The Golden Beauty Secret That’s Been in Indian Homes Forever

For Ravleen Varghese, India's newest Victoria's Secret Angel, ghee is one of those things that travels with you, even when home is thousands of miles away.

"I love ghee! My mom packs ghee that is made at home and sends it with me here," she tells me. It is a small detail, but one that feels instantly familiar to anyone who has moved away from home. You can find an Indian grocery store in New York, but the jar your mother has made herself is a different story. It comes with the knowledge that somebody thought about what you might need before you even asked.

Ravleen also has a spoonful of ghee in her coffee every morning. It is an interesting way to incorporate an ingredient traditionally associated with Indian cooking into a daily wellness routine, particularly when so much of the conversation around food and beauty now centres on what we consume as much as what we apply to our skin.

I can imagine that for Ravleen, the ritual is about more than the ingredient itself. There is something comforting about carrying familiar habits into a new chapter of your life, whether that means a taste from home or a morning routine that has become your own.

And that is where ghee's appeal gets interesting. For some people, it is a nutritional choice. For others, it is a family tradition. Sometimes, it is both.

For Manasvi Bhatia, a creative entrepreneur, desi ghee is a family affair. Her father owns a farm estate in Kutch, where the family makes ghee traditionally using milk from their own cattle.

"I've also been having desi ghee mostly as opposed to company-manufactured ghee as my father owns a farm estate in Kutch and we have been making ghee the traditional way from the cattle we have at the farm :)" she shares.

Her experience brings another perspective to India's relationship with ghee, one rooted in how it is produced as much as how it is consumed. While ghee made at home and commercially produced varieties can differ in their methods of preparation, its place in Indian kitchens has endured across generations. And as the ingredient gains attention in global beauty and wellness conversations, stories like Manasvi's are a reminder that, for many Indian families, ghee has never been a new discovery.

For some, ghee's appeal extends beyond nostalgia. Mrignayani Chauhan, a 30-year-old Bombay-based makeup artist, has a spoonful every day and associates the habit with her skin's glow. It's an interesting perspective from someone whose work involves skin and how it looks, even if the connection between eating ghee and visibly glowing skin isn't firmly established by science.

For others, ghee is less a beauty hack than an everyday staple. Tiffany (@earthtotiffy), a model and mother of two toddlers, puts it simply: "If I have ghee at home I use it. Not necessarily for skin or beauty benefits but because it's a healthy fat with a high smoke point. So it's a healthier option for high temperature cooking than many other oils. I guess health is beauty though!!! So in a way, yes."

New York-based Juili Dharmadhikari takes a more hands-on approach, using ghee "in my food and face masks" and applying it to her lips for moisture during winter.

These routines show just how differently ghee can fit into self-care, from a daily spoonful to a homemade face mask or a simple winter lip treatment. But while its place in Indian kitchens is unquestionable, its role in our beauty routines deserves a closer look. What are the actual ghee benefits for skin, and does applying it directly to your face live up to the hype?

One of the main reasons ghee features in traditional beauty practices is its rich, fatty texture. Applied topically, it may help soften dry skin and reduce moisture loss, which explains its reputation as a natural moisturiser. However, scientific research specifically examining ghee as a skincare ingredient remains limited.

If you're considering ghee for your face, your skin type matters. Its heavy texture may not suit acne-prone skin, and it isn't a proven treatment for breakouts, pigmentation or fine lines. For everyday hydration, a moisturiser formulated with ingredients such as glycerin or ceramides offers a more predictable option.

The idea of achieving glowing skin through what we eat is familiar in Indian beauty traditions. Ghee contains dietary fat and small amounts of fat-soluble vitamins, but there is limited clinical evidence that eating a spoonful daily directly improves skin radiance.

A balanced diet, adequate sleep and consistent skincare all play a role in skin health. Ghee can be part of that bigger picture, but it isn't a shortcut to clear, glowing skin.

What interests me most is how an ingredient that has always been part of Indian life is now finding a place in global beauty conversations. We can explore the traditional uses of ghee, appreciate its cultural significance and still be honest about what the science supports.

Perhaps that is what makes ghee such an interesting beauty ingredient to revisit. In Indian homes, it has never needed a viral trend or a wellness label to earn its place. It has been passed down through family kitchens, carried across countries and folded into everyday rituals in ways that are deeply personal. The science behind ghee benefits for skin still has some catching up to do, and it may not be the right fit for every face. But I like the idea that an ingredient so familiar to me is prompting a wider conversation about nourishment, tradition and self-care. Not every beauty secret needs to promise a transformation. Sometimes, it is simply a little piece of home.