AIKA: TRI DOSHA Radiance Elixir & PITTA Elixir

AIKA is an Australian organic skincare brand that is inspired by Ayurvedic principles for overall wellness. So what is Ayurveda? In short Ayurveda is a very old practice about the science of life—think well being, balance & energy for the body, mind & soul. Ayurveda is about wellness & healing using a multi modal approach for the body and mind as a whole. Yoga is part of Ayurveda. I also think of aromatherapy, rituals & lifestyle. Ayurveda has three doshas—pitta, kapha & vata. AIKA is truly the epitome of ritualistic skincare. The line splits into three the doshas and a TRI DOSHA (all three doshas) line. AIKA just launched a little over a year ago and I've actually had these oils for about that length of time. I only started with two oils and only last month grabbed a few more items (which I'll talk about one day soon).

 

The TRI DOSHA Radiance Elixir is one of the most unique and luxurious facial oils I've tried. Details per AIKA:

The Tri Dosha range has been lovingly alchemised to empower and enrich a diversity of skin types, bodies and lifestyles, for the soul seeking treatments with medicinal intent. Drawn from the teachings of Ayurvedic Rasayana, the process and alchemy of rejuvenation and longevity, Tri Dosha Radiance Elixir provides vital nutrition for fortifying the immune system, slowing down the ageing process, strengthening the body, calming the nervous system and imparting a deep radiance and beauty beyond the skin.

The ultimate powerhouse of elixirs this ruby red headily aromatic Ayurvedic skin food is prescribed in the ancient texts for imparting incredible radiance and luminescence to your skin.

Legendary for its potent transformative effect on rejuvenating skin by energising devitalised skin, while lightening and brightening the complexion to reduce pigmentation and blemishes. Richly emollient, healing, soothing and restorative it enhances your skin’s texture and imparts firmness and tone for incredible softness and suppleness. Intensely moisturising, anti-inflammatory, nourishing and repairing this is a total multi-correctional game changer for skin. Hand blended with 26 precious and exotic Ayurvedic herbs including Saffron, Sacred Lotus, Holy Bodhi Fig and Flame of the Forest to dramatically increase cellular regeneration, collagen stimulation and deep hydration to minimise the signs of ageing and prevent premature ageing. Boosted with a precious Ayurvedic trio of deeply resonant and therapeutic essences of Rose Otto, Sandalwood and Jasmine, your skin will glow with transformation like never before.

 

Benefits

• Brightens and lightens for incredible radiance and glow
• Oxygenates skin by increasing the circulation of subcutaneous blood flow.
• Firm and tones by repairing collagen and elastin at the cellular level.
• Smooths and evens out the texture of skin to eliminate roughness.
• Rich in plant precious extracts that provide essential nutrients to skin at the deepest level.
• Clears acne and blemishes, heals skin and decreasing inflammation and sensitivity.
• Uplifts the emotions and soothes the spirit.

 

Key Ingredients:

Saffron – more expensive in weight than gold, Saffron is the world’s most revered and expensive spice and known as a Varnya Rasayana (completion glow enhancer) in Ayurveda and balances all three doshas. It has a powerhouse of benefits including being a liver tonic, blood purifier, circulatory agent, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial and packed with free radical fighting anti-oxidants. Rich in amino acids, phosphorus, iron and Vitamins it is used for its soothing and cooling properties. with A powerful nervine and anti-depressant it helps soothe the nervous system and increase mental alertness and memory.

Sacred lotus – a sacred plant symbolic of spiritual evolution the Sacred Lotus is picked in early hours of the morning while it is still dark and when its potency is at the highest point. Known as a Varnya (completion glow enhancer) in Ayurveda, it is rich in flavonoids, phytosterols, anti-oxidants, minerals, Vitamins A, B and C. These give it powerful anti-inflammatory and skin rejuvenating properties that prevent premature ageing and induce skin radiance. Its calming, sedative and anti-depressive properties induce a deep sense of wellbeing and promote rest and sleep.

Sandalwood – Anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, cooling and calming effect on the skin, body and mind, Sandalwood is also known as Chandana and considered a sacred wood in the Vedic tradition. It is a skin rejuvenator that encourages new cell growth, increases hydration and alleviates itchiness, irritation and redness in the skin. It has a sedative effect on the nervous system and calms anxiety, stress and relieves insomnia. We use sustainably harvested Sandalwood.

