Beauty Basics

Xtovia, a science-led haircare brand, enters the market with a new approach, bringing global standards of efficacy to a category that has traditionally relied on imported brands. While international brands are built on rigorous R&D and clinically validated efficacy, Indian haircare has largely skipped that layer of science, leaving a significant performance gap. Over time, Indian consumers have come to see global brands as the gold standard, associating international origin with superior formulation and proven results, a perception domestic innovation has struggled to challenge. Xtovia was built to change that, and to do so entirely from within. In a space where homegrown often means little more than a domestic label on a foreign formula, Xtovia is genuinely so, with every element of its science, technology, and manufacturing conceived and built in India. Years of in-house research, proprietary technology developed from the ground up, and four global patent filings culminating in a formula clinically validated to deliver 20% higher efficacy than leading international bond-repair brands. Founded by Navneet Misra, a serial entrepreneur with extensive experience across consumer businesses and the beauty ecosystem, Xtovia was built to address the gap between globally advanced haircare innovation and what has historically been available in India. “With Xtovia, our focus is on developing high-performance, research-driven products designed to deliver visible results, while positioning India as a credible source of innovation in the global beauty industry,” said Navneet Misra, Founder, Xtovia. Driving the brand’s scientific backbone is Dr. Madhu, Co-founder and Head of R&D at Xtovia, who holds a PhD from IIT Madras. With over a decade of experience in advanced research and haircare innovation, he leads the brand’s formulation and innovation charter, bringing deep scientific rigour to the development of its next-generation, in-house haircare solutions. Hair damage today is cumulative and universal. Beyond styling and treatments, everyday exposure to heat, pollution, water quality, and modern lifestyles continuously weakens the hair structure, leading to loss of strength, increased breakage, and dull, lifeless texture. Xtovia is engineered to address this at the core, working within the hair fibre rather than masking surface-level concerns. From the very first wash, hair feels softer, smoother, and visibly frizz-free. With continued use, the formula works progressively, building strength, reducing breakage, and restoring resilience from within. Behind these results is Xtovia’s proprietary TriLayerX Hair Tech, a first-of-its-kind innovation comprising three technologies, each targeting a distinct layer of the hair: NanoEncapX strengthens the core by creating millions of new disulphide bonds; CutiCloneX smooths the surface by repairing and realigning damaged cuticles; and LipidMimicX seals and protects by restoring the hair’s natural lipid layer. Developed through years of in-house research, the technology is not imported, not adapted, formulated entirely in India. Xtovia’s formulations are the result of over 1,500 iterations, 35+ clinical studies, and 500+ consumer validations, reflecting a research-first approach where efficacy is rigorously tested and proven before market release. The results are measurable: 76% stronger hair, 96% reduction in breakage, 72 hours of frizz-free smooth hair, and virgin hair quality restored in 10 washes. For the consumer, hair is visibly softer and smoother, easier to manage, and far less dependent on constant styling or fixing. The formulations bring advanced, salon-grade repair into a simple, consistent four-step at-home routine: spray, mask, shampoo, and conditioner. The brand follows a clean formulation philosophy, using nutraceutical-grade ingredients that are vegan, cruelty-free, and free from harsh chemicals. With this launch, Xtovia sets a new benchmark, not just for what Indian haircare can deliver, but for what it can dare to build. Science-led, homegrown, and uncompromising in its standard of proof.

