I've been on the fence about Ayurvedic medicine, particularly there being specific health suggestions for whichever of the three categoric Doshas you fall on. Only three? And how applicable is this to a heterogeneous population? But Ayurvedic medicine does allow for caveats and an ebb and flow for gradual shifts in your Dosha. And the beauty industry is no stranger to stringent classifications, when it comes to skincare, most lines offer you a specialized regimen based on whichever skin type you come up as, (dry, oily, sensitive or normal/combination.) So there's that.

I've heard about Pratima for years, and heard enough about it from friends on Instagram to reach out to the company to learn more. The founder, Dr. Pratima Raichur, is an Ayurvedic doctor, chemist, botanist and doctor of Naturopathy. The pioneer of Ayurvedic skincare, she began creating formulas to alleviate skin conditions based on her Ayurvedic education, and has been practicing for over 40 years. Even more impressive, Dr. Raichur creates all of her products by hand in her lab just celebrated her 75th birthday last September. Certainly a resounding affirmation that she's doing something right.

It turns out my Dosha is Pitta, and they offer a Pitta tailored regimen for my combination, sensitive skin that breakout very easily. For once, I've found a prescribed (or suggested) regiment to soothe sensitive, reactive skin that breaks out. I'm of the opinion that both sensitive and acne prone complexions are symptomatic of the same underlying problem, inflammation.

PITTA ESSENTIALS STARTER SET (For Combination/Sensitive Skin)

I received a beautifully packaged starter kit for Pitta complexions, along with their highly lauded Rose Neem Sunscreen SPF 30, a turmeric laced facial mask and a lightly aromatic body oil. I was in love upon first whiff, and am already planning to purchase refills once I'm down to the dregs.

The herbal cleanser reminds me of One Love Organic's powder cleanser, but it doesn't remove makeup and I prefer it in the morning. Plus, I learned that washing with tepid water is best, especially for reactive skin like mine.

I mixed 3 drops each of the Liposomes antioxidant serum with the Pitta Essential Oil, which smells amazing and is made up of jasmine, sandalwood and rose essential oils, and patted them all over morning and night. My breakouts were quelled, balance was restored and my skin was glowing. The botanical moisture cream was lovely as well, but for me, the oil and liposome concoction ended up being the hero products.

The Pitta Balancing body oil has a touch of jasmine, rose and sandalwood as well, but is much less fragranced than the Pitta Essential Oil and includes two Ayurvedic herbs, Brahmi and Shatavari to promote balance. It's deeply nourishing, and one of the most longest lasting body oils I've found yet.

The turmeric mask is potent! It dries quickly, and helps sooth breakouts and mop up excess oiliness without tipping the balance on drier areas. This one I found to be most effective when swiped on minutes before the shower, to allow it to dry before the steam would open my pores to further it's magic.

And the Neem Rose Sunscreen SPF 30... I'm hooked. It doesn't give that ghostly glow zinc based sunscreens often have, it's perfectly hydrating but still lightweight enough not to smother my pores in the summer humidity. Neem oil is used extensively within Ayurvedic medicine and beyond for everything from leprosy and malaria to acne and insect bites. And it's widely used in the west as a natural pesticide. This is a top seller for Pratima, and slated to be a staple in my bathroom going forward.

I'm so excited to try out the rest of this line, this indie beauty line is well deserving of the hype. I've recommended this line to friends who've reported immediate and glowing results soon after. For those who find Tata Harper to be too much (both in active ingredients, fragrance or cost), this line fits the bill. And for those curious about clean, indie skincare brands, I cannot think of a better introduction.

Pratima Skincare / Sunscreen $28 / Starter Set $60 / Mask $40 / Body Oil $28

I rarely find a set available featuring the products I'd cherry pick myself, if I could create my own set. Happily, I struck gold with this one!

Tata Harper's Beautifying Face Oil is one of the more reasonably priced products from her line, as well as the most versatile one. I mix a few drops in with my Gressa foundation and blend it in only where needed -- as a concealer. Or I use it underneath/in lieu of a moisturizer or pat a few drops over my makeup to freshen up mid-day. It's fragranced, but not overtly so. It absorbs in about 10 minutes and feels wonderful onwards.

The Resurfacing Mask is highly lauded for it's instant benefits. It's a gentle exfoliator, and the immediate results are remarkable. Skin feels smoother and fresher and any excess oiliness is mopped up. It's a translucent pink, florally scented gel, and dries within 5-10 mins, but you're advised to keep it on to 20 mins. I'll mist my face with water to prolong the dewy stage before rinsing it off. Before I had a jar of my own, I used to save my sample packs of this for hotel rooms, to offset the effects of dry cabin air. Be warned though, people advise storing this away from bathroom humidity which can compromise the preservation of the product.

The Love Potion is a heavenly, mood-boosting, lady-like scent. Both the initial top notes and dry down stay powdery, (thanks to the ylang ylang), very romantic (jasmine), yet not too girly (sandalwood). While there's no violet in the concoction, that's what my mind instantly conjures on first whiff. A heady, complex posy of violets.

Very Vivacious Lip and Cheek is one I reviewed earlier. It's a wearable, flattering coral that can be blended out to a muted peach or applied in thin layers for a bright coral statement.

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