anokha skin care journal

tulsi, queen of herbs

tulsi, also known as holy basil, is an aromatic plant native to the Indian subcontinent and cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. the plant is referred to as an “elixir of life” based upon its reli...

ingredient focus: sandalwood

sandalwood (Santalum album), which has been said to bring one closer to the divine, is the name of a class of woods.  sandalwood trees are indigenous to India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lank...

the rose

the alluring rose is a wonderful source of beauty remedies. as one of the most ancient flowers in the world, and is believed to have been cultivated in India 5000 years ago. the word “rose” is deri...

ingredient focus: rice

rice (Oryza sativa) is a universal food staple.  both the physical and etymologic origins of rice have been hotly debated for centuries.  wild rice is thought to have first developed in Australia, ...

ingredient focus: orange

the orange is the most widely cultivated fruit in the world. believed to have first been cultivated in China around 2500 BC, they were so rare that they were primarily given to emperors as tributes...

oatmeal

oatmeal is a gentle and highly beneficial grain used for thousands of years in skin care. it was first discovered among the remains of the 12th Dynasty in Egypt, dating back to around 2000 BC. the ...

neem

neem is an extraordinary evergreen tree native to India which has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for at least 5000 years for its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. considered...

ingredient focus: milk

milk and milk products, such as yogurt, have been valued since ancient times for their soothing and luxurious properties. Cleopatra herself is said to have bathed in a concoction of milk and rose p...

mango: food of the gods

the mango (Mangifera indica), also known as "the food of the gods", is an enormously popular fruit throughout the Indian subcontinent. Mango seed butter, extracted from the kernel, is highly emoll...

the sacred lotus

the lotus flower has been treasured throughout history as a sacred symbol of purity and vitality. the spiritual history of the lotus dates back to the ancient Egyptians, who cultivated this plant a...