Forget harsh peels and $300 serums.
For centuries, Indian royalty relied on something much more… delicious.
Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of healing, offers some of the world’s most effective beauty rituals—and one of its most loved remedies is so simple, you probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen.
Let’s talk about ubtan—a traditional Ayurvedic face and body mask used for glowing, youthful skin. It’s a blend of natural ingredients like chickpea flour, turmeric, and cooling herbs, often used in pre-wedding beauty rituals to leave skin baby-soft and radiant.
So why does it work?
Because Ayurveda focuses not just on surface beauty, but on balance. Dryness, dullness, or premature aging are signs of excess vata (air and ether elements).
To restore juicy, youthful skin, you need nourishment, gentle exfoliation, and soothing herbs to calm inflammation.
Here’s how to whip up your own Ayurvedic Ubtan for Smoother, Younger Skin:
Ubtan Recipe: The Royal Glow Mask
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons chickpea flour (also called besan)
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoon plain yogurt (for hydration and gentle exfoliation)
- 1 teaspoon raw honey (to nourish and plump)
- A few drops of rose water or milk (adjust for consistency)
Optional Add-ins:
- A pinch of sandalwood powder (for cooling and brightening)
- 1/2 teaspoon neem powder (for acne-prone skin)
- A dash of almond oil (for mature, dry skin)
Instructions:
In a bowl, mix chickpea flour and turmeric.
Add yogurt and honey. Stir into a thick paste.
Add rose water or milk a few drops at a time until it’s smooth and spreadable.
Apply to your face and neck. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes.
Gently massage in circular motions as you rinse off with lukewarm water.
Use 1–2 times a week for best results. It’s gentle enough even for sensitive skin types, and the effects are immediate: softer texture, reduced flakiness, and a natural golden glow.
Pro Tip:
Turmeric can stain fair skin a bit yellow for a few hours—so use it at night or tone it down with just a pinch. Always test a patch before applying to your whole face.
This isn’t just skincare—it’s self-care with roots thousands of years deep. While your skin drinks in the goodness, your mind will thank you too. There’s something calming and almost meditative about applying a homemade mask made of ingredients you can eat.
So next time you crave smoother, firmer skin, skip the fancy bottle and go back to basics. Your great-great-grandmother might’ve been onto something all along.