• Beauty

Triptii Dimri On Vampire Facials, Craving a Good Challenge, and Prioritising a Golden Heart Over Good Looks

The actor and Clinique India Brand Ambassador discusses beauty, films, and more with The Word. Magazine.
  • ByMeghna Sharma

Courtesy: Triptii Dimri’s Instagram

The Word: Growing up, did you ever feel that you were not beautiful?
Triptii Dimri: “When I was younger, my father and I used to watch Hindi films together, and I would tell everyone that I wanted to be like those actresses—little did I know that I would end up becoming an actor myself!
As a teenager, beauty, for me, was all about one’s physical appearance. I remember feeling that I was not beautiful enough, and that resulted in extremely low self-esteem. I had curly hair and light eyebrows, and I used to constantly compare myself to my sister. I loved her hair, her features…all of it seems so silly now that I think about it.
Over time, I evolved, and as did my definition of beauty. Today, beauty for me is about being real. It is about being the most authentic version of yourself and being confident in your skin. It is about accepting and owning each part of you: the good, bad, and ugly. Beauty also lies in being kind towards others, and, most importantly, towards your own self.”

TW: So physical appearance holds no significance for you anymore?
TD: “The one thing you learn as you grow older is that looks don’t matter—it is how you feel around a person. You can be with the best-looking person in a room and still feel weird. So now I care more about how the other person treats people. What their core values are—whether they are kind, honest, humble, and a good human being.”

TW: Which aspect of beauty do you feel more drawn towards and why?
TD: “I would choose skincare over make-up any day. I don’t like wearing too much make-up. Especially on days when I am not shooting, I like to give my skin time to breathe. It is really important for me to take good care of my skin so that even if I have to go out without make-up, it’s not a problem—you always feel more confident if your skin is hydrated and well-nourished. This is the reason I love Clinique, because not only does it have great skincare products, but even their make-up products have skin-loving ingredients.”

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TW: On that note, congratulations on being the new brand ambassador of Clinique in India. Tell us more about your association.
TD: “I am thrilled to be a part of the Clinique family—it is one brand that is remarkably close to my heart. I remember my mother used to love using Clinique products when we were kids. It has been around for so many years and it’s incredible that the brand gets so much love from people worldwide.
Clinique encourages women to embrace their real selves—with flaws, if any, instead of hiding them. It is something that I stand by too. Beauty lies in acceptance and honesty. There is nothing more beautiful than a flawed, confident woman…because that is real.  I am incredibly happy that I get to represent a brand whose philosophy is in total alignment with my beliefs.”

TW: You have beautiful skin. The Word. would love to learn about your morning and night-time skincare routine.
TD: “I have a pretty simple skincare regimen. I wash my face with a gentle cleanser, apply a Vitamin C serum, followed by the Clinique Moisture Surge moisturiser. And I am not just saying that because I endorse the brand, I have been using Moisture Surge for years now. It works well for me it’s a gel-based formula and because I have a very oily T-zone, it doesn’t leave my skin oilier. I wear sunscreen every day, and practice this quite religiously. I don’t think I have ever stepped out of my house without sunscreen—in fact, even when I am indoors, I ensure that I apply sunscreen.
At night, post-cleansing, I slap on a thick moisturiser as the skin needs a little more hydration. I follow it up with a retinol cream every alternate day. Once a week, I apply a face mask made of besan (chickpea flour), turmeric, yoghurt, and honey—it sloughs away dead skin and adds luminosity.”

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TW: Since your job involves a lot of travelling, what’s the one skincare ritual you follow religiously to ensure your skin doesn’t act up?
TD: “Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! And I try to sleep for at least eight hours a day—sometimes it is tough, but it is really important to make that a priority. I think as you age, you need to listen to your body and give it what it craves…and that is proper rest and hydration, especially when you are shooting outdoors in heat.
Even when I am mindful of all the things I just spoke about, sometimes, I do break out. But I don’t take it too seriously anymore. There was a time when I used to freak out every time I saw a pimple on my face, but you need to just sit back and relax and accept it. I remind myself it is just a pimple it will fade away.”

TW: Are there any professional skin treatments or facials you love?
TD: “I have not really tried any professional skin treatments, but the one thing on my wishlist is the vampire facial. Many friends of mine have gotten it done and it has given them impressive results.”

TW: What about beauty products…tell us about your go-to formulas.
TD: “I can’t do without my eyebrow pencil—I have been using it since I was in sixth grade. I have always had thin eyebrows, so it is something that I use every day even when there is no-one around me, because my face feels incomplete to me until I fill in my eyebrows. Earlier there were not as many brow products available in the market, so I began using a pencil and then moved to a gel formula. I like experimenting with different shades of eyebrow gels.
My other favourite product would be Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. It is my go-to product as it enhances the natural tone of your lips. I never step out of my house without it—it keeps my lips hydrated, and I also use it as a blush sometimes.
I am also a huge fan of eyeshadows, and I have a tonne of eyeshadow palettes. I love collecting lipsticks too! I own lipstick in probably every shade available, even the ones that I do not use.”

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TW: Tell us about the body of work you hope to create.
TD: “I am drawn to challenging roles. I want to essay characters that are different from the ones that I have played before. I like work that challenges me… forces me to think. I do not like to be in a comfortable position when it comes to acting. Someone once told me, ‘The day you feel that you are confident, the day you feel like you ‘know’ everything about acting, you are done for good’…and I always keep that in mind.
And there is so much to learn, not just about acting, but in every aspect of life. You excel at one thing, and then you realise that there is so much more that you need to learn! I ensure that I choose scripts that have unique characters, otherwise, I won’t be able to evolve as an actor. The characters that I have essayed in Bulbbul [2020] or Qala [2022] have been exciting and challenging at the same time.”

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TW: What is your take on women having it all—an over-ambitious dream or reality?
TD: “Women can and should have it all…why not?! It’s high time. There is literally nothing that a woman can’t do…we are excelling in every field. Fortunately, I am surrounded by women who are doing it all. And they are doing so with such ease and grace.”

TW: Are there any women who have inspired you—even some you may not know personally?
TD: “There are many… I love Priyanka Chopra [Jonas], her confidence is remarkable. Making a mark in Hollywood is not an easy feat, and it is incredibly inspiring to see her journey. I also admire British actor Jodie Comer. I have seen a lot of her work—I think everyone should!—and I watch her work interviews regularly. She is brilliant with her craft. That woman is magic for me. Apart from actors, I am inspired by my sister—she is someone who balances her professional and personal life so well.”

TW: Is there an app you are addicted to?
TD: “Instagram! It is something that I am trying to snap out of, but it has certainly not been easy. I use it for at least six hours every day. It has become a habit at this point. I have been trying to cut down my screen time, but the Reels and ads keep me entertained. I also play Temple Run every now and then when I am dying of boredom.”

TW: Lastly, what can we look forward to seeing you in the near future?
TD: “There are quite a few projects lined up for release. Animal is going to release in December, and even though I have played a small part in that film, I am very proud of it. I have always wanted to work with Ranbir Kapoor…I think I manifested this. So I am incredibly excited for everyone to see it. Next year you are going to see me in a film tentatively titled Rola, and then there are two more films that I have completed shooting for. I am extremely excited about the projects I am part of and I am looking forward to the release!”

All images: Courtesy Instagram