Every summer, like clockwork, breakouts reappear in the same areas of your face. Ugh, why? That stubborn chin pimple or recurring forehead congestion isn’t just a random flare-up—it’s your body sending a message through your skin.
According to ancient medicinal traditions, your skin reflects the health of your internal organs, which makes complete sense given that it’s your body’s largest, most exposed organ. And summer’s intense heat, light, and activity often amplify imbalances that show up on your face. Through the lens of face mapping and an ancestral arsenal of botanical beauty hacks, you can decode your skin’s signals and offer it time-tested support. For those willing to upgrade their daily rituals with antioxidant-rich foods, supportive plant allies (used internally and externally), and some surprisingly simple lifestyle changes, outer radiance is just around the corner.
Face mapping, rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and supported by Ayurvedic marma point theory, teaches that different areas of the face correspond to specific organ systems. The forehead is associated with the liver and gallbladder. The cheeks are linked to the lungs. The nose reflects the heart. The temples are associated with the kidneys and bladder. And the chin and jawline often signal imbalances in the reproductive organs and digestive system. When breakouts recur in the same place each summer, it’s usually a clue that that specific organ system is being overworked or irritated by heat, toxins, or emotional stress.
Summer is ruled by the fire element in both Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine. This fiery energy supports expansion, movement, and joy; however, when overactive, it can lead to heat accumulation in the body. Inflammatory flare-ups, oil imbalances, and skin eruptions are all signs of internal “heat” rising to the surface. Face mapping provides a roadmap that you can use to support these systems holistically, offering a starting point for deeper inquiry into root causes.
If you’re experiencing forehead congestion or little red bumps across your brow, this may signal liver stagnation. The liver is responsible for detoxification and the metabolism of hormones. Summer’s social energy—more alcohol, fried foods, and disrupted sleep—can overwhelm liver pathways. In TCM, this is known as Liver Heat. Cooling herbs like dandelion root, burdock, chrysanthemum, and mint can gently clear this heat. Our Liver Vitality Greens superfood powder, featuring antioxidant-rich moringa, provides daily microbiome support and liver nourishment with a rich blend of essential vitamins and minerals to help buffer inflammation. Topically, use rose water or a few drops of helichrysum essential oil (always diluted in a neutral base oil, such as jojoba) to soothe the forehead and promote clarity.
Summer wildfire smoke, pollen, and sunscreen can all tax the lungs and lead to breakouts on the cheeks. According to TCM, the lungs govern the skin, so anything that compromises respiration can result in congestion. Herbal support for the lungs includes mullein, elecampane, and licorice. Facial steaming with these herbs can open the pores and sinuses, while botanical cleansers with chamomile and hibiscus calm irritation. Rose clay face masks, rich in silica and trace minerals, help draw out impurities while respecting skin sensitivity (and smell divine).
Hormonal breakouts around the chin and jawline are common during the summer, often triggered by heat, stress, and the consumption of indulgent foods. This area maps to the kidneys, reproductive system, and gut in both TCM and Ayurveda. Support your hormonal rhythm with cooling, hormone-balancing herbs like raspberry leaf, vitex berry, and red clover. Digestive herbal bitters taken before meals can help reduce bloating and improve skin clarity by aiding detoxification through the liver and bowels. Our Collagen Booster collection features a curated herbal array of single herbs and botanical formulas that include adaptogens, gut-supportive herbs, and plant-based collagen co-factors to nourish from within.
Breakouts, redness, or oiliness around the nose often relate to the heart in Chinese Medicine or excess pitta in Ayurveda. This area reflects circulation, emotional stress, and systemic inflammation. Hawthorn berry tea, rose petals, and cooling tonics can ease both emotional and physical tension. Use rose water or a rose-infused facial oil for both beauty and emotional harmony. Rose is considered a sacred heart medicine with skin-soothing properties in many ancient beauty lineages, especially from Persian, Egyptian, and Ayurvedic perspectives.
