The actor and brand ambassador of beauty brand Dot & Key, in conversation with The Word. about skincare, sisterhood, and sliding into Zendaya's DMs.
- Beauty
“Growing Up, I Was Obsessed With My Mother’s Beauty Products”: Shanaya Kapoor
Shanaya Kapoor [Courtesy: Instagram]
The Word.: Tell us about your earliest beauty memory.
Shanaya Kapoor: “Growing up, I was obsessed with my mother’s skincare and make-up products. I remember playing dress-up with my friends, and we would wear my mother’s make-up all the time.
My mother also takes very good care of her skin, she follows her routine diligently, and you’d never catch her skipping any of the steps. So she definitely inspires me to take care of my skin.”
TW.: And what does your skincare routine entail?
SK: “I am a minimalist when it comes to skincare. I can’t follow a 10-step routine…so I stick to a simple yet effective one instead. I cleanse, tone, moisturise, and use sunscreen religiously and it works for my skin, irrespective of the season.”
TW.: What was the first beauty product that you tried?
SK: “I think it was a tinted lip balm.”
TW.: What part of your beauty routine makes you feel most confident?
SK: “A good night’s sleep is my Holy Grail. When I have slept well, I wake up with great energy, my skin looks amazing, and my mind feels fresh. It also helps me be more productive, and that helps boost my confidence, too.”
“I think sisterhood is very important, and I feel lucky to have an amazing group of girlfriends. When I am with them, I don’t have to worry about being judged…I can be my real, authentic self with them, which is amazing. For me, people might come and go, but my girlfriends are forever.”
TW.: Is there a beauty step you think is completely unnecessary?
SK: “Controversial opinion, but I think jade rolling is unnecessary.”
TW.: What’s your signature scent?
SK: “I love Bloom by Gucci—it smells like fresh summer with floral undertones.”
TW.: You’re the face of beauty brand Dot & Key. Tell us about your association.
SK: “As someone who loves incorporating fruits for DIY skin treatments, Dot & Key products have become a part of my daily skincare regime effortlessly. Their fruit-infused products have made my routine hassle-free and effective.”
TW.: Tell us about your favourite products from Dot & Key.
SK: “Currently, I’m enjoying using their Vitamin C + E Moisturizer, it is extremely lightweight. The formula is also infused with Triple Vitamin C, which makes my skin glow.
I also love Dot & Key’s Vitamin C + E Sunscreen as it is armed with SPF 50+ PA++++. What makes this a great product is its fluid texture that gets absorbed instantly and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin.”
“Dirty hands are my biggest pet peeve…it bugs me when someone has dirty hands, I can’t bear them!”
TW.: There is a lot of pressure on young women to look perfect. Did you feel that pressure growing up?
SK: “Not at all. I don’t think anyone around me believes in the concept of ‘perfect’. I feel fortunate to be surrounded by family and friends who have always thought in my best interest…and encouraged me to be the best version of myself.”
TW.: What’s your relationship like with social media?
SK: “I do enjoy my space on social media platforms as it helps me stay connected with everyone. But I am mindful of what I share and how much to share—but everything that I do share is shared with honesty.”
TW.: Is there one famous person whose DMs you would like to slide into?
SK: “I would love to slide into Zendya’s DM and ask her a bunch of questions, like how she preps herself before playing any character, and how she has elevated her career in such a unique manner, among others. I am a total fangirl…she’s one actor I look up to, especially after watching her recent movie ‘Challengers’ which is very inspiring.”
TW.: Is there a fictional character you relate to?
SK: “Naina from ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’. I feel like we in some ways. And I enjoyed watching Naina find herself during the course of the film, and become confident in her skin.”
TW.: What’s your guilty pleasure?
SK: “Doing absolutely nothing the whole day. I like to veg out, watch TV, and not move from my bed. On such days, I also drink a lot of coffee and eat banana cake, which is my new favourite cake.”
TW.: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
SK: “Dirty hands…it bugs me when someone has dirty hands!”
TW.: Do you practice any self-care rituals?
SK: “Self-care, to me, is all about looking after my skin and body. To stay hydrated, I ensure I drink a lot of water. This helps the skin as well. And a skin hack I love is applying moisturiser to damp skin.
I work out five to six days a week, a combination of gymming, swimming, and at-home workouts.
Sunscreen is a must, and I also keep one handy for re-application throughout the day.
I include a lot of fresh fruits like watermelon, oranges, and strawberries in my diet to make my skin glow from within.”
TW.: You have a great group of girlfriends…do you think sisterhood is important?
SK: “I think sisterhood is very important, and I feel lucky to have an amazing group of girlfriends. When I am with them, I don’t have to worry about being judged…I can be my real, authentic self with them, which is amazing. For me, people might come and go, but my girlfriends are forever.”
