Behind the Brand: Shankara Ayurvedic Skincare
Naturally Radiant Beauty
"We produce 100% natural and result-oriented products that combine Ayurvedic wisdom and modern science to enhance an individual's life on every level."
This week we sit down with Shankara for a "Behind the Brand" Q&A interview to discusses their Ayurvedic skincare line, skincare routines and what keeps them inspired daily. Let's take a look inside...
Where are Shankara's products produced?
"We create all our products in Uvalde, Texas."
How was Shankara founded?
"A group of us started thinking about how to infuse the Ayurvedic wisdom of the East with the knowledge of actives and modern processes of the West to promote wellness and sustainable skincare. And thus, Shankara was born!
Since our inception in 2001, Shankara has been creating natural products that nourish your skin and promote a natural radiance. We bring together the ancient science of life from the East - Ayurveda with the Western knowledge of actives and anti-oxidants through modern manufacturing methods to sustainably create a unique line of completely natural, result-oriented products.
Made with loving care, in small batches at our manufacturing facility in Uvalde, Texas, our products seek to promote an overall sense of well-being, while promoting naturally beautiful skin. Shankara is committed to making the world a better place, and donates 100% of net profits to initiatives that range from education of girls and women empowerment in developing countries, to those that help veterans build resilience and overcome PTSD.
What challenges have you experienced on your skincare journey?
"There is a lot of competition in the skincare industry and people are just starting to realize how important beauty product ingredients are. Shankara has been slightly ahead of this trend. We produce 100% natural and result-oriented products that combine Ayurvedic wisdom with modern science to enhance a persons life on every level.
Shankara’s Lotus-Rose logo is a beautiful blend of the Sacred Lotus, an Eastern symbol of light and emergence, with the Rose, which represents love and beauty in the west. The Lotus-Rose symobilzes the nature of our offerings, which blend the ancient Ayurvedic Wisdom of the East, with the modern science of actives and anti-oxidants of the West. The result is a pure, effective, and transformational line of natural skincare products."
What makes you passionate about Shankara?
"Selling products that bring health and wellbeing to people’s mind, body and spirit. Furthermore, we are able to support humanitarian causes by donating our hard work and profits. From responsibly sourced ingredients to highly effective finished products, we are committed to making sustainable choices to keep our planet green."
Shankara's Ayurvedic formulations comprises oils & herbs of the highest quality and balance each individual skin type:
Vata (Dry Skin)
Pitta (Normal, Combination or Sensitive Skin)
Kapha (Oily Skin)
"The oils that go into the Vata products are the richest and heaviest because we are dealing with dry skin. We go to oils like sesame oil, avocado, macadamia nut, hemp seed, some of the very rich oils.
Our Pitta products are also deeply moisturizing but less viscous, suiting the nature of Pitta skin. They're also cooling, because Pitta skin will typically run warm. Sunflower and almond oil are the two fundamental ones that work quite well. Olive oil works well too.
Our Kapha products are ideally suited for the kapha skin which is already thick and heavy in its nature -- thus lighter oils are required and naturally feel soothing to a Kapha person. Ideal oils in this regard are: Grape seed, hazelnut, and jojoba..."
What do you love about clean beauty products?
"Anything you put on your skin is going to be taken in eventually. When you're using a product that contains chemicals, they permeate into your body thru the skin. They float around, they travel though the blood stream and they end up a little bit in all of your various organs. There will be little bits of chemicals that are going to lodge themselves anywhere they feel like as they take a break in their travel through your blood stream. Most of them end up in your liver because the liver is one of the primary cleansing channels in the body.
The liver has over 400 different functions in the body. This makes our liver pretty important! If it's not able to perform its function to clear the body, then the impact is going to be felt by other parts of the body. Liver congestion is primarily due to chemicals; chemicals we apply on our skin, chemicals that we take in our foods, that we breathe in, drink, chemicals we create in our bodies due to stress. Irrespective of the source, most of them are going to end up in your liver and most of them are going to stay there, slowing down the ability of the liver to do its many functions.
We're happy about producing high-quality clean beauty and skincare products."
What are your favorite Shankara products? What are some Benefits?
"Microcrystal Exfoliator, which is a very mild exfoliator that leaves my skin looking radiant and smooth. It contains 5 algae extracts, aloe, ultra-fine silica crystals and sandalwood. I also love the Fine Line Treatment Oil which contains Blue Chamomile, Sandalwood, Squalane Complex (includes CoQ10 and Alpha Lipoic Acid), Vitamin C Ester."
