Three mom-daughter duo share beauty tips passed down through generations

While we often think of family heirlooms as tangible items like jewellery and clothes, beauty secrets cannot be left out of this equation. These traditions are keepsakes, not only for their utilitarian purposes but also for fostering bonds and preserving cultural practices. In Indian culture, the simple act of a mother oiling and combing her child’s hair, strengthens the relationship. Often accompanied by heartfelt conversations, the mundane activity forms fond memories that are carried on for generations. However, children finding inspiration in their parents’ beauty kits and rituals is not something unique to India, but a global phenomena.

Bazaar India speaks with three mother-daughter duo—Bollywood’s beloved Konkona Sensharma and Aparna Sen, Navya Naveli Nanda and Shweta Bachchan, and entrepreneur and influencer Diipa Büller Khosla and Sangitha Khosla—who share their family beauty secrets, beloved products, and something that they are willing to try before the year ends

APARNA SEN & KONKONA SENSHARMA

Konkona and her mother Aparna found common ground in their shared fascination with straight hair. “We have quite the ‘Bengali hair’, which is frizzy and curly. “As a kid also, I remember pulling my hair, trying to wet and straighten it,” reminisces Konkona. Aparna recalls that she once woke up nine-year-old Konkona early in the morning to f ix her hair. “I would get the hairdresser and make-up artist to straighten her hair with a dryer. I really felt sorry for her afterwards. I think I passed that on to Konkona, and we have many jokes about this—two women who share this common affliction.” In her younger days, Konkona rebelled against the pressure to dress up frequently, but now she finds joy in it occasionally. “When I was younger, I was not as comfortable in my skin as I am today. This was a time when I joined films where there was a lot of focus on the way one looked,” she shares. For Aparna, beauty is about aesthetics. “I like my house, films, and surroundings to look good.” The mother daughter duo have always put a lot of importance on inner beauty. “Looks will disappear, and one will have to keep adjusting according to age, so that is what I have imbibed and truly appreciate,” Konkona tells Bazaar India. Some of their trusted practices and products are double cleansing, Johnson’s baby oil, Bio-Oil, a mixture of glycerine and rose water, L’Occitane shower oil, and more. One beauty hack that Aparna passed on is a homemade paste of masur dal mixed with milk or cream, a squeeze of lemon and coconut or olive oil. “Another thing I’ve told them is using an egg mask,” Aparna adds. A mani-pedi session is something that they both enjoy and plan to do before 2024 ends. “It’s very time consuming so it would be great to do it along with her,” says Konkona. Before signing off, Aparna says, “My beauty tip is to exercise, I have practised yoga all my life and breathing exercises help the skin. If you can do aerobics, nothing like it!”

NAVYA NAVELI NANDA & SHWETA BACHCHAN 

I have never been a wash-and-go kind of person, says Shweta Bachchan, recalling her skin issues growing up. “My mother has always taken care of her skin. I had terrible skin, with scars to show— a fallout of my PCOS [polycystic ovary syndrome]. I am paranoid about my skin and it’s a huge joke in my family. My kids call it mama ‘lotions and potions’!” shares Shweta. Oiling hair and using a traditional pumice stone on the soles are some of the rituals passed down to Shweta from her mother [Jaya Bachchan]. She tells Bazaar India that beauty is a word used very loosely these days, and to her, it’s more about taking care of oneself—it’s as important as taking care of your bones or eyesight. Between the mother daughter duo of Shweta and Navya, the former is a skincare and make-up junkie. Owing to her sensitive skin, she uses products that have worked without giving her a flare-up. “When Navya grew up and struggled with her skin, it was something we bonded over. Of course, none of my advice was taken. My son and I have inherited eczema, and at times it’s debilitating. So, when we find something that works, it’s shared three ways,” she explains. Some of her favourite products include Cetaphil lotion, Sebamed lip balm, and sunblock from Isdin. Talking about the recent discoveries. Shweta says, “Navya recently introduced us to barrier creams and we’ve never looked back.” Navya says Shweta and she have discovered the power of manifestation in the last year. “It’s really changed our approach towards situations and life overall, definitely making us more confident,” shares Navya. She adds that she would like to try some of the haircare trends using her favourite Loreal products and the oil/hair spa treatments with her mum. Sharing a tip with the readers, Navya concludes, “It’s a tip my mom taught me—to mix highlighter with my cream. It adds an extra glow to the skin.”

DIIPA BÜLLER-KHOSLA & SANGITHA KHOSLA 

A beauty ritual that Diipa recalls is their weekly champi. “I remember my mom used to massage a combination of different Ayurvedic ingredients and hair oils into our scalps to help strengthen, grow, and add shine to our hair,” she recalls. Diipa describes how the traditional practice has been passed on to her daughter with a twist. “Now I continue this tradition with my daughter with a more refined version of the age-old champi formula with science-backed formulations and oils to elevate this childhood practice.” Describing some of her trusted hacks, she says, “I used to use ghee to solve everything earlier and now the Dewy lip treatment—everyone has it, from my husband, mother to best friend.” She urges everyone to wear sunscreen always. “If you want to prevent your skin from premature ageing and damage, always put it on even on a cloudy day or if you are simply staying at home.” But, what does beauty mean to her? “Beauty to me means taking what you already have and bringing out the beauty in it. It means authenticity, individuality, and taking pride in the characteristics that make you unique.” She says that one should use skincare and make-up to uplift what they already have, instead of trying to cover or change it. Something that Diipa and Sangitha are willing to try together is, “Abhyanga, an Ayurvedic full-body massage therapy with dosha-specific warm and herb-infused oil. Traditionally, it has been said to help promote blood circulation and stress-relief,” Diipa tells Bazaar India. “Honestly, one thing I discovered earlier in my career as an influencer is that haters are going to hate. At first it affected my mental health—I was always anxious to post and fearful of how people would respond. But now I only focus on the positive,” she concludes.
 

This article originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar India, 2024 May print issue.

Also Read: #World Environment Day: Is there a right way to recycle your beauty empties?

Also Read:Can this molecule turn back time?