Om, please share your morning wellbeing regime with us

I drink a big glass of water as soon as I wake up to activate my internal organs, followed by five minutes of meditation – breathe in; breathe out. This prepares my mind and body for the day ahead. I follow this with a few morning yoga poses or moving my body freely before stepping into the shower, where I take a moment to send my love and appreciation to my mind, body and skin using OM Skincare.

What are the 3 things that you need in your life for you to ‘be your best you’?

  • My family, and their unconditional love and support
  • Compassion, for myself as well as others
  • Mindfulness

What are your favourite beauty, makeup or wellbeing products and why?

Currently, my favourite beauty product is our new Mindful Traveller as I am an avid traveller, I often have little or no time to think about packing but I will never compromise on skincare – so this is perfect. I carry it with me wherever I go, even just to freshen up after a long day of meetings or a gym session before rushing off to dinner or a weekend away. My all-time favourite beauty, makeup and wellbeing essentials are an inner smile and a happy thought (and they don’t cost a thing!).

Your brand “Om Skincare” is known for its commitment to ‘mindful beauty’ What was the inspiration behind launching a holistic skincare range?

I asked myself a question when I started OM skincare, “How can a skincare brand benefit people beyond their skin?” I tied in my scientific knowledge and extensive research with my strong belief that great skin is about your state of mind, just as much as what is in the products you are using. I submerged myself in Ancient Wisdom and wanted to share my experiences. I was driven to find a way to create a brand that embraced mindfulness and encompassed all my beliefs and discoveries, a skincare brand that harnessed dynamic ingredients with mindfulness to deliver maximum skincare benefits. OM Skincare was born – created with love and passion.

What is the biggest career risk that you’ve ever taken that has paid off?

I jumped from a scientific lab research role to starting my own business in the UK, away from my home and family. I am very proud that OM skincare has established a place in the market, is loved by our customers and has been recognised within the industry with award-winning achievements.

In your journey as an entrepreneur, what have you discovered about yourself that surprised you?

I am self-reliant and can handle many things. I am more patient than I think and it surprises me that, whatever I do and wherever I am; work is always with me, even when I take shower, out for afternoon tea, on holiday or just before bed. It’s so hard to switch off, which is why mindfulness is so important to me.

The word ‘resilience’ is often used when describing the qualities of female achievers in all spheres: How does the word resilience manifest in your story Or in your journey thus far?

There were countless times when things didn’t turn out the way I expected; many unforeseeable circumstances, changes and challenges have occurred. I have learnt that sometimes things are just out of my control, and to see these situations as a part of the journey to success. The journey has not been lined with roses, it is a bumpy road, with twists and turns, but I don’t give up and remember that, whatever happens, we’re a step closer to success.

Wow Beauty is on a mission to remind womankind to take a ‘Wholistic’ view of beauty: mind, body and spirit. Inner beauty = outer beauty. How much credence do you give to this concept?

I couldn’t agree more with this concept, everything that is going on in our mind, our body and ourselves will always be reflected on the outside. If there is beauty inside then it will shine on the outside. I firmly believe that our skin is a direct result of our physical and emotional well-being, hence our mantra ‘Mind Body Skin’.

In your opinion is how women define their beauty changing to a more individual approach or are we still being dictated to by society at large?

I think it is a mixture of both. As we all know, the media is a powerful tool and people have so much access to various forms of it today, so this influence from society is constantly growing. However, I also believe that nowadays people place more value of individualism and are continually becoming more confident in expressing their inner self.

Do you think that social media has helped to push the cause for greater inclusiveness in the beauty industry?

Social media has played a big role in the beauty industry, where everybody now has instant access to what is going on. As a company, we now have direct access to our customers which is a huge benefit and, more importantly, a great responsibility. As for inclusiveness, I suppose it depends on how you define it, but it has certainly created a community where like-minded people can engage with each other and collectively influence the market, which wasn’t as easy before.

Based on where you are in your life now, what words of wisdom would you share with your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to enjoy every moment of her life and never wait for the perfect moment to do something. Be mindful in everything and listen more. Eat less dessert and exercise every day! To take care of her skin so that her youthful flawless skin could stay with her for longer; always apply SPF, cleanse well and never sleep with makeup on. Oh, and don’t pick on blemishes, just let them heal.

Who or what inspires you and why?

I can find inspiration from pretty much any place I visit, and from anyone I see or speak to. Every place has its own unique beauty and it’s the same with people, everyone’s journey is different and there is always something new to learn.

How important is it for women to have cheerleaders? Who are your cheerleaders?

I think having cheerleaders is important for everyone, not only for women. Support and encouragement from people around us encourages us to feel confident and cheer us up when we are vulnerable. I feel lucky to have met many cheerleaders who have helped and supported me on my journey. My forever cheerleaders are my family and best friends who always support me, are there for me and believe in me, I could never find enough words to truly express my gratitude to them.

Thank you

Denise

Find out about OM Skincare here