The first thing you notice about Mira Kulkarni, 67, is the meditative calm she exudes.
Her skin glows, as if lit up by lamps from the inside – which is perhaps not surprising as she is the founder and managing director of Estee Lauder-backed luxury Ayurvedic skincare brand Forest Essentials.
Kulkarni's first Forest Essentials store in the UAE launched at Dubai Hills Mall this month. On offer is its signature 24k gold-infused Soundarya range, which comprises a serum, night cream, body milk, body oil, shower wash and soap.
“That was always the plan. The East understands the traditional aspect of beauty. It’s prevalent in the culture of the UAE,” she says.
“We already have substantial online sales from the Middle East and the connection will become deeper when our audience will be able to see, smell, touch and sample our products. We’re looking at up to 10 stores across the Middle East within this year itself.”
However, Kulkarni’s has not always been a journey of aggressive and rapid expansion. Forest Essentials started 23 years ago in a garage office, a boutique company offering candles and soap.
At 28, a single mother of two, Kulkarni lost both her parents in quick succession. A power cut while she was on holiday sparked a curiosity about candle-making, which snowballed into a passion for handmade soaps. It was at this time she came to the startling realisation that despite being the home of Ayurveda and thousands of indigenous herbs, India was not even scratching the surface when it came to using that knowledge in day-to-day life.
“The fundamental principle of Ayurvedic skincare is that it is preventative. Looking after the skin naturally is a process that needs to start from adolescence, unlike a remedial approach that only starts once the skin starts showing signs of ageing or damage. Starting early and staying consistent makes all the difference.”
Next came the part about unearthing lost recipes and ingredients, and learning from traditional practitioners of Ayurveda, many of whom lived in forests and on hills across the country.
It was during this time that Kulkarni hit up a philosophy that would help Forest Essentials become a luxury brand that offers close to 200 products across 147 stores and 440 spas in more than 100 countries. Ancient Indian recipes had been lying in wait for centuries for someone to come along and use them, but to create a niche for herself she needed to formulate products that “felt pleasurable, tasted delicious, and smelt divine”.
Eastern cultures have been turning to everyday ingredients found in nature for beauty and wellness purposes since time immemorial. Mothers and grandmothers often whip up face packs and poultices to beautify and heal the skin from ingredients found in the larder. Charred almonds have been used as natural kohl; camel milk is employed for moisturising and tightening the skin; labneh for sunburns; rose water for toning; fig pulp as a DIY face mask; and aloe gel for soothing the skin is now part of practically every culture around the world.
Plenty of other Ayurvedic and eastern-inspired skincare brands are available in the UAE, including Mauli, Ranavat and Rituals. In many ways, such brands and products are not just vying for space with each other, but with the humble ingredients found in many a household.
Kulkarni prefers to think of this as an opportunity instead of competition. “If someone knows where you’re coming from, what you’re trying to say, why it is important to do, and is culturally connected to it in an elemental way – it is easier, actually, because you’re not imposing a thought process. You’re just reflecting to them what they already know and believe in,” she says.
Part of the trust-building process is introducing product lines created specifically for the GCC considering its climate, and the needs and preferences of beauty seekers in the region. “It’s for those who are partial to sophisticated skincare and attuned to fragrances,” Kulkarni says of the line that will launch in September.
Purity and authenticity are concepts that feature heavily in our conversation. The brand’s philosophy is that it’s good enough for the skin only if it’s good enough to be eaten.
“When we started, natural beauty was just not a thing. We weren’t even looking to build a big brand, to be honest. We were just looking to create products we’d be comfortable using ourselves. So for the first 12 years, we had no marketing, no influencers promoting us. It kept us focused on making Forest Essentials the cornerstone of trust, which is a legacy I’ve protected very carefully,” says Kulkarni.
Accordingly, the website uses the words pure, fresh and natural over and over again. And yet, in a world filled with a cacophony of brands screaming themselves hoarse to establish their own organic, clean, vegan and eco-friendly credentials, is being pure, fresh and natural enough of a competitive advantage?
“It’s unfortunate that these words have been abused to the point that they’ve stopped meaning anything. For me, it’s not a tagline or marketing gimmick, it’s just a way of being. I don’t know how to not be connected to nature or care about the purity of ingredients. The indiscriminate use of such words makes me cringe. But there’s little anyone can do except know that campaigns end, values don’t.”
The five pillars of Islam
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
match info
Chelsea 2
Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')
Liverpool 0
RESULTS
6.30pm: Handicap (rated 95-108) US$125,000 2000m (Dirt).
Winner: Don’t Give Up, Gerald Mosse (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap (95 ) $160,000 2810m (Turf).
Winner: Los Barbados, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
7.40pm: Handicap (80-89) $60,000 1600m (D).
Winner: Claim The Roses, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (Div-1) Conditions $100,000 1,400m (D)
Winner: Gold Town, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
8.50pm: Cape Verdi Group 2 $200,000 1600m (T).
Winner: Promising Run, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
9.25pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Conditions $100,000 1,400m (D).
Winner: El Chapo, Luke Morris, Fawzi Nass.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
Read more about the coronavirus
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
More on Quran memorisation:
More on animal trafficking
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
The biog
Name: Marie Byrne
Nationality: Irish
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption
Book: Seagull by Jonathan Livingston
Life lesson: A person is not old until regret takes the place of their dreams
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Napoleon
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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Honeymoonish
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UAE%20Warriors%20fight%20card
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Rankings
ATP: 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 10,955 pts; 2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 8,320; 3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 6,475 ( 1); 5. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 5,060 ( 1); 6. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 4,845 ( 1); 6. Roger Federer (SUI) 4,600 (-3); 7. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 4,110 ( 2); 8. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 3,960; 9. John Isner (USA) 3,155 ( 1); 10. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3,140 (-3)
WTA: 1. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 7,030 pts ( 3); 2. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 6,290 ( 4); 3. Simona Halep (ROM) 5,582 (-2); 4. Sloane Stephens (USA) 5,307 ( 1); 5. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5,100 ( 3); 6. Angelique Kerber (GER) 4,965 (-4); 7. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 4,940; 8. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,430 ( 1); 9. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 3,566 (-6); 10. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 3,485 ( 1)
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
