What model Aarsha Mohan puts on her face

Aarsha Mohan is “that girl” and she has the credentials to prove it. It’s the only way to describe a school board topper with a Master’s degree in Economics who pivoted from academia to the high-fashion runway. “Interestingly, modelling and acting were never part of the plan,” she says. Yet, one scroll through her profile reveals a personality that is as grounded as it is glamorous, defined by a deep love for her Malayali roots and a refreshingly candid bond with her “savage” appa.

Mohan’s portfolio reads like a directory of iconic brands: she has fronted campaigns for Pepsi, Cadbury, and Titan and served as a face for beauty giants like Nykaa and Lakmé. In the world of high fashion, she has worked with the likes of Sabyasachi, Manish Malhotra, and Gaurav Gupta. She’s even dipped her toes into cinema with a role in the Malayalam hit Hridayam (2022) and brought her ethereal energy to music videos for indie heavyweights Prateek Kuhad and Ritviz. Apart from her professional work, she also runs Mayura Foundation, an NGO that works to uplift tribal women and children.

While she’s always had an affinity for beauty, it was the isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic that turned her personal interest into a public dialogue. “I started sharing what I was using on my stories casually—what worked for me and what didn’t,” she recalls. “It became a way for my audience to figure out what might suit them, or just as importantly, what to skip.” Her honest, no-gatekeeping approach has turned her routine into a trusted roadmap for her followers.

Below, she breaks down the staples in her current rotation, the products she swears by, and the homemade beauty secrets passed down through her family.

One of my earliest beauty memories is actually rather sweet (literally). My muthashan (grandfather) sourced raw, deep-red honey straight from a beehive and told me to dab it on a scar I had developed from picking a zit as a teenager. I was incredibly self-conscious, but within a couple of days, the mark had faded. It’s such a simple, natural remedy, but it really stayed with me.

I really focus on barrier repair now, which has naturally simplified my routine. I’ve gone from a 12-step lineup in my mid-twenties to just two steps today. I like to rotate and combine different products over time, but I never use more than two in a day.

My nighttime routine is rather simple. I use OTC tret, which is a retinol-based cream, followed by La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast barrier-repair moisturiser. That’s it. And it works really well for me.

I genuinely can’t live without the Aminu eye serum and the Eucerin anti-pigment dual serum. The eye serum has really helped improve the appearance of my under-eyes, while the Eucerin one has been amazing for maintaining a more even, uniform skin tone overall. I love that they’re both effective without feeling heavy or overcomplicated.

Currently my skin leans from normal to dry. It actually shifted from oily after I introduced active ingredients into my routine. These days, I focus on keeping it well hydrated and sun-protected by using the Eucerin tinted sunscreen, and I usually stick with little to no makeup.

The secret behind my thick mane is, honestly, a mix of strong Malayali genes and my heirloom hair oil. Besides this, I keep my hair maintenance quite low-effort: deep conditioning just the lengths with coconut oil or a hair mask. My favourite hair mask is Tsubaki by Shiseido, which my girl gang recommended, and I can’t go back to anything else anymore. When I’m not working, I try to leave my hair alone as much as possible by avoiding heat styling and letting it rest.

A beauty secret that’s been passed down from my muthashi amma (great-grandmother) is homemade coconut hair oil. Both my great-grandmother and grandmother had incredibly thick hair, and they would even cut and donate it to make wigs just to feel lighter. It’s a ritual we continue at home, and I think that’s what makes it so special.

I visit the dermatologist about every other month. I like to check in before trying any new actives, so I don’t get too experimental. Being a model, my skin is kind of part of the job, so I try to keep it on its best behaviour.

I’m constantly travelling, and I’ve realised it’s less about what you pile on your hair and more about what you feed your body. I’m quite strict about my protein intake, omega-3s, and having a bit of black sesame paste every morning. I’ll be honest: I’ve drunk so much water over the years that I borderline despise it now, but you just have to do it. It really shows.

My appa is always amused by whatever I’m putting on my face and is genuinely my best friend. Honestly, I think a lot of people follow me just for him at this point. He sometimes will quietly come and stand next to me, expecting me to apply the same on him, too. The best part? He once told me not to splurge on sunscreen…and is now fully stocked up on the same overpriced one—the iS Clinical Eclipse SPF 50+.

The one thing I want to try and haven’t had a chance yet is LED red light therapy. I’m definitely curious about its potential for collagen production and calming inflammation, but I’m still on the fence. There are limited independent studies and it’s quite a significant financial investment, so I’m taking my time to research the best devices before committing to the tech.

I’m a lip tint girl, forever. I love letting my natural lip texture show through, with just a hint of colour to look alive. But if you were to ask me for my favourite blush, I really couldn’t choose between the three staples that I don’t think I’ll ever stop using: the Givenchy No 02 Taffetas Rosé for a luxury flush, YSL 44 Nude Lavallière for something more muted, and the Fae Beauty Lush Blush in Spicy for that perfect sun-kissed warmth. No notes!

I cut my hair maybe once every eight to 10 months. I don’t really feel the need to trim it too often unless I’ve put it through something particularly taxing for a shoot. I take care of it a little too religiously, so it behaves well and doesn’t get many split ends. I’m not big on experimenting with cuts or colours either; I’ve made peace with what works, and I like to leave my hair in its comfort zone.

My Malayali beauty secret is something most of us from back home can relate to. I’d say it’s the abundance of fresh fish most of us grow up eating, and coconut oil, of course. Between the high protein and the healthy fats, I feel like Malayalis have been unintentionally doing “beauty from the inside out” long before it was a global marketing trend. It’s a holistic approach we just call dinner.

My most-used “product” is probably the olive oil- and lemon-marinated sardines I eat on repeat. That’s my skincare at this point. It isn’t a fancy cream or a clinical treatment. I’m a huge believer in nourishing yourself from within. When your nutrition is on point, your skin naturally follows suit. Nothing too unique, but I swear by it.

My favourite fragrance has to be YSL Black Opium. It used to be my signature scent to the point where people could tell I’d been somewhere just by the scent lingering in the air. I’m also big on fragrance layering to create something more personal. These days, I love layering it with Tom Ford Noir Extreme—the mix of coffee and spicy, woody notes is just...so good. It feels sophisticated and stays with you all day.