believed to emanate from ‘vata’ imbalance, and addressing that imbalance is an important step in treating the condition. Dietary modifications can help in a big way. These include avoiding dry fruits, apples, melons, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, beef and peas as these aggravate vata further. Consumption of avocados, sweet fruits, cherries and oranges will help bring your vata back into balance.

Aloe vera gel or cream may also be used to gently massage the affected areas to add extra moisture. Antioxidant- and oil-rich avocado has a number of benefits for the skin, and is chock full of healthy fatty acids and vitamins. Mash up an avocado into a smooth paste and apply it evenly to the affected areas. Once it dries off (in roughly 15 minutes), rinse off with cold water. Also try a few drops of almond oil and massage into the skin for relief. Try vata-balancing yoga poses like Warrior I and II, and tree.

Ayurveda for Psoriasis: This condition is usually an auto-immune reaction that requires medical treatment, but Ayurveda does make several recommendations that can be used to prevent flare ups. Causes of psoriasis are considered genetic, but certain triggers can cause the condition to flare up or appear for the first time. These include stress, injury to certain areas of the body and certain medications.

Within Ayurveda there is a special relationship between the skin and the kidneys since the excretion of watery wastes is primarily the function of these two organs. Proper balance of urine and perspiration are related to pitta, and psoriasis is considered to be an example of disease resulting from an imbalance of perspiration and urine in the body. Responding to natural urges in a timely manner is a good practice for all but especially recommended for those with psoriasis, in order to maintain the body’s excretion balance. Toxin build up can be a psoriasis trigger, and additional detox measures can be very helpful in preventing flare-ups. Within Yoga, a series of sun salutations can be very effective for detox. Also try anxiety-calming practices such as meditation and Pranayama (Shitali Breath will be particularly helpful).

Dietary considerations include avoiding salty, sour or acidic foods. Another effective treatment is to soak 15-20 sesame seeds in a glass of water overnight and then drink the solution immediately in the morning. Also consider adding bitter gourd (or bitter melon) juice to your diet. While harder to source, these can have excellent results in managing psoriasis. An Ayurvedic topical solution is to place a fresh banana leave on the lesion.

Ayurveda for Adult Acne:  As many discover, acne is that unfortunate condition that one doesn’t leave behind with other adolescent problems. Ancient Ayurvedic wisdom points to high amounts of pitta moving under the skin as the cause of adult breakouts. Stress, hormonal changes, exposure to chemicals and too much sunlight can be some of the many causes of high levels of pitta. A pitta pacifying diet and yoga asanas (see above) would be the first place to start. In addition, try these helpful remedies at home. Drink a small cup of aloe vera juice daily. For an effective overnight treatment, try rubbing melon on the skin at bedtime to cool and heal blemish prone skin. For a daytime treatment, mix about 1 teaspoon of chickpea flour (and optionally, a pinch of turmeric) with water until it is of the right consistency to make a paste, then spread the paste over the skin. After rinsing off, optionally apply a paste of almond powder and water and let it dry for about a half hour before rinsing it off. Also, give this relaxing facial exercise a try: rub your (clean) hands together until warm and place them on your face for about 15-30 seconds. This will boost circulation and help your facial skin naturally detox. And if you’re feeling adventurous, try “blue water”. While the skeptic in me questions this trick, I share because so many seem to find it effective! Store water in a well-lit area covered with blue cellophane and drink 2-3 glasses of it a day. Don’t forget to let me know if it works for you too!

At twenty-eight, Sahara Rose Ketabi seems like she is both a life-long sage of Ayurveda and someone just starting their journey with the ancient science. Sahara has joyful approach and reverence for Ayurveda. Even after practicing it for more than seven years and authoring two books—Idiot's Guide to Ayurveda and Eat Feel Fresh: A Contemporary Plant-Based Ayurvedic—she exudes a fresh wonder for it. "It is my gift that I incarnated on this planet to share," Sahara tells us. "It’s not something I consciously think about, but rather it streams through me. I have spent many lifetimes doing this work."

Sahara began practicing Ayurveda when she was twenty-one when her "body began shutting down after following a raw vegan diet." She was suffering from digestive, hormonal, and bone density problems, along with anxiety and insomnia and a host of other health issues. Her body, which had gone into perimenopause, was depleted of hormones and not healing, even after countless doctors' visits and prescriptions. Sahara knew there was a root cause, a holistic way to rediscover her body's health and vibrance—and that's what led her to discover Ayurveda.

