THE BEAUTY Bosses

Looking to enter the beauty industry? Take inspiration from these four women.

- Karen Alfonso

With India's beauty industry booming, we catch up with four entrepreneurial women who share their stories, and offer advice to those who want to follow the same path and become successful entrepreneurs.

SHAMIKA HALDIPUR

FOUNDER- d'you

With a tight edit of products that really work and a shoutout from none other than actor Alia Bhatt, d'you has been impressing skincare geeks and editors alike. Founder Shamika Haldipur pivoted from being a lawyer to starting her own skincare brand.

What led you to start d'you?

I identified a space in the market for a premium brand that could offer advanced formulations and an elevated skincare and beauty experience. I noticed that a lot of consumers from India still looked towards the West to purchase advanced skincare formulations. This gave me the impetus to start a brand in India that would offer the same quality and products.

What made you pivot from being a lawyer to skincare?

While my career in law was financially fulfilling, it did not satisfy the entrepreneurial streak in me. I constantly itched to be in a job in which I could use my creative juices, as well as balance the analytical part of my brain. Starting a beauty brand gave me just that. The thrill and passion involved in creating something from nothing is extremely gratifying for me, and that's what keeps me going.

We all learn from mistakes; what have been some of yours?