Sriya Karumanchi

“Beauty is a solid and unwavering sense of who you are. It’s not shaken by the chaos of how we live today, how rapidly we consume, how much content is put in front of us.”

Please briefly introduce yourself.

Hi, I’m Sriya! I live and work in my very favorite place - Brooklyn, New York. I currently lead brand marketing and communications for Catbird, a demi-fine jewelry label that uses the most whisper-thin (and ethically sourced!) gold and precious stones to create pieces meant for daily wear. We like to call it casual luxury, which is my general approach to style too. Outside of jewelry, I love hiking with my boyfriend, reading on my couch, and scouring the consignment shops of NYC.

What is a typical day for you like?

With our offices closed for most of this past year, the typical day for me has been really different. I temporarily relocated to Palm Springs for 4 months so that time between meetings and emails could be balanced with hikes and quick swims. Now that I’m back in the city, I’m realizing how much I miss my old routine (and the enduring spirit of the city). I typically wake up at 8am for an email and calendar check before making coffee and doing some stretches or a 15-minute yoga - that is until my pilates studio reopens. I shower at night so my skin routine is where my morning beauty routine is spent, with a face mask if I have time. I typically opt to walk the 35 minutes to the Brooklyn Navy Yard where I work - and have an ever-evolving schedule based on what go-to-market needs, launches, projects, or seasonal demands are currently in rotation. Evenings are either a slow walk home - ideally along the Williamsburg waterfront - or meeting friends for dinner near Fort Greene Park and hopping on the G home.

"As I’ve progressed in my career and learned more about myself (an evolving journey), I’m seeing how much recharging allows you to excel personally and professionally. It reframes problems, sparks creativity, builds resilience.”

How has your background and experience shaped the person you are today? 

My family immigrated to the States from India in the mid-80s and so many of my ideas around work ethic, personal responsibility, and security are shaped by the risks and hardships they took to start over here. I’m so thankful to have that built into me but I’m also starting to allow my own instincts and the individual journey I’m on to inform some more risk-taking and indulgences. If this year has taught us anything it’s doing what makes you the happiest - or really just, do more things!

Does balance play a role in your life?

Working for a brand that is really entrepreneurially driven, we all wear a million hats and move at lightning speed. As I’ve progressed in my career and learned more about myself (an evolving journey), I’m seeing how much recharging allows you to excel personally and professionally. It reframes problems, sparks creativity, builds resilience. I value those recharging moments so much more now - whether it’s leaving my phone outside the bedroom at night or dipping out of the office at 3 pm on a Friday or tacking a few more days onto a dream trip. I’m curious to see how our ideas around the nature of work and efficiency will start to shift this year.

What are some tips on maintaining balance and taking care of your well-being?

Movement is essential - that means clearing my mind completely and building some heat in my body. My go-to is mat pilates and yoga but I’m finding even morning stretches and walking to work without headphones will do the trick. Lockdown dance parties via Moves Instagram, followed by a mezcal, I also can’t recommend enough.

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty is a solid and unwavering sense of who you are. It’s not shaken by the chaos of how we live today, how rapidly we consume, how much content is put in front of us.

How has your perception of beauty evolved over the years?

When I was younger, my sense of what was beautiful came from standards I felt I never had a choice but to subscribe to. Now it comes more from me. I feel most beautiful in these two silk dresses I’ve had for 10+ years, pinky taupe lipstick and blush, curls that dry just right. And when I make people laugh really hard.

Are there any beauty tips from your culture that you can share?

So many! India has a rich history of beauty rituals passed down through ancestry. Every Sunday my grandmother would make me a brightening mask with turmeric powder, egg whites, and water - and while that was drying we would sit on the top two steps of our staircase so she could warm coconut oil in her palms and give me a scalp massage. That's why I have thick hair today. :)

The best, best, best beauty tip from India is to find a few jasmine blossoms - if you can - and tuck them into a braid while you sleep at night. It’s a heavenly scent that really lingers.

What are your beauty and wellness rituals?

While I’m not certain this does anything at all, I have a rose spray in my fridge and in every room (granted only 3) of my apartment. It’s such an instant refresh.

For skincare, I have started to see a huge difference in fine lines by adding an oil into my routine, after I moisturize. And water! It’s crazy how much better I look and feel when I really commit to my 8 glasses a day.

I try to combine my approach to beauty with eating more whole foods, more dark greens. I tell myself really nice serums and balms and creams are a wasted investment if I’m not treating my skin from within as well.

What is the best beauty advice you’ve ever received?

If you only have 5 minutes, do a swipe of blush for instant prettiness.

And splash water on your face and lips before sealing with moisturizer. That was a real revelation to hear!

What SUPEREGG product does your skin love the most?

I so love Gentle Elements. It’s hard to strike a balance between a cleanser that doesn’t strip my oils and also doesn’t leave a residue. This cleanser is really nourishing but when I rinse and pat, my skin feels how I want it to - clean and prepped.

 What are you reading or listening to that has made a lasting impression on you lately?

I keep picking up and re-reading parts of Grand Union by Zadie Smith, a collection of both previously published and new short stories. She’s such a dazzling writer, it’s so tempting to go back into her stories to understand more about her complex, flawed, eerily specific characters.

What are some conscious decisions we can make to help the environment and our planet?

I really believe in the idea that this planet and our connected society would be immediately better off if we all just tried to live more consciously - rather than perfectly - and each consumed less. For me, that means I always try to find a resale or consignment alternative before buying retail - which I very rarely do. I support local businesses for household goods versus ordering from Big A. I have cut out more single-use plastics and try to always have a spare tote with me for things brought home from the market. Where I’m trying to educate myself more is in the very immediate and drastic steps that need to be taken by leaders globally to protect our planet.

What is your personal or professional mission?

On both fronts, I’d like to pursue more projects that bring out the curiosity and buzzy energy in me. Some of that likely involves stepping into less familiar territory.

What does being a Good Egg mean to you?

You live a life that sees the good in those around you.

Make a wish for your future self.

Stay hopeful and curious, and remember this year of stillness and what it cracked open in you.

 Follow Sriya's journey at @sriyak.