Starting a skincare brand in 2026

I spent years trying to find a sunscreen I'd actually use every day over my makeup. Found none that worked. Not because good sunscreens don't exist — but because every one I tried either left a white cast, smelled medicinal, or felt too heavy for Bangalore humidity, spoilt the base makeup. So I decided to start my own brand. I did what all founders do — I obsessed over the problem, talked to a lot of people, and eventually found experts who were willing to go through dozens of iterations with me. The brief was stupidly simple: it has to feel like nothing. It has to work. It has to be something people reach for without thinking. I basically wanted to solve my problem.

What I didn't expect was how much I'd learn about the gap between what Indian skin actually needs and what the market was offering. Most formulations are built for temperate climates. We're an afterthought. Also, trend forwards is how most brands still build in India, not concern backwards. We are launching Veil of Veda next month. Still early, still learning. Very nervous, our website goes live next week and I can't keep calm. For anyone else building in the beauty/wellness space — curious what made you decide your category was worth disrupting. Would love to hear the origin stories !