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Here is how you can care for your skin, the old-school way with face masks inspired by ancient Ayurvedic recipes to reveal smoother and brighter skin.

8 Ayurveda-inspired face masks to detoxify and brighten your skin

More often than not, slapping on a face mask is amongst the top three self-care rituals most of us indulge in. While peel-off masks, exfoliating treatments, gel masks and sheet masks (no, we’re not a fan of them—here’s why) may seem to pass as lucrative options, there is perhaps nothing like face masks offering the goodness of ingredients that have been vouched for in Ayurvedic texts from eons ago—think honey, milk, saffron, aloe vera, sandalwood and so forth. When you invest in skincare products that feature Ayurveda-inspired recipes, you can experience them through formulations that are stabilised, processed and lab-tested to eliminate any possibilities of skin irritation or damage that could possibly occur if such natural ingredients are used in their raw form. 

We list eight of the best Ayurvedic face mask options for glowing skin, that allow you to enjoy the nourishment of Ayurvedic ingredients in a sophisticated, user-friendly fashion.

Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask, Kora OrganicsThis face mask-cum-exfoliator makes for a great choice for those on the move for it ticks off the rituals of both scrubbing and masking. Infused with turmeric, rosehip seeds, Aspen bark, papaya, aloe vera, rose and other essential oils, this face mask does have a slightly gritty texture that makes it effective for exfoliation, especially if you wash off the mask in circular motions, leaving you with glowing, smoother skin.Priced at ₹4,700Shop hereImage: Instagram.com/koraorganics

 

Image: Instagram.com/koraorganics

Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask, Kora Organics: The best Ayurvedic face mask that exfoliates the skin

This face mask mask-cum-exfoliator makes for a great choice for those on the move for it ticks off the rituals of both scrubbing and masking. Infused with turmeric, rosehip seeds, Aspen bark, papaya, aloe vera, rose and other essential oils, this face mask does have a slightly gritty texture that makes it effective for exfoliation, especially if you wash off the mask in circular motions, leaving you with glowing, smoother skin.

Priced at ₹4,700

Shop here

Markalak — Face & Body Clay Mask, Pahadi LocalLooking for a basic yet effective clay mask? This no-frills offering from Pahadi Local features mineral-rich clay extracted from the higher altitudes of the Himalayas. It’s a one-stop solution for oily skin, easing up congestion, unclogging pores, controlling sebum production and detoxifying the skin for a clear and fresh complexion.Priced at ₹975Shop hereImage: Instagram.com/ @pahadilocal

 

Image: Instagram.com/ @pahadilocal

Markalak — Face & Body Clay Mask, Pahadi Local: The best clay-based Ayurvedic face mask for oily skin

Looking for a basic yet effective clay mask? This no-frills offering from Pahadi Local features mineral-rich clay extracted from the higher altitudes of the Himalayas. It’s a one-stop solution for oily skin, easing up congestion, unclogging pores, controlling sebum production and detoxifying the skin for a clear and fresh complexion.

Priced at ₹975

Shop here

Mitti Raw Honey Face Masque, Purearth This creamy lepa-textured mask contains honey and multani mitti along with other botanical ingredients like rose, gotu kola, neem, manjistha, cinnamon and ylang ylang. Besides the lush feel it imparts, this award-winning face mask is a remedy for skin affected by pollution The mask’s purifying formulation soothes the skin and reduces the appearance of pigmentation and fatigue.Priced at ₹6,300Shop hereImage: Instagram.com/purearth

 

Image: Instagram.com/purearth

Mitti Raw Honey Face Masque, Purearth: The best Ayurvedic face mask to detoxify and purify congested skin

This creamy lepa-textured face mask contains honey and multani mitti along with other botanical ingredients like rose, gotu kola, neem, manjistha, cinnamon and ylang ylang. Besides the lush feel it imparts, this award-winning face mask is a remedy for skin affected by pollution. This Ayruvedic face mask’s purifying formulation soothes the skin and reduces the appearance of pigmentation and fatigue.

Priced at ₹6,300

Shop here

Resurfacing Saffron AHA Masque, RANAVATThis face mask begins to work in just about two minutes. Its saffron-tinged, marmalade-texture spreads on the skin without the taut sensation that otherwise accompanies clay-based masks. While saffron is the hero ingredient, it also comprises aloe, mango and banana pulp extracts, papaya enzyme, licorice and turmeric to lend radiance, nourishment and pliancy to the skin.Priced at ₹9,050Shop hereImage: Instagram.com/ranavat

 

Image: Instagram.com/ranavat

Resurfacing Saffron AHAMasque, RANAVAT: The best hydrating Ayruvedic face mask 

This face mask begins to work in just about two minutes. Its saffron-tinged, marmalade-texture spreads on the skin without the taut sensation that otherwise accompanies clay-based masks. While saffron is the hero ingredient, it also comprises aloe, mango and banana pulp extracts, papaya enzyme, licorice and turmeric to lend radiance, nourishment and pliancy to the skin.

