Behind The Beauty with Avanti Dalal

As a seasoned beauty editor and self-proclaimed beauty product polygamist, you can always count on Avanti Dalal-Mehta to know the hottest new product on the market. Avanti began her career interning at Marie Claire during her sophomore year of college and headed to MediaCraft, a New York City-based PR agency, straight after, where she worked on PR for brands like Kosas, Ilia and Tatcha. But it was in India that she really found her editorial footing: first at Vogue India, then at The Established and finally, at Tira Beauty. And even though she is currently working at a health tech company, she hasn’t really left the world of beauty editorial.

“I’m a beauty editor forever,“ Avanti tells me. “I’ve always loved writing and somewhere along the way, I realised that whatever I did professionally had to sit in the Venn diagram of beauty and writing. Beauty gives you so much to explore — science, ritual, culture and emotion — and writing about it lets you slow down and make sense of all of it. I love trying things, mixing routines, testing ingredients, and seeing how skin responds over time. There’s something very satisfying about the ritual of it.”

A lot of that curiosity for beauty started during her time the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. “I was surrounded by people who were obsessed with fashion and beauty in the best possible way,” she tells me. “I’ve never been someone with incredible hair — mine is very fine and doesn’t hold styles — and my makeup skills are pretty basic. But skincare is absolutely my thing. All I really want is glowing, happy skin.”

Below, Avanti shares the products that swears by, the editor-approved trick for adult acne, and the experts that she trusts for everything from everyday skin fixes to the big moments.

What does a typical day in your life look like?

Mornings are a little manic. I’ve been trying to wake up earlier, but I land up sneaking in a few extra cuddles with my husband most mornings, so I snooze my alarm more than I should. I take a quick shower while listening to a podcast or my manifestations, and then do my AM skincare + makeup routines. After that, I make breakfast (usually eggs and toast) and head to work.

I try to walk as much as possible during the day — I’m very committed to hitting my ten thousand steps. I’m convinced walking is the most underrated wellness habit; it clears my head, and it’s usually when I think of my best ideas. Post work, I almost always work out. I alternate between pilates, barre and strength training, which has honestly been life-changing. Dinner is usually something simple at home, or I’ll catch up with some friends and family over a game of mahjong or a fun meal out.

I love a long post-dinner everything shower if I can, after which I’ll do my PM skincare routine. I’m loving falling asleep to a soapy rom-com (either via a book or a TV show).

What does your beauty routine look like?

My routines change a lot, and I’ll rarely buy the same product twice (save for some mainstays that I’m obsessed with). I start off with a gentle cleanser (the Bioderma Sensibio Gentle Soothing Micellar Cleansing Foaming Gel!), followed by the La Roche-Posay Vitamin C12 Serum. I fell in love with the Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Serum, but it is a little pricey for daily usage and the one from La Roche-Posay is a pretty good dupe. I then use D’you’s In My Defense Moisturiser and finish with the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics SPF 50 PA++++.

On my body, I slather on the Forest Essentials Ultra-Rich Mashobra Honey and Vanilla Body Milk. It is reminiscent of a scent my mom used to use when I was younger and now that I don’t live with her anymore, it reminds me of her when I use it. I love the Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash for everyday, but the Salt & Stone Black Oud and Rose Body Wash is one of my favourite scents. I also really love the Hibiscus Monkey Velvet Spray Olive Squalane In-Shower Body Moisturizer. I’ll dry brush when I’m in the mood — maybe twice a week.

My haircare routine is pretty simple. I use the Davines Volu Shampoo and the L’Oreal Paris Hyaluron Moisture Conditioner after which, I either allow it to air-dry or do a quick blast dry. However, if I really want my hair to look not frizzy, I do have to get a blow dry. The lady who comes home to do my hair uses a super small round brush and pins the curls tight so they stay.

