on April 13, 2025
or years, skincare felt like a box I had to tick. Even without social media (yes, I’m that old), instead, it was the era of awful celebrity magazines promoting the latest celebrity skincare craze. For me, it was a quick face wash. A moisturiser—anyone I could find. Sometimes, it helped. Often, it didn’t. For years, I tried what was trendy, what people swore by, and later, what the algorithm kept throwing at me. Still, my skin felt oily, acne-prone, dehydrated, and sometimes even inflamed at times. Then I learnt about Traditional Persian Medicine, and everything changed.
It wasn’t until I launched The East To West Lifestyle Co© that I realised I lacked a skincare routine. I was just reacting to breakouts, stress, and buying products that were on offer. It wasn’t about my skin. It was about noise.
What changed things for me was returning to what I already knew: rhythm matters. Nature matters. Who I am matters. And that’s exactly where Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) comes in. This story is about my skincare journey and how I finally made peace with my skin, not by doing more—but by doing less, with more intention.
Why Skincare Stopped Working for Me—Until I Reclaimed It
I think a lot of us fall into this cycle. You have a bad skin week. You panic-buy three products. You follow a new morning routine designed for a completely different skin type. You hope it’ll fix things. But you’re still tired. You’re still overwhelmed. And your skin—bless it—is still trying to keep up.
At one point, I was spending more time researching products than actually listening to my skin. I didn’t even know what my skin needed. I only knew what others said had worked for them. But I’m not “others.” I’m a choleric woman in her 30s, with dry, heat-prone skin, a toddler, a business, and very little time to waste on routines that don’t respect any of that.
That’s when I stripped everything back and asked:
- What actually feels good?
- What aligns with who I am and how I live?
- What gives me consistent results—not quick fixes?
The answers didn’t come from TikTok. They came from tuning in.
What Traditional Persian Medicine Taught Me About My Skin
In TPM, the body is understood through four temperaments: choleric, phlegmatic, sanguine, and melancholic. Each has its own quality combinations—hot or cold, dry or moist. Once I realised I was choleric (hot and dry), so much of my skin drama suddenly made sense.
All those tingling serums, exfoliating acids, foaming cleansers? They were all aggravating my skin’s natural heat. I was unknowingly creating more imbalance. My redness, sensitivity, and dehydration weren’t random—they were signs I was ignoring my temperament.
TPM helped me reconnect with my body. Not just externally, but internally too. It reminded me that the skin is a mirror of the gut, the liver, the nervous system. It reminded me to look at when I apply products, not just what I apply. It reintroduced me to rhythm—daily, seasonal, emotional. All of it.
If you’ve never explored your temperament, this chart is a good place to start. It’s not about diagnosis—it’s about alignment.
My Real-Life Skincare Ritual: What I Actually Do
This isn’t aspirational skincare. This is what I actually do, every day, with real distractions and not enough sleep.
Morning
- Rinse with lukewarm water—no cleanser.
- Mist rosewater directly on the skin.
- Apply a light serum—prickly pear or squalane.
- Follow with a gentle moisturiser.
- Add sunscreen if I’m going out.
That’s it. No actives. No eye cream. No 10-step routine.
Evening
- Cleanse with an oil or balm cleanser.
- 2–3 times a week, I exfoliate with Sefidab® Face Detox with Rice & Rose.
- Mist again, then moisturise with a rich cream.
- Seal with rose or calendula oil.
- If I’m puffy or stressed, I gua sha.
Once a week, I use Sefidab® Body Detox Calendula & Papaya. It’s the only body exfoliant that actually gives me glow without grief.
Why I Drink My Skincare (Literally)
Let me tell you about Damnoosh™ Skin Radiance Tea. This isn’t just a pretty wellness drink. It’s s Elevate Your Skin Game: From Bare Minimum to Meaningful Ritual
For years, skincare felt like a box I had to tick. A quick face wash. A moisturiser—if I remembered. Sometimes it helped. Often, it didn’t. I tried what was trendy, what people swore by, and what the algorithm kept throwing at me. Still, my skin looked stressed, dry, inflamed—or just completely unimpressed.
Somewhere in the middle of launching a business, raising a child, and trying to stay well, I had a realisation: I wasn’t building a skincare routine—I was just reacting. Reacting to breakouts, reacting to stress, reacting to what was on offer. It wasn’t about my skin. It was about noise.
What changed things for me was coming back to what I already knew, deep down: rhythm matters. Nature matters. Who I am matters. And that’s exactly where Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) comes in. This blog is about how I finally made peace with my skin, not by doing more—but by doing less, with more intention.
How My Temperament Shapes My Skincare
Your skin is a reflection of your temperament. Here’s what I’ve learnt from the TPM chart.
Choleric (Hot + Dry)
This is me. I avoid anything harsh. I stick to cooling products, very light exfoliants, and calming oils like sweet almond.
