BROWN IS BEAUTIFUL
Anusha Dandekar, VJ and co-founder, Brownskin Beauty, talks about changing the beauty narrative around brown skin
One of the best quotes on melanin could be what Alicia D Love said: “Stop comparing skin tones. Who cares if your skin is lighter or darker than the person standing next to you? Change can only happen once you can truthfully look in the mirror and love that Deep Chocolate, Cinnamon, Mocha, or Caramel complexion.”
It’s refreshing to note more people wholeheartedly embracing the concept of normalising skin tones and becoming inclusive — something especially close to VJ Anusha Dandekar’s heart. “I don’t think we understand the importance and blessings we have with melanin and how we can use that to our advantage. We also need to understand that melasma and hyperpigmentation are common among brown skin. I have it and it’s nothing to be ashamed of; most of the time it’s not curable but there are ways to reduce it, prevent it from spreading and take care of it. Embracing our brown is the first way to winning all these battles. It isn’t a bad word; it’s beautiful,” says Anusha.
TO ANUSHA, SKINCARE IS ABOUT HOW YOU SEE YOURSELF. “IF YOU BELIEVE YOU AREN’T BEAUTIFUL OR FOCUS ON YOUR SKIN PROBLEMS, YOU’LL NEVER ALLOW THEM TO HEAL. SO, BE KIND TO YOURSELF, POINT OUT TO YOURSELF EVERYTHING YOU LIKE EVERY MORNING INSTEAD OF STRESSING ABOUT THE THINGS YOU DON’T,” SHE SAYS.
CARING IS LOVE
The skincare regimen she follows is simple, and, she tells us, she uses a face and body lotion from head to toe. On most days, she also puts fresh aloe on her skin before she uses the lotion or any cream, ending her regimen with sunscreen every day, even if she is at home. “It’s so important because we sit in front of screens all day and the sunscreen gives you added protection. If I have more time or have a shoot and have time to get ready for it, I use serums and an electric face roller before my makeup, for that extra blood flow,” she states.
To Anusha, more importantly, skincare is about how you see yourself. “If you believe you aren’t beautiful or focus on your skin problems, you’ll never allow them to heal,” she says. “So, be kind to yourself, point out to yourself everything you like every morning instead of stressing about the things you don’t.”
BEAUTIFUL BROWNS
Anusha emphasises on a patch test for the exterior, before any new product — no matter which brand. “I know we’d like to believe every skin company should just work for us, but it’s just not humanly possible because we’re all so different and that’s okay,” she adds.
Not surprisingly, this is an ethos she lives by in her brand BrownSkin, which she co-founded with Gaurav Kumar. “I wanted a light but great moisture kick for the skin, which feels and smells naturally delicious. I wanted something that didn’t leave the skin feeling greasy or sticky, something that the skin just ate up and loved. The honey, cinnamon and vanilla extract in it are key ingredients that help in healing and rejuvenating skin,” says Anusha about her winter care essential, Brown Bakery. “Some of us Brown Skin Beauties tend to get nervous about over-moisturising our skin when it’s oily or acneprone, but honey and cinnamon are good for that. For dry skin, it has shea butter, cacao seed butter and avocado oil, making it multifunctional, well-balanced products that help fight different skin problems such as stretch marks, uneven skin tone and patchy skin even as it helps all skin types feel that glow you seek in winters.”
Brown to Anusha is not a bad word, and she insists there’s an urgent need to reverse the meaning we’ve been conditioned to believe all these years. “It’s strong, it’s beautiful, it’s playful, it’s delicious, it’s sexy and most importantly it’s what you believe it to be.
Brown is beautiful,” she signs off.
BROWN TO ANUSHA IS NOT A BAD WORD, AND SHE INSISTS THERE’S AN URGENT NEED TO REVERSE THE MEANING WE’VE BEEN CONDITIONED TO BELIEVE ALL THESE YEARS. “IT’S STRONG, IT’S BEAUTIFUL, IT’S PLAYFUL, IT’S DELICIOUS, IT’S SEXY...”