In a conversation with Abhi Singhal, renowned ayurvedic beauty expert Shahnaz Husain offers vital advice on self-care, achieving radiant skin, and inner balance for women juggling with the relentless pressures of modern life

Every morning is a hectic morning in a woman’s life. The alarm blares, and before the snooze button is even considered, the day begins. After waking up, there is a quick breakfast, a hurried school drop-off, a barrage of work emails, and a mental checklist that grows every minute. This is the reality for countless women today. In all this hurricane responsibilities self-care often takes a backseat. But amidst this chaos, women are reclaiming their well-being, recognising that nurturing themselves is not a luxury but a necessity.

To illuminate the path to healthy skin, we turned to Shahnaz Husain, a luminary in Ayurvedic beauty. She offers invaluable guidance for the time-pressed woman, revealing swift self-care practices, nature’s potent remedies, and crucial skincare components. Husain champions a holistic approach, advocating for herbal solutions and stressing the imperative of prioritising personal wellness amidst life’s relentless pace.

In conversation with Shahnaz Husain

Women today are often overwhelmed by their multiple roles. What are your top recommendations for quick self-care practices for a busy schedule?

Exposure to sunlight, pollution and irregular dieting results in premature skin ageing. It appears tired, dull, dry and flaky, so regular facials are recommended to help manage the symptoms. The Diamond Facial or Pearl Facial are designed to provide the skin with ample nourishment and rejuvenate the skin, restoring its elasticity. The Ash of Diamond and Pearl Powder acts as a stimulant and awakens dormant cells, giving life and restoring the natural dynamics of a youthful appearance.

With the abundance of skincare products available, what are the key ingredients women should look for, especially those dealing with stress-related skin issues?

These days, the beauty industry is booming, with numerous new brands coming up overnight, and it is hard to choose the right one that is suitable for your skin. Therefore, you must check the labels that state ingredients like extracts of almonds, apricots, cabbage, Carrot, Wheat Germ, essential oils, Vitamins and other botanical extracts. While choosing creams for skincare and treatments, you must keep a lookout for these ingredients suitable for your skin type.

Many women suffer from stress-related skin issues. What natural remedies do you recommend for healthy skin?

I would like to remind you that our kitchen is a natural pharmacy that is full of countless herbs useful in treating skin-related issues and healthy skin. For instance, Turmeric is anti-inflammatory & antiseptic and helps in maintaining healthy, glowing skin. Mixing a pinch of Turmeric with 1 tbsp of curd will help achieve an even skin tone, remove tan. However, you need to keep it on for 15 minutes and then rinse off your skin with water. Also, honey has excellent moisturizing properties. Apply raw honey on your face and let it sit for 20 minutes, and then rinse it off with water. Those who have oily skin can use honey with Rose water and a few drops of Lemon juice. It naturally moisturizes your skin without making it greasy.

Since women get less time for themselves, what are some affordable and natural skin care routines that women can perform at home?

Neem is the best skin ingredient that comprises natural sulphur compounds that are good for hair and skin. Prepare Neem water by adding Neem leaves to 5 cups of water, bringing it to a boil, and straining the water. This water is a potent elixir for soothing skin, you can rinse your face with this water daily or use it on your hair to keep your hair and skin healthy. For moisturising and cleansing your skin, milk is the best. Use a cup full of milk and add a few drops of Olive oil to it. Use it on your face for cleansing and moisturizing.

What are some of the biggest skin health mistakes that you see women make, and how can they be avoided?

Often, I have seen women complain about dry, flaky skin with a suntan. This is the result of UV rays damage and sun damage to the skin. Avoiding sunblock even if the weather is cloudy is a big mistake. It is essential to use a good quality sunblock  and it should not be less than SPF 40 for better protection. Remember to reapply it every 2 hours. The next biggest mistake would be not exfoliating your skin and forgetting to moisturize it.

How can women in their 30s and 40s maintain youthful skin while managing work and family life?

Managing your skincare schedule between your 30s and 40s is difficult. You can begin with including Vegetable Peel and a Thermoherb mask. These are two specialised skin rejuvenating treatments that have produced good results.

Some plant extracts used in the formulation of skincare products are powerful rehydrants like Cactus, Aloe Vera, Seaweed and Ginseng.

On this Women’s Day, what message would you like to give to women who struggle to prioritise self-care?

I would like to emphasise that self-care is not limited to surface beauty but comprises of maintaining healthy mind and body. Meditation, yoga, healthy diet, including seeds and nuts in your platter and following a de-stressing activity are all a part of self-care.