INTERVIEW
The Indian-American Shalini Vadhera, a well known entrepreneur in the beauty circle is all set to launch her beauty brand ‘Ready Set Jet’ for the Indian market. She gets candid in this exclusive interview.
What challenges did you face and how did you cope up ?
I faced a lot of challenges when I launched my earlier brands in Sephora and QVC never meeting a woman in the funding world or in a board room. Also at that time there were not a lot of resources for women to come together and I found it difficult to find women mentors. I also faced a lot of harassment and discrimination being a woman minority. I overcame this after having a spiritual experience with a guru and realizing that I had to take my experiences and empower women on a deeper level than just lipstick and eyeliner. I launched my women’s platform Power Beauty Living (which is now a Foundation) to bring women a community of mentor-ship for women by women, learning how to look and feel beautiful for confidence, and meditation and yoga tips for inner strength and clarity. I realized that we needed to start changing the conversation around women and empowering each other as a community was one way we could overcome some of the challenges we were all facing.
- Why are you launching your brand in India?
Being Punjabi and spending so much of my childhood here, I always knew that I wanted to bring a brand to India. When I was working as a celebrity makeup artist in Hollywood and would visit India, it would frustrate me that even in your own country it was difficult to find colors that really celebrated and enhanced the Indian skin tones. After receiving the Mahatma Gandhi Award for my work in Leadership and Beauty, and after speaking with government officials and a lot of girls here, I knew it was time to bring everything I had learned in my career and my expertise in formulating unique beauty products for all skin tones to India.
- Are you scared of competition?
No. I believe every brand or artist brings their own audience and there’s enough to go around for everyone. What we offer is a different and holistic approach to beauty.
- As per you what are the Beauty Fauxpas in India?
For me I feel that skin lightening really sends the wrong message to women and their self esteem. I also tend to notice much darker and dull lip and nail colors here which can tend to age you. I hope to show Indian women some new shades and tricks to flatter their unique beauty.
- What’s beauty according to you?
Happiness and confidence are the prettiest things you can wear. There’s nothing more beautiful than a woman who is happy and comfortable in her skin.
- Beauty secrets which you discovered over a period of time, if you would like to share with us.
I have so many favorites. One for thick hard nails comes from the women of the Dominican Republic – they take a clove of chopped garlic add it to a bottle of clear nail polish and let its stew for a week. Then they use it a few times a week on their nails making their nails harder than gel nails.
I also love this hydrating face mask I learned from Zimbabwe. They take a handful of chopped okra, boil it until it becomes a slimy mushy consistency and then once cooled, apply to the face for 15 minutes. It adds instant hydration to dry skin and plumps up fine lines and wrinkles.
Here’s one I learned from the flight attendants on Singapore Airlines – for an instant face lift take one egg, beat it, add lemon juice, and then dip in a dry sheet mask or cotton wool. Apply to the face and let dry. Peel the mask off. Not only will it pull out any dirt or grime from your pores, but will also tighten your skin giving the appearance of a lift.
- Any five beauty essentials?
A good anti-pollution moisture balm, a build able foundation, mascara, lipstick, and a spritz of perfume
- Beauty advice for the 20s 30s 40s 50s and above?
20’s – invest in a good skincare routine; have fun experimenting with colors and products
30’s – start focusing on self care more with a beauty from the inside out approach. Wear sunscreen, find one set of products that compliment your features that you can wear with anything no matter where you’re going. Sleep!!!
40’s- drink collagen, use good face oil before you sleep, and an anti-aging serum in the morning. Sunscreen is always important
50’s – Move into retinol based products and glycolic acid based products. Switch to Creme based cleansers and use a good neck cream alongside your night cream. Meditate, sleep and drink lots of water. Collagen and Silica are both great to add to your water.
- Your first Beauty Memory?
Watching my mom put on her eyeliner. I was just a little girl and I still haven’t forgotten it.
- What is next for you?
Taking everything I’ve done over the last 15 years in beauty and women empowerment and using beauty as a vehicle for global change. I’m excited to bring skills development alongside a global beauty brand to India. The best gift given to me was from my father at the age of 19 he sent me to India with a plane ticket and some money and told me to start my own company. Because of him I’m an entrepreneur. I hope to pass that gift on to the next girl.