~Kiro Redefines Matte With Velvet Soufflé: 16 Shades,  Clinically Tested With 59% Hydration Boost, 23% Barrier Improvement, And 8-Hour Wear!~ Mumbai, 28th April 2026: The idea of the perfect matte has always lived somewhere between aspiration and reality  weightless, refined, and finally, one that delivers. Kiro’s Velvet Soufflé Soft Matte Lipstick brings that vision into focus with clinically proven 59% hydration improvement, 23% barrier support, and 8-hour wear. Now expanding with four new shades, Rich Mocha, Carnival Red, Pumpkin Spice, and Primrose Pink, the range evolves to 16, extending a colour story thoughtfully calibrated for Indian skin tones, built on a formula that doesn’t just feel exceptional, but is measured to perform. In beauty, standards have rarely been equal. Skincare is expected to prove itself, hydration is measured, barrier function is validated, and claims are backed by clinical instrumentation. Lip colour, however, has largely operated on perception. Kiro changes that. Velvet Soufflé is clinically tested to skincare standards, using a Corneometer to measure hydration and a Tewameter to assess transepidermal water loss and barrier function. The methodology is unchanged. The category is. “From the beginning, we believed that performance in makeup should be as measurable as it is in skincare,” says Vasundhara Patni, Founder, Kiro. “Lips are more vulnerable, they lack sebaceous glands and are prone to dehydration. Testing a lipstick like skincare wasn’t a marketing decision; it was a logical one. We wanted to create a matte that not only feels comfortable but is clinically proven to support the lips through wear. With these new shades, we’re extending that experience across a more complete colour wardrobe for Indian skin tones.” Lip skin, by design, cannot self-moisturise. It is thinner, more delicate, and more susceptible to barrier disruption, yet lip products have rarely been evaluated through this lens. Kiro’s approach reframes that expectation. Clinical testing of Velvet Soufflé on a 36-woman Indian panel delivered measurable results: 59% improvement in lip hydration after one use 23% improvement in skin barrier function 8-hour wear, dermatologist-graded using a validated scale At eight hours, hydration remains 22% above baseline directly challenging the long-standing assumption that matte formulations compromise comfort over time. The results extend across the entire panel: 100% showed improved hydration after one application 100% showed improved barrier function 0% reported irritation at any measured interval In clinical terms, that level of consistency is definitive. Beyond performance, Velvet Soufflé retains its sensorial edge. It delivers a soufflé finish, soft, blurred, and light-diffusing, avoiding the flat, chalky effect often associated with matte lipsticks. 92% of testers said it feels lighter than whipped cream, reinforcing a texture designed to feel imperceptible on the lips while maintaining colour integrity through the day. 67% of users achieved full colour payoff in a single swipe, aligning experience with performance. The four new shades sharpen the offering: • Rich Mocha – a deep brown with true depth and payoff • Carnival Red – a saturated red engineered for single-swipe impact • Pumpkin Spice – a warm orange-brown that adds richness and dimension • Primrose Pink – a flushed, vivid nude pink created to enliven Indian skin tones rather than disappear into them At the heart of the range is a consistent shade philosophy, one built on how colour behaves on Indian skin tones, ensuring depth, saturation, and payoff translate with clarity and intent, with shades calibrated to complement Indian skin tones rather than wash them out. The expansion to 16 shades carries that philosophy forward, creating a more complete, versatile matte wardrobe. In a category long defined by visual payoff alone, Kiro introduces a different metric: measurable performance. Velvet Soufflé positions lip colour not as an exception to clinical standards but as the next category to meet them. To explore the full range, visit www.kirobeauty.com  — Thank you! Regards, Zainab Mukhtyar 8879556982 https://actimediaindia.com/

This season, Jean Claude Biguine India brings global nail trends to the forefront blending runway inspiration with everyday wearability. From high-shine chrome and sheer jelly nails to soft milky pastels and clean nudes, the focus is on versatile, modern styles that transition effortlessly from day to night. Playful trends like aura nails, bubble textures, and fresh summer hues add a bold, expressive edge. “This season, we’re seeing a perfect balance between minimal elegance and bold creativity,” says Kanchan, Manager – Beauty & Makeup Educator at Jean Claude Biguine India. “Our USP lies in customizing every nail service to suit the client’s personality while maintaining global trends and high-quality techniques. Whether it’s a subtle nude or a statement chrome, our focus is always on precision, finish, and long-lasting results.” Built on pillars of world-class training, impeccable hygiene, and premium global products, Jean Claude Biguine India continues to set benchmarks in luxury beauty. Complementing this is Bounce, the group’s trend-forward extension, offering accessible, modern beauty experiences for a younger audience.

