Exploring the Ayurvedic Power Behind Sahajan – with Founder Lisa Mattam

1) How did Ayurveda influence the creation of Sahajan?

Ayurveda and skincare. Sahajan was born in a moment—I came home, found my young daughter at the top of the stairs, covered in my skincare. While I found her super cute, I remember feeling immediately uneasy about what the chemicals in my products would do to her young skin. When I took her to her room and showed her the products she could play with, they were all Ayurvedic oils from India, ones my parents had given me to use on her. It was in that moment that I realized that if my products weren’t good enough for her, they weren’t good enough for me. If I wanted to create clean skin and haircare that I knew would yield amazing results and stand up beside any conventional product, I had to go back to what I knew to be true—Ayurveda.

Ayurveda has been practiced for over 5000 years, and the beauty practices are founded in time-tested, high-performing ingredients. We work with Ayurvedic doctors or practitioners on each formula to ensure the formulas reflect not only the authentic practice of Ayurveda but work synergistically to achieve the end goal for the product. For example, if we want a product that balances redness and supports the structure of the skin, the Ayurvedic experts share which ingredients should be added and at which levels. Our chemists then use this as the foundation for their formulation.

I started my career in the pharmaceutical industry, so it’s critically important to me that our products are unparalleled from an efficacy standpoint. We were the first Ayurvedic brand to run clinical testing on our products because I knew that to earn the trust of our customers, we had to show them the science of Sahajan.

2) What are some of Sahajan’s signature ingredients and their benefits?

We use a variety of ingredients rooted in Ayurveda that offer incredible benefits. Some of our signature ingredients include:

• Triphala: A powerhouse in Ayurveda, it’s a blend of three fruits, one of which has 20x the amount of Vitamin C as an orange. It’s a powerful antioxidant that brightens and protects.
• Gotu Kola (Centella): Known as the Indian parsley, this is revered in Ayurveda as “age-defying” and is proven in clinical science to stimulate the production of collagen.
• Turmeric: Ayurveda’s gold. It’s revered for its ability to brighten, detox, nourish, and protect.
• Ghee: Rich in fatty acids, it is known in Ayurveda to soothe the skin and brighten dark under-eye circles. 

3) What challenges have you faced on your journey with Sahajan, and what accomplishments are you most proud of?

Admittedly, there have been many challenges along the way. From scaling production to gaining traction, each step of the journey has presented unique challenges and frustrations. The amazing thing about entrepreneurship is that when you get through the challenge, you realize that you are so much better equipped for the next hill you will have to climb.

I am proud of so many milestones at Sahajan. I’m proud that Forbes called us a pioneer bringing Ayurveda to the beauty world. I’m proud that so many people have joined us on our journey, including investors like Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck, The Handmaid’s Tale) and renowned poet Rupi Kaur, who are both organic and beautiful users of Sahajan. I’m proud that we launched at Sephora Canada this year, and proud that we remain the first and only Ayurvedic brand at Credo Beauty.

Most importantly, I’m proud of having the unbelievable privilege of helping our customers transform their relationship with their skin. Every single time someone tells me they love their skin more, feel confident going makeup-free, or feel more confident overall, I am truly honored.

4) What can we expect next from Sahajan?

Oooh, so much! New products, new partnerships (all of which we can’t wait to announce), but truly, what’s next is continuing our mission to bring Ayurveda to the beauty world. It’s such an exciting journey!