All women want products that deliver on their promises. And with the surging trend of cruelty-free and sustainable products, brands are under pressure to develop new formulas that not only hit the quality mark but also uniquely addresses different problems. Here are some luxury beauty and personal care products that are the top buys of 2020.
Mystique Earth
With an objective to develop natural formulas that capture the essence of herbs, flowers, metals, minerals and clay from the tribal lands of Madhya Pradesh—Satpura, Vindhya and Mahadeo—mother-son duo Manjula and Gaurav Tiwari launched their startup in 2018. Though it has not been long since its conception, the brand has created a niche for itself in the beauty and personal care products market. Mystique Earth focuses on tapping the true essence of nature’s bounty and the idea of going back to the roots. One of the best-sellers is the skin care gift pack which is a box with two big tubes—a face wash and a silk serum lotion. The bubble facial cleanser has a refreshing scent and is very light on the skin. Perfect wash for people with oily skin, the cleanser thoroughly hydrates and improves the texture of the skin. Stirred with forest air bubbles, the mild cleanser is made of custard apple extracts and royal jelly that improves the skin.
Silk serum lotion with white lily and mahua butter has a luscious scent that is not only soothing but also lasts long. It does not make the skin look oily or sticky instead it thoroughly hydrates the epidermis and maintains the moisture balance. The skin feels silky soft post usage and the gentle nature of the velvety smooth lotion is perfect for those with sensitive skin.
Another must-try is its youth concentrate serum which has micro-copper peptide. If you are looking at repairing your skin problems like fine lines, acne, wrinkle and dark spots, this is the product for you. Although heavy on the wallet, this product delivers on its promise. One can start seeing a difference in the first week of use. The serum rejuvenates the skin cells in ageing tissues, tightens and tones the skin and also increases the protein content in the derma cells. The pro-repair copper peptides ensure proper delivery of antioxidants and penetrates deeply into the skin, making it appear plump instantly.
Khadi Natural
This brand needs no introduction. Founded and established in 1963, it is one of the oldest and trustworthy brands in terms of beauty and health care products. It has been known to develop some of the best ayurveda products that are not only chemical-free but also a certified brand from the department of Ayush. Although it has come up with several products, the one that we will be covering is the Ayurvedic Luxury Spa Kit. It is a maroon box with five products—perfect gifting option as the packaging is extremely elegant. The brand keeps on emphasising on the fact that it is free from SLS, paraben and mineral oil, so much that this statement is the third big sized font on the box.
Start with the sweet-smelling sandalwood oil and give yourself a nice massage. It has a cooling effect on the skin. The oil is said to have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and it protects the skin from wounds and pimples. If you are struggling with body odour issues, this takes care of that. With olive, grapeseed and sandalwood oil as its key components, the oil acts as an emollient and soothes the skin. Take steam before applying the oil as it unclogs the pores and rinse it off while taking a shower.
The next on the list is the lavender and ylang ylang shower gel. Ylang ylang is a yellow, star-shaped flower that grows on the Cananga tree which is native to countries surrounding the Indian Ocean. It has a heady and aromatic scent. It hydrates and you leave the shower feeling fresh and smelling heavenly. Post shower, generously apply the peach and avocado moisturiser. The shea butter in the lotion softens, nourishes and improves skin tone.
The sandal and rose body wrap, which is a face pack, not only deals with hyperpigmentation and pores but also gives the skin a polished look. Keep in mind to not let it sit for long after it dries out and gently scrub when you wash it out. Apply the rose and papaya body polisher after drying your face. This has granules which further scrub the skin and unclog the pores. The essential oils in the polisher protect the skin’s moisture balance and make it look shiny and supple.
Sirona
“Menstrual hygiene issues are still considered a taboo in the country,” says Deep Bajaj, founder of PeeBuddy—India’s first portable, disposable and design patent-protected female urination device— and Sirona, which is a company that produces modern menstrual hygiene products. The idea of PeeBuddy came during a road trip that Deep took in 2013. “Women don’t get clean and friendly toilets anywhere. I wanted to make something that solved this issue and this got me thinking,” says Deep. “Earlier, women had to wipe the seat or make seat covers, air pee or squat but with PeeBuddy, women can avoid contact with the toilet seat altogether and can stand and pee.” The easy-to-use disposable product is a life-saver for women who travel regularly. Apart from this, Deep launched several personal care products that are based on novel concepts. Coloured sanitary pads for women who don’t like seeing blood stains, biodegradable tampons with and without applicator, menstrual cups, intimate wash and wipes and underarm sweat pads.
“I want my daughters to have options when it comes to intimate hygiene. As a matter of fact, I want women across the globe to experience comfort through our products,” says Deep. One of the best-sellers is the herbal period pain patch. It is an excellent product which acts on period pain effectively and quickly. The patch has a cooling effect and is not harsh on the skin. It does not emit any medicinal smell as well.
The brand also takes care of disposal of products like sanitary pads, tampons and diapers with its oxo-degradable disposal bags for clean and hygienic disposal of sanitary products. A first-of-its-kind in the country, it solves the big challenge of proper disposal sanitary products. The brand also launched the country’s first no-chemical anti-chafing cream for those inner thigh rashes. But it does not stop with firsts on a national level. Sirona launched the world’s first paper-based pee and see pregnancy strip. Simplifying the current process of testing, PregRx lets women test pregnancy anywhere without the hassle of collecting urine in a cup and then using a dropper to put it on the strip. When it comes to favourites, the coloured pads, anti-chafing cream and intimate wash tops my list.
With a vision to break the stigma around intimate hygiene and redefine femininity for modern times, the company hopes to develop more innovative products that would address intimate and menstrual hygiene issues. Surely, we need more of that, don’t we? Deep, keep thinking deep.
Hempstrol
Do you dread your period days? From leakage to debilitating pain, most women are not in their best moods during this time. How about a pain-relieving oil? Hempstrol is your go-to product. According to Deepika Sharma, co-founder of Hempstrol, it is with a lot of research and experimentation that the natural aromatherapy menstrual cramp oil came into existence. “I met a woman while travelling in the interiors of Rajasthan who was suffering from menstrual pain but could not afford to take rest as she had to take care of her two daughters and also do house chores. I wanted to create a product that not only provides an organic and natural solution to menstrual cramps and mood swings but also helps the underprivileged women of our society with the availability of proper menstrual hygiene products,” she says. “For every bottle of oil sold, we distribute a packet of sanitary napkin to a woman who has no access to proper menstrual hygiene. Hempstrol strives towards bringing out more sustainable and top-quality hemp products.”
The oil has strong anti-inflammatory properties which soothe the nervous system; the aroma of the Himalayan lavender brings relief to psychological, mental and physical symptoms. Lavender oil is known to lessen contractions and mediate pain. The hemp seed oil is rich in magnesium which reduces bloating. The oil also regulates hormones thereby reducing cramping. The cramp oil is not sticky and gets absorbed by the skin quickly. As soon as the pain starts, pour 10-15 drops on the abdomen and waistline area and massage gently for three to five minutes.
