Sustainable skincare products ft. Vishisht Lifestyle

Natural, organic, clean- some words often used to describe a conscious skincare brand or line of products. Find out as we dissect on what it means with a sustainable skincare brand.

By Sanjoli Arora

Skincare is an integral part of our daily lives. The first thing we see when we wake up is our reflection, and we do love to see a happy, healthy face staring right back at us.

We go to great lengths to maintain our skin. A skincare regime often includes a long list of carefully curated products over time. However, as stated in our previous article, skincare products are not always as good as they seem. They do contain several chemicals which have their own sets of problems not just to us or to the planet.

While at Conscious Charcha, we try to bring you easy ways to make a conscious change, real change happens when the industry pledges to make a change.

Keeping this in mind, we got in touch with a natural skincare brand. Vishisht Lifestyle is an Indian beauty brand that believes in 100% natural products that cause no harm to our skin or the planet. We sat down with the founder Namrata Agarwal to understand the brand’s story, mission and vision for a sustainable future.

Q. What does the name ‘Vishisht’ signify?

We always wanted to have a Hindi name for our brand so that when we put ourselves on the map, people know that it is an Indian brand. The word Vishisht means unique and exclusive. Just like the name, all our products are unique in their ways. 

Q. How did the idea of the brand come into being? 

The journey started as a result of some skin problems I was facing. I used to get rashes, and my skin would feel extremely dry. I tried so many moisturisers and none helped. When I did some research online and learnt about the harmful chemicals found in the moisturisers available in the market.

It was also this time, I learnt about natural alternatives like pure carrier oils, butter, essential oils etc. So I started experimenting with my recipes. These homemade moisturisers worked and helped solve my skin issues. Hence after a year and a half of trials and errors, we launched the brand.

Q. Skincare brands are known to use words like ‘organic’ or ‘natural’. How do consumers differentiate between the real and fake ones?

A lot of skincare brands get organic and natural certification from many organisations. However, obtaining these certifications can be pretty expensive, especially for bootstrapped small businesses. Hence the best way to identify the natural brands is to read the labels. If the ingredients include ‘pure quality products’, then it means the products are natural and organic.

We, as a brand, strongly believe in reducing excessive consumerism and urge our customers to buy what they need.

Namrata Agarwal, Founder Vishisht Lifestyle

Q. Indian skin textures and tones vary from region to region, just like our language. How does the brand accommodate these varying needs and demands?

At Vishisht, we try to create products that not only suit all skin tones and types but are also multi-purpose. For example, our body balm works great as a moisturiser, treats cracked heels, dry hands and also works as a beard balm. We, as a brand, strongly believe in reducing excessive consumerism and urge our customers to buy what they need.

Q. The beauty industry is particularly nasty when it comes to environmental protection. What is the brand’s stand on the same, and how does it differentiate itself from others when it comes to sustainable growth?

It is high time we accept the fact that climate change is real. Every brand needs to make conscious efforts in all their activities right from production to the delivery of products to the end-user. We, as a community, need to be mindful of our carbon footprint and try and reduce it as much as possible. 

At Vishisht, we use sustainable materials in our production process, and not even a single piece of plastic is used. All the materials used are either compostable or recyclable.

Q. While it is easy for brands to go eco-friendly with their products, they tend to lose this enthusiasm when it comes to packaging. How is Vishisht making its packaging green?

We make sure we deliver all our products in low waste, plastic-free and recyclable packaging. Our products are packed in reusable glass mason jars. Further, we use corrugated boxes, compostable tapes and recycled paper as fillers. We have dedicated an entire section on our website on how we pack. Do check it out.

Q.  Finally, what tips would you give to an individual and/or brand who is thinking of becoming more sustainable?

I would say take one step at a time. There is no need to go all out at one go and throw away stuff that you already own. Start small. The first thing would be to give up single-use plastic completely. Segregate dry waste and wet waste. Start switching products slowly once you finish your current products. Switch to a bamboo toothbrush, steel straws, biodegradable sanitary napkins, sustainable skincare products etc. 

Vishisht is not the only brand that made the switch to providing sustainable skincare products. Several small businesses are ensuring that the market moves in a more conscious direction.

The fact that these brands are flourishing due to constant consumer support also signifies the positive shift in the industry to a more eco-friendly future. The only question now remains, will sustainable skincare ever become the norm?

If you want to know more or shop from the brand, visit Vishisht’s website.

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Feature image made using products by Vishisht Lifestyle.

Sanjoli is currently working as a Content Strategist and has a Master’s degree in Fashion Journalism. She has contributed to publications like MensXP, Mindless Mag and Sustain: The Mag in the past. Conscious Charcha is her way of learning more about sustainability and spreading the word about a sustainable lifestyle.