Rose Otto – The essence of the queen of flowers and historically known as Attar of Rose, intoxicatingly rich and deep certified organic Rose Otto has been used for thousands of years for its effect on the skin, body, mind and spirit. It has a special place in Ayurveda for its role in calming the subdosha of Pitta called Sadhaka Pitta, which governs the emotions and the heart, earning its place as the flower of love. It also balances the subdosha of Vata called Prana Vata which sits in the heart chakra and rules the mind and perception, to alleviate anxiety and depression, making Rose a bridge between the heart and mind. On the skin it is cooling, slightly astringent and its anti-microbial action helps alleviate acne and blemishes. It is anti-inflammatory and strengthens the capillaries preventing couperose skin, red veins and sensitivity. It is a strong rejuvenator and assists skin to stay bright, firm and radiant.

Jasmine – intoxicating, aphrodisiac and most potent during the night jasmine is rightly called called Queen of the Night. It is Kapha and Pitta pacifying and has been used in Ayurveda for it balancing effect on the nervous system, anti-depressive action on the mind and as a sleep inducing sedative. On the skin, it is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, slightly astringent and a cicatrisant which helps form scar tissue, regenerate cells, and shed rough and dead skin cells.

 

Ingredients

Sesame indicum (sesame oil), Cow’s milk, Crocus sativus (saffron), Vettivera zizanoides (vetiver root), Rubia cordifolia (manjista), Glycyrhhiza glabra (liquorice), Cinnamomum Tamala (Indian bark), Prunus cerasides (Himalayan cherry), Nuciferra nelumbo (sacred lotus), Santalum album (white sandalwood), Curcuma longa (turmeric), Burberris aristata (Indian barberry), Mesua ferra (Indian rose chestnut), Beutea monosperma (flame of the forest), Ficus religiosa (holy bodhi fig), Jasminum officianale (jasmine), Alphinia galangal (galangal), Acorus calamus (sweet flag), Cera alba (beeswax), Santalum spicata (sandalwood oil), Rose damascena (rose otto), Jasminum officianale (jasmine).

 

First you can note the intense ruby red hue of this oil. It's simply stunning. I'm almost done with my bottle (sad day is coming) and it's actually one of the few oils I have ever finished. I usually get bored and move on to playing with new oils but this one is special. It's in my top three favorite oils to date. It has no strong scent, just the scent of the oils. It's not a very fragrant or heavy essential oil facial oil. This oil has a lot of really unique ingredients like sesame (antioxidant, detox), cow's milk (herb not dairy), saffron, vetiver (antioxidative), manjista (calming, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial), Indian bark, Himalayan cherry, sacred lotus, Indian barberry (help unclog pores), Indian rose chestnut, flame of the forest (helps with irritation), holy bodhi fig, galangal (part of ginger family, anti-inflammatory), sweet flag. It's also got some goodies like anti-inflammatory turmeric which is a favorite of mine, jasmine & rose.

This oil gives a nice radiance to the skin, a healthy brightening glow. It also hydrates well without being heavy or greasy. I love the slip that this oil has. You can just tell a really nice high quality textured oil when you touch it. It seems to help with inflammation & firms the skin as well. It's like a healthy radiance oil. I really really enjoyed this one. It's quite pricey at $245 a bottle and it's pretty much the most expensive facial oil I've ever bought. I love it and though it pains my wallet to say this but I would most definitely repurchase. I'm sad that it's starting to sputter when I press the pump as I'm at the end of my bottle. This oil is so unique and it has a lot of Ayurvedic herbs/extracts that you don't see often. So I feel like it stands out from a lot of the commercial facial oils.

The PITTA Elixir is meant to be used while the skin regenerates during sleep. Details per AIKA:

Your skin and body have different needs at night to the daytime. This is why we have created Dosha specific treatments aligned with the time of day and your body’s needs at that time, enriching their deep healing with holistic morning and evening rituals. The delicate bonding of organic ingredients helps you to mindfully restore true wellness, as a sacred loving twice daily practice. These rituals are our gift to you to ascend, escape and ultimately find your way home.

The Pitta Elixir is the third step in your Pitta Retreat Ritual. For true wellness with the deepest commitment, use the Pitta Deep Cleanser, Ayuressence and Elixir as a collection. As your natural metabolic functions are supported overnight, the Pitta Collection works synergistically to create a deeper, intuitive wellbeing for your body, mind and soul, based on your body’s individual needs.

A sumptuous satin nectar of concentrated Pitta rejuvenating phyto-nutrients to divinely wrap your skin while inflammation, sensitivity and pigmentation blissfully fade away as you sleep, deeply entranced by the rich aroma.

A beautiful lullaby in a bottle, this divine Pitta Elixir caresses your skin with a cascade of nutrition for intensive night time repair. Anti-oxidants, minerals, vitamins and phyto-nutrients calm, soothe and strengthen your sensitive, reactive and reddened skin, as you are enriched with Camellia, Argan, Tamanu, Rosehip and Jojoba. Boosted with extracts of Gotu Kola, Arjuna and Amla to repair and rebuild collagen and elastin, eliminate pigmentation, reduce inflammation and impart radiance and comfort. Precious plant essences of Rose Otto, Sandalwood, Roman Chamomile and Geranium restore capillaries, soothe irritation and increase cellular regeneration. This nurturing nightly ritual enables the unhindered flow of Prana for the ultimate overnight transformation of sensitivities into clear and luminescent beauty.

