Celebrities launching beauty lines is not new – internationally everyone from Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow to Drew Barrymore and Rihanna have beauty labels. Over the last few years, Indian actors like Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma, and Rhea and Sonam Kapoor, have introduced their fashion labels, but beauty remains largely untouched. Besides Masaba’s makeup collaboration with Nykaa, there aren’t any known celebrity beauty labels in India. That is now set to change with Arias, a new line of healthy skincare products by Lara Dutta, which officially launched at all Heath & Glow counters this week.
Having spent enough and more time in makeup chairs, the actor and former Miss Universe knows a thing or two about beauty. And she has now gathered all that knowledge and invested it in her line of vegetarian, cruelty-, paraben-, and chemical-free skincare products, where everything from formulation to packaging to delivery has done in-house. After 25 years on the scene, it’s only natural to develop a fondness for wellness and beauty, says Dutta, and all the 11 products are specifically designed to take care of a problematic skin issue.
What does the range entail? There are 11 products comprising face washes, toners, cleanser masks, and serums alongside the staple, day and night creams. The 3-in-1 cleanser mask is set to be the most popular product, a unique product that contains matcha tea, witch hazel, and cellulose microbeads. It effectively exfoliates, deep cleanses, and moisturises. There’s the Active Defense Day Cream (Rs 655) that has anti-pollution active glycofilm and SPF 30; Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream (Rs 390) that lightens dark circles and hydrates; and the Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash (Rs 325) that features matcha tea and neem.
There is also a Revitalising Face Mask (Rs 355) made with French red clay and witch hazel that reduces blackheads, and we were particularly impressed by the Intense Night Repair Serum (Rs 950), the most expensive product that aims to tackle pigmentation and fine lines through the night with the help of vitamin C and mulberry extract.
“I have had experts work on my skin when I was young, and as I grew older, in my 30s and 40s, [I realised] skin needs a newer perspective, a new path. Indian skin has its own issues, so it’s essential to formulate a plan that works for our skin specifically. I wanted to create a line that is affordable, easy to incorporate, ensures great quality, and addresses all the skin issues of the Indian skin – sun damage, free radicals, and pollution,” says Dutta.
Dutta worked with Geetanjali Shetty, a renowned dermatologist, to create these formulations using effective ingredients such as neem, matcha green tea, and pomegranate extract, and the gold and white packaging assure a luxurious feel. The line has been curated with the help of Scentials Beautycare and Wellness Pvt Ltd, a consumer goods organisation that works on global licensing agreements with celebrities in the field of sports and entertainment.
The formulations are also inspired by Dutta’s own experiences and the need for an effortless beauty routine: “Keep your beauty regime simple. Don’t use too many products on your face.” Ask her about anti-aging and she’s candid. “You can’t stop or reverse aging, you can slow it down.” Her line therefore seeks to be effective and for the modern woman.
Even though the label has officially launched now, it had been available on Amazon for sometime. “Since we launched, we have seen a lot of positive results and feedback. I look forward to providing skincare solutions for women as our range continues to grow.” A new range of fragrances and mists will be released soon.
Arias is available at Amazon, Nykaa, and Health & Glow. Prices start at Rs 290 onwards.
Latha Sunadh
Deputy Editor
When she's not trying on a new serum, researching on yet another classic fragrance and sharing lip balms with her 5-year old daughter, Latha Sunadh keeps it reined in with a nice song and a good book. Special skills include obsessing over handmade, home-made and handcrafted luxuries.
