Spring Beauty Rituals with Rishi Veda

With the annual spring clean underway, beauty and wellness expert Madhavi Patel shares her thoughts on readying our skin for spring.

'The Mole had been working very hard all the morning, spring-cleaning his little home. First with brooms, then with dusters; then on ladders and steps and chairs....Spring was moving in the air above and in the earth below...penetrating even his dark and lowly little house with its spirit of divine discontent and longing.'

‘Divine discontent’ is so apt a term for that deep, stirring wish to refresh and renew my small corner of England, which suddenly happens as crocuses give way to daffodils on the green, and my daily cherry blossom lookout gets underway from behind bedroom shutters.

Having just returned from a trip to Mallorca - where the interior style focus is simple and clean, with plenty of white - where I paid a visit to the cabinet of curiosities that is Rialto Living, as well as the two-storey maisonette Zara Home occupies in Palma, I came away with this Mimosa quilt and the most divine cotton waffle tea towel - complete with crocheted radish, lemon and pea pod {see below to spark kitchen joy}. Whilst there I discovered that Zara Home do the best scented tea lights: I was held back by restricted luggage, but they are ideal set in the Linley walnut candle holders that I often use when friends come to visit, and are now filling our living areas with glorious wafts of Gardenia each evening - reminding me of an old Marc Jacobs scent I wore back when their store opened on Mount Street in London.

This got me thinking on scent, and the important role it still plays in our perception of the arrival of spring. How it can uplift and energise our spirits after a winter spent indoors, and, whilst it is lovely to have fragrant candles burning, what if there was a deeper benefit to scenting our homes - both for ourselves and visitors - as much as the food we prepare, or the spare bedroom you make up? After all, what is hosting, other than inviting others into your home and giving them an opportunity to restore themselves?

As a student of what she terms the ‘healing arts’, Madhavi Patel has dedicated over 20 years to advancing and perfecting her expertise as a facialist and aromatherapist. Incorporating massage, yoga and Reiki into her work, Madhavi delights in observing real transformation in both the physical and emotional wellbeing of the many clients she works with.

Having observed clients coating their own skin with numerous products to little benefit, Madhavi felt compelled to assist, founding Rishi Veda to help others to understand the real - and often simple - root causes of skin problems.

“I see our face as a reflection of the inner self, easily impacted by our thoughts and lifestyle. As well as emotional and personal factors, these impact not only our energy but also the way we look, feel and even age.”

So as spring arrives in a flurry of falling blossom and the twittering of birds can be heard escaping from newly-restored hedgerows, I asked Madhavi what we can do to awaken ourselves - and our homes - to invite spring in, and get the most out of this season of rebirth…

“As a healer I love the human body and mind and am deeply fascinated by the effects of therapeutic touch, as well as scent, on our wellbeing. I am still a student of this art and each day is different: I look after people who come to me for facials and healing therapies 5-10 days each month, with the rest of my time devoted to scent therapy work for individuals and businesses.

Observing the potential of what can be achieved with scent and touch is truly spellbinding, and there is a real freedom that comes from doing what you truly enjoy.

I design bespoke scents and develop scent identities for brands looking to enhance their customer experience - much like a designer creates a visual logo. Whilst my focus is historically my line of skincare products, I love creating candles to scent weddings, and I recently made an anointing oil for a client’s ritualistic work. If I had to pin down a job title, I think it a combination of therapist, artist and perfumer!

Nourishing from the inside is crucial: Always listen to your body and nourish it with good quality food. Make sure you take time out to just be yourself, doing what makes you happy. I meditate and cannot recommend this enough. If your mind and body permit it, I also include a weekly fast, to give your system a rest, and always ensure you get a decent amount of sleep based on your lifestyle - but everyone is different, so listening to your own body really is the key.

I adapt my skincare routine based on how I am feeling at a given moment; of course I am lucky to have stunning materials on hand in my studio, but I really value my personal trainer who keeps me motivated in my body and I make time for long walks now that the weather is more inviting.

The real scent of spring is everywhere in nature now, and aroma-wise we naturally move on from those warm, heady fragrances of winter, such as frankincense and those associated with Christmas - seeking out more refreshing ones. Psychologically we tend to feel more energised, literally getting the spring back into our step, emerging from hibernation and spring cleaning ourselves and our homes in preparation for the warmer weather.

