Herveda can be found on Port Street in the Northern Quarter
‘I got a skincare consultation at the Northern Quarter’s new beauty store – it’s based on 5,000 years of Indian practices’ (Image: Shawna Healey )
As a beauty writer, there’s nothing I love more than when a new skincare and wellness shop opens in Manchester. A few weeks back I got an email about a new store in the Northern Quarter that offers a holistic Ayurvedic approach to skincare. Intrigued, I knew immediately that I had to check it out.
You may not have heard about it before, but Ayurveda is an ‘inside and out’ take on skincare that dates back more than 5,000 years in India. The approach may be old, but it certainly becoming popular outside of the subcontinent, with Hailey Bieber said to be a massive fan.
More than skin deep, it views beauty as a reflection of inner health and well-being, addressing the root causes of skin and hair concerns. Ayurveda recognizes that everyone is unique and recommends tailoring beauty practices to individual needs and dosha (energy) types.
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So with this in mind, off I popped to Herveda on Port Street, which is about a 10 minutes walk from Piccadilly Station. After doing a quick browse of the products, I was offered a consultation Ayurvedic expert, Amy Reyes.
Amy and I sat down so she could diagnose my pulse and do a skin analysis to determine my dosha. I answered a set of questions about my lifestyle, diet, stress levels and exercise before Amy said that I am a Pitta and Kapha mix.
Personality wise, this mix means that I’m fiery and intense, but also emotional and strong-willed – which does sound like me. But what does this mean for my skin? Well, it suggests that my skin is hydrated and smooth – which only time will tell is because of my current seven step skin routine or genetics – while having the potential to be more prone to sensitivity and inflammation.
Herveda can be found on Port Street in the Northern Quarter (Image: Shawna Healey)
I tend to get hormonal acne on my chin, which I typically use a 2% salicylic acid as a preventative and cure, but Ayurveda products shy away from active ingredients for natural alternatives instead. And to tackle these concerns, I got to play around with some products to get a feel of what will work for my skin.
What I liked most about this process is that it is very intuitive. Just giving the products a quick sniff and rubbing them on the back of my arms and my arms revealed which products I gravitated towards the most.
Our first port of call was to tackle cleansers and after trying three different ones, I liked the Pitta Face Cleansing Bar by Rasasara Skinfood the most. Sort of like the facial bars you get from Lush, it comes in a sold bar that you keep in the shower that lathers to remove makeup, dirt and other impurities.
Ayurveda is a holistic approach to skincare that dates back 5,000 years in India(Image: Shawna Healey)
We then moved on to post-shower or sleep skin hydration. I picked up the Kapha Hydrating Mist and Youthful Skin Cream to give my skin a much-needed boost. Don’t be fooled by the name, the Youthful Skin Cream promises to create younger-looking skin on women of all ages, it’s not just for a younger crowd.
For most occasions, I prefer a natural glam look with eyebrow gel, mascara and a bit of lippy, which is why I am always after skincare products that add luminosity to my complexation – and that’s where the Ultimate Brightening Face Oil comes in. Using natural ingredients like orange peel oil, sandalwod oil and and rose oil to create natural radiance.
Lastly, I was recommended the Kapha Detox Body Oil that promises to not only soften the skin but stimulate proper circulation from the inside, to rid toxins and calm the nervous system. I will sometimes lotion my skin my body but it’s often something that I regrettably neglect, so I am eager to try.
If you’re fed up with your current routine, or want to move away from active ingredients for products that are a bit more natural, it’s worth heading down to Herevda to see if any products will work for you. Online and in-store consultations can booked here. They last approximately 45 minutes and costs £50, which includes a £100 gift card redeemable against recommended products.