Isha Jajodia has swapped doomscrolling for romcoms

Isha Jajodia has spent the better part of two decades building Roseroom, the label she founded in 2014 as a NIFT graduate with a point of view: Victorian-inspired silhouettes featuring hand-beading and lace, cut for women who want to feel like the centre of attention rather than a trend report. It’s since grown from a single Delhi store into a name worn by Alia Bhatt, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Kiara Advani, with outposts in Dubai and London and a flagship in Mehrauli, Delhi. This Sunday, July 26, Jajodia takes Roseroom to the runway at the Hyundai India Couture Week at the Taj Palace, Delhi, as part of a lineup that includes Tarun Tahiliani, Rahul Mishra, and Rimzim Dadu.

Which is to say, the last three months have not exactly been restful. Fittings, production, last-minute approvals—the ordinary chaos of building a couture collection—have swallowed her evenings whole, some nights ending at 8 pm and others well past midnight. But whenever she can claw back a normal evening, Jajodia is fiercely protective of it. Here’s what winding down actually looks like for her somewhere between the fittings and the finale. 

Does “a normal evening” even exist for you right now? Walk us through it.

With India Couture Week coming up, the last two to three months have been incredibly hectic, so there really hasn’t been a fixed time that I get home. Some days it’s around 8 pm, other days it’s 11, and during the busiest weeks it can even be past midnight. But whenever I can, I try to be home around 7:30 pm.

I love spending time with my husband, my son if he’s visiting, and my mother-in-law. After the pace of the day, those simple moments at home help me unwind and reset. Before I call it a night, I never skip my skincare routine. It’s my little ritual to slow down, take care of my skin, and switch off from work before heading to bed.

Okay, the skincare part everyone’s here for—break down the PM routine.

I keep my nighttime skincare fairly simple and consistent. I start by cleansing with the CosIQ Gentle Acne Control Face Wash, followed by the CosIQ Skin Defense Mist. I then use my treatment products depending on what my skin needs, usually the Instytutum AXON Supercharged Retinol Serum and the Melamii Anti Melasma Solution, and finish with Embryolisse Lait-Crème Sensitive to keep my skin hydrated overnight.

Any overnight hair treatments happening?

I don’t have an extensive haircare routine. I believe in keeping it simple with regular nourishing rituals and occasional hair spas to maintain the health of my hair, especially since it’s often styled for shoots and events.

Confession time: LED mask hoarder, supplement shelf, or neither?

I don’t use an LED mask or follow a supplement routine for my skin or sleep. I believe consistency makes the biggest difference, so I focus on a skincare routine that works for me and try to get enough rest.

What’s your comfort food on a night in?

Definitely Indian food. I also love Italian, so it’s usually one of the two.

Give us the full spa-menu rundown… What are the little rituals that help you decompress?

Before I go to bed, I like to have a cup of chamomile tea, take my magnesium glycinate, and massage magnesium oil onto my feet. It’s become a part of my nightly routine and really helps me relax and switch off. If I have a little extra time, I’ll also use my 111SKIN sheet mask or eye masks. Those small rituals make a big difference.

Lights out at a respectable hour, or are you a certified night owl?

I’m very much an early-to-bed, early-to-rise person.

What’s the last thing you do before your eyes close?

I usually like watching a good romcom before bed. I naturally gravitate towards stories that are soft, feel-good, and uplifting. Just before I drift off, I chant for a few minutes. It helps me clear my mind and, before I know it, I’m asleep.

If you had to give one sleep commandment to live by, what would it be?

I try not to be on my phone for at least 30 minutes before going to bed, and I like to keep it away once I’m in bed. I also make a conscious effort not to go to sleep with negative thoughts, because I believe your mind carries those emotions with you. Instead, I like to end the day with positive thoughts and a little manifestation. It helps me wake up feeling lighter and start the next day on the right note.