In The Beauty Breakdown ELLE talks to beauty obsessives about their desert-island beauty reccos, the experts on their speed dial, and everything they’ve learnt in their pursuit to achieving happy skin. This edition features Tamannaah Bhatia, an actor best known for her role in films like Paiyaa, Bahubali and Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy.
ELLE: How has your beauty routine evolved over the years?
Tamannaah Bhatia: I’ve been drawn to acting since I was a child and I started working in the entertainment industry in my early teens—that’s also when I started wearing make-up. Like most girls, I grew up watching my mother put on make-up and I think the interest just grew from there. I enjoy beauty, infact it’s been a dream to have my own line of cosmetics. Now I’m being conscious about the products I use, and my team and I have started experimenting with eco-friendly and vegan products for shoots.
ELLE: What’s been your biggest beauty fixation?
TB: Troubled skin. I’ve embraced a dairy-free diet to work around it.
ELLE: What are the top 5 products in your beauty kit?
TB: My essentials are M.A.C Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara, Chanel Coco Eau De Parfum Spray, Benefit Cosmetics Rose Tinted Cheek and Lip Stain, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment 15, and La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water. All of these work well for me!
ELLE: What will you fall back on when you run out of your favourite product while sheltering-in?
TB: A multipurpose balm that can go on the lips and also on the face for some sheen.
ELLE: We all love our beauty DIYs, what’s your favourite?
TB: I use a lot of organic homemade packs that are a mix of besan, turmeric, sandalwood and neem leaves—it also makes a good scrub. I also make a volcanic mud or multani mitti and neem water face pack that I leave on my face for 15 minutes. I avoid make-up as much as I can, and use aloe vera gel to moisturise my skin. I eat a lot of avocado and broccoli to maintain my skin and yes drink lots of water.
ELLE: A beauty accident that you learnt from…
TB: Sleeping with make-up on—it made my skin breakout.
ELLE: What are your views on anti-ageing skincare?
TB: I believe great skin and hair are a product of our lifestyle. The less stressful your life the better you look and feel. Ageing is also a natural process and that’s something we all should learn to make peace with instead of chasing beauty treatments constantly.
ELLE: What’s your self-care Sunday like?
TB: Sleeping in late, binge eating junk food, taking an afternoon nap with my dog Pebbles, yoga in the evenings and guided meditation at night.
ELLE: What’s your hair care routine?
TB: I oil my hair with a mix of onion juice and coconut oil once a week. I then wash it off with a herbal hair wash made of shikakai, papaya and aamla.
ELLE: Your favourite wellness destination…
TB: Kerala. It helped me find my inner balance and since then I’ve also taken to ayurvedic living.
ELLE: What helps you feel comfortable in your skin?
TB: Practicing self-love, making my own rules and not worrying about another’s perception of me or seeking external valuation.
Photographs: Instagram (Tamannaah Bhatia)