When she took her first Dosha quiz, everything became strikingly clear. "It was like I was reading my autobiography," she says about her dosha, Vata. "Every issue I had, including aspects about my personality, was there. It allowed me to see that it was all interconnected." From that point on, Sahara focused on bringing her Vata back into balance.

As Sahara physically healed her Ayurvedic practice unveiled wider truths. "It led to emotional understanding," she says, which led to deep studying and "professional sharing, which prompted spiritual awakening." Today Sahara is one of the most profound voices of modern Ayurveda. She lends her youthful, honest approach to the ancient science in every aspect of her work. Read one of her books, or listen to her podcast, The Highest Self (which is the number one spirituality podcast on iTunes) and her friendly, inclusive, do-what-works-for-you attitude is like sharing bowls of nourishing pumpkin curry with your best friend. Her insight just feels so right. And her wisdom is deep.

Which is one of the million reasons why we admire Sahara. She manages to make the world’s oldest health system seem and feel incredibly fresh and inclusive—because, after all, Ayurveda is there for all of us. 

A Q&A with Sahara Rose

You have said that when you began implementing Ayurveda into your life and focusing on balancing your Dosha, you started seeing a wider truth about the mind-body connection. Can you talk about this—and also about what inspired you to write your books?

I don’t think anyone becomes a healer without first needing the healing themselves and that was my journey.

When I began focusing on bringing my Vata back into balance, the suggestions were very dairy-and-rice heavy, which I did not want to have, especially coming from raw veganism. So I began deeply studying Ayurveda in India, along with modern nutritional science and drawing parallels between the two. I saw that they really were pointing to many of the same things. For example, Ayurveda states the mind and body are connected, and science shows that 70 to 90 percent of serotonin is stored in our gut. We can see that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to health, which Ayurveda teaches us. And I could see the Doshas in every person I met.

What needed an update were some of the recipe suggestions, as back in Ayurvedic times, there were no refrigerators and it was created in India, where raw foods are dangerous to eat. This led to me writing my books Idiots Guide to Ayurveda and Eat Feel Fresh: A Contemporary Plant-Based Ayurvedic Cookbook and creating my podcast Highest Self Podcast. My mess became my message.

What are some of the greatest modern misconceptions about Ayurveda?

There are SO many. I have an entire spread dedicated to it in my book, Eat Feel Fresh.

• You can only eat Indian food to follow Ayurvedic guidelines.
• You cannot eat any raw foods.
• Your morning routine should take two to three hours.
• Ayurveda is complicated, foreign, and confusing.
• Only Indian people benefit from Ayurveda.

How can someone start to incorporate Ayurveda into their lives?

This will depend on your unique Dosha! I recommend first taking my Dosha quiz on my website to find out what your unique Dosha is. Once you know, my suggestions are:

1. For Vatas, eat warming, grounding foods such as sweet potato, curries and soups. Stay away from raw, dry, cold foods. Practice grounding meditations and doing one thing at a time.
2. For Pittas, eat cooling, hydrating foods, such as leafy greens, juicy fruit and herbs. Stay away from hot, spicy and acidic foods, as well as coffee. Practice calming exercises and activities.
3. For Kaphas, eat detoxifying, cleansing and bitter foods. Stay away from comfort foods, carbs, dairy and sugar. Practice stimulating practices like cardio and shamanic shaking.

Let's take a specific look at your most recent book, Eat Feel Fresh. What was the inspiration behind this book?

My desire to make Ayurvedic nutrition approachable, relatable, and upgraded for today’s time. The world has significantly shifted since ancient Ayurvedic times 5000 years ago. First of all, there were no refrigerators, therefore when Ayurveda says not to eat food cooked more than three hours ago, that’s because it would have gone bad. However, today if you are supposed to freshly cook every meal from scratch right before eating it and throw it away, you won’t be able to work and do your dharma. Meal-prepping is a helpful way of making sure you get your six tastes of Ayurveda in by making a daily Six Taste Bowl (which I share recipes for in Eat Feel Fresh!). 

How does food impact our mind, body, and soul?

