Queenie Singh will be back at 85 Lansdowne with her BiE, a clean beauty brand that she has collaborated on with ‘skin guru’, Dinyar Workingboxwalla. And, of course, there’ll be her Jewels by Queenie too. t2 chatted with Queenie on her beauty brand and the dialogue she wants to start.
Congratulations to BiE on its first birthday! How did you celebrate?
It’s been an incredible one-year journey, seeing BiE through from a developmental stage into a full-grown business. We’re celebrating by running many offers, advising users which skincare combinations they should use for the best results. We’re launching a limited-edition party and after-party sheet mask. So very excited about that! This entire month is full of giveaways and discounts from BiE with love!
You have always been known for your interest in beauty. What took you so long to venture into this field which we Singhthink is most definitely your passion?
I ventured into it 17 years ago with doctor Dinyar. Then he lost his mother so he wished to take a break for a year. At that time, I was very involved with writing before and after columns. These columns were about metamorphosis and changing a person’s superficial appearance and gauging how it was impacting their lives and mental makeup. Then I focused on my jewellery brand, making it international. Of course, my calling was beauty and I came back and tapped into it with the same person (Dinyar). When Covid hit us all, I viewed it as one having time... time to think, to experiment, to spend on R&D. We made our products stable and upgraded them in the laboratory to the level that they are now. If there was any time things were meant to happen, this was it.
With the beauty market flooded with clean beauty products, what is BiE’s USP?
Our USP is that we are able to sew all pillars of our brand together perfectly. Clean beauty, a 50-plus-bouquetyear legacy, obtaining feedback from thousands of users and upscaling the product accordingly. We create transformations with guaranteed results when used as a routine in a disciplined manner, at any stage of life.
Do you see ‘Beauty in Everything’?
When we started the brand, it was about creating a portal of beauty. It was about becoming the best version of yourself, starting from any stage of your life. You can begin again from anywhere, at any point, in every aspect. Beauty, for me, is not just about the skin. It is about your aura, your persona, your thoughts, and the way you are. Your hair, your nails, your posture. I truly believe that.
Being a former beauty queen, do you think traditional notions of beauty have to change, especially now?
Everything about beauty and the concepts of beauty have changed. It is no longer about a few gatekeepers of beauty and what is beautiful. Beauty is a typical woman with absolutely perfect features. It is not about having flawless features, it is about making them as flawless as they can be while enjoying the process.
What kind of dialogue does BiE want to start?
BiE has a strong message and dialogue around sustainability, which extends to our packaging and on-ground activities. BiE is about creating the best version of yourself and loving healthy skin. It’s about following a discipline and creating a routine and staying away from harmful chemicals that give you instant gratification…. Understanding that beauty leads to confidence and comfort in your own shoes.
Who are your beauty icons?
Beauty icons for me have been people of substance, sending messages that are iconic enough, full of meaning and direction. Queen Rania is a beautiful, sophisticated woman who does a lot of charity. She’d definitely be one of my icons.Coming to jewellery, what are the season’s favourites that you are getting?We are receiving lots of orders for coloured stones. The spring and party season is welcomed with lots of emeralds, diamonds and rubies and gives us an avenue to play with colours. All jewellery that make a statement, nothing that is missed, and something for everybody.
What are classic pieces for you?
Classic pieces will be an art deco bracelet…. Art deco is timeless and that style is classic for me. Most of my jewellery is classic because it can be worn over years, over seasons, and you never tire of it. We don’t typically go with trends.
Finally, what is the mantra to live like Queenie?
That you have to live as yourself. To be yourself. I don’t imitate, try to be like or look up to people unless they’ve made a big big difference in the world’s life. I have a niche for myself and I follow my own style. I’m confident in what I project. I also believe in a balance of life and discipline. We need a little bit of everything because life gets dull with too much work and too much play doesn’t give you the right meaning of work.
DINYAR WORKINGBOXWALLA ON COLLABORATING WITH QUEENIE AND MORE…
Dinyar Workingboxwallawant
How did the collaboration come about?
I started performing monthly facials on numerous women 20 years back with Queenie by my side. Every month brought with it a new skin story and concern. Due to personal reasons, we took a break for two years but by that time the word had already spread. We began incorporating all this evidence into our products, building a tight-knit clientele which would then go on to become a solid customer base.
What is your skincare advice for women in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50+?
It is never too late to transform the skin you live in. The skincare market is not like it was. There was barely any competition in the market back then and women were happy using only all-purpose creams or cold creams. BiE is special for women of all ages because it offers a wider choice of products according to your specific skin concern and declutters your routine at the same time. However, even a simple skin routine tailored to your needs will not work without discipline and consistency. Take your regimen and follow it like a religion — this is the only path to guaranteed results.
What about men?
Indian men are recently learning the art of skincare. This is a welcome change. Male skin tends to be a little tougher in comparison to women. BiE has a specially curated Men’s Skin Set with ingredients like activated bamboo charcoal which penetrates deep into the dermal layer to decongest pores and remove grime, dirt, and pollution. Skincare is for everyone. It is proven to reduce stress and anxiety as well.
What: Glitz Glam Glow
Where: 85 Lansdowne, 85B Sarat Bose Road
When: January 16-17, 11am-7.30pm
For more details: Check out @85lansdowneofficial on Instagram
A BiE bouquetyear
Also showing: Shantnu & Nikhil
Bags by Fenasia
COMING UP
What: Calcutta Parsee Club Food Bazaar
Where: Calcutta Parsee Club, Maidan
When: January 15; 12.30pm to 2pm
What to expect: Yummy food and fun games! Must-try recommendations include Mutton Dhansak and Patra Ni Macchi.
Organiser speak: “This is an annual event. The uniqueness of this festival is the effort put in by the city’s minuscule Parsi population of about 400 people, to showcase and offer with pride their gastronomical delights to the cosmopolitan population of Calcutta. The cuisine is a fusion of Western and Indian dishes with subtle mixes and variations of spices and herbs, the recipes for which were secretively and impishly handed down by doting grannies to their initially not-so-enthusiastic granddaughters, but then gradually mastered by them to salivate and suit the taste buds of their own families. Each dish tastes delightfully different from kitchen to kitchen,” says Farhad Master of Calcutta Parsee Club.