It’s possible that Shrankhla Holecek has given an entirely new meaning to the word bespoke with the luxurious experience that is UMA Oils. The India-born, Miami-based skin-care-and-wellness-brand founder makes face oils, toners, hair oil, and herbal supplements — all with Ayurvedic practices in mind. Holecek’s motivation for hiring an all-women team is centered on “the ability to support and build up some amazing women I’ve had the privilege of working with,” she tells The Cut.
After graduating from BITS Pilani with a degree in computer-science engineering, getting her MBA from UCLA Anderson, and working in management consulting with McKinsey for around seven years, Holecek made a major pivot to launch her brand. “This career path sprung from my generations-old familial roots in Ayurvedic farming and medicine,” she says. “A part of the journey as an engineer and consultant was learning and discovering new tools and business practices, but a big part of it was also learning, discovering, and eventually accepting parts of myself.”
While creating products to help others indulge in self-care routines, Holecek finds wellness moments of her own via tongue scraping, dry brushing, and more. “I try to respect that self-care is subjective. Not only will my rituals look different based on where I’m at in life at any given moment, they also wouldn’t look the same as someone else’s,” she says. “Acknowledging that allows me not to get so dogmatic about self-care rituals that they become a chore.”
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A.M. Routine
My morning routine is pretty minimalist, both because I like it as such and because I’m usually running to calls with our India-based teams after having slept 15 minutes longer than I should have. First, I splash my eyes and face with cold water, and as I brush my teeth, I do a few “rotations” with my eyes; this is an Ayurvedic ritual beneficial for the mind, skin, and eyes — I think it even helps with bags under eyes. I always use a tongue scraper after brushing my teeth (UMA makes one), and if time allows, I’ll dry-brush before jumping into the shower (ideally swirling some oil-pulling treatment in my mouth).
I don’t typically use traditional products to cleanse my face in the a.m., opting for a layer of honey or a face mask after a thorough face rinse if I have a morning event. I’ll spritz my face with UMA’s Ultimate Brightening Rose Toner after and follow up with UMA’s Absolute Anti Aging or Flawlessly Firming Neck Treatment all over my face and neck. I always wear sunscreen. Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen is the one I like best. I don’t usually wear makeup during the day unless I have a major meeting or event. My go-tos for makeup tend to be Giorgio Armani’s concealer, Bobbi Brown Pressed Powder when I feel I need a little extra, and Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara. I also love Tarte’s blushes and lip tints.
I love Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk foundation for its dewy finish and Nars’ Orgasm blush. It’s not super-loud, but it’s fun. I’ll glide on a Surratt neutral lip color (I like the shimmery quality) or Tom Ford’s Scarlet Rouge lipstick if I’m going for bold.
I have completely unruly hair that often needs frizz control and volume at the roots! I like Larry King’s A Social Life for Your Hair to tame the mane. I rotate between Rahua and Living Proof for root volume. I also oil my scalp and roots at least once a week with UMA’s Intensely Nourishing Hair Oil before washing my hair. I like using Christophe Robin’s hair scrub every couple of weeks to ensure no risk of buildup.
I dry-brush and use a body scrub like UMA’s Absolute Anti Aging Body Scrub at least two to three times a week. I love Santa Maria Novella’s Shower Gels. I always use a body oil or balm, alternating between UMA’s Absolute Anti Aging or Santal Silk line after I shower or bathe. I also use sunscreen on my body in the day, and usually it’s an Amazon or drugstore find like La Roche Posay.
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P.M. Routine
My night routine tends to be less rushed and more mindful. I’ll usually put on a language lesson on Audible — I’m learning Italian right now — while I cleanse with an oil cleanser from UMA or Tatcha, followed by a Gommage exfoliator three times a week. After the final step, I’ll add in a face massage with a Kansa wand or just my fingers for about two minutes. I apply oil to my belly button every evening. Aside from the great detox benefits, it also really helps chapped lips. I rub my feet with an aromatic oil before I sleep.
I do like to mask a few days a week. Right now, I’m religiously using our Total Rejuvenation Honey Lemon Mask. After masking, I’ll sometimes run an ice cube all over my face for about 30 seconds, spritz my face with rose-water toner, and while my skin is still damp, I’ll use UMA’s Anti Aging Plump & Repair Face Cream, followed by a face oil, and massage it in using my hands or a Kansa wand.
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On the product that actually makes a difference:
It’d have to be my hair iron. I’ve used GHD hair irons for a while, and haven’t found a reason to switch.
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On rest
I’m not me without a decent night’s sleep, so I do go a little beyond to get it. I have a bit of a wind-down ritual that often features a glass of red wine with dinner. It always includes a bit of a self-massage after my evening shower, rubbing my feet with oil with an aromatherapeutic oil, a bit of (fiction) reading or journaling with a candle going and a tea/ashwagandha supplement.
I always ensure my bedsheets and covers are clean and tidy, and I invest in blackout curtains and impact windows to cut light and noise. When I’m jet-lagged, I try to plant barefoot into the earth and get energizing herbs like ginger and peppermint into my body in the day, and I will sometimes take a small amount of melatonin at night. On overnight flights, I’ll sometimes take a stronger sleep aid. To me, the upside of better sleep outweighs the potential downside of the occasional sleep medication.
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On movement
I have a rowing machine in my house for when I watch TV. I’ve walked 50 times up and down the stairs of my parents’ home or an office building when a regular workout is out of the question, and I often walk to appointments in new cities to better discover them. I do love working out at a gym or getting a Pilates session when life isn’t crazy, but I like to have an approach of moderation. Sometimes there will be a two-to-three-week stretch with intense travel when I won’t be able to get a single “standard” workout in, and I’ll make do with the walks or squats and crunches in my hotel room. I’ve not had perfect muscle tone or the optimal body-fat percentage for some time, but I do find that generally staying active keeps me in a much better state of mind, and it is fairly important to my sense of balance.
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