MEGHNA PANT, financial journalist and now an award-winning writer, tells VAUNT how she maintains her beautiful pahadi skin in a hot humid city with a grueling work schedule.
The beginning…
I joined TIMES NOW at 25, and since then it’s been a roller coaster ride. Being a journalist was very stressful not just for me but also for my skin that had to endure layers of foundation, bad diet and lack of sleep. I started breaking out and developed severe acne for the first time in 25years. It was the most difficult phase as I juggled a career, a city life and moved from one hectic job to another within the media industry. Being in broadcast journalism meant my face always had a layer of makeup ready to go on air, which allowed very little room for my skin to breathe.
A few failed attempts at skincare…
With my work schedule it was very difficult to set aside a skincare routine, so I tried Homeopathy, but it didn’t work. I then went to a dermatologist on whose recommendation I got a chemical peel. That was by far the worse decision I made back then. I felt like someone had poured acid on my face! It burned unbearably as it peeled away the top layer of my skin to clear out the acne marks. In fact, after the chemical peel my skin looked so terrible that a random woman in a public bathroom once commented that if I fixed my skin, I could actually look very pretty! I think that comment hurt just as much as the chemical peel.
Getting Proactive…
For me that was the last straw, I decided to take control of my skin with some internal and external cleansing. I first fixed my diet. Moved to fruits, veggies and sprouts and stayed away from alcohol and greasy canteen food. Made sure I packed homemade lunches/ snacks everywhere and followed it up with natural home remedies like Multani Mitti , yogurt, honey and turmeric (anti inflammatory) masks to rejuvenate my skin. It didn’t matter how tired I was, I stuck to my routine for a year and slowly but surely my old pahadi clear complexion began to resurface.
My mantra is “Keep It Simple” …
My day begins and ends with my Himalaya Neem Face wash followed with a Kiehl’s Day cream and Kiehl’s night cream. If I have make up on I use a Clinique make up remover. This sums up my simple and short regimen. I don’t go for facials to salons and I certainly don’t let anyone touch my face anymore.
Few of my favorite things in my purse…
I usually don’t leave home without my Mac compact, Mac blush on, a closed brush from Body shop (many people aren’t aware that open brushes carry bacteria), Bobby Brown eyeliner and a L’Oreal Kajal Magique.
Transition from journalist to writer…
There was no breakthrough moment, rather a slow and steady pursuit of both business and creative writing. They seem like two disparate forms of writing; after all, fiction is a subjective field, all about emotions and experiences, while finance and journalism are objective fields, based on data and facts. Yet, journalism techniques have come in handy for me while creating stories. It has taught me to write economically, within the bounds of reason, while keeping in mind what is interesting to a reader, and to pay careful attention to what’s going on in the world around me. It’s easy as a writer to shut myself from the world, so being a journalist forces me to keep seeing what’s out there.
The best part about being an author is that you can write in your PJ's with no makeup on. It's a great way to detox your skin.
Taking time off to relax is a big part of skincare…
For me this usually involves meditation, 7-8 hours of sleep and when I am more stressed than usual, I pick an Alice Munro book to immerse my self in. It’s when I am relaxed doing the things I love, it reflects on my skin.