Food is the fabric of who we are. It literally creates the material that our soul exists in. Our thoughts are a reflection of the foods we eat. When we eat foods that are rajasic, stimulating and aggravating, we have rajasic thoughts. If we have foods that are tamasic, dull, we have tamasic thoughts. If we have foods that are sattvic, pure, we have pure thoughts. This is why Ayurveda and yoga are sister sciences always meant to be practiced hand-in-hand. Yoga means to yolk, to become one with source. You can only do that when your physical body is balanced. 

What is your vision for the book? How do you hope people use it and evolve with it?

It has been incredible to see how it has impacted the lives of thousands over the past year since its release. It has helped people with chronic illnesses, depression, anxiety, inflammation, digestive issues, hormonal imbalance, stress, obesity, and so much more. It has allowed people to heal their relationship with food and eat according to what they need, not what the media tells them to. It empowers people to not worry about their physical health anymore so they can fulfill their dharma, their soul’s purpose. It starts with food—but it’s so much more. I discuss all the spiritual growth that comes with an Ayurvedic lifestyle approach on Highest Self Podcast. 

Is an Ayurvedic-focused diet malleable?

Absolutely! In Eat Feel Fresh, I teach you how you can use Ayurvedic guidelines to create meals from all types of cultures, from Italian to Thai to Mexican food. I also teach you how to make tri-doshic recipes that balance all three Doshas and how to make minor adjustments for each Dosha.

To learn more about Sahara Rose and her books and podcast, visit: https://www.iamsahararose.com/

There are countless bottles and vials of beauty products that promise the key to the fountain of youth. So many of these are filled with “secret” recipes made of harsh chemical ingredients such as retinol and hyaluronic acid that actually do more damage than good. They strip away the skin’s surface and result in a thinning of cells. 

At UMA, our approach to anti-aging is different: We use all natural and nurturing ingredients that clarify, rejuvenate, and strengthen the skin—deep from within. Steeped in ancient Ayurvedic principles, each of our formulas is the result of a long family tradition that dates back more than 800 years and spans across five generations. Our team of scientists has refined every step of the organic farming process to ensure every botanical ingredient we harvest, distill, and incorporate is dense with nutrients and remarkably effective, yet gentle enough for the most sensitive and finicky skin.

Ayurveda dates back five thousand years—and it is still current today. Through this ancient science, UMA elixirs enhance the skin's natural radiance leaving it dewy, youthful, bright, and clear. If you're curious how, or are yearning to clear a cluttered vanity filled with products claiming to deliver youth in a bottle, allow us to break it down for you. 

Feeding the skin

Vibrant, healthy skin is quenched skin. As we age the epidermis loses lipids (fatty substances) that typically keep skin moisturized. Losing lipids contributes to increased signs of aging such as collagen loss, sagging, and wrinkles. Our skin also naturally thins and loses water retention, which makes it more vulnerable to inflammatory diseases and less effective at blocking damaging UV rays and balancing pH levels. The ideal approach to these concerns is to nurture and replenish the skin with nutrients and effective hydration. Instead of looking for short term solutions that strip away the skin's barrier, we aim longevity. At UMA we use nature's most robust components as natural substitutes for some of the most popular anti-aging ingredients. Nutrient-rich essential oils help the skin maintain an effective barrier, which, in turn, helps it to retain moisture. (One example is natural rose extract, found in our Absolute Anti-Aging Oil), which helps to balance hormones that accompany aging in the body.) Taking this holistic approach to feed the dermis leads to visibly pumper, brighter, dewier skin.

Frankincense: nature's substitute for Retinol 

Retinol, also known as Vitamin A, seems like the answer to all skin prayers due to its short-term benefits; it can leave your skin glowing and blemish-free in a short period of time. Retinol works by removing the outer layer of skin—both weak and healthy cells alike. But as it is leaving a quick surface result, it is thinning the skin over time, leading it to be more vulnerable to sun damage and aging.

At UMA, we delay the skin's aging process gently instead of stripping and peeling away layers. Frankincense—one of our favorite natural ingredients and ever-present components in all of our anti-aging products—beats out retinol hand-down. Frankincense is able to distinguish between dead and healthy cells and strengthens weak cells (unlike retinol). This allows the cells to create healthier, younger-looking skin with fewer scars and less visible signs of aging. Frankincense’s soothing qualities generate a healthier form of cellular turnover, while keeping the delicate layers of skin intact. 

