Lisa Mattam started the brand Sahajan in the early days of clean beauty, with the goal of striking the balance between natural and effective. “It is about going back to what I intuitively believe in but also giving people the science to follow their intuition,” she says. Inspired by her roots in Kerela, India she looked to the practice of Ayurveda. “I know that people can get their best skin with clean products. If I took this old world science of Ayurveda that’s time tested with high-performing ingredients, I could prove it to them with modern science with my pharma background.”
Mattam’s tips for treating yourself on a budget is to pamper yourself with an at-home spa day, from hair oiling and body massages to face masks. She also likes romanticizing daily routines, like plating meals at a restaurant or drinking out of chic glassware or a fun mug. “People have often referenced that Ayurveda is what the royals use to stay young and beautiful, but I think should be for everybody,” she says.
The brand entered a partnership with Marriott International, bringing a slice of lavish self-care to a hotel stay with bath products, face wipes, cleanser, and a pillow mist. “We’ve created an Unwind Bath Soak specifically for it. There’s one bath serving in every room, so you can go and have a really nice bath,” Mattam says. “The biggest ritual that you can implement in a hotel is just really doing things that ground yourself, whether it’s like taking a warm bath, adding oils and lotions, really grounding yourself. Those acts of self-care actually do make you feel whole and at home in the hotel.”
Some of Mattam’s favorite Ayurvedic practices include oil pulling and tongue scraping for oral health, drinking hot water throughout the day for digestion aid, and doing abhyanga or a body oil massage. When it comes to products, she also has a handful of favorites she also keeps on rotation. Keep reading to see her must-haves, including her go-to carry-on suitcase and her favorite multi-use makeup product.
