Get to know me!

Hello.

My name is Ikhlaas and I am the founder and owner of Areesa Botanicals. I currently live in Chicago, but I was born and raised in the city Ahmedabad, India. My business has a lot of elements that are a reflection of my personal experiences and memories of my time spent in India. Most of my teenage years were spent in a beautiful house with a big garden and various different plants. I spent a lot of my free time on my garden swing under our Neem tree. Being a cash strapped teenager, most remedies to my common skin problems came from my garden, rather than from a store bought jar. Under the guidance of my mother and grandmother, I learnt to fix my skin woes using everything in our little garden. We had Neem, Eucalyptus, Moringa, Jamun and papaya trees, we had Roses, Jasmine, Hibiscus, Tulsi, Aloe Vera and also grew a lot of vegetables. After moving to the US, I continued with my little DIY's for personal care, although I struggled to find ingredients as per my liking. I decided to start this business because I wanted to share my story and share the magic of Indian and Ayurvedic ingredients with everyone. 

 To further enhance my skills and become a professional skincare formulator, I have also completed my Diploma in Organic Skincare Formulation, and Certificate in Cosmetic Stability Testing and Certificate in Natural Cosmetic Preservation from Formula Botanica,  a UK based natural skincare school. All the products I offer are made with Certified Organic ingredients, as available. I have started with a small capsule range of a hair oil, two face serums and two face masks.

Areesa /"અરીસો" / means mirror, in the language Gujarati, the native language of my birthplace. I also want to promote the idea of self acceptance. Just like a mirror can't hide anything, including your flaws, I want to encourage the idea of self love and self acceptance. It's almost as if we are scared to look at the mirror without make-up or take pictures without filters on our face. There's nothing wrong with using make up and filters, if it boosts your confidence and makes you feel good, but when it becomes unacceptable to be seen without them, it's time to take a step back and slow down. You have to learn to love your own reflection first and foremost. 

Email me at areesabotanicals@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram @areesabotanicals for any questions, concerns, comments, or just to say hello :)

Thanks for reading

Love, Ikhlaas