Why you should be warm compressing your skin

Warm compressing the skin upon rising is one of the most simple, yet potent skin rituals you can integrate into your day. This practice of gently compressing a warm, fragrant wash cloth to the skin’s surface will bring warmth, will soothe and comfort and stimulate lymphatic support to the skin. It can be more effective for the skin to warm compress upon rising than using a cleanser; our skin microbiome and pH balance can be supported more effectively if we allow our natural oils to be on the surface of the skin during the day.

In Ayurveda, it is acknowledged that ‘like increases like’. Creating balance in our skin tissues, in accordance to our Ayurvedic skin type, requires us to notice the qualities of our skin; what may be in excess and what may be in depletion. For vata (dry) skin and kapha (oily, congested) skin in particular, warm compressing is important to bring balance, and therefore, radiance to the complexion.

Vata dominant skin will feel cold, rough, thin, dry and have an irregular texture. Warm compressing brings the opposing qualities of warmth, moistness, smoothness, stability and consistency - all of which will balance vata. Kapha skin, although oilier and smoother, still has a cool and slow qualities. Warm compressing counteract the cool, dense earthiness of kapha and when performed daily can assist with congestion, thick and imbalanced sebum production and bring gentle stimulation. Pitta skin (sensitive) can still warm compress with water that is ‘warm’ with a medium compressing pressure rather than too hot and firm; gentle is key with pitta dominant skin.

“Ayurveda understands the importance of warmth when it comes to cleansing the skin; compressing the skin to cleanse with warm water, infused with cleansing essential oils upon waking & sleeping, is profoundly beneficial for all skin types. It’s a simple practice that yields amazing results. Toxins are expelled and removed without disturbing the pH of the skin. Skin feels immediately softer, the appearance of fine lines are diminished, and a healthy glow is restored.” (Rasasara).

How to compress;

I recommend to add Rasasara skinfood cleansing compress drops to your basin of warm water in the morning and to use a soft wash cloth to saturate with the fragrant warm water before compresssing. Gently press the warm cloth into your skin, inhaling the scent and repeating until the skin feels warm and awakened. You can repeat this in the evening to calm the mind before bed. Follow with your hydrating and nourishing products.

To Use: Add 4-8 drops to a basin of warm water; using a fresh face cloth, compress the face and décolletage to soften fine lines, sleep creases, loosen blackheads + clear congestion. Alternatively apply your favourite Rasasara serum or nourishing oil or balm & use the compress to infuse it deeply into your skin.

Essential oils are inhaled directly & penetrate into the central mind channel where olfactory nerves generate nervous system responses to the rest of the body, the prana (a vata energetic) is stimulated & strengthened. Compressing is therefore a very powerful tool for those who are prone to operating from the sympathetic nervous system.

Owing to their high essential oil composition, cleansing compress drops are not for use directly on the skin – instead they are diluted in water. The essential oils are blended and preserved with coconut fractions (so you also get the benefits of coconut oil).