A skincare regime is your body's best friend, but it can also be a frenemy to your bank account. Let's be honest; even drugstore buys can set you back. That's why it is clutch when we discover a DIY face mask that we can do at home.

DIY Ayurvedic skincare is becoming more popular due to its natural ingredients and lower costs. To that end, we contacted Ayurvedic practitioner Dr. Simmi Chopra from SIDH Ayuri for guidance on using ingredients found in our kitchens to help create a personalized routine.

“If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin,” said Dr. Chopra. An interesting concept since labels on commercially available skin care products typically say for external use only. Dr. Chopra recommends items such as aloe vera, bananas, eggs, tomatoes, turmeric, honey, and rose water. “You can use them on your skin separately or [combine] them according to your prominent dosha."

Ayurvedic theorizes that the universe consists of five elements: vayu (air), jala (water), aakash (space), prithvi (earth), and teja (fire). These elements, in various combinations, create three humors or doshas, referred to as vata, kapha, and pitta.

• Vata: Herbs such as ashwagandha and Brahmi and foods like bananas and eggs are recommended for dry skin.
• Pitta: Rose water, cucumber, aloe vera, and other cooling foods that can soothe sensitive skin best.
• Kapha: Spices like ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon can be beneficial for oily skin and have a warming effect.

This quiz can help you to determine your dosha.

While using an Ayurvedic practice to create a skin routine is valuable, Dr. Chopra focuses on the overall outcome. “Beauty is a side effect of a balanced digestion, so one has to take care of their gut,” she said. So eat well to feel and look healthy.