Hi Preeti, Hope you are doing well. With the onset of summer, skincare routines naturally shift towards lighter, more breathable textures that can hydrate effectively while supporting the skin through increased sun exposure, humidity, and environmental stress. At the centre of this is sun protection, a step that remains fundamental in Korean skincare philosophy. Lightweight, water-based sunscreens that sit comfortably on the skin and allow for easy reapplication are becoming increasingly important, especially in Indian weather conditions. At the same time, hydration continues to play a key role. Rather than heavier creams, there is a growing preference for layered hydration through toners and essences, which help maintain the skin barrier without feeling heavy or occlusive. Building on this approach, KorinMi’s routine focuses on three essentials: UV Sun Protection Essence SPF 50+ PA+++ – a water-based, non-greasy sunscreen designed for daily wear with no white cast SA Ampoule Toner – formulated with a 3-Hyaluronic Acid complex to deliver lightweight, fast-absorbing hydration R+ Rejuvenation Cream – enriched with ceramides to support the skin barrier while maintaining a breathable finish Rooted in Korean skincare expertise and adapted for Indian conditions, KorinMi’s approach simplifies summer routines into what truly matters – hydration, protection, and barrier balance. If you’re working on stories around summer skincare, seasonal routines, or sun protection, we’d be happy to share further inputs or arrange expert commentary from Dr. Jenovia (Co-founder, KorinMi).

British-born ethical beauty brand, The Body Shop, has launched all-new retractable Kajal. A high-performance essential designed to define and intensify; this launch reimagines time-honored Indian beauty rituals through modern innovation. It is a strategic move for The Body Shop’s commitment to creating high-quality products tailored specifically for the needs and preferences of the Indian consumer. Featuring a smooth, lightweight texture, the Kajal glides effortlessly without dragging, ensuring precise application for both subtle and dramatic looks. The formula delivers intense black pigmentation in a single stroke and is designed for up to 24-hour wear. It is fully waterproof, smudge-proof, and transfer-proof, ensuring a reliable finish from day to night. Enriched with Vitamin E, Carrot Seed Oil, and Bisabolol Oil, the formula nourishes the delicate eye area. It is ophthalmologically and dermatologically tested, making it contact lens friendly and safe for everyday use. “With India continuing to be a strategic priority market for us, this launch reflects our commitment to building deeper local relevance. Kajal holds a timeless place in the Indian beauty market and with this product, we are bringing together our global expertise with locally driven insights. Being developed and manufactured in India, this launch is a strong step towards delivering high-performance, culturally resonant innovations tailored specifically for our customers here.” said Rahul Shanker, Group CEO, Quest Retail. With this launch, The Body Shop continues to celebrate the intersection of heritage and innovation, bringing forward products that resonate with local beauty traditions while delivering trusted, high-performance results. The Body Shop Kajal is priced at INR 595/- and is available across all The Body Shop stores and the official website.

Founded by Vasundhara Patni in August 2019, Kiro was created to address a clear gap in the Indian beauty market for clean, high-performance makeup designed specifically for Indian skin tones and dynamic lifestyles. Positioned as an everyday luxury, the brand brings together safe and effective formulations with thoughtful design, empowering women to express themselves with products that are both mindful and performance-driven. You can explore the brand here: Website: https://kirobeauty.com/ Instagram: @kirobeauty Kiro is a clean makeup brand that is 100% vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, and formulated with skin-loving ingredients such as botanical oils and nourishing actives. The brand’s portfolio spans lip, eye, and face products designed for long wear, comfort, and versatility, without sacrificing conscious formulation. They are also known for their ‘stackable’ like the 4 in 1 airy matt lipstick lip, 3 in 1 eyestack, 4 in 1 ‘Barely there’ skin tint. Listed below are the key products from KIRO. Would be great if you could let me know of the make up / skin care stories you are working on around summer etc. We would be happy to provide you with inputs. Top products Velvet Soufflé Soft Matte Liquid Lipstick 3 in 1 eyestack Non-Stop Airy Matte Liquid Lip Four Play Non-Stop Airy Matte Liquid Lip (Quads) Fleur Serum Lip Balm Ceramide Drip Tinted Lip Glaze Balm

