Beauty For Real: Armaan Mann, founder, Dame Essentials, on her ‘extra’ skincare regime

10 Beauty Goals is a section on Lifestyle Asia India that works with well-known beauty entrepreneurs, bloggers, wellness advocates, and aficionados who have created an effective beauty regime for themselves. Their product and routine recommendations pave the path to understand beauty from an informative, insightful standpoint.

As the founder of Dame Essentials, India’s first anti-ageing silk pillowcase and sleeping mask brand, Armaan Mann understands the nuances of creating an effective beauty routine. Dame Essentials was born from her desire for flawless hair and skin (the pillowcases are made from 100 percent mulberry silk), and her extensive beauty routine is further testament. Whether it is a trending sleeping mask or that new Hylamide serum, Mann has tried it – such is her interest in skincare. We interviewed her on her beauty choices, ‘extra’ treatments, and the sure-shot ways to keep the skin flawless.

What kind of skin do you have and what extra care does it need?

I have dry skin with pigmentation issues, so I need to give it extra attention to ensure that my oil and moisture balance is in check. If I don’t take care, I start getting acne and my skin starts getting red and blotchy.

Your skincare regime in the AM?

When I wake up, I wash my face with Kiehl’s Ultra Facial face wash, that is PH-balanced to maintain the skin’s natural balance. This is followed by Klairs Supple Preparation Toner – this one is a cult favourite because I noticed that my skin glows brighter after using it. I also use the Foreo Luna mini 2 to wash my face. It gently cleans and exfoliates – I cannot do without it.

Then I move to the Hylamide SubQ Anti-age Serum that rehydrates, while improving the look of lines and wrinkles. The NIOD FECC eye serum, and Shiseido Wrinkle Resist 24 eye cream are favourites because they target visible aging near the eye and brighten up the area. I top this up with Supergoop’s Broad Spectrum Everyday Sunscreen SPF50, another cult favourite.

Depending on what I have planned for the day, my look varies from a basic CC cream and lip balm application to a full face of makeup.

Beauty & Grooming

Why you should replace your liquid lipstick with a lip oil this year

Do you try any spot treatments or specialised products for your skin?

NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 2 for general skin health and to keep my pores smaller. Kiehl’s Powerful Strength Line Reducing Serum and  The Ordinary Matryxl 10% + HA 1% both work on hydration.

Sleeping masks – yay or nay?

Yay. Some of my favourites include Boscia Tsubaki Oil Deep Hydration Sleeping Mask; Laneige Time Freeze Sleeping Firming Mask; and Summer Friday’s Jet Lag Mask

Makeup staples you love?

My Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation – it’s so silky and glides on the skin beautifully and the Urban Decay Make-up Setting Spray is just so good for making sure your makeup stays on.

Makeup you cannot do without?

The Ordinary High Spreadability Fluid Primer is a must-have. I layer my makeup only after I use this because it’s oil-free and serum-like.

The stars in your makeup box

• Eyes: Morphe X Jaclyn Hill Eyeshadow Palette for the sheer shade range and Glitter eye shadows from Stila – the formula glides on and it is perfect for a night out. Then I use the Too Faced Better Than Sex & Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascaras – both are clump-free and do wonders for your lashes. 
• Lips: These lipsticks are long-lasting and come in such great nude hues –  Stila and Bare Minerals Liquid Lipsticks
• Face: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, Giorgio Armani Master Corrector, Laura Mercier Setting Powder, Kat Von D Shade and Light Palette, and my all-time favourite blush that’s good on Indian skin – NARS Orgasm

Favourite lipstick shades?

• Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick  – Dusty Rose; Stila Liquid Lipsticks – Lido & Patina; Bare Minerals Liquid Lipsticks –  Boss & Icon

• Your most extravagant beauty purchase?

  SK II sheet masks and the La Mer Soft Cream.

• 

What is your PM skincare routine like?

There are a load of products that formulate my routine. This is how I layer them:

Klairs Cleansing Oil followed by the Klairs Rich Moist Foaming Cleanser. They keep my skin smooth and change the texture of it. I also use the The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toning Solution 7% on alternate days and then move ahead with the Klairs Supple Preparation Toner. Nothing like these toners to resolve dehydration.

I layer the Kiehl’s Powerful Strength Line Reducing Serum alongside The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid .5% in Squalene and end it with a rich moisturiser like the Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentrate. The skin just glows after one use.

I then, follow this up with a mask depending on whatever my skin feels like that day. On the eyes, I use NIOD FECC eye serum, The Ordinary Matryxl 10% + HA 1%  and Shiseido Wrinkle Resist 24 eye cream. I sleep on the Dame Essentials Pure Silk Pillowcase so that everything I use stays on my face and not on my pillow.

Haircare you follow?

Good haircare starts with taking care of your scalp. The serums I use are Grow Gorgeous Intense Hair Growth Serum (I am trying to grow my hair), and The Ordinary Multi Peptide Hair Serum. There is also Kerastase Chronologiste Serum (for hair length).

I also always sleep on Dame Essentials Pure Silk Pillowcase. I carry it everywhere with me and have one in my bag for emergencies. I oil my hair once a week, where I mix castor oil and Forest Essentials Bhringraj Oil.

What do you carry in your handbag?

A few essentials that I cannot live without. My Dame Essentials Scrunchies and eye mask, 2-3 nude lipsticks, my Supergoop’s Broad Spectrum Everyday Sunscreen SPF50 and my Forest Essentials face mist alongside a Korres lip balm and my favourite pair of sunnies. People underestimate the power of dark sunglasses. Make sure they are polarised because they reduce the glare in bright sunlight so you don’t squint as often.