Mahieka Sharma Would Like You To Stop Scrubbing Your Faces

She’s quite literally the girl of the moment – it’s getting hard to keep up.

Mahieka Sharma is everywhere – on the ramp walking for top-notch designers, on social media chronicling her life, on our TV screens captured by stadium cameras watching cricket matches and even in paparazzi shots, going out and about with her boyfriend, cricketer Hardik Pandya.

But despite all this attention, she remains calm, composed and clear-headed. Probably why she’s been signed as the campaign ambassador for Kama Ayurveda’s anti-blemish skincare collection, Sandanya, that’s designed to address blemishes while also supporting skin clarity and balance.

We caught up with her to talk about all things skincare, her trusted rituals and what she’s learnt from her famous boyfriend.

Excerpts:

Talk to us about Kama Ayurveda’s Sandanya collection.

I am very attached to this collection. I’ve spoken to the team behind it and the work they’ve put into finding the perfect mix of technology driven skincare meets Ayurveda rooted ingredients is what has sold me. My favourite product has to be the Blemish-Clarifying Facial Dry Oil. It is infused with Indian Licorice and helps calm inflammation, reduce blemishes and fade acne-marks.

Skin imperfections such as acne & pimples tend to affect people's self-esteem to a large extent. Have you dealt with any of these issues?

Yes! I was a teenager with a lot of hormonal acne. It took me years to develop rituals and a skincare routine that truly works. It was not an easy path - it took the right products, lifestyle and diet changes as well as a lot of patience.

Is there a go-to fix for breakouts you always follow?

I don’t touch my breakouts at all! You don’t want to irritate it further. I use the Sandanya Purifying Fresh Serum followed by the Matte Cream during the day & the Blemish Clarifying Facial Dry Oil followed by the Matte Cream again at night. This ritual aligns perfectly with my skin’s rhythm & helps bring back the balance.

How closely is good skin connected to the way you feel about yourself?

Extremely! If you feel good within, it shows on the outside. That’s why my skincare and self care routines are so rooted in my overall lifestyle.

What are some Ayurvedic rituals you've always believed in?

Ayurveda is not just in the ingredients of your food but the way you live your life. From Pranayama and yoga to the way I eat my food and cleanse my body, I incorporate Ayurveda everywhere. I also try to find the best products rooted in Ayurveda to use on my body.

What does your everyday skincare routine look like?

I believe in less is more and the Sandanya anti-blemish collection from Kama Ayurveda is my go-to. During the day, I use the Sandanya Purifying Fresh Serum & Matte Cream followed by a lightweight water-based sunscreen & the Blemish-Clarifying Facial Dry Oil followed by the Matte Cream before going to bed.

Is there a skincare rule you'd never break? And one skincare trend you don't think works at all?

I never go to sleep with makeup on. I don’t use any lightening/ whitening products as they contain bleach and are extremely harmful for the skin. Brown skin is beautiful and I love flaunting mine!

Is there a skincare hack you've taught your partner, Hardik Pandya? Or something you've picked up from him?

He actually makes sure I never go to bed with makeup on and helps me do my skincare no matter how tired we are. We also do face masks together.

As more & more men have started taking care of their skin, how do you think these men include the Sandanya collection as part of their regime?

I actually gift my brother a lot of skincare. I love to help the men in my life take care of themselves. My brother also has acne prone skin so I introduced him to the Sandanya anti-blemish range from Kama Ayurveda. It’s a simple routine that my brother finds easy to follow.

Lastly, what's one skincare mistake you wish people stopped making?

I wish people would stop scrubbing their faces! It damages the skin’s barrier, leading to micro-tears, inflammation, sensitivity and increased acne.