The Benefits of Ghee for Skin: Uncover a Dewy, Silky Glow with This Age-Old Indian Essential
- Wat’s that?
- Topical advantages
- nutritional advantages
- Ghee varieties
- Best applications for it
- Recipe Books
- Remember
- Conclusion
Before we departed for school each winter, our mother would apply ghee across our lips as we lined up at the entrance. She always made time for this ritual.
We never used lip balms from the store when we were kids.I still do the same for my kids, who naturally find my “old-fashioned” methods offensive.
Still, this straightforward, age-old home cure has never failed me.
Ghee is a household staple that has been used for millennia and is essential to Indian cuisine and culture. It is a representation of sustenance, health, and auspiciousness, or wealth and prosperity.
It makes sense, as ghee has several internal and external health advantages.
Whether it’s a tried-and-true skin care regimen, how often you wash your hair, or the cosmetics you’re interested in trying, beauty is subjective.
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What is ghee?
Ghee, often known as clarified butter, is a golden yellow semi-liquid with a unique flavor and scent.
Ghee, a highly esteemed component of Indian traditional medicine known as Ayurveda, comes from the Sanskrit term ghṛta.
It has been used for cooking, ceremonies, and healing since antiquity and is thought to have originated in India.
Ghee, also referred to as “liquid gold” in India, came in particularly handy when the heat prevented butter from being kept refrigerated. This transparent, fragrant liquid with a distinct nutty flavor is made by employing heat to separate the milk solids, giving it the richness of butter without requiring refrigeration.
Ghee has traditionally been prepared from cow’s milk, occasionally buffalo milk.
Cow’s milk ghee is called shuddh desi ghee, or “pure indigenous ghee” in Ayurvedic parlance. It is usually thought of as the purest form.
An earlier 2009 study found that cow ghee is beneficial to every system in the body. In Ayurveda, it’s called amrita, or nectar.
“Desi ghee is rich in nutrients that are good for digestive health, and can usually be consumed by people who cannot have other milk products due to lactose intolerance,” explains Ayush Aggarwal, the founder and director of Rasayanam.in, an Ayurvedic specialist.
Ghee’s skin-benefiting properties
Although there isn’t much study on ghee’s skin-benefits, many Indians have been using it for decades.
Ghee has a consistency akin to a salve and is frequently used for:
- moisturize and soften skin to give it a natural sheen.
- brighten dark areas heal dry or injured skin shield against windy, chilly conditions heal cracked lips
- minimize the dark circles
- revitalize the eyes and mend small cuts
Ghee is composed of fat-soluble vitamins and important short-chain fatty acids, such as butyric acid, omega-3 fatty acids, including linolenic and arachidonic, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K. Research from 2019 and 2020 confirms this.
Skin conditions
Because ghee is high in antioxidants and omega fatty acids, it may help nourish the skin and counteract free radical damage.
It contributes to skin hydration and imparts a glossy appearance.
Because of its nutritional advantages, ghee can help turn dull skin into healthy skin, according to Vedix Ayurvedic expert Jatin Gujrati.
According to Clinic Dermatech physician consultant Geetika Goyal, “it allows potent ingredients to permeate the skin and facilitates deeper absorption of herbal concentrates.”
Hydration of the skin
Deep, long-lasting hydration can be achieved with ghee, a natural moisturizer that is rich in fatty acids and vitamin A.
Skin pigmentation and brightnessGhee gives skin a radiant glow and brightens it; it may also encourage the development of collagen.
Ghee has a brightening effect on the skin because it contains antioxidants, which may help prevent and minimize damage from oxidative stress.
Skin smoothing
Smoothing Ghee’s healthy components can enhance skin suppleness when applied topically as well as when consumed.
According to Gujrati, “you can use ghee by applying it externally to the skin or by consuming it regularly in diet.” “It helps maintain elasticity and strengthen collagen as it penetrates to the tissue level.”
lips that are chapped
Because it contains phospholipids, ghee leaves the skin feeling hydrated and refreshed. It is therefore an excellent treatment for chapped lips.
scalp and hair
In India, ghee is widely used to promote healthy hair. Antioxidants may help eliminate toxins that cause heaviness and frizz, while vitamins A and E may help soften hair.
Ghee consumption benefits for skin
Ghee has many advantages that can be obtained by either consuming it or applying it straight to the skin.
It is abundant in vitamins, vital fatty acids, and antioxidants, as was previously indicated. Ghee has the potential to improve the general health of your skin when applied topically or internally.
According to Kosmoderma Clinics nutritionist Shalini Santhankrishnan, “Vitamin K ensures the hassle-free production of collagen, a protein that keeps the skin intact by avoiding sagging.” “One of nature’s moisturizers is vitamin A.”
According to Santhankrishnan, incorporating ghee into your diet plan would increase immunity and relieve your skin’s hunger from the inside out.
“Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which helps facilitate fat loss and develops lean muscles, is abundant in cow ghee,” she continues.
Ghee comes in a variety of forms, including as cow, sheep, goat, and buffalo.
Ghee without dairy
While other kind of ghee might offer comparable advantages, cow’s milk ghee is the most researched and readily available.
A mixture of oils, including coconut oil, which is well-known for its many skin-benefiting properties, is frequently used to make vegan ghee.
