the day I realized I was trying to fix myself

For most of my life, skincare wasn't my first priority. I've always cared for my skin, but I wasn’t one to pay attention to trends or be the first in line to buy the newest products. I washed my face, maybe used a toner (mostly because I knew my mom always did it), and put on moisturizer. I didn't make sure the products were specific to my skin type, I just used whatever did the job. It worked for me, and it continued into adulthood. 

When I hit my 40s, I started noticing changes with my skin. Fine lines, drier skin on my cheeks, some redness where there wasn't before, dark circles appearing under my eyes. It wasn't anything super dramatic, but because it wasn't something I had ever really focused on, it seemed like it happened overnight. 

That’s when I panicked and started paying more attention.

I did what I think a lot of us do and started buying more products. One that promised smoother texture, another that promised more even tone, and another that said it would help fill in those fine lines and wrinkles. 

Before long, I had a drawer full of products. Every one of them seemed to pull me in deeper and made me think that if I bought just one more thing, I would finally have the skin I thought I should have, the skin I thought I wanted. 

After a couple of months of chasing this idea, I opened that drawer and noticed how much it was overflowing with products. I looked in the mirror and had a thought that caught me completely off guard. 

Why am I trying to fix myself? When did taking care of my skin become trying to erase every sign that I've lived a life? 

I laughed at my reflection because I realized that I was being ridiculous. I suddenly wasn't upset that my skin had changed because, of course it had. I've gotten older, and that's what skin does, it changes with us. 

But somewhere along the way I had started believing that these changes were problems that needed a solution. I had started buying into the idea that younger, clearer, plumper, brighter skin was "perfect," and I was chasing something that didn't feel right for me. 

I started to see past the idea of “perfection” and began to look at my skin, and myself, with appreciation.

That realization stayed with me, but it also made me curious. I wanted to understand what these products were actually doing. I wanted to learn why certain ingredients worked, why others didn't, and how products were really made. 

I wondered why some people demonized chemicals in skincare, while others claimed “natural” ingredients don’t work. 

The more I learned, the more I realized that there was room for a different approach. One that didn’t have to choose between plants and science, but more importantly, one that focused on supporting healthy skin instead of chasing "perfection."

I also started noticing that my skincare routine had become overcomplicated. There were multiple steps with multiple products, and multiple opinions about what I should or shouldn't be doing. 

It felt less like self-care and more like another job, and I didn't want another job. I wanted products that were enjoyable to use, that felt thoughtful, and that fit into real life.

Likha Rituals really started with a question: 

What would it look like to create products for people who simply want to take good care of their skin without feeling like they are constantly trying to fix it? 

That question guides every decision I make with Likha. Not just what goes into a formula, but how we talk about skincare in the first place. 

I don't want our products to remind people of everything they wish they could change. 

I want them to be a reminder to take care of themselves.