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UMA, founded by Shrankhla Holecek, is the real deal Ayurvedic beauty resource. This line of luxury beauty essentials offers a glow like no other.

Shrankhla reaches to her ancestors to inspire her beauty line – handcrafting essential oil blends in the Ayurvedic tradition. Beloved by royalty, UMA’s potent (and secret) formulas have long adorned the beauty regiments of princesses and queens, and deliver the same profound effects today. This unique line of products was created especially to bring Shrankhla’s rich heritage, pristine ingredients, and centuries of knowledge to you in an intimate form. All of her botanicals are raised on a 100-acre meadow, which was carefully chosen for its nutritious soil.

At Uma, her vision is to redefine the concept of luxury as we know it. Luxury is more than a label – it’s a statement of exquisite craftsmanship, characterized by an investment of time, and an attention to detail. Every bottle of Uma is the culmination of rich tradition, powerful science, and above all, love.

Founder Shrankhla Holecek was raised in India, immersed in the knowledge and cultural tradition of Ayurveda and holistic medicine. When she moved to Beverly Hills for business school, she soon found herself surrounded by misappropriations of the Indian rituals and Ayurvedic practices she had grown up with. Frustrated, she decided it was time to create a line of products with integrity – one that would do justice to her family’s heritage, and its extraordinary legacy of craftsmanship. UMA was named after Shrankhla’s dear aunt – a truly remarkable woman, who played an integral role in raising her. She honors her with this brand that celebrates her generous spirit and indomitable sense of self.

UMA oils are a combination of ultra-pure botanicals and time-tested formulas – tailored to address the stressors and ailments we face in the modern world. They are luxurious and oh so glowy.

UMA // www.www.umaoils.com/

NAME:

Shrankhla Holecek

NICKNAME:

I don’t have one. I do have a horrible Starbucks name though.

PROFESSION:

Founder & CEO, UMA

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

India

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

Los Angeles

WHEN YOU’RE EATING HEALTHY, WHAT IS A TYPICAL…

I’ve been vegetarian all my life, and having grown up in India, many of my healthy meal choices were shaped by what was locally and seasonally available.

BREAKFAST: A lot of sweet, watery fruit (Ayurvedically, I’m of pitta constitution and this keeps my dosha in balance) like watermelon with freshly squeezed juice – and a little oatmeal. Black tea brewed with milk.

LUNCH: A chopped salad of cucumber, tomato, radish and lettuce – topped with cooked vegetables seasoned with Indian spices, and a traditional yellow dal.

DINNER: White rice with kidney or garbanzo beans, a healthy side of cooked spinach and okra, and fresh yogurt

SNACK: Yogurt, green juice, grapes, a basil / fennel / green tea (is that a snack?), a limited amount of nuts.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS/RESTAURANTS TO EAT HEALTHY?

This one’s hard TBH. I think a lot of restaurants are trying (and major points for effort) to offer up more vegetarian choices – but they usually compensate with lots of dressing, or carbs, to make up for what they believe is taken out in way of a traditionally “texturized” meal. I love cashew cheese as much as the next person but have mostly resigned myself to not eating healthy when I go out. And I absolutely love eating out, so I feel like I’d to make my peace and turn the page on that one!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INDULGENCE?

Red wine.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS/RESTAURANTS TO INDULGE?

Capo in Santa Monica, Little Door in West Hollywood. I love a stiff martini and the bar nuts at The Polo Lounge. See why I had to make my peace with restaurants and not eating healthy?

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR LAST MEAL ON EARTH?

An eggplant pasta with red sauce and a bottle of perfectly aged Brunello di Montalcino.

WHAT IS THE BEST DISH YOU COOK/ YOUR FAVORITE RECIPE?

Yikes. Does really good toast count? I grew up in Boarding school and lived in a dorm in college so I never really developed much of a cooking talent. I suppose I make a decent coconut curry.

WHERE DO YOU GROCERY SHOP?

Amazon Prime Now.

TOP 3 ITEMS YOU ALWAYS HAVE IN YOUR KITCHEN?