Healing versus peeling

Another popular anti-aging practice is skin peels. Glycolic and lactic acids peel away at the skin’s surface, causing thinning of the skin over time. Sure these peels may make your skin feel glowy for a day or two, but in the long run they’re causing more harm than good. Stripping layers of your skin is simply attacking the issue at the surface. Instead we approach the problem from within. We add nourishing oils back into the skin as a way to combat early signs of aging while simultaneously creating an effective barrier to keep out toxins.  

Cost of ingredients 

Unfortunately, many companies skimp on quality to reduce the costs of production. Shortcuts are taken on everything from ingredient sourcing to distillation methods—and there really is no way of knowing where the plants were harvested or how the raw materials were extracted. There is little accountability for the potency, effectiveness, and social responsibility. Many companies don’t have the means to keep production in-house, so they outsource to get the job done in a quick and efficient manner. They aren’t working with the luxury of time on their side, as the focus is on fast output rather than quality.

For centuries, the UMA estate has farmed and crafted the world’s finest organic oils. All of our botanicals are raised on our 100-acre meadow, which was carefully chosen for its nutritious soil. Our dedicated caretakers select only the finest seeds and nurse their plants through the growing season, making sure to harvest each plant no more than two times before re-planting. We use nature’s best ingredients at their peak, drying, extracting, and formulating them right next to where they’re grown. 

We use specialized hand-made machinery that’s heat powered by the remaining botanicals that have already been extracted. This ensures that nothing goes to waste. Our team personally handles and oversees every part of the process, from carefully hand-plucking thousands of botanicals to fueling the machines and formulating the products you know and love. 

Ayurvedic techniques versus Botox

Ayurveda values ritual and time. Consistent, considered, caring practice, in the form of massage and other techniques, helps to boost health and wellbeing. At UMA, we recommend incorporating Ayurvedic techniques with our products. Spend a few minutes each day carefully massaging and exercising the complexion. Face Yoga is one of our favorite exercises for anti-aging. (We regularly do yoga for our physique, so why not our faces?) It takes less than five minutes a day and awakens the entire visage. Incorporating this practice into your skincare regime provides excellent collagen boosting, muscle firming, and wrinkle banishing support to the skin.

True results

We've perfected and tested our formulations with meticulous attention and care—and that has led to incredible results:

• More than 1000 women have tested UMA's proprietary formulas and reported seeing a visible improvement in the brightness and clarity of their skin.
• 93 percent of our customers have said they saw a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.
• Customers also report that UMA's formulas provide relief from skin redness, acne scarring, sun damage, and general sensitivity.
• Dermatologists recommend UMA for rapid healing after chemical procedures.

A fourth generation healer, Candice Forness has always believed in a connection between how one is internally with how one looks externally. "Beauty is health," says Forness whose mother was a nurse and healer who shared the "language" of healing with her family. "The healing presence and healing hands are genetic."

This heritage fed Forness' desire to learn and "explore beauty on different levels." As she cultivated a career as a makeup artist and men's groomer, Forness listened to her clients' concerns about aging. She wanted to find and incorporate more holistic beauty care into her work that catered to people's various needs and concerns. And she was inspired globally, particularly when she learned of head and face massage during her travels to India. So Forness continued to dig deep and "explore beauty on different levels" that included touch and energy. She studied with an Ayurvedic specialist in New York and became certified in the Ayurvedic Facelift Massage method. She also leaned into energy work and became a certified a Reiki Master, as well as certified in advanced Intergraded Energy Therapy.

These systems of healing refined Forness' evolution into becoming a holistic beauty specialist. Today she incorporates one's entire wellbeing into her work. "I ask people how they're sleeping," she says. "I asked them about their hydration. I ask them about their diet, their exercise."

This can be experienced through Forness' Ayurvedic Facelift Massage. A holistic massage-facial-energic treatment, Forness calls it a cure-all that "can literally make people younger while they nap." It starts with an element of cranial sacral where she cradles your head to communicate that you are "effortlessly supported." (Let that sink in.) Forness then presses on the Marma points to encourage a flow of fresh oxygen to the brain. And what ensues is a euphoric "workout" for the face and soul that includes an incredible mix of lymphatic and Swedish massage and acupressure using all natural products—including UMA. (Forness even "holds the heart" by gently placing her hands under the left shoulder blade.) The treatment is a wonder: Muscles are lifted. Cheekbones are defined. Toxins are drained. Serotonin and dopamine are released. Skin is gleaming. It's as though youth has been lassoed.

