Now some of you may be looking at the title and be thinking what the heck is Ayurvedic-inspired* skincare, and why should I know about it? Let’s break things down a bit.
Ayurvedic-inspired skincare derives from the concept of Ayurveda, a traditional Hindu system of medicine, based on the idea of maintaining balance in the body with the use of diet, herbal treatment, yogic breathing, and meditation. Ayurvedic-inspired skincare can contain a variety of ingredients like turmeric, ginseng, and amla (Indian gooseberry) that are inspired by Ayurveda-derived medical treatments and diet.
In the past two years, the number of Ayurvedic-inspired skincare and haircare brands that hit the market has multiplied and so has public awareness of these types of treatments. Why? Perhaps a worldwide event that set everyone’s systems, psychological and physiological, out of whack? Stress is a well-known cause of a variety of skincare and haircare issues, ranging from hair loss to acne or, as many of us have experienced in a post-pandemic world, mask. What better way to get your skin and hair back to a balanced state than skincare influenced by thousands of years of medicinal practices?
Here are a few Ayurvedic-inspired beauty brands to check out:
Avya Skincare
Avya Skincare was founded by aunt-and-nephew duo, trained pharmacist and entrepreneur Deepika Vyas and Dr. Tanuj Nakra, a double board-certified facial & ophthalmic plastic surgeon. Deepika also grew up with Ayurvedic recipes passed down by generations of family members and with their combined knowledge and passion for skincare, the two created Avya Skincare.
Squigs Beauty
Squigs Beauty was founded by Nikita Charuza after years of having dermatitis and experiencing hair loss after the birth of her first child. Nikita wanted to create a product to help with hair loss and improve the overall health of the scalp. Nikita, much like Deepika, grew up with many home remedies taken from Ayurveda and recalled an ingredient that is now well-known in the haircare industry, amla. Amla, also known as Indian gooseberries, is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and phytonutrients that increase the circulation of blood throughout the scalp and help with hair growth.
Ranavat
This celebrity-adored company, loved by A-Listers like Hailey Bieber and Mindy Kaling, is the first South-Asian founded Ayurvedic-inspired skincare brand to enter Sephora, and for good reason. The beauty brand was founded by Michelle Ranavat after experiencing severe postpartum hair loss and finding only one product that helped, Ayurvedic oil imported from India. Michele was so impressed by the results and wanted to combine the medicinal benefits of the traditional medicinal system her parents grew up with with a luxurious skincare experience. One of the highlight ingredients of the brand is pure saffron, one of the most sought-after and expensive spices in the world, which Ranavat goes to great lengths to attain.
*To emphasize, Ayurveda is a highly-esteemed, traditional Indian healthcare system, which should only be performed by trained medical professionals.
