Sonam Poladia

HELLO!: What are your in-bag essentials — the three things you never leave home without?

Pragya Jaiswal: “The three things I never leave home without are my wallet, my lip balm (I use a Bobbi Brown lip tint) and, of course, my cell phone.”

H!: Beauty to you is…

PJ: “Not just skin deep. Beauty is being comfortable in your own skin and owning it completely. Beauty for me is more on the inside than the outside. A person with a great personality, a kind heart and great zeal for life is far more inspirational than someone who’s beautiful just on the outside.”

H!: The one trend you’re currently obsessed with:

PJ: “This has to be face oils. They give you that beautiful, dewy finish after you apply makeup. So I love to use it after moisturising and before applying any makeup because it gives that stunning sheen. I use a face oil by The Minimalist.”

H!: What products do you always have on you?

PJ: “I tend to keep very few products on me. I only keep a lip balm or lipstick with me all the time, not a lot of makeup. My go-to lipstick shades are Mehr from M.A.C and Nudestix.”

H!: A minimalist or a complete hoarder — what kind of a shopper are you?

PJ: “I’d call myself a minimalist because I only have exactly what I need. I don’t go crazy with makeup. We do have people who do our make-up for us. So I keep it to only the things I need.”

H!: What do you think is an absolute must for glowing skin and healthy hair?

PJ: “I think for glowing skin and hair, drinking a lot of water and keeping yourself hydrated is a must. Other than that, my skincare routine helps tremendously I cleanse, tone and moisturise and make sure to apply sunscreen. It will help you look younger longer. I use a cleanser by Cetaphil, a toner from Clinique, a moisturiser by Emolene or La Mer and the Isdin Fotoprotector Fusion Water sunscreen. Oiling your hair once in a while also does wonders to your tresses.”

H!: What’s the weirdest compliment you’ve ever received?

PJ: “I’m not sure it was a compliment. Someone had once said I was neither too beautiful nor too talented, but was getting work because I was fair-skinned, and people in the industry were obsessed with such complexions. They gave all the credit to the colour of my skin, not my talent, which was bizarre.”

H!: Can you name a product you’re obsessed with currently?

PJ: “At the moment, I’m in love with this lip balm from Bobbi Brown. It’s actually a lip tint, and I think it works great for both day meetings and work events because it has that hint of colour. So it works as a lip balm as well as a lipstick. It looks gorgeous!”

H!: A product you don’t mind splurging on:

PJ: “If it’s skincare, it has to be a really good moisturiser. Besides that, I love to spend on really nice perfumes, like ones by Dolce & Gabbana.”

H!: Share a DIY remedy that you learnt from your mum or grandmothers.

PJ: “When I was younger, my mom and daadi used to apply a homemade face pack made out of besan (ground chickpeas) and curd or milk, along with some honey. It used to be magical. I use a similar face mask from The Tribe today.”

H!: The one step of your daytime and nighttime routine you never skip:

PJ: “During the day, moisturising and applying sunscreen are equally important, whether you’re going out or not. Sunscreen is a must! At night, it’s vital to remove your makeup before bed, no matter how tired you are or how late it is. It’s crucial for your skin.”

This has been adapted for the web from a story originally published in the July 2023 issue of HELLO! India. Get our copy of the latest issue right here!