MICHELLE RANAVAT
“As an adult and rediscovering these rituals, I realised there was a space to tell the origin story of ingredients, such as saffron and turmeric and manjithsa. That is one of the main whys behind creating this brand. There are all these ingredients and rituals with amazing origin stories just waiting to be told. I wanted to build a brand that would not only honour these ingredients, but tell their stories in an intentional way.”
Michelle Ranavat is the founder of Ranavat, an extremely potent Ayurvedic Beauty line. She taps into her Indian heritage to launch Made Safe-certified products, USDA-certified organic tonics, a hair oil (Mighty Majesty) and face oil with Saffron (Radiant Rani) along with the new superfood cleanser (Luminous Ceremony), which utilize rare and potent certified organic Ayurvedic herbs inspired by her family’s recipes. Through sourcing, Michelle has brought new light to the Kansa Wand, a face tool that pre-dates the Jade Roller and is a simple and effective way to detox and re-balance the skin.
Michelle studied Industrial Engineering in undergrad and has a master’s in engineering management, although she started her career at Lehman Brothers. Her dad built his pharmaceutical raw materials company 35 years ago from absolutely nothing — and when Michelle joined the company, she focused her energy on always sourcing the best, even if it was halfway around the world. Michelle was able to visit factories in all parts of the world and fell in love with ingredients, quality and the process of creating something. Michelle believes quality in sourcing is a big part of why she has been so successful in the launch of Ranavat. She hopes to continue the sourcing history and provide beautifully made safe products that will help change the face of skincare.
Follow Michelle:
“Prevention is key when it comes to Ayurveda and skincare for me.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
To me, Ayurveda means prevention. I see it as the science that allows us to holistically understand the body and skin, and use ingredients that help us regulate our body’s response to stress and help the skin from becoming inflamed.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
I didn’t grow up knowing the word Ayurveda specifically; but the rituals and culture were always a part of my upbringing. I grew up with many of the beauty rituals found in Ranavat products today, such as hair oiling and using ingredients such as turmeric on the skin.
What drew you to Ayurveda?
As an adult and rediscovering these rituals, I realised there was a space to tell the origin story of ingredients, such as saffron and turmeric and manjithsa. That is one of the main whys behind creating this brand. There are all these ingredients and rituals with amazing origin stories just waiting to be told. I wanted to build a brand that would not only honour these ingredients, but tell their stories in an intentional way.
Has it helped you with anything major?
The ritual of hair oiling was actually the inspiration for our cult favourite hair serum. After I had my two boys, I experienced severe postpartum hair loss. I turned to the ritual of weekly hair oiling, something I had grown up with, and noticed that my hair was starting to grow back stronger and smoother. That was the inspiration to create a clean hair oil with Ayurvedic superfood ingredients like amla and jasmine.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
It’s very much woven into the fabric of my day-to-day. My skincare routine consists of the products from the line. I’ve also taken inspiration from my mom and together we’ve recreated our family recipes for Ayurvedic teas for energy, for soothing, and for an immunity boost.
What are your top 3 Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
Prevention is key when it comes to Ayurveda and skincare for me. My philosophy in formulating products is about sourcing the best ingredients and using them in unique ways to create a differentiated experience. All of our products are preventative; meaning that they work not only to address skincare concerns, but to also prevent them from even happening.
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
I was surprised by the results. I had heard so much growing up how important these practices were, but it wasn’t until later in my life going through postpartum hair loss and childbirth that I realised how effective they were!
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
While I had been doing a few practices all along, during my postpartum journey I really started to dive into Ayurvedic practices, and of course starting Ranavat as part of that process was a major turning point!
Do your children/family eat an Ayurvedic diet? And if they do, do they know it’s Ayurveda or do they just think of it as home cooking?
Currently, I don’t think they realise what they are experiencing is called Ayurveda — from the food to skincare and rituals in general — but I know as they grow older, they will connect the dots and see that there is such a strong cultural tie to their upbringing and the way we live our lives!
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
Saffron is my go-to ingredient; it’s an incredible ingredient for the skin. I love formulating with it because it not only calms the skin but also helps reduce hyperpigmentation. It is so meditative for the skin and spirit — the scent is calming and immediately relaxes my mood.
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
Having grown up with these rituals that I probably didn’t realise were Ayurvedic rituals at the time, I would say that is integrated into how we’re raising our family and how I’m building the Ranavat brand. My mom and I make our Ayurvedic teas together, I love to massage our Mighty Majesty hair serum into my boys’ scalps, and my day-to-day work is centred around education and inspiration. My goal with Ranavat has always been to educate on how the brand has taken a differentiated approach to the ingredients and rituals of Ayurveda.
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
There’s a whole world of ingredients that are important in your skincare routine. Many of these ingredients are commonly used in many skincare brands today, but I really want to focus on the education and origin story behind these ingredients.
What’s the one thing you would encourage everyone to try or you think would benefit the majority of people’s health for the better?
I think incorporating adaptogens into your skincare routine can benefit everyone. Stress causes ageing and inflammation; adaptogens help our body cope with these stressors, so our skin can react better and not become inflamed.