Five winners across beauty brands, skincare concepts, fragrance innovation, design and women’s entrepreneurship have been recognised by BEAUTY&YOU India 2026.
India’s beauty entrepreneurship landscape continues to evolve, with new brands and concepts exploring consumer needs, formulation science, fragrance innovation and design. The Estée Lauder Companies has announced five winners of BEAUTY&YOU India 2026, the fifth edition of its initiative supporting emerging beauty entrepreneurs.
The programme is run in partnership with Nykaa and Startup India, an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This year’s winners represent businesses and concepts across skincare, personal care, fragrance, packaging design and women-led enterprise.
Meet the BEAUTY&YOU India 2026 Winners
1. GROW: Laani
Founded by Nirja Bhatt, Laani was recognised in the Best In-Market Beauty Brand category. The brand develops sweat and odor control products for Indian weather conditions and skin needs.
Its lead product is a water-based clear deodorant stick designed to dry quickly without leaving residue. The product also addresses concerns around underarm pigmentation.
2. IMAGINE: Boldpurity
Boldpurity won in the Best Early-Stage Beauty Concept category. Led by CEO, Khatija Shabana and Director, Syed Mohammad Fouzan, the skincare concept focuses on science-led formulation development.
The team is working on proprietary technologies intended to improve the performance of established active ingredients on the skin.
3. BREAKTHROUGH: Goyam Green Tech
Goyam Green Tech received the award for Best Innovation in Fragrance. Directors Ajay Kumar Mehta, Shriya Rambhia and Dheer Rambhia lead the company, which uses biobased materials to develop fragrance solutions.
The platform works across formulation, product formats and consumer experience. The category was presented in partnership with The Estée Lauder Companies’ Fragrance Atelier in Paris, linking the award to the company’s global fragrance innovation network.
4. DESIGN: De Icebreaker Creative Studio
Founded by Pankti Sheth, De Icebreaker Creative Studio was recognised in the DESIGN category, introduced in the 2026 edition.
The studio works on packaging and brand design, with an approach that combines cultural relevance with commercial considerations. The category recognises creative talent that could collaborate with a brand within The Estée Lauder Companies’ portfolio.
5. VISIONARY WOMEN’S AWARD: Agapi Sikkim
Agapi Sikkim, founded by Rinzing Choden Bhutia, received the Visionary Women’s Award. The Himalayan skincare and lifestyle brand trains and employs women in Sikkim, supporting their participation in the workforce and financial independence.
The award was presented in collaboration with Startup India, DPIIT, and returned for its second year as part of the programme’s focus on women entrepreneurs creating impact through their businesses.
New Categories Expand the Programme’s Scope
The 2026 edition introduced DESIGN to recognise creative contributions to beauty packaging, retail and consumer experiences. The BREAKTHROUGH category also gained a stronger fragrance focus through its partnership with the Fragrance Atelier in Paris.
Together, these categories extend the programme beyond conventional beauty product development to include the design and innovation systems that influence how products are created, presented and experienced.
A Platform for India’s Beauty Entrepreneurs
BEAUTY&YOU India launched in 2022 to identify and support emerging beauty founders. Its support ecosystem includes funding, mentorship, industry expertise, distribution assistance and strategic opportunities.
At the Mumbai event, representatives from The Estée Lauder Companies, Nykaa and Startup India joined industry voices to discuss the role of entrepreneurship in the country’s beauty sector.
For India’s beauty industry, the five winners highlight a broad range of entrepreneurial approaches—from addressing local consumer needs and developing new formulation technologies to exploring biobased fragrance solutions, design and women-led enterprise.
As BEAUTY&YOU India enters its fifth year, its categories reflect an expanding view of beauty innovation, encompassing not only products but also the science, creative thinking and business models that shape the sector’s future.
