Isha Sutaria has a nifty pillow hack for a good night’s sleep

If you’re looking to upgrade your nightly routine, Isha Sutaria has a couple of tricks up her satin pajama sleeves.

A Mumbai native who moved back after living in Boston for six years, Sutaria took up content creation full-time during the pandemic. “Beauty has always been a form of self-love and self-care for me, and I wanted to share that with others. I used to be in finance and beauty was always my escape. Time off in Covid made me lean into it fully,” she reveals.

As of this interview, Sutaria has amassed 41.9k followers on Instagram, where she shares skincare tips, product recommendations, OOTDs, and little snippets from her fabulous life. “I’d say my personal brand is grounded in authenticity, elegance, and approachability. I focus on creating content that feels real. What I share is genuinely what I use and love in my everyday life,” she explains.

While she spends most of her day ideating with her team and shooting content for her account, her evenings are focused on spending quality time with her husband and indulging in little practices that are grounding and help her recharge for the next day.

Her favourite trick to get into a relaxed state? A gua sha session with facial oil. Her daily skincare lineup includes the humble blue Emolene tube (we love a drugstore buy), in combination with a rejuvenating serum rich in antioxidants.

“I’d love to continue evolving in this space. Launching my own brand is definitely a dream—it would be amazing to create products that reflect my philosophy of beauty and self-care. Whatever I do, I want it to feel meaningful and impactful,” she says of her plans.

Below, she answers a few questions about her evenings and takes us through her complete wind down routine.

What do your evenings look like?

I’m usually done for the day around 6 pm, unless there’s a late event or shoot. I love to unwind by catching up on a Netflix series after I get home. I’m a sucker for true crime and psychological thrillers. Maybe it’s the Scorpio in me, but I don’t get bothered by it. I just need something engrossing enough to take my mind off things. Or, I’ll indulging in a little self-care masking routine. I keep my evenings easy-going to recharge for the next day.

What’s your go-to comfort meal for a night in?

Palak khichdi and a big bowl of dahi! It always hits the spot.

What’s on your hair and skin supplement rotation?

I take Omega-3 fish oil tablets. I sleep on a silk pillowcase for my hair—try it, you won’t look back—and once or twice a week, I’ll use a derma roller on my face.

Do you have any nightly rituals that help you decompress?

Skincare is a big part of my nightly routine. It’s soothing and helps me feel refreshed. I almost always double cleanse even when I’m not wearing any make-up just to get the dirt and dust off my face—first with a cleansing balm followed by a gel cleanser. Then, I go in with my serums and moisturiser, and sometimes a face oil if I do the gua sha. After I’m done taking care of my skin, I drink some herbal tea while reflecting on the day or journalling a few thoughts. Instead of using a pillow mist, I like to put a few drops of lavender essential oil on a cotton pad and place it inside my pillow cover—it makes for the most relaxing scent.

What time do you usually turn in?

I try to get to bed by 9 pm.

Any tips for a good night’s sleep for the doomscrollers?

If you ever have trouble sleeping, the guided mediations on Insight Timer app are a lifesaver. A friend recommended it to me a couple of years ago and I’ve been using it ever since. You can pick what your mood is and there’s a meditation available for that—whether it’s anxiety, sleep meditation, or just practicing gratitude or affirmations—they pretty much have everything. They even sort it by time. So, if you’re pressed for time you can do a quick five or 10 minute one. It’s great for beginners especially—I’m not somebody who can meditate without any words just by myself, so I find it very helpful. It also has this tracker which shows you if you’ve been consistent or if you’ve missed a day which is another nice feature.

The last thing you do before you go to bed?

I apply lip balm and set my alarm for the next morning.

Watch Isha Sutaria's full nighttime skincare routine below.