If I’m going to work, makeup is very basic — the Tower28 SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation and a swipe of Rhode’s Pocket Blush in the shade ‘Toasted Teddy’ on my lips and cheeks are my usual go-tos. If I’m going out, I like the Maybelline Pro Glow Foundation and the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I like to do the Rhode blush first, and then set it with the Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush in the shade ‘Amore’. I have blush blindness and I like it. I have to curl my lashes always and then I use the Glossier Lash Slick Mascara to top it off. I love Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Medium or the Merit Signature Lipstick in the shade ‘Baby’ if I’m doing an actual lip, with the Fenty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer in the shade ‘Riri’.

Beauty of Joseon’s Radiance Cleansing Balm is my favorite to sop all the makeup off, and then I’ll use the same Bioderma cleanser from AM. I swipe on the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant on a cotton pad, and then use the Dr. G Blemish Clear Soothing Cream as my moisturiser. I’ll do an oil sometimes but not always! I have a million eye creams but rarely ever reach for any of them. The Drunk Elephant Babyfacial is great once in two weeks when I want to blitz my entire face, and I like to use a thick layer of the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ Repair Moisturizer when my skin needs a little TLC.

Beauty experts in Mumbai that you love and would personally recommend.

I’m super lucky to have so many real amazing dermatologists on speed-dial (or speed-Whatsapp), like Dr. Kiran Sethi and Dr. Jaishree Sharad. I went to Dr. Harshana Bijlani’s The Ageless Clinic for full body laser and Q-Switch Laser for dark spots on my face before my wedding, and it was amazing. I went to to Amanda Carvalho in Bandra for hair colour before my wedding too, and now I will make the trek to her for any big haircuts. I recently cut my hair shorter again and I love it!

Products that you have discovered as a beauty editor that actually work.

I’m a huge proponent of the Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask, not just for travel, but as a thick overnight treatment when my skin feels parched. And while I’ve moved on to other things now, I have to give a shout-out to the Adapalene Gel. During my editor days, it was the “secret” recommendation for anyone struggling with stubborn texture or adult acne.

I had an accident with a dog scratch a couple of years ago, and I had an interview with a derm for a story I was working on at the time. They suggested using silicone sheets to help with scar healing, and it was a game-changer. I got to do a really fun interview with Charlotte Tilbury and she called me “daaaarling” the whole time and it was the most starstruck I’ve been. She told me that I should use the Flawless Filter and I did and I loved it.

I’ve also learnt that texture is everything. A product can have incredible ingredients, but if the texture or something else in the formula isn’t elegant enough, you won’t use it consistently. For example, I love the Bioré sunscreen for how it sinks in so easily, but it smells so strongly like alcohol and that’s the biggest turnoff for a product you apply first thing in the morning. I also learnt that good skin actually looks kind of boring in real life. Real skin looks healthy, calm, and hydrated — not reflective like a glazed doughnut.

Plus, after a lot of trial and error, I’ve learnt that most beauty problems are actually barrier problems. If your skin is irritated, breaking out, or looking dull, the answer is usually fewer actives and more barrier repair. This is easier said than done though — I’ve been known to attack a breakout with a cocktail of salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and hydrocortisone in the past.

Brands that you think really get the Indian beauty consumer.

I think Hibiscus Monkey is doing something really interesting. The founders are very authentic and relatable, which makes the brand feel personal. I love Indē Wild and D’you too. Live Tinted is a brand that I think really understands colour for deeper and warmer skin tones. I’m also curious to see more from Laani. I recently tried some of their deodorant samples and I think they might have created something that rivals my current favourite — Megababe. I also think Charlotte Tilbury, Saie and Rhode have a lot of shades that speak to our skin tones, even though they may not be speaking directly to the Indian consumer.

If you were given the opportunity to create a beauty product, what would that be and why?

This would actually be my dream job! I’m sure I’d build something in skincare if this were real life, but in a dream life, I’d create something that grew hair from scratch (and no, don’t tell me about minoxidil, I use it and hate it.) Plus, I’d love a formula that gives lift and structure to fine hair without heaviness — there’s absolutely nothing I’ve tried so far that I like! And since we’re talking about peeves, I would also love a tiny, chic collar you wear while washing your face so that the water doesn’t run down your arms to your elbows.