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We asked some of the founders of our Indie brands to reveal a “Dirty Secret” of the conventional beauty industry – and tell us how it motivated them to make a difference.

Dirty Secrets of the Beauty Industry – Part 1: Shilpi of Skinveda

When you’re Principal Scientist at some of the largest commercial beauty brands as Shilpi was for over 18 years, you don’t miss much about how items are produced and brought to market:

"Most decisions [by large commercial beauty firms] are made based on commerce – it's all about adding a drop of that and a drop of this to bulk up the ingredient deck. When we talk about 'mass beauty', the word 'mass' is indicative of the fact that you are non-selective ...."

"I chose to start my own practice as an ethical cosmetic formulator and a brand that was solely performance-based using the highest quality plant-based ingredients that mimicked the chemistry of their synthetic lab-produced counterparts."

"As a scientist and an entrepreneur with experience in cosmetics formulation, pharmaceutical drug development and plant-based science, I have the advantage of lookimg at all sides of a formulation."

"I believe in 'Less is More' ... add a few high quality ingredients in the right amounts in synergy and customized to each individual’s skin as well as mind-body constitution."

Get to know your skin from the angle of your behaviour and lifestyle. Using the 5000 year old science of Ayurveda combined with innovative and modern delivery systems, Skinveda is truly Science and Nature in Harmony.

Sometimes referred to as the third lung, the skin covers the entire surface of our bodies, making it the largest organ of elimination. Due to its large surface area, the skin can eliminate through it's pores as much waste as the bowels, kidneys, and lungs together. This elimination is in the form of acidic toxins, gases, and mucus. If the colon, kidneys, or liver is backed up with toxic overload, the skin has to eliminate a large part of the waste. If you are experiencing rashes, pimples, boils, acne, eczema, or abcesses, this indicates that your organs of elimination may be unable to keep up with detoxification. 

A great way to facilitate the process of detoxification via elimination is by drinking water, aerobic exercise, perspiration and eating fiber through fresh vegetables and fruits.

Our skin needs nourishment inside out! We need to regularly steam our face to open up pores and remove toxic ingredients by using mud masks and a good toner to close the pores immediately after cleansing. 

Good sleep and rest is imperative for good skin. 

Try this Liver Cleansing Recipe:

1 pear, Bartlett or Asian

1 large handful dandelion leaves

1 cup almond milk

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1/4 cup flaxseeds

Place all ingredients in a blender and process until creamy and smooth!

Serves 2!

 

 

Food combining has it's roots in the whole idea of maintaining a proper pH (acid-base) balance in your gut and in your blood. The modern American diet generates a significant amount of acid requiring that your bones release calcium to make your blood more alkaline and to bring the acid-base levels back into balance which can in turn weaken the bones. Excess of protein can throw off this balance. To counter acid, you need potassium and magnesium, ideally from plant based foods. Here is a little cheat sheet for food combining:

1. Eat proteins and carbohydrates separately 

2. Eat only one concentrated protein at each meal.

3. Have dessert. Dark Chocolate is the best.

4. Eat your food warm or at room temperature. Cold food inhibits digestion.

5. Eat fruit alone on an empty stomach as fruit meal. 

6. Diuretics like artichoke work wonderfully to not only help with water retention but increase bile juice and in turn detoxify our bodies!