Almond milk. Yogurt. Juicing supplies.

WHAT IS YOUR FITNESS REGIMEN? (how often & what you do)

Before I started UMA, I was quite regimented in that I always managed to get a little bit of exercise in every day with a few more intense sessions during the weekend like spinning or even cross-fit light (yes, there is such a thing if you’re very comfortable being the last one on the board). I remember being at my consulting firm and running up to the gym at midnight after getting back to my hotel (ah, the will and stamina of your 20s!). My schedule and travel at the current nascent stage of UMA are a little disruptive to a “normal” schedule – so I do my best. I’ll run in my neighborhood 3 times a week (sometimes get on my rower in front of my television if it’s really late), and do 2-3 pilates or barre classes a week.

WHAT IS YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE? (products, facials, etc)

Highly simplified, gentle, but very regular. I do a light cleanse (often it’s just a wash cloth or a layer of our honey cleanser), with a spritz of our rose toner, our Ultimate Brightening face oil and sunscreen in the morning. I always spend 30-45 seconds on a facial massage, morning and evening. I try to add a vitamin c serum, remember to use our eye oil, and sometimes try to use a 5-min mask as a cleanser in the shower, when I have an extra few minutes in the morning.

At night, I use a balm cleanser to remove makeup when needed, followed by one of our cleansers as a gommage. I leave it on while I floss and brush, by which time it is dry and sloughs off easy. I will throw a mask on when I shower ( I find that even these 3-5 min masking moments have a major impact on overall pore cleansing, skin resurfacing, and vitamin delivery). I’ll double tone with Absolute Anti aging and Ultimate Brightening Rose Toners (Deeply Clarifying when I travel), spot treat with our organic treatment if anything is inflamed, massage in 6 drops of our Absolute Anti Aging Face Oil and a drop of the Absolute Anti Aging Eye Oil.

On my bedside is a giant mason jar of tools! Gua sha, a jade roller, UMA Kansa wand, a ReFa, and so forth. My husband and I watch TV before bed and I will spend at least 5 minutes rolling something on my face. Sadly it often results in my husband demanding he also get a Kansa wand detox or a gua sha face lift, but what are you going to do?

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MAKEUP/NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS?

I love a lot of things from Ilia, and Tarte makes some of the best pigments for my skin tone.

IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 PRODUCTS WOULD YOU TAKE WITH YOU?

Our Anti Aging Face and Body Oil, and a 50+ SPF sunscreen.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY/HEALTH/FITNESS/SPIRITUAL GURUS DO YOU SWEAR BY?

Dr. Vasant Lad, an Ayurvedic doctor.

Lauren Roxburgh

Beauty Editors – Jessica L Yarbrough, Jane Larkworthy, Newby Hands

TOP 3 FAVORITE SONGS?

With or Without You, U2

Man Who Sold The World, Nirvana (cover)

House of Cards, Radio Head

MOST-WATCHED MOVIE?

Star Wars Return of the Jedi

MOST LIFE-CHANGING BOOK?

The Great Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald. It may have not changed my life, but I don’t really read non fiction and that is my favorite book.

FAVORITE SHOPS/BOUTIQUES?

Netaporter.COM (emphasis on .com) ☺

COOLEST PLACE YOU’VE EVER VISITED?

The Great Barrier Reef

FAVORITE HOTELS?

Cap du Eden Roc Antibes. The St Regis Maldives. San Pietro Positano. Castiglione Del Bosco Tuscany. Upper House Hong Kong.

WHAT IS THE BEST GIFT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

My engagement ring. Yes, that probably should not count.

DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY.

A 7 am start with a spin class. A healthy breakfast and a great cup of coffee. NOT having 1700 emails to clear. Highly productive, mind-expanding, value-driving conversations – in a team meeting, or over lunch with a girlfriend. Greens at lunch. A little bit of tennis. A sunset cocktail and amazing wine. A warm tropical evening and dinner by the ocean. 20 minutes of a great classic fiction before lights out.

What? You said PERFECT DAY ☺