Beauty combos
The year promises a gamut of beauty trends, especially ‘clean’ makeup that can double up too
If trend charts and expert predictions are anything to go by, 2021’s the year of the multitasker. In other words, (clean) products that double (or triple) up will have a major moment on makeup shelves.
Abhishek Kumar, founder, The Switch Fix, shares his insights. “We’ve always believed that the best skincare products should multitask as much as you do. While creating products, we first decide on its primary function, and then we create the blend in a way that it provides secondary benefits as well. For instance, some of our body butters use a combination of hemp seed oil, sal butter and mango butter to provide long-lasting nourishment while creating a protective skin barrier to stop further damage caused by pollution. Hence, it’s a moisturiser and protector rolled into one!” he exclaims.
Amit Sarda, MD, Soulflower, also shares a similar thinking. “We have a wide range of essential oils, carrier oils, soaps, shampoo bars, conditioners and home products that can be used in 10 different ways,” he says. “There are shampoos that also condition. There are oils that act as a primer and can be used to remove makeup, and there are multitasking lipsticks, foundations and so much more.”
COMBINED GOODNESS
As people spend more time indoors, the demand for mood-boosting products such as essential oils are on the rise. Natasha Tuli, CEO, Soulflower, avers, “Essential oils are multitaskers that help with skin and hair issues, the most beneficial being aromatherapy. People are reading and discovering more about essential oils, which have been doing the rounds for being one of the most important additions in your beauty routine.”
In the meanwhile, Amrita Alexander, founder, Auravedic, shares an incisive perspective into the most popular makeup/skincare products that will be in demand. “Surprisingly, even though being outdoors is minimal in the current scenario, consumers have been seeking products that control sun damage. Also popular are hand-care products to protect and hydrate against excessive use of soaps and sanitisers,” she says. “Vitamin C in skincare as well as immunity blends are popular combinations that are currently in demand.”
Ashok Gupta, founder, Amrutam, points out how a majority of Amrutam’s recipes are quite multitasking too, serving many purposes. “Cleansers don’t stop at just brushing impurities away.
But rather, target toward helping users achieve softer, supple and also reduces acne and skinirritability. Out recently launched DIY Hair Spa kits were created, in keeping with an agenda to serve multiple purposes such as hair fall, improves blood circulation, strengthens the roots and reduces hairwhitening,” he infers.
CLEAN AND GREEN BEAUTY BUYS
Interestingly, the pandemic has made people more sensitive about clean beauty, with many gravitating towards brands that follow the ethics of sustainable manufacturing, including stage-level checks, packaging, cruelty-free processes and providing equal opportunities to its employees amongst others.
In addition to the above, clean beauty is also about non-toxic skincare that may give slow results but
are 100 percent safe
There is a lot to consider before investing in any product but it all boils down to its safety and effectiveness. One simple hack to this is to start reading labels. Check if your favourite brand is using any of the untested harmful chemicals or disguising them under umbrella terms like Fragrance or Base QS,
— Rhea Shukla, cofounder, The Switch Fix.
and sustainable for the skin. Philip Alexander, co-founder, Auravedic, points out how Kumkumadi Oil is one such product that is beneficial for hydration to exfoliation to resolving specific skincare concerns. “Proven ingredients are the key factor that helps consumers to decide whether their skincare is clean or not. So, ensure you do your research before merely following trends,” he opines.
However, Rhea Shukla, Cofounder, The Switch Fix, reminds us that while it’s always a great idea to invest in good skincare and makeup, the secret to making the right purchase lies in reading labels. “There is a lot to consider before investing in any product, but it all boils down to its safety and effectiveness. One simple hack is to start reading labels. Check if your favourite brand is using any of the untested harmful chemicals or disguising them under umbrella terms like Fragrance or Base QS,” she suggests offering an important tip as we close.
Essential oils are multitaskers that help with skin and hair issues and the most beneficial being aromatherapy
— Natasha Tuli, CEO, Soulflower