HELLO! India Exclusive: The nighttime skincare ritual which "might actually be working" for Samantha Ruth Prabhu and more

Today, the beauty bandwagon is a crowded one, with all Indian celebrities on it—whether that means dunking their faces in ice or sharing their own tell-all skincare secrets. Samantha Ruth Prabhu however, did it all first. From the ways in which her wellness practices impact her lifestyle to consciously choosing sustainability in her beauty routine, the Indian film star has been there and done that. So when the fragrance brand she co-founded, Secret Alchemist unveiled clean Indian fragrances under the concept of Signature Alchemy, you could expect it to only follow suit. In an exclusive conversation with HELLO! India's Associate Editor Dayle Pereira-Alemao, Samantha Ruth Prabhu opened up about how the concept of clean beauty is catching on, the nighttime skincare routine she doesn't skip and more.

HELLO! India: Which three beauty rituals do you always follow at night, no matter how late it is?

Samantha Ruth Prabhu: I’ve started doing the abhyanga, which is an oil massage with the toner from Secret Alchemist. I love my nighttime skincare routine, which includes lots of moisturiser. I’ve recently started using a castor oil patch — which I think might actually be working!

HELLO! India: How has clean beauty been a pivotal part of Secret Alchemist?

Samantha Ruth Prabhu: I think Secret Alchemist and its 35-year-old aromatherapy legacy have always stood for purity, so clean perfumery was a natural transition. We were always providing the therapeutic value of essential oils, and now we’ve naturally moved into offering the fragrance value of essential oils. Our perfume is clean — which honestly is the best part of it all. For us, “clean” means honesty and complete transparency with our ingredients and allergens, and I think that’s what sets us apart.

HELLO! India: Is clean beauty catching on as a trend in India?

Samantha Ruth Prabhu: Everyone is very aware of ingredients. There’s a lot of exposure and I think brands really need to step up and offer full disclosure because we know and care about what we put on our skin and what we consume. So the demand for wellness-driven, clean products is really the need of the hour. I’m so glad that Signature Alchemy from Secret Alchemist is the first-of-its-kind clean perfume. I think it’s a global trend, and one that’s catching on really well in India.

(Also Read: HELLO! India Exclusive: Taapsee Pannu's favourite go-to hairstyle and why Diana Ross is her curly hair icon)

HELLO! India: What’s the simplest way to make your beauty routine cleaner?

Samantha Ruth Prabhu: I think the simplest way is to read the ingredients and be aware of them, and try to use as few products as possible. When we start adding too many products, it all gets too complicated.

(Also Read: Janhvi Kapoor shares Sridevi's advice: "Beauty is meant to enhance your confidence, not define your worth”)