Feature: The Gloss Box Totally Beautiful Girl

Giving back and thinking outside of ourselves is not only an important message, but a critical point of action. As much as The Gloss Box focuses on the physical aesthetic, we also wanted to feature inspirational women who can motivate you to get out there and make a difference, reminding us that being beautiful is about the inside and the outside. The Gloss Box Totally Beautiful Girl highlights people in our communities who are taking care of themselves and others.

Our first feature focuses on Shruti Rya Ganguly, producer for NYLON tv & global citizen extraordinaire. We can see that Shruti is beautiful on the outside, but hearing from her about the work she does to highlight causes close to her heart and to help others makes her Totally Beautiful!

Aside from her professional life, Shruti has made time to found and be involved in several organizations that assist people who are affected by events, such as natural disaster, terrorism and war. She is the brains behind BuildBurma.Org, a group which worked with AlertNet and Doctors Without Borders to help the 1.5 million people affected by the devastating Cyclone Nargis which touched down in Myanmar in May of 2008. Shruti also quickly assembled a group during the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai called IndiaUnite.Org, creating a forum for dialogue on the topic of terrorism and human rights as it relates to India. Now, IndiaUnite is helping to raise for families who lost their breadwinners in the attacks. More recently, she has also been involved in SamaraNow.Org, a group dedicated to keeping alive civilized and collective discussions on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.

" If I can get 200 people, or even 2 people talking about something... this is an achievement. We get so jaded by the news that every now and then we need a shake, a stir. These groups are examples of how one can start something in the now. Living and acting in the moment."

One of the main reasons for starting these groups-- in addition to getting money and aid to the victims-- has been the initiation of dialogue on these topics. Today, it's easy to forget something that happened outside of the news cycle. Groups such as BuildBurma.Org and IndiaUnite try to keep the awareness alive, so that others, "feel something" about what has gone on, theoretically sparking action and ideally getting each an every victim the help they might need.

Many people want to do something to help out, whether it be with foreign or international disasters or even in their own hometowns, but feel they don't have the time or energy to dedicate to causes. According to Shruti, one of the keys to success is building a good team of people to work with, instead of trying to tackle everything alone. Getting large organizations like AlertNet and Doctor's Without Borders helped her with BuildBurma.Org, but even something as simple as having a set of supportive friends can help get the word out and keep the cause at the forefront of thoughts and discussion.

Instilling the values of giving back can start now with anyone-- regardless of age. For Shruti, she grew up in a household that was socially aware. In her birth country of Oman, Shruti's mother helped to start a center for special education. Mrs. Ganguly now works for an organization that encourages interfaith dialogue in Oman and the Middle East. Her father has always supported children's education in India-- making the whole idea of giving back a way of life. In fact, Shruti cites her mother as one of her life's inspirations, as well as her mother's mentor: Dr. Marta Vannucci, who was once with the UN, and who, in her late 70s, continues to write on subjects important to her such as mangroves, India, and astrology.

A world filled with responsible social citizens is a lofty goal, one to which anyone can aspire-- and one which can be achieved if we all play a part and become Totally Beautiful People.

"I want to be remembered as a person who helped someone grow, who changes a life, who supported a second chance... [I] never want to stop learning."

If you would like to help with these causes, follow the links to find out more:

www.BuildBurma.Org (in conjunction with AlertNet)

www.IndiaUnite.Org (you can also visit here to find out more about donating money to help the surviving victims of the attacks)

The Gloss Box couldn't get away without asking Shruti-- whose style is a bit of Annie Hall meets Sabyasachi-- her beauty secrets. For a woman with such a full life, she still makes time to look excellent.

I can't leave home without : Mascara, mascara, mascara. Right now I am using MAC Plush Lash in Plush Black.

(TGB says:$13, what a good price for Shruti's cool look).

My First beauty purchase: Bright blue nail polish from a mall in Toronto.

(TGB says: Why not try a modern take on bright blue for the Spring and go for Turquoise nail polish. China Glaze Polish in Neon Turned Up To Turquoise $2.95 -- so even if it's Grossy McGrosserton, it won't break the bank.)

My favorite at-home makeup or remedies: Toothpaste for zits and coconut oil hair massage.

(TGB says: Toothpaste is great and leaves a minty streak on your pillow. Also try out Mario Badescu's Pink Drying Lotion * $17 which doesn't smell as good as toothpaste, but works pretty well. And both S & G couldn't agree more about the coconut hair oil massage. Heavenly!)

Biggest makeup Flub? Not matching her foundation to her skin tone when she first started wearing makeup in boarding school. "I looked like an Indian geisha in the Himalayas!"

(TGB says: The effects of bad foundation can leave a scarring mark on one's life. If you are a newcomer to the foundation game, try to go to a well-lit boutique of the brand itself to get matched for the first time. S always recommends that if you live near a Bare Escentuals or MAC store, go THERE to get matched. If not, excuse yourself and step out into the sunlight to see what your makeup really looks like.)

My daily makeup routine: A pink blush, mascara, and of course, a moisturizer with sunscreen.

(TGB says: MAC makes a great satin soft pink-blue blush called Dame $18. The light pink formula is definitely edgy, especially for dusky skin tones-- but it has a lot of style. Moiturizer with sunscreen is S's favorite thing. Why not try Oil of Olay Complete Defense SPF 30 Sensitive Skin formula which works well for all skin types. )

There you have it-- just a slice of an inspirational woman who has a limitless amount of energy and is on the precipice of many more great things.

We're so happy to have Shruti as our first Totally Beautiful Girl. For being selected, she will receive a set of four mini lip glosses by Bobbi Brown that she can throw into her bag and incorporate into her busy life. If you have someone you would like to nominate as our next Totally Beautiful Girl, send us an email at TheGlossBox at GMAIL dot COM.

Kisses & Hugs

XX OO

S & G