Certain varieties of ghee could also include a mixture of herbs for therapeutic purposes.
Best ways to use ghee
The best uses for ghee works best when applied directly to the skin and then massaged in a circular motion.
Here are a few more particular use for ghee:
- Moisturizer face mask
- Moisturizer
- spot treatment
- Salve
- makeup remover
- cuticle treatment
- on dry heels, elbows, and knees for minor irritation exfoliation and brightening
According to Richa Badhalia, the creator of Faith and Patience cosmetics, “Ghee is rich in omega-3, vitamin E, and other antioxidants and not only acts as a humectant but is also a great mask.”
Ghee gives skin a natural glow and helps lighten spots when combined with honey.
Ghee soothes and speeds up skin healing when applied to minor cuts and bruises. In India, it’s a popular diaper rash cream.
In India, shata dhauta ghrita, or literally, “100 times washed ghee,” is a famous variety of ghee. This multipurpose skin lotion is created by repeatedly washing cow’s milk ghee in a copper container 100 times.
In the end, the skin is soothed by a light-textured, fluffy, and highly absorbing cream.
Using ghee topically on the skin is most beneficial when done as shata dhauta ghrita. It can also be mixed with additional organic and herbal components.
Ghee can be used to brighten and exfoliate skin when combined with sugar, lemon juice, turmeric, and baking soda.
Homemade cooking
Face mask components
- Two tablespoons of ghee
- Two tablespoons of gram flour or chickpea flour, pinch of turmeric
Guidelines
- Combine turmeric, gram flour, and ghee.
- Apply to a dry, clean face.
- Keep it on for twenty minutes.
- Use warm water to rinse.
- Dry with a pat.
Hydrator
Components
- Two tablespoons of ghee
- Double-stick aloe vera gel
Guidelines
- Heat ghee till it melts.
- Take off the heat.
- Add aloe vera gel and mix.
- Allow to cool.
- Apply to a dry, clean face.
- For ten to fifteen minutes, leave on.
- Use warm water to rinse.
Dry with a pat.
Ingredients for hand cream
- Two tsp almond or coconut oil
- Two tablespoons of ghee
Guidelines
- Blend ghee with almond or coconut oil.
- Use your hands to achieve soft, smooth skin.
Lip balm
Components
- 1 tsp ghee
Instructions
- Ghee softens when rubbed between the fingertips.
- Apply straight to the lips.
- It can be left on all night as well.
Ingredients for a lip scrub
- One teaspoon each of ghee, sugar, and honey
Guidelines
- Combine ingredients.
- Apply in a circular motion on the lips.
- Wipe with a gentle cloth or rinse.
- Add a last coat of ghee to seal in the moisture.
Body butter components
- Two tablespoons of coconut oil and one tablespoon of ghee
- 1 tablespoon cocoa or shea butter
Guidelines
Blend all components into a silky paste.
Apply in a circular motion on elbows, hands, knees, and skin.
Body scrub components
- 1 tablespoon gram flour and 1 tsp ghee
- Two tablespoons of coconut or cow’s milk
- One teaspoon of sugar
Guidelines
- Combine the ingredients.
- Gently scrub the skin in circular strokes.
- Use warm water to rinse.
- Dry with a pat.
Ingredients for a salve
- One tablespoon ghee and one teaspoon powdered turmeric
Guidelines
- Combine turmeric with ghee.
- Apply directly to rashes, burns, scrapes, and wounds.
- Wrap in gauze or bandages.
- Turmeric stains, so use extra care while handling clothing and furnishings!
Mask for the scalp and hair
Components
- Two tablespoons of ghee
- Two tablespoons of yogurt
- One teaspoon of honey
- One white egg
Guidelines
- Combine ingredients into a paste, then apply one hour prior to shampooing.
- Use warm water to rinse.
- Allow to dry by air.
- Try double the recipe if you have a lot of hair.
How to prepare ghee
Butter can be melted in a skillet with a thick bottom to make ghee at home.
- Simmer the butter slowly until it melts fully and starts to froth.
- Cook for twenty to twenty-five minutes. The solid milk components will sink to the bottom.
- To avoid burning any milk solids, stir from time to time. A transparent liquid with a golden hue will form on top of the ghee.
- Allow it to cool fully before passing it through a muslin cloth strainer.
- Keep enclosed in a sealed container.
Remember
In certain circumstances, ghee might not be the best choice, even if it’s revered as an Indian skin elixir.
Ghee can clog pores, so if you have oily skin or acne, stay away from using it. Steer clear of it if you have cold-related symptoms, such as excessive phlegm. Don’t eat frozen ghee either.
Ghee is generally regarded as safe when used in moderation. To guarantee that your ghee is devoid of additives, manufacture your own at home or purchase it from a reliable source.
Among the premium brands are:
- Ancient Organics
- Banyan Botanicals
- 4th and Heart
- Carrington Farms
Takeaway
In India, people frequently view ghee as a miracle meal for their complexion, hair, and overall health. Apply it to your lips, elbows, cuticles, and hair for maximum effects.
Be sure to get additive-free, well-known brands of ghee.
Especially when it comes to skin health, ghee might be one of the most adaptable foods available.