When shopping for skin-care products, we’re typically asked if our T-zone is greasy by midafternoon. But when we recently met with Patty Schmucker, creator of the new DoshaCare line, she had an entirely different line of inquiry: Would we describe our appetite as irregular, intense or slow? Do we respond to stress with anxiety, irritability or withdrawal? Questions like these are designed to determine our predominant dosha – the ayurvedic concept of basic mind-body constitution. Our dosha, in turn, reflects the characteristics of our skin. There are three types of doshas: Excitable Vatas tend to have dry skin; easygoing Kaphas, who retreat when faced with conflict, typically experience congested skin when out of balance; and the easily irritated Pittas among us have a tendency toward inflamed, acne-prone skin.

Admittedly, all this might sound like so much hooey if it weren’t for the appeal of the products themselves. Botanical ingredients such as aloe vera, bamboo, cucumber, eucalyptus, green tea, olive oil and willow provide a natural way to cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate and renew skin. All 17 products in the DoshaCare line have “clean” scents and absorb quickly into the skin – for those days when you don’t have time to get your doshas in a row.

Tags: Acne vulgaris, Aloe, Aloe vera, Biology, Health/Medical/Pharmaceuticals, Medicinal plants, Medicine, olive oil, Patty Schmucker, skin-care products