She has over 9 years of experience writing about fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, translating medical research and expert insights into practical advice readers can trust. Tavishi Dogra is a Deputy Chief Content Producer, Health & Wellness, at Hindustan Times.
She joined Hindustan Times to simplify wellness subjects by cutting through jargon. Career journey and experience Tavishi began her health journalism journey in 2017, and has since reported for RSTV, Financial Express, Jagran, HT Media Labs and Zee.
Education and professional background Tavishi holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and began her career reporting on public affairs for broadcast. Editorial Philosophy I write with one single goal: To simplify health in a world full of noise by finding what’s actually doable, safe, and evidence-based for my readers. I test claims against research and user experiences. Does healthy skin really need a shelf full of products? For years, skincare advice has encouraged consumers to build increasingly elaborate routines, layering cleansers, toners, essences, serums, exfoliants, and moisturizers. Yet the number of products in a routine tells us very little about how well it supports the skin. A more useful starting point is to ask what the skin actually needs. Is it dry, acne-prone, sensitive, or showing uneven pigmentation? Does each product address a specific concern, or does it duplicate something already in the routine? This is the principle behind need-based skincare : choosing products with a clear purpose and using them consistently. India’s skincare market continues to expand. Minimal skincare has no fixed number of products. Someone with healthy, comfortable skin may need only a basic routine, while someone with acne, rosacea, or pigmentation may need several complementary treatments. The aim is to remove unnecessary steps without overlooking necessary care. A well-formulated moisturizer can combine humectants, barrier-supporting lipids, and other useful ingredients. Similarly, a serum with a short ingredient list isn’t automatically gentler or more effective. The right question is whether the finished formula suits the individual’s skin and delivers its intended benefit. Repeated exfoliation, frequent product changes and layering several potentially irritating treatments can leave skin dry, uncomfortable or inflamed. This is especially true for skin of color, where irritation can trigger post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Persistent burning, redness, itching, or peeling should prompt a reassessment of the routine. Don’t accept these symptoms as proof that a product is working. Simplifying also makes it easier to identify which products help and which may be causing a problem. However, recognizing an ingredient on a label is only the beginning. Concentration, stability, delivery system, the overall formula, and individual tolerance all influence performance. A higher percentage isn’t automatically better. Nor does every ingredient need its own serum. A practical routine starts with three functions: cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection. Then add targeted treatments when there is a clear reason. Choose a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser suited to your skin type. The aim is to remove sweat, excess oil, makeup, and surface impurities without leaving the skin tight or uncomfortable. Add extra cleansing steps only when needed, such as to remove heavy makeup or stubborn sunscreen, rather than including them automatically. Dry skin may benefit from a richer formulation, while oily or acne-prone skin may prefer a lightweight product. Ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid can help. The overall formulation matters more than whether one fashionable ingredient appears on the label. Water resistance is useful when swimming or sweating. Apply enough to cover exposed skin, and reapply about every two hours when outdoors and after swimming or sweating, as directed on the product label. Shade, clothing,ng and hats provide additional protection. SPF primarily describes UVB protection. Acne, pigmentation, and other concerns may require a targeted treatment. Compatibility also depends on how much treatment your skin can comfortably tolerate. Two products may be usable together, yet their combined effects may still cause excessive dryness or irritation. If a dermatologist prescribes combination treatment, follow their plan rather than removing necessary medicines to simplify the routine. Innovation has an important role in developing stable, well-tolerated formulations that address meaningful concerns. Personalization can make those innovations more useful by matching them to the right person. A simpler routine may be easier to follow consistently, but simplicity should remain flexible. Skin needs can change with climate, age, pregnancy, medication, and underlying conditions. The goal is a routine in which every step earns its place. Healthy skin does not require an overflowing shelf. It requires appropriate care, protection, and consistency, and the judgment to recognize when a specific problem needs treatment. (Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up to date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority. The brand provided them to HT Shop Now for testing and evaluation. Our opinions remain independent and based on our personal experience with the items. Please patch test the products before use.)
When all else fails, I speak to the expert who sees 50 patients a day, not the one with the most followers. Euromonitor International’s May 2026 Skin Care in India report recorded 13% value growth in 2025, reaching ₹ 32,210 crore in retail sales. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher; SPF 50 is a practical option for daily use. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products.
Broad-spectrum coverage is therefore essential; don’t choose a product based on its SPF number alone.
“It is also important to distinguish fewer products from fewer ingredients,” Dermatologist Dr Chytra V Anand, co-founderof SKINQ, tells Health Shots . “A routine intended to improve uneven tone may therefore create additional dark marks if it is poorly tolerated,” says the expert. Choose a moisturizer according to how your skin feels and behaves.
Those early years in policy and TV shaped how she writes today: fast, factual, and human-first.
Subject expertise With 9+ years tracking India’s health conversations, Tavishi knows the gap between clinical advice and daily life. She knows fads from fundamentals and curates science-backed, expert-recommended solutions. In fitness, she breaks down bodyweight training, recovery, and posture fixes for desk-bound readers. In nutrition, she translates guidelines into affordable, desi meal tweaks. In mental well-being, she focuses on stigma-free, actionable tools — all backed by research, expert input, and lived context.
From decoding health trends and interviewing doctors to testing fitness routines herself, Tavishi always approaches content with one filter: “Will this help someone make a better decision today?
