Bharti Vyas was a pioneer in adapting Ayurveda as a concept in the world of western skincare with her holistic treatment approach to beauty therapy. She remains passionate about educating her clients how important a role inner health and wellbeing has on our outer glow. With her eastern upbringing rich in Ayurvedic principles (an ancient Indian system of health and wellbeing based on phytomedicinal or plant based healing), Bharti understood the natural connections and flow of energy that exists within the body, something that western beauty treatments overlooked.
I asked Bharti to share her advice on skincare and healthy living.
What are your best tips for a self-care ritual at home for your face?
It is very important to make your skincare part of your lifestyle, just like you would brush your teeth. This way it becomes second nature to look after your skin.
On a daily basis make sure your skin is free of grime and dead cells. This will help speed up the skin’s degeneration process; causing it to pre age. It is probably at its worst in the evening, so it is essential to clean your face at night. For more mature skin, starting your routine with a therapy oil can strengthen and loosen grime. As far as cleansers are concerned, I am more of an advocate for using face polishers, as they gently exfoliate and refine the skin.
During the day it is essential to protect and nourish your skin as it is up against environmental factors like UV rays, pollution, make-up or smoking. I recommend a daily application of moisturiser with a UV protection of at least SPF 15. You do not need to use one at night. Overnight it is when your skin does most of its repairing and healing, a moisturiser will just clog the pores and prevent it from breathing. Instead use a serum to help speed up the skin’s repairing process. On a daily basis use a therapy oil morning and night, polish 2 x a day, use a serum 2x aday and moisturise only during the day. Our skin doesn’t need a toner, simply use cold water after cleansing, it acts as a natural toner.
Another tip is, if you are prone to high colour use rose water or coldwater to wash your face.
Do you like any face tools, if so which ones?
The best tools are your hands, they allow us the ability to connect with what our skin needs, whether it is to work on the sinus’s or tension in the face. For example, at home I believe using tools can damage the skin, as we tend to work too deeply. However, in a salon environment, using tools are an excellent way of helping us achieve what the client needs. For example, micro dermabrasion, radio frequency, ultrasound are just a few technologies that can be truly anti -ageing and can work on deeper levels. These treatments are done with knowledge.
What oils do you recommend to use for a relaxing massage at the end ofthe day for your face and body?
I have designed my Bharti Vyas Special Oil and Harmonising face balm to not only relax you but wil lalso feed your skin. My special oil contains rosehip, hemp, saffron and argon,which is especially great for those with more sensitive skin and my Face Therapy oil includes oils such as neroli, ylang ylang, tea tree, carrot and vitamin Eto name just a few. They can be used daily or once a week as a special treat!
Explain how Ayurveda can help with looking after our skin?
Ayurveda is a natural medical system, which treats the mind, body and soul. When looking after our skin, the belief is if you are well and healthy from the inside it reflects on your skin. This includes what you eat, how you move and your stress levels. So the first point of call in Ayurveda is to assess your lifestyle. The second part is to use oelation and massage to stimulate your body on the outside to, to balance the inside. For example, to stimulate circulation, massage to reduce tension. Meditation can also help clear the mind. If you are tense, you look tense, which can make the skin lookdrawn and tired.
Are there foods you can eat that will strengthen the skin from the inside out?
Cutting wheat and dairy from your diet for 12 weeks can really help clear your skin, particularly if it is spotty. Eliminating them will help clear the stodge from your digestive track allowing any nutrients to absorb and assimilate in your system.Drink one glass of water for every hour you are awake to help flush toxins out your system. I would say be aware of how certain foods make your body feel, for example for some people spicy food makes their skin feel hot and for some sweetfood can make their system feel sluggish.
Do you think we should take any supplements for a healthy lifestyle?
Turmeric and garlic supplements are excellent supplements to take to help boost your system in general. Powerful anti-oxidants, the vitamin mix of magnesium, zinc and calcium can also be helpful to the skin. Apart from that, generally eating healthily including plenty of vegetables and fruit can give you the vital vitamins and minerals you need.
The Bharti Vyas Clinic is in W1, for a full list of treatments and details visit the site here