Priced at ₹9,050

Shop here

Farm Fresh Radiance Ubtan, RAS Luxury OilsPrepared with a recipe that endorses the brand’s ‘farm-to-face’ promise, this powder-based face mask claims to soften and brighten by exfoliation that is propelled by ingredients like masoor dal , almond flour and colloidal oatmeal. As far as the skin-pacifying ingredients are concerned, the mask contains calendula, saffron flower powder, rose flower oil and sesame seed oil. The blend of varied ingredients makes it suitable for most skin types.Priced at ₹990Shop hereImage: Instagram.com/rasluxuryoil

 

Image: Instagram.com/rasluxuryoil

Farm Fresh Radiance Ubtan, RAS Luxury Oils: The best Ayruvedic face mask for glowing skin

Prepared with a recipe that endorses the brand’s ‘farm-to-face’ promise, this powder-based Ayurvedic face mask claims to soften and brighten by exfoliation that is propelled by ingredients like masoor dal, almond flour and colloidal oatmeal. As far as the skin-pacifying ingredients are concerned, the mask contains calendula, saffron flower powder, rose flower oil and sesame seed oil. The blend of varied ingredients makes it suitable for most skin types.

Priced at ₹990

Shop here

Balance Oxygenating Mask, Shankara NaturalsFabricated primarily for the kapha skin type, or skin that is prone to oiliness, dullness, enlarged pores and a thicker epidermis, red clay is the ingredient that headlines this face mask along with manjistha, menthol, white clay, green tea, aloe vera and red sandalwood among others. The purifying blend provides a deep-cleansing effect, leaving the skin fresher and free of impurities and excess sebum.Priced at ₹2,450Shop here

 

Balance Oxygenating Mask, Shankara Naturals: The best Ayurvedic face mask for mature skin types

Fabricated primarily for the kapha skin type, or skin that is prone to oiliness, dullness, enlarged pores and a thicker epidermis, red clay is the ingredient that headlines this Ayurvedic face mask along with manjistha, menthol, white clay, green tea, aloe vera and red sandalwood among others. The purifying blend provides a deep-cleansing effect, leaving the skin fresher and free of impurities and excess sebum.

Priced at ₹2,450

Shop here

Neem Varnya Lepa, Forest EssentialsIf you’re struggling with irritation, redness or acne-prone skin, trust the neem-first concoction to come to the rescue. The key ingredients include clove, vitamin E, manjistha, sunflower oil, almond oil and turmeric. Rich in antioxidants and anti-bacterial properties, this face mask does a great job at healing common skin concerns and infections and regulating oil production, ridding the skin of whiteheads, blackheads, blemishes and pigmentation.  Priced at ₹1,875Shop hereImage: Forestessentials.com

 

Image: Forestessentials.com

Neem Varnya Lepa, Forest Essentials: The best Ayurvedic face mask for acne-prone skin 

If you’re struggling with irritation, redness or acne-prone skin, trust the neem-first concoction to come to the rescue. The key ingredients include clove, vitamin E, manjistha, sunflower oil, almond oil and turmeric. Rich in antioxidants and anti-bacterial properties, this Ayurvedic face mask does a great job at healing common skin concerns and infections and regulating oil production, ridding the skin of whiteheads, blackheads, blemishes and pigmentation.  

Priced at ₹1,875

Shop here

Suvarna Haldi Chandan Face Pack, Kama AyurvedaTrust this face mask to be a brightening quick-fix. The pulverised face mask boasts of two of the most highlighted ingredients in Ayurveda—turmeric and sandalwood, along with orange, rose,multani mitti and colloidal oatmeal, making it a 100 per cent natural solution to illuminate the skin and alleviate blemishes, dark spots and dullness. If you have dry skin, whip up the mask with yoghurt or honey,  and in case you have oily skin, add rose water, vetiver water or aloe vera gel to create a pasty consistency. Priced at ₹995Shop hereImage: Kamaayurveda.in

 

Image: Kamaayurveda.in

Suvarna Haldi Chandan Face Pack, Kama Ayurveda: The best brightening Ayurvedic face mask

Trust this Ayurvedic face mask to be a brightening quick-fix. The pulverised face mask boasts of two of the most highlighted ingredients in Ayurveda—turmeric and sandalwood, along with orange, rose, multani mitti and colloidal oatmeal, making it a 100 per cent natural solution to illuminate the skin, render brighter skin and alleviate blemishes, dark spots and dullness. If you have dry skin, whip up the mask with yoghurt or honey,  and in case you have oily skin, add rose water, vetiver water or aloe vera gel to create a pasty consistency. 

Priced at ₹995

Shop here

Ria Bhatia profile imageRia Bhatia
Ria Bhatia is the associate beauty editor at The Established. She explores beauty and wellness through industrial, cultural, and social lenses, with bylines in Femina, ELLE India, Harper’s Bazaar India, Masala UAE, and VOGUE India.

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