Sahajan. Isn’t it such a lovely name? I was recently introduced to this natural skincare brand and I immediately took a liking to its name. In Hindi, Sahajan means “intuitive,” and the brand is based on a 5,000 year old practice called Ayurveda. Whenever I hear the word “Ayurveda,” my ears always perk up because I’m so fascinated with the practice. To me, Ayurveda is like the Hindu / Indian sister to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Ayurveda shows a lot of parallels with Buddhism, and with me being both Chinese and Buddhist, I feel that it’s important to incorporate Ayurveda (and TCM) into my life.
To give you more background, Ayurveda translates to “The Science of Life” in Sanskrit and is a mind-body science that is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit. This body of knowledge is like a three-legged stool – if you will – where each leg is an elemental substance or principle called a “dosha.” The three doshas, “Vata;” “Pitta;” and “Kapha” need to stay in balance in order to live a healthy life. Every person possesses all three doshas but usually one or two are most dominant. Ayurveda looks at various practices (that you may already be doing) like yoga, meditation, plant-based remedies, and wellness rituals (like oil pulling, dry brushing, etc.) to help achieve that balance. Ayurveda as a whole is actually quite complex and has many intricacies but I’ll get into more of that another time.
To my delight, many more Ayurvedic beauty / skincare brands have been emerging onto the scene the past few years. Thanks to some wonderful friends (and Instagram), I’ve gotten the opportunity to get to know (and love) such brands as UMA, Pratima, Forest Essentials, and Kama Ayurveda. Today, I’m excited to tell you about a new Ayurveda-based skincare brand called Sahajan!
Sahajan was created by Lisa Mattam, whose family hails from Kerala in Southern India. At a very early age, Lisa was exposed to Ayurveda through her parents on their family plantations. These Ayurvedic traditions would then lay the foundation for Sahajan many years later. Lisa and her team worked with leading Ayurvedic doctors in Kerala to develop the collection. As a former pharmaceutical executive, Lisa felt that using only the purest plant oils and extracts, and traceable, non-GMO ingredients in their formulations was not enough. She wanted to prove their efficacy so through extensive regulatory reviews, consumer testing, and clinical trials, Sahajan is now proud to say that all of their claims are completely backed by science. I find Sahajan’s approach of mixing old tradition with modern science really unique – it definitely sets them apart from the rest. Sahajan currently has five products in their collection, and I was lucky to try their Protective Face Serum and their Nourish Face Cream.
The Protective Face Serum is definitely a special face serum. I’ve seen serums in all colors under the sun, but to my surprise, the serum is a toffee brown! The face serum boasts three star ingredients that are commonly used in Ayurveda:
Triphala: A powerful antioxidant with 20x the amount of Vitamin C in an orange to help brighten the skin
Gotu Kola: A powerful herb known to stimulate the production of collagen, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and firm the skin
Hyaluronic Acid: Increases hydration, improves elasticity, and smoothes the look of fine lines
The serum has a somewhat light-medium watery consistency. It has a very grounding and calming sandalwood scent which I thoroughly enjoyed. I used the serum after cleansing both day and night and found that my skin tolerated it very well. I love the fact that it’s lightweight, quick absorbing, and non-greasy (that’s always a huge plus for me). It definitely provided some much needed hydration. My skin felt fresh, smooth, and supple – especially when using it overnight. I also like that it helps protect my skin from environmental stressors. I find the serum very balancing and perfect for combination / problematic skin. I really like this serum, and I’m sure with continued use, I’ll see even better results.
Ingredients
Water/Eau/Aqua, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Terminalia Bellerica Fruit Extract, Terminalia Chebula Extract, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract,Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance (Parfum), Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Titanium Dioxide
The second product I tried was the Nourish Face Cream. Like the Protective Face Serum, the face cream also possesses the same fascinating toffee color. The thick, creamy texture almost makes it look like toffee pudding! It also has a similar sandalwood scent like the face serum.
The face cream includes three star ingredients, two of which are also in the Protective Face Serum: the Triphala and the Gotu Kola. The third ingredient is one of the most most versatile beauty ingredients ever – coconut oil! The coconut oil is meant to provide hydration and give your skin a nice glow.
Immediately after using the Protective Face Serum, I apply the Nourish Face Cream. The texture of the face cream is quite interesting as it is thick and feels slightly sticky / tacky upon application. I was expecting that the coconut oil would give it a buttery-feel, but perhaps the addition of the glycerin and aloe (and possibly some other ingredients) gives is that distinct sticky texture. I felt that the face cream didn’t absorb well, but rather just sat on the surface of my skin. I also felt a bit of tightness. The one thing I did notice is that my skin did appear glowy. I think the face cream may actually work better with those with dry skin types as the coconut oil may aggravate acne-prone skin. The face cream may not be for me, but I don’t want to dismiss it just yet. Maybe with some additional experimentation or under different circumstances, I will like it better. But I do need to be a bit cautious because of the coconut oil.
Ingredients
Water/Eau/Aqua, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Camellia Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Cetyl alcohol, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Terminalia bellerica fruit extract, Terminalia Chebula Extract, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Dehydroacetic acid, Benzyl alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance (Parfum), Tocopheryl acetate
Final Thoughts
I think Sahajan is a really unique brand, and I love their “old-meets-new” approach. I appreciate the fact that they use only the purest ingredients and that they do extensive testing for their products. To be able to stand behind their claims / products says a lot about them as a brand. The other three products they have in their collection look very promising, but I’d love to see them expand their line. I can see them making a killer face oil, and perhaps a mist. You can learn more about Sahajan or purchase their products directly from their website: Sahajan.
Disclaimer
The Sahajan products were kindly provided for consideration, however all opinions expressed are my own. This post contains no affiliate links.
