India’s beauty landscape is evolving rapidly. More and more women are embracing their uniqueness, seeking ways to accentuate their personalities, and celebrating their individuality.
Whether it’s a homemaker or a globe-trotting jet-setter, everyone wants to look and feel good for themselves. This shift has fueled a surge in the beauty industry, led by trailblazing women entrepreneurs who are redefining self-care and beauty standards.
Women entrepreneurs in beauty and cosmetics in India
Here are some remarkable women who have transformed India’s beauty industry:
1. Mira Kulkarni – Founder, Forest Essentials
Starting her journey with just INR 2 lakhs and two employees, Mira Kulkarni grew Forest Essentials into a luxury Ayurvedic beauty brand with over 130 outlets in India and abroad. Her clientele includes top hotels such as Taj and Hyatt and around 150 spas. Today, with the company’s impressive turnover, Mira stands among India’s wealthiest women, offering authentic, Ayurvedic beauty products.
2. Prasanthy Gurugubelli – Founder, Daughter Earth
Prasanthy envisioned Daughter Earth as a blend of cutting-edge technology and Ayurvedic wisdom. The brand’s ethos revolves around kindness, conscious living, and planet-friendly formulations, creating products that are as effective as they are sustainable.
3. Rubeina Karachiwalla – Founder, Ruby’s Organics
Dedicated to bringing clean and green makeup products to Indian consumers, Rubeina spent two years working with an R&D company to perfect her formulations. Today, Ruby’s Organics leads the organic beauty movement, offering products designed specifically for Indian skin tones and textures.
4. Shubhika Jain and Sangeeta Jain – Founders, RAS Luxury Oils
This mother-daughter duo from Raipur launched RAS Luxury Oils in 2017, offering a wide range of wellness products made from organic, plant-based materials. They sell their products online and partner with exclusive resorts and spas to enhance their market presence.
5. Vasundhara Patni – Founder, Kiro Beauty
Vasundhara Patni believes beauty is ever-evolving and increasingly inclusive. Kiro Beauty emphasizes honesty, openness, and providing consistent, high-quality products to its clientele.
6. Vineeta Singh – Founder, Sugar Cosmetics
A household name and one of the top investors on “Shark Tank India,” Vineeta Singh has built Sugar Cosmetics into a powerhouse brand. With millions of dollars in funding and over 650,000 items sold monthly, Sugar Cosmetics has cultivated a massive social media following and garnered over a million app downloads.
7. Ghazal Alagh – Founder, Mamaearth
Mamaearth was born out of Ghazal Alagh’s desire to make early parenting stress-free. As India’s first toxin-free infant care company, Mamaearth grew rapidly, becoming the fastest-growing brand in the FMCG industry. Ghazal oversees product development and community management, working closely with mothers to understand their needs.
8. Naiyya Saggi – Founder, BabyChakra and Co-founder, MyGlamm
Naiyya launched BabyChakra in 2015 to simplify parenting, earning recognition from digital giants like Google and Facebook. In 2021, BabyChakra merged with MyGlamm, where Naiyya now serves as co-founder and board member, strengthening the brand’s content-to-commerce strategy.
9. Falguni Nayar – Founder, Nykaa
In 2012, Falguni Nayar founded Nykaa to revolutionize India’s beauty retail industry. Today, Nykaa is the country’s leading beauty retailer, with over 1,600 employees and 1,500+ brands. Falguni, India’s richest self-made woman, has also expanded into Nykaa Fashion, catering to the country’s growing appetite for curated fashion.
10. Diipa Buller Khosla – Founder, Indē Wild
Inspired by her own skincare struggles, Diipa created Indē Wild, a brand blending Ayurvedic traditions with modern science. Its hero ingredient, Bakuchiol, offers a natural alternative to retinol, bringing quality skin and hair care to the forefront.
11. Nikita Mehta – Co-founder, Fable & Mane
Nikita Mehta infused Ayurvedic principles into hair care with Fable & Mane. Her hero product, “HoliRoots Hair Oil,” features ashwagandha and dashmool, embracing traditional Indian wellness practices.
12. Deepika Padukone – Founder, 82°E
Deepika Padukone’s 82°E embodies simplicity and efficacy, with rigorously sourced and clinically tested products. The brand’s debut items, “Ashwagandha Bounce” moisturizer and “Patchouli Glow” sunscreen drops, created a media frenzy upon launch.
13. Masaba Gupta – Founder, LoveChild
Launched in August 2022, LoveChild is a vibrant, inclusive beauty brand. Vegan, paraben-free, and sulfate-free, its products are available online and at major retail outlets like Nykaa and Shoppers Stop, as well as House of Masaba stores.
14. Shahnaz Husain – Founder, Shahnaz Husain Group
A pioneer of the herbal beauty care movement, Shahnaz Husain took Ayurveda to the global beauty stage. Her extensive range of face, body, and hair care products grew through a unique franchise model, all without traditional advertising.
Conclusion
India’s beauty entrepreneurs are pouring their heart, soul, and finances into crafting products that deliver rich, rewarding sensory experiences. With rigorous R&D and a drive to bring innovation to the industry, these women are shaping a beautifully inclusive future.
Stay with us as we continue to highlight the stories behind India’s rising beauty icons.
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