The Summer Skin and Hair Special

We ask founders of popular and eclectic sustainable skincare and haircare brands to pick their favourites for the hot season

Summer. A belligerent sun and relentless humidity whip up a potent cocktail of frizz and shine. But it isn’t only the mere mortals who struggle with the elements. We speak to eight founders of clean hair and skin brands from across the country to understand what’s on their shelves from their collections this hot, sticky season. (arranged alphabetically)

Aastha Khandelwal, CEO, Tvachamrit

What’s in her summer skincare closet: Mint & Matcha Scrub

What makes it special: The energising organic, vegan and cruelty free scrub replenishes skin with anti-oxidants and staves off damage caused by pollution, dust and the elements. Mint has anti-bacterial properties and prevents body odour while the matcha is rich in anti-oxidants and soothes sore muscles. Plumping and softening, it nourishes and sloughs off the dead skin.

Tips to use: Massage a small amount onto skin using gentle upward strokes and rinse well with cold water. The scrub makes Aastha clean and happy. Using it, she says, “My skin becomes instantly softer, plumper and feels well-nourished.” tvachamrit.com

Bubbles Singh and Simrita Singh, Founders, Just B Au Naturel

What’s in their summer skincare and haircare closet: The Botanical Hair Mask strengthens hair and discourages premature greying and even calms the mind. With ingredients such as amla, bhingraj, hibiscus, brahmi, rhassoul clay and neem, it is great hair food.

The mother daughter duo also recommend oil from the miracle tree, moringa. Used as an after sun oil, it is chock full with radiance-boosting fatty acids, anti-ageing vitamins A and C, and essential amino acids. It helps fights toxins, skin fatigue and counteracts pollution.

Tips to use: Mix 2-3 spoons of the Botanical Hair Mask with yogurt and apply it on your hair. Wrap your hair with a hot towel, letting it soak in for an hour or so, before rinsing with warm water. You can skip shampooing as it acts as a hair cleanser too. justbaunaturel.com

Jessica Jayne, Founder, Pahadi Local

What’s in her summer skincare closet: Markalak— mineral rich Himalayan clay

What makes it special: Just pure mountain soil, it rejuvenates your skin. Rich in bentonite, this summer cleaner smoothens your skin by removing toxins and grime. It’s silken smooth, quick and easy to use.

Tips to use: Use it once or twice a week. Mix half a teaspoon of the powder with rose water and apply a thin layer on your face and neck, allowing it to dry. After use, Jessica recommends you make a mix of Pahadi Local’s apricot oil or Gutti ka Tel and rose water and apply it on your face as a moisturiser. pahadilocal.com

Kavita Khosa, Founder, PUREARTH

What’s in her summer skincare closet: Mitti clay masque

What makes it special: This mitti is a molten concoction of raw organic honey mixed with essential oils of rosa damascena, frankincense, sweet orange and ylang ylang along with organic avocado, tamanu and macadamia oils and clays, making it a potent, chemical-free masque for all skin types. Each apothecary-styled bottle is hand-filled in French violetglass to preserve the bio-active energy of the ingredients.

Tips to use: Kavita recommends using the mask often to draw out impurities that clog the skin, causing acne and congestion. It helps to nourish, clean and leave it even to toned. purearth.asia

Mallyeka Watsa and Himani Singh, Founders, Ayca

What’s in their summer skincare closet: Their after-sun remedy is a soothing, non-greasy pure aloe vera gel formulation, which helps heal sunburnt skin. The essential oils of lavender and frankincense soothe the redness. You can also slather it on cuts, burns and insect bites.

Tips to use: Apply a generous amount on clean skin. Store it in the refrigerator during summer for an extra cooling effect. It’s the duos go-to healing balm and they never leave home without it. Safe to apply on your face and body. ayca.in

Shubhika Jain, Founder, RAS Luxury Oils

What’s in her summer skincare closet: Shubhika recommends the Radiance Beauty-Boosting Day Face Elixir in combination with the Revival Rejuvenating Night Face Elixir. These beauty oils are a blend of rose, sandalwood, frankincense, patchouli, rosehip, and vetiver. While the day elixir helps your skin get through the day, the the night elixir restores skin with the essential nourishment.

Tips to use: She recommends that after your morning and evening cleansing rituals take 2-3 drops in the palm of your hand and rub them together to warm before pressing gently onto your face and neck, infusing the oil into the skin. rasluxuryoils.com

Sunayana Walia, Founder, Raw Beauty

What’s in her summer skincare closet: Raw Beauty’s Happy Underarm Salve is free from parabens, aluminum, silica, talc and synthetic fragrances. The natural answer to summer B.O. it is made from organic virgin coconut oil, pure beeswax, naturally occurring baking soda, organic arrowroot powder, and essential oils to keep your pits happy this summer. Its anti bacterial ingredients keep you smelling fresh without interfering with detoxification by sweating.

Tips to use: Apply a little with a spatula or your fingers and you’re good to go. Avoid using on raw or sensitive skin.

Vivek Sahni, CEO and Co-Founder, Kama Ayurveda

What’s in his summer skincare and haircare closet: Vivek has two summer favourites. The first is the Himalayan Deodar hair cleanser that contains aloe vera, davadaru, amla, soy bean and hibiscus and repairs weak and thinning hair, promoting hair growth while nourishing it. Free of sulphates, parabens and chemicals, it cleanses without stripping the hair of its moisture. Another favourite is the Tulsi Soap, a blend of holy basil essential oil, extra virgin organic coconut oil, castor oil and beeswax, together which add to the lustre and hydrate the skin.

Tips to use: He recommends you follow the Tulsi Soap with a refreshing toner like the pure vetiver water. kamaayurveda.com

Exhibit 3

The Forest Whisperer

Neeti Mehra is an award-winning, multidimensional communications professional and brand consultant with 20+ years of experience in bringing stories to life. She works as an independent storyteller at the intersection of sustainability, ecology and people, shaping the voice of homegrown and international brands. In 2007, she founded Beejliving, a multi-disciplinary platform that records our living traditions, making them accessible and relevant to a young, curious audience. Through the lens of modernity, she interprets ancient practices, showing there is an alternate, viable path to living a fast-paced, burnt-out life. In 2024, she was featured on the cover of The Week magazine's health supplement for being the leading voice in advocating slow living in India. In February, she launched the #BeejLivingPowerCircle a B2B platform targeted to help conscious businesses in India scale.

Neeti has partnered on projects with leading global brands such as Marriott International, Jaipur Rugs, AB InBev, South African Tourism and the India Wine Awards. She is a former editor with FICCI’s India Travel, LuxeBook, and Indian Express Newspapers.
She has been published in over 60 global publications such as Lonely Planet, Vogue, Condé Nast Traveller, GQ, The Hindu, Business Traveller UK, The Spruce, Treehugger and The Times of India, writing about responsible luxury and sustainable living.
A Technical Accountant, Neeti has a Post Graduate Certificate in Yoga & Tantra and Indian Aesthetics from Jnanapravaha. She has completed a CSR workshop with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. A student of Vedic studies since the past six years, she has also been studying Sanskrit. She has studied traditional knowledge of Ayurveda, Jyotish and Tantra with world-renowned Ayurvedic practitioner, Dr Robert Svoboda. A wine lover, she finished her WSET Level 1 award in wine with a perfect score.