THIS YEAR, beauty retailer Nykaa opened a Nysaa store in Dubai, its first in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, in partnership with lifestyle and fashion conglomerate Apparel Group. It will stock products from Kay Beauty alongside brands such as Kylie Cosmetics, Ralph Lauren, Mugler and Dr. Barbara Sturm. “It was a strategic move. The brand has also launched online and offline in Mauritius,” says Katrina Kaif, co-founder, Kay Beauty.
Kaif, who launched Kay in 2019 with Nykaa, is among the few actors in Bollywood to build a successful beauty brand. She believes the brand’s focus on inclusivity, individuality and diversity, besides its product formulations, which include ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, marula oil, chamomile, ceramide, mango butter and avocado butter, resonate with consumers. Kay is creating colour cosmetics suited for Indian skin tones and weather. In FY23, it posted revenue of $7.57 million and profit of $8,52,542, according to Tracxn. — Arnika Thakur