Winter comes with a lot of gifts - a thriving appetite, long walks in the sun, warm & snuggly winter clothes and a perpetual excuse to make tea. The not so pleasant aspect of this season is that it causes dry skin. According to Ayurveda, the accumulation of Vata in the body leads to dry skin. It also makes our nails brittle and our hair thinner.

Here are five effective Ayurvedic ways to naturally treat dry skin!

1. Regular Abhyanga: We can’t emphasise enough on the value of doing weekly Abhyanga (oil baths) to have radiant skin and get rid of accumulated Vata in the body. Oil baths are a wonderful way of flushing out all the toxins from the body. All you have to do is warm the oil, massage it onto the skin, leave it on for a few minutes to allow the body to fully soak in the goodness of the oil (start with 5-10 minutes and work your way up to 30 minutes), and then, wash it off with a mild ubtan. Sesame oil is particularly good for the Vata Types.

2. Drink Water: This is perhaps the most valuable tip. In winters, we don’t feel very thirsty, however, hydrating your body throughout the day even if you don’t feel particularly thirsty keeps the skin hydrated. You may drink warm water or add our Moringa Infusion to give plain water a flavour. Moringa contains hydrating and detoxifying elements, which nourish the skin and hair.

3. Exercise Regularly: Exercising is a wonderful way of getting rid of accumulated Vata in the body. It also increases our metabolism which leads to a greater release of all the toxins from the body and increases the blood circulation. Practice of slow rhythmic movements synchronizing with the breath helps to internally warm up the body, and pacify excess Vata.

4. Nutrition: Include those fruits and vegetables in your diet that have a high water content such as radishes and high in iron to recover from nutritional deficiencies, such as green leafy vegetables like spinach, methi and bathua. Keep our healthy Ojas Cookies handy for your early morning or afternoon munchies instead of chips or sugary snacks. Made with the goodness of cow ghee and sesame seeds, Ojas Cookies are rich in anti-inflammatory properties and give you healthy and glowing skin.

5. Monitor Body Temperature: Bathing with extremely warm water causes dryness in the body, combined with harsh soaps that can lead to even more dry and flaky skin. Use mild soaps in the shower and bathe with lukewarm water; this helps you acclimatize to the weather conditions outside your room or home. Maintaining healthy body temperature helps retain moisture in the skin and allows it to remain supple at all times.