Choosing oils can be hard, as it is not always easy to find good quality oils on the shelf. Much like choosing a fine wine, oil quality depends on many factors, such as the crop, when it was picked and how it was distilled. As well as smelling for depth and body of scent, it helps to check the labels for: the botanical name of the plant, the country of origin, the sell-by date and the cultivation (e.g. organic), and the bottle should always be a dark colour, to prevent degradation of the oil from sunlight.

Therapeutic grade oils are the most superior and are available from Aqua Oleum or Oshadhi, or I will gladly send out oils from our studio to ensure clients get maximum benefit from using top grade ones at home.

There are numerous ways to use essential oils* They can be added to a scent-free shower gel or body oil, such as those available at Neal’s Yard. When applying any essential oil {except lavender} to the skin, it should always be blended into a base oil; up to 25 drops of essential oils to 100ml of base oil makes a great, soothing body oil.

For a relaxing and cleansing facial steam, try adding to a bowl of hot water and inhaling deeply. A great DIY scrub can be made by adding essential oils to sea salts or even sugar - just ensure you use enough base oil to cover the mix.

For the home, oil diffusers are amazing for transforming spaces - I use an Odoga Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser in the living space and a simple oil burner in the bedroom.

*For therapeutic aromatherapy it is important to always refer to a qualified practitioner.

The Scents…

A go-to spring scent for me has to be neroli - the ultimate feel good aroma - which I use as a perfume, but I also love the freshness of grapefruit and the numerous benefits of bergamot. Through my work I have observed the effects of oils in aiding sluggish skin and brightening complexions, whilst shifting a tired and stagnant mind towards a more positive way of thinking. When carried-out consistently a ritual becomes a positive habit - which in turn becomes a new way of living - so why not use some of the below to devise your own springtime ritual?

For strength juniper is a fresh, sweet and woody scent, that - in addition to helping relieve stress and mental exhaustion - also acts as a diuretic, making it excellent for fluid retention and cleansing the body and mind. Try diffusing a few drops each of juniper, cedarwood and cypress in a essential oil diffuser to purify the energy of a particular space, or add this combination to some bath salts and leave to infuse for a few weeks before sprinkling into your evening bath. For me, juniper invokes a feeling of strength and determination, by removing inner obstacles.

For happiness and refreshment I like to simply diffuse bergamot around my home, as inhaling its fresh scent always makes me feel energised, happy and refreshed. Found in {Kate’s favourite!} Earl Grey tea - now the warmer days are closer why not make a refreshing pot of iced tea with a wedge of lemon and a few sprigs of mint - great for waking you up internally!

For mornings grapefruit is a refreshing oil that helps to boost digestion, stimulate the immune system, helps with skin congestion and can be used for muscle fatigue. I have found that men especially enjoy the scent of pink grapefruit as a wake up scent in a morning shower. Why not add upto 25 drops of grapefruit oil to a base oil and apply this to damp skin after a shower in the morning?

Or add 10-15 drops into a cup of milk and pour into a still bath. If feeling especially sluggish, soak a flannel in a bowl of hot water with a drop or two of grapefruit in it. Wring the excess water out, and press the flannel against your skin. For a quick-fix each morning simply splash your face with the grapefruit-infused water.

For work spaces, peppermint in essential oil form stimulates the mind and spirit, increasing mental agility and focus. Add a drop of peppermint to 5 drops of bergamot and 5 drops of grapefruit for a bright, citrus scent to shift and wake up a stagnant mind and body by diffusing in your home, or wherever you want to do your best work.

For new beginnings: Also known as orange flower, neroli’s warm and sweet scent instills a sense of calm and positivity. For an individual home scent, try combining with other florals to create a blend of purity and new beginnings - perfect for bringing those natural spring scents indoors!”

A little gift of the ultimate spring facial Madhavi’s blog details step by step instructions for a bespoke home facial. Feel free to use your own products and infuse the hot water with one of the spring oils to assist with spring cleansing. To book a consultation with Madhavi at her Knightsbridge studio, or ask any questions about essential oils used here, contact info@rishiveda.co.uk.

Happy springtime x