 

Benefits

• Powerful Regeneration – supports your body’s cycle of overnight repair by providing essential nutrients to the deepest levels of skin where cellular regeneration occurs.
• Increased firmness and suppleness – boosts the repair of connective tissue by stimulating the fibroblasts to create new collagen and elastin for structural integrity of skin.
• Reverse oxidative damage – provides a rich supply of anti-oxidants to fight free radical damage caused during the day by replenishing energy, building new cells and repairing connective tissue.
• Reduces inflammation–rich in anti-inflammatory constituents to reduce irritation and sensitivity while repairing stressed, damaged, sun exposed and chemically treated skin.
• Promote restful sleep – mindfully created to promote ease and facilitate deep sleep. During sleep our body increases production of human growth hormone (HGH) which stimulates collagen production and cellular repair.
• 100% Active andconcentrated – devoid of water, fillers, emulsifiers and thickeners, every single ingredient is active in this waterless formula for incredible efficacy and long lasting value.

 

Key Ingredients:

Camelia – This feather light deep penetrating green tea oil is rich in essential fatty acids, emollients and is antioxidant rich and helps to protect the skin from free radical damage. Camellia seed oil is anti-inflammatory, cicatrisant (helps fade scars & spots on the skin)and astringent, making it perfect for combination, sensitive and problematic skin that needs soothing, scar reducing and hydration without blemishes.

Tamanu–Cold processed, unrefined, rich green Tamanuis a powerful skin regenerator and cicatrisant (helps fade scars & spots on the skin). Tamanu oil one of the most effective agents in promoting the formation of new tissue, accelerating wound healing and promoting the growth of healthy skin. It contains 3 essential fatty acids including phospholipids and powerful anti-inflammatory agents including coumarins and calophyllolide. It is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, has sun protective agents and penetrates instantly and deeply into skin. It is extremely effective in treating acne, scarring, dermatitis, psoriasis and pigmentation and age spots.

Amla–also known as Indian Gooseberry, Amla is a revered Ayurvedic Rasayanafor longevity and a powerhouse of anti-oxidants, minerals, amino acids, polyphenols and flavanoids and is exceptionally high in Vitamin C. It is known as a rejuvenating fruit that boosts the immune system, slows down the ageing process, reduces inflammation, is anti-bacterial, wound healing and has been used for centuries for improving the radiance of skin.

Sandalwood–Anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, cooling and calming effect on the skin,body and mind, Sandalwood is also known as Chandana and considered a sacred wood in the Vedic tradition. It is a skin rejuvenator that encourages new cell growth, increases hydration and alleviates itchiness, irritation and redness in the skin. It has a sedative effect on the nervous system and calms anxiety, stress and relieves insomnia. We use sustainably harvested Sandalwood.

 

Ingredients

Camellia oliefera (camellia oil), Argania spinosa (argan oil), Calophyllum inophyllum (tamanu oil), Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba), Rosa canina (rosehip oil), Centella asiatica (gotu kola), Phyllanthus emblica (amla), Terminalia arjuna (arjun), Anthemis nobilis (roman chamomile), Pelargonium graveolens (geranium), Santalum spicatum (sandalwood), Rosa damascene (rose otto).

 

This oil has a lighter texture and a yellow hue. It has more traditional ingredients like camellia, argan (hydrate, soften, high in vitamin E), tamanu, jojoba (hydrating, soothing, similar to sebum, lightweight), rosehip (antioxidant), gotu kola (anti-inflammatory), amla, chamomile (soothing, anti-inflammatory), geranium, rose and sandalwood. It has a scent because of the essential oils, but it's not heavy. It is more scented than the TRI DOSHA Elixir. This one is a bit lighter in texture but has the same nice slip that TRI DOSHA does.

I don't see any reason why you can't use this in the daytime as well, and I did. I used it both times of day. PITTA feels like the regenerative, antioxidant oil. TRI DOSHA is the radiance, firming, anti-inflammatory oil. I love the AIKA packaging with the violet glass bottles that help preserve the ingredients longer. There are no preservatives in these oils so it's a pretty quick shelf life for these, I would go with a year. I just grabbed an AIKA cleansing balm, exfoliator, eye balm plus a new oil. I've been testing those out and overall I think the Elixirs (facial oils) and balms are the stand outs from AIKA. If you're an oil nut like me the TRI DOSHA is for you because it is truly unique. It's become a hero product for me and I need to purchase a replacement so I can keep it in my skincare arsenal.