Indian Matchmaking Contestants As Beauty Products
By Riya Godbole
Like many of us watching Indian Matchmaking, I experienced a roller coaster of emotions: pure joy (when I saw Rashi and Vysar beginning to connect), unadulterated disgust (when Akshay rejected 70+ girls despite looking like every Indian boy from San Ramon), and temporary embarrassment (when one of Aparna’s relationship criteria was that a person should “know Bolivia had salt flats” when I was not at all aware that Bolivia had any such thing). I was inspired to create this edition of “Indian Matchmaking Contestants as Beauty Products” as a way to reflect on the show and on what beauty products (and contestants) I believe are actually worth the hype. These are all based on my own knowledge and experiences so please do your own research to make sure they’re right for your skin! Ultimately, my efforts are meaningless if the stars are not aligned.
Nadia
Product: Pixi Glow Tonic, $15
Like Nadia’s fun ‘n’ flirty personality, Pixi Glow Tonic is a zingy but gentle exfoliant that uses 5% glycolic acid to dissolve dead skin cells. Big bonus points for brightening dull skin overall, because even though we’re all currently dead inside, doesn’t mean we have to look that way I’d recommend using it 1-2 times a week with a cotton pad and following up with a hydrating moisturizer and definitely sunscreen!
Vyasar
Product: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, $7
Vysar (and Cetaphil) are like golden retriever puppies: they’re reliable, authentic, adorable, and would never hurt a fly. I’m a strong believer that cleanser should be the most no-nonsense step in your routine: it should cleanse your skin without leaving it feeling tight and dry and generally shouldn’t have a lot of active ingredients. This cleanser definitely fits the bill and is gentle enough even for all you eczema betches out here (aka me).
Aparna
Product: Accutane, Price Varies
Similar to Accutane, Aparna is who you turn to when you’ve tried literally everything else and are at your wit’s end. If you’re not familiar with Accutane it’s a prescription acne pill that you take every day for a few months, usually to treat severe cystic acne. I don’t know if Bolivia has salt flats, but I do know that there can be some pretty gnarly side effects including super dry, cracked skin and nosebleeds. Definitely has worked for some people I know but I would definitely be careful about using it and trying other treatments first!
Akshay
Product: Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, $5
Ah yes Akshay: the primary reason for my bulging forehead vein in Season 1. Similar to this shampoo, Akshay gets the job done but in the most immature & childish way possible. If you’re still wandering the drugstore aisles looking for a great pick, I love the Nexxus Keraphix Damage Healing Shampoo ($12) or Kristin Ess’ The One Signature Shampoo ($10)
Sima
Product: La Mer The Eye Balm intense, $235
If there’s one unpopular opinion that I fully endorse, it’s this: eye creams don’t do sh*t. As my friend Jasmine poetically put it, “eye cream is an expensive yet tiny jar of impossible hopes & dreams”. Although eye creams (and Sima) make life-changing promises like healing past damage, brightening your face, and finding something that lasts, the truth is that both are overpriced products marketed as way cooler than they are. If you want my advice, I’d ditch the pricey eye creams for some occasional eye patches or spoons (stick them in the fridge to help depuff!) or invest in an all-over brightening serum (like Volition Strawberry C Brightening Serum, $31).
ABOUT RIYA:
Riya is from the Bay Area but spent the last 4 years at UCLA #gobruins. She is currently living in SF, working in finance at Venmo, but her dream is to start her own company in the beauty space! She loves graphic design, baking, and hip-hop and has a beauty insta where she posts funny reviews of products and other tips!!
Instagram: @ohmygodbole
Beauty instagram: @riyalbeauty