The temple area corresponds to the kidneys and adrenal system. Travel, heat exhaustion, and dehydration in summer can drain this system. Signs include fatigue, dark circles, and stubborn blemishes near the temples. Support kidney and adrenal health with mineral-rich nettle and our adaptogenic formulas. Castor oil packs over the kidneys or lower back can also be deeply replenishing. Castor has been used in Ayurveda and Mediterranean medicine for centuries as a stimulant for the circulatory and lymphatic systems. Watch this video to learn more.
One of the most underrecognized allies in summer skin health is Moringa oleifera, a leafy green known as the “miracle tree.” Native to parts of India and Africa and used for centuries in Ayurvedic and folk medicine traditions, moringa is celebrated for its nutrient density and healing potential. Its leaves are packed with calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, chlorophyll, and over 90 bioactive compounds, making it a powerful tonic for skin and energy.
A 2019 study revealed that the naturally potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of moringa leaves are likely attributed to their high flavonoid and phenolic acid content, specifically compounds like quercetin and chlorogenic acid, which are known to neutralize oxidative stress and promote tissue repair. Its nutrient density and potential to support blood sugar regulation and reduce metabolic inflammation can help stabilize hormonal skin. These qualities make it particularly beneficial for skin that’s inflamed, congested, or sun-stressed in the hotter months.
Beyond its surface-level effects, moringa supports the internal systems that directly impact skin clarity, including the liver, digestive tract, endocrine system, and blood sugar metabolism. Research suggests that moringa may help regulate glucose levels and reduce markers of metabolic inflammation, both of which are tied to hormonal acne and skin imbalance. This is especially relevant for breakouts on the chin, jawline, and cheeks, areas commonly linked to hormonal shifts and internal heat in traditional face mapping and plant medicine practices.
Herbalists consider moringa to be both an alkalizing and a mineralizing plant, helping to restore electrolyte balance, hydrate tissues, and cool internal “heat.” Moringa’s gentle cooling action, along with its naturally high levels of potassium and magnesium, supports both hydration and nervous system regulation. When added to tonics or smoothies with ingredients like cucumber, lime, aloe vera, and coconut water, it becomes a deeply replenishing summer elixir that addresses not only the symptoms of troubled skin but also the root causes. (More on nature’s electrolytes and refreshing electrolyte-enhanced recipes can be found on our Instagram page!)
Topically, moringa seed oil, cold-pressed from the tree’s pods, is revered for its emollient, antimicrobial, and anti-aging properties. Rich in oleic acid and vitamin E, it absorbs easily into the skin, leaving it supple, moisturized, and protected against environmental damage. Moringa oil has been traditionally used to promote clarity, even tone, and elasticity, especially in hot or humid climates. When paired with a botanical skincare ritual that includes gentle exfoliation, cooling masks, and soothing facial mists, moringa can help you achieve that coveted radiant glow. Try it this summer, and watch your appearance and overall well-being transform!
Summer skin needs both topical care and internal support. After sun exposure, we recommend using a gentle exfoliant, such as a DIY sugar scrub made with brown sugar, and this exquisite body oil. The sugar polishes dead skin while the oils replenish moisture. Follow with a soothing toner that incorporates herbs traditionally used for skin renewal and scar healing.
Rose, revered in Greco-Roman, Ayurvedic, and Persian traditions, among others, is one of the most potent allies for summer skin. Rosewater cools inflammation, restores hydration, and harmonizes the heart. Helichrysum, also called Immortelle, is rich in flavonoids and has been shown to support wound healing and collagen repair. Use it as a toner, oil infusion, or mist.
For inflammation and puffiness, arnica has been a staple in European and Latin folk medicine for centuries. Known for its anti-bruising and anti-inflammatory compounds, such as helenalin, arnica can be used in small amounts as part of soothing face masks or under-eye balms.
Oily or Acne‑Prone Skin. In Chinese Medicine, oily skin often indicates an excess of heat and dampness in the body, particularly in the spleen and stomach meridians. During summer, this tendency can intensify, leading to enlarged pores, shine, and breakouts in the T‑zone. To balance heat and dampness, begin your morning with a gentle cool wash infused with green tea or chrysanthemum—both cooling and astringent herbs that help regulate sebum. A weekly rose‑clay mask will help draw out impurities without stripping your skin’s natural moisture barrier.
