Is day-to-day mental stress taking a toll on your skin? Take our quiz to find out if you have a Vata-related skin imbalance. Give yourself one point for never or seldom, two for sometimes and three for often or always:

• Does your skin lack glow and natural radiance?
• Does your skin look and feel dry even just after you rinse with lots of water?
• Does your skin look thin and loose?
• Is your skin flaky?
• Does your skin feel cold to the touch?
• Is your brow constantly knit?
• Do you see more wrinkles and fine lines than there were a month ago?
• Do relaxing treatments make you feel temporarily better?

If your score added up to twelve points or higher, your skin may benefit and look younger longer if you keep Vata in balance.

• Eat plenty of fresh juicy fruits to restore moisture balance from within. Oranges, grapes, cherries, peaches, melons, berries, plums, pineapples, mangos and papayas are examples of Vata-balancing fruits.
• Drink lots of pure water through the day.
• Eat cooked green leafy vegetables.
• Chop the greens before cooking and season them with Vata- balancing spices such as cumin and ginger. o Include a little Ghee in your diet to provide lubrication and natural radiance.
• Eat a handful of nuts each day - blanched almonds are considered excellent.

• Go to bed by 10 p.m. and follow a regular sleep-wake routine so that you get enough good quality rest.
• Eat three regular meals a day, with lunch the heaviest meal.
• Twenty minutes of Transcendental Meditation®, twice a day, can help combatstress.
• A daily warm oil massage balances both mind and body - use a massage oil that contains herbs and essential oils especially blended for pacifying Vata. The extract of Shankapushpi and other ayurvedic herbs enhance tone and natural radiance.
• Make sure bowel movements are regular.
• Pranayama (deep breathing exercises) and yoga asanas for deep relaxation can help balance Vata.

Day-to-day emotional stress, in the form of anger,irritation, frustration or suppressed grief or anger can show up on your skin, causing it to look drawn and tired. Take our quiz to find out if you have a Pitta-related skin imbalance. Give yourself one point for never or seldom, two for sometimes and three for often or always.

• Does your skin look blotchy or inflamed in spots?
• Do you have break-outs or rashes frequently?
• Does your skin look red and raw?
• Does your skin feel excessively warm to the touch?
• Are your pores clogged?
• Do you notice increased photosensitivity and quicker damage from exposure to short periods of sun?
• Do cooling treatments make you feel temporarily better?

If your score added up to ten points or higher, your skin may benefit and look clear and healthy if you keep Pitta in balance.

• Eat plenty of fresh juicy fruits to cool and cleanse from within. Fully ripe, sweet fruits, such as pears, grapes, melons, coconuts, pomegranates and mangos are good Pitta-balancing fruits. Avoid partially ripe or sour fruits.
• Drink lots of pure room temperature water through the day.
• Eat cooked green leafy vegetables. Reduce hot peppers, radishes and spinach. Season cooked vegetables with Pitta-balancing spices such as fennel andcoriander.
• Include a little Ghee in your diet - it's cooling.

• Go to bed by 10 p.m. and follow a regular sleep-wake routine so that you get enough good quality rest.
• Eat three regular meals a day, with lunch the heaviest meal.
• Twenty minutes of Transcendental Meditation®, twice a day, can help combat all types of stress.
• A daily warm oil massage balances both mind and body -- use a massage oil that contains herbs and essential oils that help pacify Pitta.
• Make sure bowel movements are regular.
• Make time for leisure and don't let deadlines rule you.

Note -- This ayurvedic information is educational, and is not intended to replace standard medical care or advice.

For more in-depth information on the ayurvedic approach to beauty and skin care and for a complete line of dermatologist-formulated ayurvedic skin care, please visit: www.mspa.com.