The herbal beauty products of renown Indian cosmetic diva, Shahnaz Hussain, who also leads the largest chain of beauty products in Asia, can very well find their way on the national market.

Branches of the Shahnaz Hussain Group of Companies have already been established in the Indian Ocean, namely in Reunion and Mauritius and the group of companies have recently expressed interest to further expand their network here in Seychelles. The company, through the Indian High Commission, is inviting Seychellois as well as Indians living in the country, to apply for agency for promotion, marketing and franchising of the Shahnaz Hussain beauty products in Seychelles.

A spokesperson from the High Commission said there had been several positive responses from the business community, but nothing concrete had been drawn yet with regard to the application for distribution licences.

Dubbed as the "goddess of beauty" or the "czarina of herbs" Shahnaz Hussain's name has grown synonymous to "beauty" and "herbs," in not only Asia, but also in certain western countries in which the brand name Shahnaz Hussain has left its mark.

Over the past 30 years of its existence, the Shahnaz Hussain Group has been successful in creating an exclusive niche, in both the domestic market and world-wide. The company has a large network of over 600 franchised salons in India and in 55 countries around the world with a portfolio of over 350 products, including general and therapeutic formulations based on precise medical requirements.

Ms Hussain's herbal skin, hair and dental care and beauty products are available in major commercial chains in Europe and Asia, for instance in Harrods (London), Galeries Lafayette (Paris) and the Seibu chain (Japan). The highly reputed woman who holds various world recognised awards to her name like the "World's Greatest Woman Entrepreneur", also owns several training institutions and health spas spread all over India and the world.

Ms Hussain, an internationally recognised authority on the rejuvenating effects of herbs and fruit, strongly believes that all women and men concerned with their look and health should revert to the healing power of nature which, according to her, does not only have natural ingredients to beautify but also curative properties.  Ms Hussain uses ancient recipes from India's vast herbal heritage blending with latest scientific research to counteract harmful effects of synthetic and chemical preparations.

She believes that while some natural ingredients are preservatives, others are hardening agents, which can be used as bases for face masks.

Herbal extracts and natural substances such as tumeric, henna, lemon, egg white and yoghurt have powerful cleansing powers and work to ensure the smoothness of the skin. Honey is an effective moisturiser and, mixed with apricot, it can be used to discourage facial hairs, while lemon grass is used to treat open pores and pimples, just to cite a few examples.

Initially trained as a dermatologist, Ms Hussain also studied Ayurveda, a 5,000 year-old Indian holistic healing science, the principles of which she has now applied in the creation of a wide range of products for black skins. While she believes that the skin colour is not important, the texture and quality are.

In an interview with the Times of India, Ms Hussain said she found it "amazing that when Westerners are looking towards the East for Ayurveda, people there are busy using products laced with chemicals."

Among Shahnaz Hussain beauty products on sale around the world include cleansers, moisturisers, scrubs, toners, sunscreens, dental care, hair care ointment, henna, herbal make-up, under-eye treatment and lotions for pigmentation and blemishes.

A descendent of the Mughals, Ms Hussain has recently been offered the coveted role of the Mughal empress, Noorjahan, in the Hollywood movie The Taj Mahal Lover's Story, alongside Pierce Brosnan.

LINKS