Phlegmatic (Cold + Moist)
This is the complete opposite to me – these folks need warmth—teas, movement, dry brushing. Detox is your friend.
Sanguine (Hot + Moist)
Balance is key. Keep it light, avoid rich products, and don’t skip exfoliation.
Melancholic (Cold + Dry)
You need nourishment. Think sesame oil, thick moisturisers, warming face masks.
And if you’re a mix of temperaments (many people are), your skincare might shift based on your dominant qualities or the season you’re in. That’s the beauty of TPM—it’s fluid.
How I Shift with the Seasons
The seasons affect skin temperament too. I learnt the hard way not to treat winter skin like summer skin. And no—your skincare routine doesn’t need a seasonal overhaul. Just a few thoughtful swaps.
Winter
Warm teas, facial oils, longer routines.
Spring
Detox season. More Damnoosh™, more Sefidab®, lighter oils.
Summer
Cool down. Use rosewater, hydrosols, and eat cooling foods.
Autumn
This is your invitation to slow down. Massage. Rest. Repair.
Adapting your skincare to the seasons is a form of self-respect. You’re not the same in July as you are in January. Your skin knows it, and your routine should reflect that.
The Lifestyle Link: Persian Principles I Live By
TPM is rooted in six pillars. Once I aligned with them, everything else flowed.
Air
Fresh air in the morning changes everything. I open windows. I breathe.
Sleep
If I’m tired, my skin shows it. I try for earlier nights.
Movement
Walking is my reset button. It’s circulation, mood, skin, everything.
Food & Drink
I cook with purpose. I drink tea with intention. I eat seasonally.
Detox
I exfoliate, sweat, sip Damnoosh™. It’s not punishment—it’s maintenance.
Mental State
If I’m burnt out, no cream will save me. That’s the truth.
These six principles aren’t separate from skincare. They are skincare. They influence how my skin looks, feels, and responds to life.
When My Skin Spoke Louder Than I Was Listening
After launching ETWLife, I had a high-stress patch. My skin revolted—breakouts, dryness, sensitivity. It was shouting at me. I finally listened.
I returned to rhythm: water, rest, breath, Sefidab®, Damnoosh™, stillness. Within days, I felt a shift. Not just in my face. In how I felt inside my body.
This is skincare, yes. But it’s also a return to myself.
Quickfire Qs I Get All the Time
Do I have to exfoliate? Yes. But gently. Use Sefidab®.
What if I don’t know my temperament? Start by observing. Are you hot or cold, dry or oily? Check the temperament chart.
Is this routine safe for sensitive skin? Yes. Just adjust the intensity. Mix Sefidab® with yoghurt or rosewater.
When will I see results? You’ll feel a shift in a week. A real change in about a month.
Start Your Own Skincare Ritual
So my advice to you, is that you honestly don’t need 20 productsor a massive skincare fridge – what you need to focus your attention on is:
- Rhythm
- Intention
- Skincare products that respect your unique temperament
My go-to products
- Sefidab® Face Detox with Rice & Rose
- Sefidab® Body Detox Calendula & Papaya
- Damnoosh™ Skin Radiance Tea
I’ve got a big promotion on so get involved and start your new skincare routine!
- Free UK shipping
- Free international shipping on orders over £60
- Free Damnoosh™ Tea with every skincare or cosmetic order
- Buy one, get one half-price on Sefidab® + cosmetics
- Buy one, get one free on all Damnoosh™ teas
Questions? Email info@etwlife.com. Or tag me @etwlife.com and show me your ritual.
This isn’t just skincare. It’s tradition, healing, rhythm—and it’s yours to reclaim.
Sherry x
References:
The Yoga of Herbs An Ayurvedic Guide To Herbal Medicine by DR. David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad
An Introduction to Islamic Medicine by M.Salim Khan M.D. (M.A.) D.O.
The Golden Key To Discovering Yourself by M.Salim Khan M.D. (M.A.) D.O.
The Traditional Healers Handbook by Hakim G. M Chrishti, N.D.
Theoretical Principles of Tibb by Rashid Bhikha
Temperamental Approach of Medical Disorders in UNANI perspectives – Assessment of Mizaj by Mahboob Ali, Danish Kamal Chishti, Izhar-ul Hasan
The Canon of Medicine Volume 2 Materia Medica by Hakim Ibn-Sina
The Canon of Medicine Volume 3 Special Pathologies Avicenna. Translated by Peyman Adeli Sardo Edited by Laleh Bakhtair
Avicenna’s Medicine A New Translation on the 11th Century Canon with Practical Applications for Integrative Health Care by Mones Abu-Asab, PH.D., Hakima Amri, Ph.D., and Marc S. Micozzi, M.D., Ph.D.
