Interview: Shalin Balasuriya of Spa Ceylon

Ayurveda may be over 5,000 years old, but its presence in today’s wellness space is impossible to ignore — and few people understand that shift better than Shalin Balasuriya, co-founder of Spa Ceylon.

His career spans brand building, product development, spa operations, and retail, giving him a rounded view of how this ancient wellness system is influencing everything from skincare and haircare to the way we think about wellbeing today. With the brand now available in more than 30 countries and over 140 locations, he’s seen first-hand how interest in Ayurveda continues to grow across different cultures and markets.

In our interview, Shalin shared the thinking behind the brand’s beginnings, the products that make the strongest first impression, and the lessons he’s learned from building a beauty business rooted in heritage, family, and modern wellbeing.

What inspired you to create Spa Ceylon? 

Ayurveda has always been an extraordinary part of our heritage, and the more we explored it, the more we realised how practical and powerful it really is — which is ultimately what inspired us to create Spa Ceylon. There is so much everyday wisdom in these traditions that people everywhere can benefit from. As we noticed the world moving towards natural wellness and more conscious living, it felt like the right moment to take what we grew up with, modernise it and share it in a way people could easily use in their daily lives wherever they are.

What product makes the best introduction to the brand? 

Our Sleep and De-Stress ranges are one of the best ways to experience Spa Ceylon for the first time. No matter where I go people always talk about the same two struggles: not sleeping well and dealing with too much stress. It is something everyone relates to. That is why these ranges connect so quickly. From the first use you can actually feel your body and mind start to settle. It is the simplest way to understand what our formulations are meant to do and how Ayurveda can support your everyday wellbeing.

What has been the biggest highlight? 

The biggest highlight has been seeing how far a Sri Lankan brand can go. Spa Ceylon has such a distinct look and feel, and we never toned that down for the world. Watching people from completely different cultures connect with it has been incredibly special. But what means the most is hearing how our products and rituals have helped people in their day-to-day lives. That impact is what inspires us to keep growing.

What advice would you give to those wanting to launch their own beauty business?

The beauty industry is very crowded, so you need to start by understanding your audience really well. What they care about, what they struggle with, and how you can genuinely help them. You also have to be clear about what makes your brand stand out. How you look, how you communicate, and what people will remember you for. And above all, be authentic. If you stay true to your story and focus on solving real needs, you will build something that lasts.

What’s next for Spa Ceylon?

We are continuing to grow our global presence with a strong focus on Europe and the Middle East. Alongside that we are working on several new ranges that bring together Ayurvedic wisdom with more modern, science-backed innovation. The idea is to give people the best of both worlds in a way that feels practical and relevant to how they live today. It is a really exciting chapter for us as we evolve the brand and take Spa Ceylon into its next phase.

What does your daily grooming routine look like? 

I like to start my day with a moment of mindfulness. Just grounding myself, setting my intentions and getting clear on what the day needs from me. It makes a big difference to how I show up. My grooming routine is simple but consistent. I use our Frankincense men’s range every morning and, in the evenings, I wind down with our wellness collections, especially Sleep and De-Stress. It’s my way of closing the day with calm and giving my mind and body a chance to reset.

What are three beauty products you can’t live without?

Three things I always rely on are our Frankincense Men’s Face Wash, which I use every day, and the Frankincense Rituals For Men Face Protector Day SPF 25+ that I never skip in my morning routine. And for fragrance, I reach for Bleu de Chanel. It has a timelessness to it that fits perfectly into my everyday grooming.

What’s the biggest beauty lesson you’ve learned?

I learned my biggest beauty lesson from my mother, who was a pioneer in Sri Lanka’s beauty industry. She always taught us that true beauty begins with how you feel — the confidence, comfort, and emotional wellbeing beneath the surface. That philosophy is at the heart of everything I do at Spa Ceylon. It’s why our products focus on calming, restoring, and grounding the senses and why our rituals are designed to help people feel balanced and cared for. Beauty, to me, will always be about how you feel, not just how you look — and Spa Ceylon exists to bring that feeling to life.

Which person or brand would you love to collaborate with? 

I would love to collaborate with a brand like Alo or Lululemon. We share a very similar audience: people who value wellbeing, movement, mindfulness, and conscious living. At Spa Ceylon we already host a lot of wellness experiences, so pairing our rituals with their clothing and accessories would create a really strong, holistic crossover. It feels like a natural next step and it’s a partnership I would be excited to see happen.

What’s not getting the attention it deserves in the beauty industry right now?

I think natural alternatives to the industry’s buzz ingredients still don’t get the attention they deserve. There is a lot of meaningful innovation happening in this space, but it often gets overshadowed by synthetic actives. We work with natural salicylic acid from wintergreen, natural retinol alternatives like bakuchiol and rambutan leaf, and natural vitamin C from pineapple and rosehip. These ingredients deliver strong results while staying true to a more holistic, skin-friendly approach. It is an area I believe will only grow and it deserves far more recognition than it gets today.

Spa Ceylon is available at Superdrug in the UK and Amazon in the US.