A Full Circle

My journey into Ayurveda started before I can fully remember. But it took cancer at the age of 44, to bring me back to my heritage of Ayurveda.

My grandmother was an Ayurvedic doctor, healing her community despite the strict Muslim household she was a part of, and my mother owned the first Ayurvedic Spa in Bangladesh, helping thousands of customers with skin and hair concerns. So, I grew up thinking the mustard oil foot rubs, warm herbed oil scalp massages, and turmeric and sandalwood face masks were normal. But when I left to study in the US, and began my life as a working professional around the world, I lost that connection, until five years ago, when I was diagnosed with cancer.

In 2019, I was living in Nairobi, Kenya, working for the UN, had 3 kids, a husband and a very busy and stressful life. Accustomed to regularly ignoring signals my body would send, and plowing through most things, I almost didn't go to get the dull pain in my left breast checked. But at the insistence of my husband, I did, and it turned out to be an aggressive form of cancer. The treatment started immediately and so did the side-effects. After 14 months of being pumped full of toxic, yet life-saving chemicals, I was desperate to heal my body, my skin and my hair. This kickstarted my wellness journey, to rebuild and repair my body using the power of nature and the wisdom of Ayurveda. The results were tremendous!

Today, after four years of study and research, several certifications, and countless experiments, SHAI (Shabnam's Ayurvedic Inspiration) Active Ayurvedic Skincare is here, to help others on their skin wellness journey. SHAI is an Ayurvedic fusion beauty brand that combines traditional Ayurveda with innovative botanical actives, creating powerful yet safe, effective yet gentle, and concentrated yet 100% natural, skincare for those who want beautiful, healthy skin.

As a formulator, my greatest joy comes from helping people on their skin health journey, sharing with them the gift of transformative Ayurveda and restoring their faith in nature.  

Thank you for your trust in me and in SHAI Skincare.
All the very best,