It all started in the kitchen.
That’s where I found an oasis of self-confidence, creativity, and passion.
I needed it. As a teenager, all I could hear were advertisements promising to “cure my acne” and “make my skin better.” I would scour the drugstore skincare aisle, stocking up on any product that promised change – no matter how harmful.
I can thank my grandmother - Jaya - for turning my eyes back to something enduring and natural: our family kitchen.
The kitchen is the heart and soul of most South Asian homes, and mine was no different.
My grandmother is the strongest person I’ve ever known - one who has always shattered stereotypes and defied the expectations of what it means to be a woman.
Yet she has also long upheld our culture’s traditions; she was the one who told me about traditional time-tested South Asian skincare. And so I began a new journey in our family kitchen – walking away from chemical-laden products, and embracing effective, natural ingredients and recipes.
My knowledge grew over time, and so did my confidence. Instead of relying on my local chain pharmacy, I began to make vegan skincare products for myself and my loved ones who had their own skincare needs.
Each product had something in common – each was food-grade, preservative-free, and chemical-free.
Each product was made with intentional, natural ingredients - always 5 ingredients or less.
I have shared these products with friends and relatives for the past 15 years; and now I’m ready to share them with you.
I have learned a lot over these years.
I learned to tune out the noise of modern-day advertising, telling me what was “wrong” with me.
I learned the power of an afternoon spent in the kitchen.
And I learned that by embracing my culture and listening to the wisdom of the generations that helped blaze my path, I could define my own victory.
How will you define your victory?