Plants we can name, in formulas we can explain.
Vaidya Botanica makes skincare from six botanicals grown across Kerala. Each one is drawn, named and measured on this page, so you can see exactly what goes on your skin and why it is there.
- 1Lamina, with parallel lateral veins
- 2Leaf sheaths forming the stem
- 3Rhizome, the part we use
- 4Transverse section of the rhizome
Six botanicals, each on its own plate.
Open any plate to read its specification: the accepted botanical name, the part of the plant we use, how we prepare it, the name you will find on the label, and the products it appears in.
Four questions, one routine you will actually keep.
Tell us how your skin behaves and how much time you give it. We will suggest a routine from our ten formulas, explain each choice, and price it as a bundle.
Bundle pricing applies automatically: 10% off three products, 12% off four, 15% off five or more. Shipping is free on orders of ₹1,999 and above.
Ten formulas, every label printed in full.
Ingredients are listed in descending order of weight, using the international names you will see on the pack. Only the toning mist carries fragrance, and it comes from vetiver root oil alone.
From garden row to glass bottle.
We work in small batches at our workshop in Thrissur, close to the farms that grow for us, so that we can trace each lot of plant material back to the field it came from.
Grown and gathered
Partner farms in Idukki, Wayanad and Palakkad grow our plants, and harvest them by hand when each is at its best: leaves in the cool of the morning, rhizomes when the foliage has yellowed.
Prepared slowly
Leaves and flowers are extracted gently into water and glycerin. Turmeric is extracted with carbon dioxide for a cleaner, lower-staining result, and vetiver root is steam-distilled for its oil.
Formulated simply
Each formula is built around one or two botanicals at considered levels, with a short list of supporting ingredients. We would rather use fewer plants well than many plants for the sake of a long list.
Checked before release
Every batch is tested for stability and microbial safety before it leaves the workshop, and carries a batch code that links it to its plant lots and its date of making.
What we will say, and what we never will.
Ayurveda is a living tradition, and it deserves better than exaggeration. We describe our products as cosmetics, because that is what they are.
We will tell you
- How a product feels on the skin and how it helps skin look.
- The accepted botanical name of every plant, and the part we use.
- Every ingredient, in order, including preservatives.
- When a formula contains fragrance, and where that fragrance comes from.
- Where a plant was grown, and when it was harvested.
We will not claim
- That any product treats, heals or cures a skin condition.
- That a plant is safe for everyone simply because it is natural.
- Results in a set number of days, or percentages we cannot show you.
- That our routine replaces advice from a doctor or dermatologist.
- Ancient secrets. Everything we use is written down on this page.
Apply a little of any new product to the inside of your forearm and leave it for 48 hours before using it on your face. If your skin becomes red or itchy, rinse it off and stop using it. If you have a skin condition, please speak to a dermatologist before starting a new routine.