Internally, sip on our Gut Sweep Tea to support spleen function and fluid metabolism, reducing internal dampness. Finish your evening routine with a light gua sha massage to stimulate lymphatic drainage, clearing stagnation that contributes to oiliness.
Dry or Dehydrated Skin. From an Ayurvedic perspective, dry skin corresponds to a Vata imbalance—characterized by coolness, wind, and movement—while in TCM, it may signal Yin deficiency or insufficient blood and fluids. In the heat of summer, sun and wind can further parch the skin. Begin each day with a gentle mist of rose water, a traditional remedy used in Persian and Mediterranean cultures to restore hydration and soothe inflammation. A creamy nightly mask made from honey, mashed cucumber, and a few drops of cold‑pressed moringa oil (valued in Ayurveda for its nourishing fatty acids) will seal in moisture and support skin repair.
Castor oil packs applied briefly to the face (covered by a warm, damp cloth) can deeply nourish and calm dryness, a practice borrowed from Egyptian and Ayurvedic beauty rituals. Internally, add a teaspoon of moringa powder to coconut milk smoothies to supply essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, thereby bolstering your skin’s natural barrier.
Combination or Normal Skin. Combination skin reflects a dynamic interplay between heat/damp in the T‑zone and relative dryness on the cheeks, often linked to spleen and lung channels in TCM, or a Pitta‑Vata mix in Ayurveda. Summer’s fire element can aggravate the central zones while leaving cheeks prone to flakiness or sensitivity. Balance this by alternating treatments: use a cooling botanical cleanser on the T-zone daily, and then a gentle milk-based cleanser on the cheeks. Two to three times a week, apply a bifurcated mask: rose clay to oily zones and a soothing cucumber-aloe gel to dry patches. Incorporate a few drops of night-blooming jasmine oil into your moisturizer for its calming and antibacterial properties, which support both overactive and under-nourished areas.
A mid‑afternoon facial mist of our Rosewater Toner (lightly spritzed) refreshes oily zones without overwhelming drier areas, while offering antioxidant support. Internally, enjoy an herbal infusion of mint, fennel, and chamomile to harmonize the digestive fire and prevent both heat-driven oiliness and dryness associated with heat exhaustion.
Gua sha, a facial technique, dates back thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It uses gentle scraping with a stone tool to stimulate lymphatic drainage, relieve muscle tension, and improve skin tone. Use a rose quartz or jade gua sha tool along the cheeks, jawline, and brow to improve circulation and move stagnation. This daily ritual not only enhances skin texture but also supports the detox channels connected to each facial zone.
In Ayurveda, night-blooming jasmine is revered for its ability to balance the emotional and energetic bodies. Its cooling, calming nature is ideal for summer, especially when the fire element is in excess. A few drops of jasmine oil in a facial serum or mist can support the nervous system while offering antibacterial benefits for the skin. Its sweet, intoxicating aroma also helps soothe emotional agitation, which is especially important when considering the role of stress in summer skin flare-ups.
Botanical skincare is most effective when paired with a seasonal lifestyle aligned with nature’s rhythms and even the Moon phases. (Here’s a helpful hair moon calendar to try.) Hydrating foods like cucumber, watermelon, and coconut water replenish electrolytes and prevent the drying effects of summer heat. Fermented foods support gut-skin integrity, while bitter herbs like dandelion and gentian keep detox pathways open.
Our Antioxidants collection features plant powerhouses like camu camu and mangosteen, which help neutralize oxidative stress caused by sun exposure and pollution. Antioxidants are crucial for maintaining collagen integrity and achieving youthful skin, especially during months when high UV exposure is the norm. And if you want to “eat your SPF” and wear it, too, read this.
So, if your breakouts keep coming back in the same spot every summer, it’s not a random coincidence! These rhythmic cues, deciphered through facial mapping, offer a window into which organ system is requesting support, and traditional medicine shows us that our skin is a reflection of internal harmony. Are you listening to your skin? Maybe this summer is your time to start. The skin not only absorbs what you put on it, but also what goes inside your body.
*The above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