"It works on multiple levels," says Forness. "Your face looks amazing but people get so much more out of it. You get a higher level of relaxation and time to reflect and to implement change."

Which highlights one of the most beneficial elements of the treatment that is easy to overlook: the appreciation for change. We're always evolving—and so is our world. "The weather is different. We wake up feeling different. We need different things," says Forness, who customizes every treatment to be tailored to exactly what you need in the present moment.  Because, after all, honoring this endless evolution is the pillar of Ayurveda.

Forness hopes that her treatment sparks an investment in self-care and nurture. She wants you to leave feeling and looking incredible, of course. But she also wants you thinking about how you can better care for... you. It's essential to have a beauty routine, she says. It can be fast and efficient—"a quick massage with your moisturizer"— or it can be long and elaborate. As long as you take time for yourself. "It's hooking you back up to who you are. It's teaching you to face yourself in the mirror, to evaluate, and to love. That is so powerful."

To learn more about Candice Forness and her Ayurvedic Facelift Massage, visit: candiceforness.com

TOP TIP FOR SMOOTH, PORE-FREE SKIN

SH: Exfoliation is the most important thing for maintaining smooth, pore- & blemish-free skin. However, many of us tend to over-exfoliate using too-harsh acids or grainy surfactants which can thin skin over time - leading to quicker aging. I recommend gentle but efficacious, regular exfoliation (2-3 times a week) - within Ayurveda we love nut powders, honey, oats.. I also recommend using a soft washcloth (a fresh one every time!) when you can.

UE: We love UMA's Cleansers & Gommage Exfoliants! UMA's Ultimate Brightening Rose Powder Cleanser is an ultimate indulgence through its efficacious ingredients and very unique sloughing ritual (you leave the paste on your skin for 2 mins, and then slough it off with dry hands instead of washing off) for powerful exfoliation.

TOP TIP FOR UNDER EYES

SH: Boosting circulation around the eye area is very helpful for targeting many eye area concerns such as dark circles and puffiness. I love a gentle massage with ice or ice rollers around the area (also try refrigerated rose water and black tea cotton pads!). Eye exercises can also really help boost circulation and improve muscle tone around the eye area - pick four corners of a wall and move your focus from one to the fourth in clock-wise motion and then reverse. Doing this for about 20 cycles can be hugely helpful!

UE: UMA's Absolute Anti Aging Eye oil combines botanicals of rosemary and eucalyptus that boost circulation to prevent dark circles & puffiness, with a beautiful base of rose, frankincense and pomegranate that reduce the appearance of wrinkles and boost eye-area suppleness!

TOP TIP FOR DRY, FLAKY SKIN

SH: In addition to regular, gentle exfoliation (see above), the most important thing you can do to keep your skin ageless is to keep it adequately hydrated at all times. Due to age or environmental causes (changing seasons, exposure to pollution), your skin’s lipid barrier can get compromised. The outermost layer of our epidermis is mainly composed of lipids responsible for preventing dehydration, retaining moisture and keeping toxins out. Just as our bodies require essential fatty acids to stay healthy, skin needs a thick lipid barrier to look young and glowing. As we age, we produce less of the oils that compose that lipid layer, causing it to become thinner and lose its suppleness. Because oils, specifically essential oils, have a high concentration of oxygen and are of a lipophilic, or fat-loving, nature, they quickly pass through the skin’s lipid barrier, plumping it with active ingredients more effectively, while also preventing water loss.

One of my favorite essential oils for dry skin is the gorgeous, precious Rose essential oil. Extremely active in promoting and retaining skin’s natural moisture, it is very effective in delivering moisture to dry skin. It's also a tremendously uplifting and mood-boosting aromatherapy aid so it packs a double-punch of impact! (Always dilute essential oils safely in a carrier prior to skin application!)

UE: We love UMA's Absolute Anti Aging Face Oil for hydrating and nourishing deeply, while also delivering anti-aging actives to the dermis!