Shankara,Ayurveda inspired Skin Care Products
Finally! Since I attended the Healing Summit in Berlin earlier this year and met Gina Preziosa from Shankara, I could not wait to test their products.
Not only has Gina, who is Vice President Sales and Marketing for Shankara, impressed me as a person; also what she has to say about her brand is equally interesting. Please also read her answers to my interview questions here.
Yet today’s article is not so much about the company, or about their philosophy and how you can run a successful business in our industry and prosper responsibly at the same time.
Today I want to talk about the incredible products, which have won the Green Spa Network Sustainable Skincare Award in 2016! There are two major lines:
Shankara Facial Line
There are 24 different products in the Shankara facial line, such as creams, serums, moisturisers, masks, and oils.
All Shankara products are 100% pure, natural and active treatment products that provide nutrition, oxygenation, hydration, and skin protection. The manufacturerer says “[they] are capable of producing a quantum leap in skin renewal and age prevention.” The products can be used sequentially as they have been formulated to enhance the activity of the next.
Shankara suggests to nurture beauty in 5 steps with their products:
cleanse – exfoliate – repair – regenerate – protect.
Shankara Body Care
There are 19 different products in the Shankara Body Care line, such as salts, oils, scrubs, and washes.
“Select aromatherapeutic treatment products formulated to target specific skin needs and conditions will also help support physical, emotional-mental balance and assist you in creating a greater sense of wellbeing in your daily life and create beautiful rituals to truly nurture yourself and your loved ones.”
You can additionally find a variety of Aromatherapy and Travel Kits.
Where can you find Shankara Products?
Shankara Products are used at famous spas such as Canyon Ranch, Waldorf Astoria, and also at the Breakers in Florida, venue for the Global Wellness Summit in October 2017! And if I got you interested, you can also order online from the Shankara Website. Don’t forget to do your Dosha test to learn your Ayurvedic skin type.
Which products have I tested and how have I used them?
Gina has been so kind as to send me different products for face and body.
This is what I have experienced:
Anti Age Serum Gotu Kola & Chamae Rose
The Anti Age Serum is a lovely light serum with sufficient texture to it to provide deep tissue regeneration in order to firm the skin. The honey colour serum in the frosted glass bottle is in texture somewhere between a light cream and a soft gel. One pump is sufficient for my face, two enough to add to neck and décolleté. I have used the serum morning and night, and even in between on sunny days, when I felt my skin needed an extra helping.
My skin absorbs the product instantly and feels soft and rehydrated the very moment. The subtle scent reminds me of a tropical herbal garden, beautiful!
Fine Line Treatment Oil
The fine line treatment oil can be used for morning and night after the cleanse. It also comes in a frosted glass bottle with pump dispenser. The orange oil has a very predominant scent that reminds me of incense materials. With ingredients such as blue chamomile and sandalwood, it has anti-inflammatory properties. It could be used after the serum or alone or even under a moisturiser. Due to the stronger scent, I have used one pump of the oil for night facial care after the cleanse. I prefer not to add too many layers of products (but am of course aware of the trend ‘layering’) and am happy for my skin to fully take in all the great ingredients of just one product at a time.
Muscle Release Tri-Dosha Body Oil
The tri-dosha body oil is perfect for me! My Ayurvedic doctor at a past Yoga and Ayurveda Retreat in Sril Lanka identified me as Tri-Dosha body type, so that one is just for me then.
It also comes in the frosted glass bottle which presents the light blue – almost turquoise – liquid well.
What a perfect time of the year to test this one, it is the ideal summer body oil. I have super dry skin and need a few pumps for my entire body, but still think that this light oil goes far. I love the synergy of the essential oils, the scent is refreshing and uplifting, has a slight medicinal note (that I believe comes from the camphor), I compare it to a (very nice!) tooth paste.
It is a muscle and joint reliever as much as it increases blood circulation, and is also suitable to add to your bath. Selling me a body oil is running in open doors, and this super quality oil leaves my body skin as expected: glowing, soft, rehydrated, and relaxed.
For my test, I have received 30 ml glass bottles for each product. Retail sizes are usually 100 ml.
Sum it up
To sum it up, I find the products to be of great quality! I love the elegant glass bottles, the easy to use pump dispensers and of course the content! But what I love most are the unusual scents. None of the flower-potpourri-mixes of many of the products that try to please our ‘Western’ noses, instead of just using the scents of the ingredients as they come. This is so far the first authentic Ayurveda product concept for spa@home that I have found.
