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I met Shaffali over 10 years ago in London, England when we both worked for Bliss Spa UK. She was this extremely ambitious, positive ball of energy that always dreamed of owning her own beauty business. It makes perfect sense that now, 10 years later, I am interviewing her for Trip Styler! Her company, Shaffali Skincare, is fantastic and her products are gorgeous, indulgent, and very efficacious.
Giveaway
Shaffali is generously offering a travel set of her incredible products for a Trip Styler giveaway---make sure to enter as they are sure to become your absolute favorite.
- How to enter: Comment on this post {below} and tell us where you'd take your Shaffali Skincare travel set.
- Bonus entry: subscribe to Trip Styler's daily trip style tips via email {above, right}---and include a note about this in your comment.
- Details: Open to residents of Canada and the USA. Entries will be accepted Jan 18 – 25, 2011. Winner chosen via random.org and announced Jan 26, and has two days, after prizing notification, to make contact.
What was the inspiration behind Shaffali? Shaffali Skincare is inspired by the Ayurvedic herbs and spices my mom taught me about as she passed her Indian traditions on to me when I was younger. My extensive travel inspired me to search for the finest aromatherapeutic essences from all over the world, including French lavender, Croatian sage, Italian orange blossom, and Egyptian geranium. The line is best experienced as a ritual, and involves meditation and positive mantras to help users connect to their inner selves.
What is special about the ingredients in Shaffali products? I started making products when I was a teenager because I wanted to keep my face glowing. With tons of self-study, experience working with a variety of products in world-class spas and experimenting with a lot of skincare recipes, I eventually refined my own formulations. The transition of making my own products in the kitchen to working with a lab and a team of scientists is both a passion and a process. For example, the Earth Mask took two years to refine to achieve the exact texture I wanted: smooth as velvet {or frosting} for easy-on and easy-off application.
How have your travels to India inspired Shaffali? My name as well as my skincare line is called Shaffali, an exotic and fragrant night blooming flower found in India. Ayurveda, yoga, and meditation are all part of India’s history, and not only am I drawn to each of them, but they are the foundation for my products.
What do you love most about India? I was born in India and moved to the US when I was young. The people in India are so full of life and love! The many temples and sanctuaries exemplify the act of stopping to give thanks and asking for guidance and blessings. This is a way of life. The Himalayas in the north are beautiful as are the deserts of Rajasthan. My experience having lived in an Ashram {pre Eat, Pray, Love} when I studied yoga and Ayurveda was refreshing for my soul to live so simply and peacefully.
What are the top three products on your packing list?
I can't travel without Shaffali Exfoliant, Face Moisturizer and Body Moisturizer. I like to keep things basic. I also love Indian Kohl to define my eyes, and specifically use Lakme Kajal eyeliner
Shaffali products can be purchased on www.shaffali.com. For international shipments, contact them for a shipping quote.
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[photos c/o Shaffali]