As the founder of Sahajan, Lisa Mattam is known for her evidence-based products that balance healthy, mindful living with the rich heritage of the Ayurvedic traditions in which Lisa was raised.
Ayurveda is a 5000-year-old system of medicine from India. When translated from Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “the Science of Life”. Ayurveda was used by the royals of India to stay young, healthy and beautiful and it is still practiced throughout India.
Lisa says “This is the same science behind your turmeric latte and ginger shot. It’s about a lifestyle that involves healthy, plant-based ingredients that nourish us on the inside and out”.
Lisa Mattam has joined the Truth Beauty Company to share her story on how she started in the beauty industry, the importance of Ayurveda and what her favourite Ayurvedic ingredients are.
It all started a few years back, when Lisa found her little daughter covered in her face cream. She says “it was funny, but these were conventional products, with all sorts of artificial ingredients.” Lisa quickly realized that she did not trust these products on her daughter’s skin and that she should not trust them on her own skin either. Lisa continues to say “It was a pivotal moment for me to go back to what I trusted and believed in. My parents had always used these natural ingredients on me like coconut oil, turmeric and I use them on my daughter.” It was at the moment Lisa realized that what she perceived to be a family tradition was steeped into this age-old science that is Ayurveda.
As a former pharmaceutical executive, it was important for Lisa to have products that are clinically proven. Lisa says “the beautiful thing about Ayurveda is that it’s time-tested over thousands of years but the science behind it meets modern standards”. Lisa believes that Ayurveda is the gateway to beauty and wellness. She states “It’s the only science that I know of that really taps into intuition and tradition”. She wanted to create a line of clean beauty products that could stand against any conventional product and to do that it was important for her to have the strong foundation that Ayurveda provides. “These are time-tested, high-performing natural ingredients that I believe in” Lisa affirms.
In addition, Lisa expressed how Ayurveda and skincare is a natural marriage! In the ancient Ayurvedic texts they talk about various plants and describe them as energy producing or age-defying or brightening. Lisa assures that “with Sahajan, we look to the foundation of Ayurveda to create our formulas. These are time-tested ways of getting your best skin”.
Although, all Sahajan products contain incredible ingredients, Lisa highlights her top three favourites!
One of Lisa’s favourite ingredients is Triphala which means “three fruits” in Sanskrit. One of them is the amla berry, which has twenty times the vitamin C as an orange. This ingredient is found in the Radiance Face Serum, Radiance Eye Cream and in our Nourish Face Cream. These are incredible antioxidants that help brighten and protect the skin. “Triphala is something that I personally take as a supplement. It’s used in Ayurveda to help with digestion and is an all-round power ingredient” says Lisa.
Another one of Lisa’s favourite ingredients is Moringa, which is an antioxidant that’s brimming in vitamins and is also an anti-pollutant. In developing countries, they put Moringa seeds into the water to pull out the pollutants. Moringa is used in the Beauty Oil, Essential Cleansing Oil, and Balance Toner. It has incredible properties for the skin and it is detoxing. Lisa further explains that Moringa can also be taken as a supplement and her family frequently cooks with different parts of this beautiful tree.
Last but not least, Lisa adores turmeric. It is a wonderful ingredient that often brings people into Ayurveda. It is well known as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It also brightens the skin and removes impurities. It is used in the Brightening Mask. Additionally, turmeric is known to be used in Indian pre-wedding ceremonies. Brides will get a DIY face mask to get them their best skin for their wedding. Lisa says “I use turmeric in my foods and one of my favourite ways is in what we would think of as a turmeric latte. I add cardamom seeds, cinnamon, saffron strands, and maple syrup to a cup of milk or mylk. It’s a great drink before bed”.
When it comes to Sahajan each product is formulated to give the best possible results. Lisa explains how it is hard not to say to use all the products. She states “I built them so that you could layer and build a routine with the products. Now that it’s summer, I’d say critical steps for me are: cleanse, tone, glow. So the Essential Cleansing Oil, then our Balance Toner”. For a nice glow in the summertime Lisa starts with the Radiance Serum, which is water-based, and then she seals that with The Beauty Oil, as it has Moringa, Frankincense and Hempseed oil to nourish the skin. Lisa says “I always layer because you want to address the different layers of the skin”.
Overall, Lisa is a big believer in having a vision for the future. Her ultimate goal would be to see every person using Sahajan! In five years Lisa wants to see Sahajan grow exponentially. “I’d also like to see people get to really experience Ayurveda,” she says. Lisa’s ultimate dream is to open a signature spa where you could get Shirodhara, which is Ayurvedic hair oiling, followed by a Sahajan facial, that incorporates facial massage using marma points. This is the Ayurvedic method for using pressure points to encourage healing energy. Lisa ultimately wants to make products that would support people along their wellness journey. She says “I want people to have the best, both for their skin but also in self-care”.
Thank you, Lisa, for explaining the importance of Ayurveda. We appreciate everything you do for the clean beauty community.