Key to the success of Shankara products is an unrivaled energized regenerating nutrient complex trademarked, 'Regenesis-Energen BioComplex'. This complex is molecularly structured to accelerate the activity of the proprietary blended, clinically tested select plant and algae extracts. In concert with the Ayurvedic herb extracts, amino acid and peptide complexes, fulvic electrolytes and monoatomic gold/ rhodium/iridium preparation, the synergistic result of these ingredients produces an electrifying, quantum effect in skin renewal and anti-aging skin care."
What personal beauty tips can you share?
"Never think of the time it takes to have a beauty ritual. Make it part of your everyday routine. Stay out of the sun unless you have the proper protection, drink plenty of water, and be happy!"
What is your skincare ritual + What is the Shankara Beauty Routine?
"I always make sure to cleanse my skin in the am and pm without exception. The Deep Cleanse Treatment is perfect for the shower in the mornings and can be paired along with our Hydrating Cleanser in the pm! I use the Microcrystal Exfoliation Treatment 2–3 times a week and a Moisturizing Mask at least once a week. My go to products are the Anti-Age Serum and the Fine Line Oil as it leaves my skin with a glow and with a youthful look!"
SHANKARA BEAUTY ROUTINE
01. CLEANSE
All Shankara cleansers are pH balanced to protect the skin's natural acid mantle. This also means that a separate skin toner is not required. Our cleansers are formulated with pure, naturally derived cleansing ingredients and infused with purifying, nourishing and highly regenerative actives.
02. EXFOLIATE
Shankara exfoliators refine skin texture while stimulating cell renewal and collagen production, all of which are crucial for maintaining a youthful appearance and a luxurious skin.
03. REPAIR
Shankara Daily Repair Serums are infused with ultra-regenerating plant and algae extracts, amino acids and peptide complexes. This supports skin repair and renewal and arrests aging.
04. REGENERATE
Shankara Anti-age Serum sparks a dynamic age-reversal process by energizing skin cell metabolism. It provides the maximum deep tissue oxygenation and hydration necessary to rejuvenate and maintain healthy skin.
05. PROTECT
Shankara moisturizers are enriched with oxygenating and regenerating extracts as well as essential oils. These formulations deeply penetrate skin to effectively balance various skin conditions and deliver age-preventing antioxidant protection. All our moisturizers provide moderate, natural UV protection.
What do you want people to experience when using Shankara products?
"We would like people to see how effective our facial products are. Also, how our body oils contain mood lifting effects and provide provide hydration when used regularly. We want people to feel they have found a hidden gem in our skincare line.
The herbs that work best for Vata skin are herbs that have a little more regenerating-type quality. That may have a natural oil base themselves. And the reason we say regenerating and why that's important is because Vata skin, which is very dry, is the first skin to age. You have more aging effects outwardly in a Vata skin than in any of the other three skin types. So, we look toward herbs that have moisturizing and regenerating quality.
In the Pitta herbs, we look for herbs that are cooling and calming. We also look for herbs that will create a balance between oil and dryness. Pitta skin can go both ways. T-zone type skin (mixed skin) is usually a Pitta type skin.
The herbs we select for Kapha have a slightly astringent quality and they have a sebum-balancing quality and they also have a stimulating effect, because the Kapha skin is characteristically congested. Kapha skin is thick, and can be congested so what is want to do is to stimulate circulation in the subcutaneous tissues (tissues that are on the outer dermal layers). You are moving fluid out of those tissues, and other things that will congest in the skin.
The rejuvenating and balancing herbs of amla, ashwagandha, brahmi and neem, are some of the key herbs that provide the cornerstone foundation of Shankara formulations. These herbs have been carefully selected for their enhanced ability to deeply purify, repair, renew and protect the skin.
What is the Shankara mission?
Since 2001, as a pioneer in this space, Shankara's unique line seeks to work on the physical, mental and emotional levels to promote a sense of well-being.
We want to create the most energetic, clean result- driven products that will enhance people lives who use them and also benefit people around the world by our contributions to various humanitarian initiatives. Sustainability is key in all we do, and we have great respect for the environment and all living things.
In collaboration with our partners and consumers, we are committed to making the world a better place. We donate 100% of our net profits to humanitarian causes.
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