Almost straight out of the gate, London Ayurvedic-centric brand Samaya Ayurveda won two awards in the 2017 Beauty Shortlist Awards, then topped that by winning Best New Launch (Brand) in 2018. This year, the brand proved its staying power by winning not just in the 2019 beauty categories but also one of our new Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards, too (for Samaya’s supplements).
“Ayurveda skincare” couples so beautifully with the yoga movement, but as one of 2019’s most prominent beauty trends it’s stepping into the mainstream, bringing with it its ancient vata-pitta-kapha blueprint…a special wisdom for the modern world which, frankly – like Traditional Chinese Medicine – we probably all need for added grounding, balance and wellbeing!
As the brand grows from strength to strength, I caught up with founder Abida Halstenberg for a glimpse of “a day in the life of” Samaya Ayurveda, and some of her personal highlights along the way.
“Ayurveda is to skincare what yoga is to exercise…Ayurveda is on the cusp of becoming mainstream”
Abida Halstenberg
8 Minutes with Abida Halstenberg
Samaya Ayurveda
Beauty Shortlist: Firstly Abida, congratulations on winning multiple awards (including our first ever 2019 Wellbeing Awards) in this year’s Beauty Shortlist Awards for both your skincare and your Ayurvedic health supplements – especially as our Awards are not that easy to win.
So, to kick things off, for anyone not that familiar with the 5,000-year-old principles of Ayurveda, could you explain how Ayurvedic skincare is “different”?
Abida: Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of holistic wellness and healing that takes into account a person’s entire constitution – both external and internal. Ayurvedic skincare seeks to address the root cause of the problem and not just the symptoms.
It does so by first identifying a person’s specific dosha (constitution) as one of Vata, Pitta, Kapha or a combination thereof. Vata skin tends to be dry, Pitta skin sensitive and Kapha oily when out of balance.
The Vata Hydrating Cleanser, for skin that veers towards dry
Abida: In addition to looking at someone’s external traits such as reddish, sensitive rosacea-prone skin, it also looks at the corresponding internal characteristics such as inflammation and hormonal imbalances which are all manifestations of a Pitta imbalance. Such an imbalance can be treated with Shatavari, Gotu Kola and Turmeric which are very important to pacify Pitta.
Gotu Kola
These can be taken internally as supplements but also applied topically. So it is very important to know your constitution type so you can benefit from dosha-specific skincare and supplements that address your particular needs.
BSL: Now that yoga is officially mainstream (and growing incredibly fast on Instagram, for example), do you think Ayurveda-centric beauty and health will become as “normal” as yoga is, in the next, say, 5 years?
Particularly for consumers who have no original connections to the Ayurvedic lifestyle but want to embrace it?
Abida: Wellbeing and mindfulness searches are at an all-time high as we look for antidotes to the stresses of our busy ‘non-stop’ lifestyles. Ayurveda is to skincare what Yoga is to exercise.
It’s both functional and holistic and it addresses a real need as people are looking for greater balance and wellness, and Ayurveda is delivering those results. So I do believe that Ayurveda is on the cusp of becoming mainstream.
BSL: What’s a day in your life like “in 60 seconds”? Can you give us a snapshot?
Abida: A normal day really varies but usually starts off with seasonal fruit, turmeric scrambled eggs or cooked oatmeal before I dash to Yoga or Pilates. Then I typically have to deal with admin but I make time for New Product Development inspiration and research Ayurvedic remedies and the latest natural actives.
I might pop into the lab if we are working on a new formulation or visit one of my suppliers or retailers, almost all of them not far from London.
Sometimes I meet journalists and bloggers to share the wonders of Ayurveda and SAMAYA. At night I unwind with my children and have a light meal before sinking into bed with a good book.
“Your skin is your largest organ so use dosha-specific natural actives that address your specific constitution’s needs” – Abida Halstenberg
BSL: If you had to pin it all down to two main health tips, what would they be?
Abida: Wellness from the ‘inside out’– Focus on wellness from the inside: eat according to your constitution and take supplements that pacify your unique dosha in addition to exercising according to your dosha.
Wellness from the ‘outside in’– Use your daily skincare routine to incorporate greater balance and wellness in your life: your skin is your largest organ so use dosha-specific natural actives that address your specific constitution’s needs.
BSL: What has been the best, most exciting or memorable highlight for you and Samaya so far – and what’s been the biggest challenge?
Abida: Seeing SAMAYA in retail at Fenwick for the first time was certainly a memorable highlight, especially looking at our stunning window display on New Bond Street.
The biggest challenge is educating retailers about Ayurveda but several are now realising that the wellness trend is here to stay and that we don’t need to compromise on performance or functionality in order to deliver a holistic experience. SAMAYA’s authenticity and successful track record go a long way in helping us overcome this challenge.
BSL: you weren’t doing what you are now, where would you be and what would you be working on/at?
Abida: If I was not in London nurturing SAMAYA then I would probably be in India on a LONG yoga and mindfulness focused Ayurvedic retreat!
WHAT’S YOUR DOSHA?
Find out here
www.samayaayurveda.com/your-dosha
Samaya Ayurveda on INSTAGRAM