By Lisa Mattam, founder of Sahajan
It seems that the word Ayurveda is popping up everywhere we look. The wellness world seems to be hot on everything Ayurvedic, from cleanses, to vitamins to teas. To long-time believers, it comes as no surprise- Ayurveda is taking the beauty world by storm.
As a beauty brand founder in the Ayurvedic world, the most frequent question I get is, “what exactly is Ayurveda and why is it so important for my beauty routine?”
What is Ayurveda?
Growing up, Ayurveda was infused in every part of my life- it didn’t need a name. As the child of parents from South India, Ayurveda was in the turmeric that was in all of our food and occasionally put on my teenage acne as a treatment, Ayurveda was the foundation for the meditation and mantras I would see my dad practice every morning, and Ayurveda was in the oils that were applied to my hair on Friday nights to keep it strong, resilient and shiny.
Ayurveda translated from Sanskrit means the Science of Life. It’s a 5,000 year old Science from Ancient India. Developed by the sages of India, Ayurveda continues to be one of the world’s most sophisticated and powerful health systems and its emphasis on mind-body balance and plant based healing resonates so strongly in our modern day world where wellness is constantly on our minds.
The benefits of Ayurveda
The reality is that most of us are already incorporating Ayurvedic practices into our daily rituals, whether or not we even realize it—practicing yoga, drinking warm water with lemon, taking turmeric or ashwangandha root in our smoothies or lattes. When it comes to our skin and hair, this same science unlocks the secrets to address any complexion or concern. The Royals of ancient India relied on Ayurvedic remedies and blends to stay healthy, ageless and glowing and intuitively it make sense; that the same science that we are relying on feed on our bodies should be the one we use to feed our skin and clinical science supports this. I spent almost 15 years in the pharmaceutical industry where evidence based approaches and clinical rigour are the norm so when creating Sahajan I took my intuitive belief in Ayurveda and worked with two Ayurvedic doctors in Indian on the formulations and then took that deep clinical background and proved that they work. The results don’t lie- the science of Ayurveda is here.
5 ayurvedic ingredients you should include in your routine
Looking to give the best of Ayurveda a try? Here are 5 opportunities to incorporate Ayurveda’s most powerful ingredients into your daily routine to get glowing skin every day of the year.
1. Neem Oil
Neem translated from Sanskrit is the Healing Tree. Known as a powerful anti-inflammatory, neem also helps the appearances of dark under eye circles. Found in Sahajan Radiance Eye Cream.
2. Gotu Kola
The Indian Parsley, this has been shown in modern clinical trials to stimulate the production of collagen through the action of tritepenoids. Who wouldn’t want to try this. Try it in Sahajan Radiance Serum.
3. Moringa
Moringa is a powerful antioxidant that helps to fight free radicals, this powerhouse has been proven to have an anti-pollution cleansing benefit to lift off the daily yuck, when the day is done. It's an ingredient of Sahajan Essential Oil Cleanser.
4. Amla Oil
Found in almost every Indian household, amla oil is revered in Ayurveda to help create strong, shiny, resilient, hair. Find it in Sahajan Nurture Hair Oil.
5. Triphala
Triphala translates from Sanskrit as 3 fruits. Triphala is a powerful antioxidant rich in Vitamin C, and works to invigorate and strengthen the skin, helping to restore a brighter, more youthful appearance. It's one of the main ingredients in Sahajan Nourish Face Cream.
Sahajan products allow you the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits Ayurvedic medicine can have on your skin.
Lisa Mattam, founder of Sahajan