The Ordinary has launched its latest innovation in India — the UV Filters SPF 40 Serum, a lightweight, layerable, and white cast-free sunscreen designed to make daily sun protection effortless. A brand that’s always hearing its consumers closely- The Ordinary following feedback on its previous mineral-based sunscreen, discontinued it due to its thick texture and visible white cast, and returned to the lab to create a formulation that better meets consumer needs. The result is a new broad-spectrum sunscreen offering protection against sun damage and premature skin aging caused by UV exposure.   Breaking the Chemical Bias A common misconception is the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreens. In reality, all formulations contain chemicals. While both can provide UV protection, it is challenging to create a transparent, lightweight, high-SPF sunscreen using mineral filters alone. For this launch, The Ordinary has used a blend of FDA-approved chemical filters to deliver an affordable, lightweight sunscreen that feels comfortable, leaves no white cast, and is suitable for daily use across all skin types, including sensitive skin. Why SPF 40? SPF is determined by the formulation itself and measures how long skin takes to redden under UV exposure with sunscreen versus without. The UV Filters SPF 40 Serum provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays, which make up over 90% of UV radiation, contribute to long-term skin damage and aging, while UVB rays, though only about 5%, are significantly more harmful and are responsible for sunburn, pigmentation, and DNA damage. By protecting against both, the serum helps reduce sun damage and premature skin aging when used as directed with other sun protection measures.

The excitement – and accompanying stress – that comes with wedding planning can really affect a bride’s mental and physical state. Brides must take time out for themselves, get pampered and prepped to perfection for the big day. Keeping this in mind, we at neoVeda Spa at The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa has curated few special bridal spa treatments to rejuvenate, calm and refresh brides-to-be so they radiate an ethereal glow and feel like a million bucks on the most unforgettable day of their lives.   neoVeda Spa offers a collection of advanced pre-wedding therapies from around the globe capturing the rituals of the ancient world and combining them with the knowledge and understanding of modern research. Pamper yourself and experience the benefits of the best natural therapies given a modern translation for your picture perfect day! Switching to some good habits like following a strict fitness and beauty regime along with some home remedies and self-indulgent spa treats would gradually let her discover a radiant youthful self that is nothing less than perfection. Some of the spa Treatments is listed below:   neoVeda Signature (Balancing of the senses) : Duration- 2 Hours 30 Minutes   Although its original purpose is to give relaxation to a bride, this therapy is for anyone who desires stress-free, relaxation. With all that pre-wedding stress around you this is just what you need to shed off all the exhaustion and stress. A relaxed mind consequently brings out the best in your skin. Rejuvenate yourself in the deep relaxation of senses. It starts with a Full Body massage for 90 minutes, Coconut scrub and a Cucumber wrap. This treatment will give any would –be-bride a complete relaxation to body, mind and soul. It stimulates regeneration process of cells and tissues and promotes secretion of hormones. It combats the muscle stiffness while relaxing the lymphatic system. It also exfoliates the dead layer of your skin and rejuvenates with goodness of fresh coconut; it enriches body with electrolytes and gives new life to cells. Such a treatment should be done at least 5-6 days before the wedding.   Salt and Spice Body Glow : Duration- 30 minutes   Body glow is considered the easiest and the most effective way to get that buttery smooth and fresh body skin just right for your wedding day and for your honeymoon. Exfoliating using Sea Salt, Cloves and Aromatherapy Essential Oil blends, a week before the wedding as this will not only add radiance to your face but will also make you wedding ready. Its light buffing grains remove dead skin cells and impurities from the surface. The spices re-mineralize, hydrate, increases circulation and improves skin texture and the oils aids as a moisturizer, leaving the skin soft and smooth. You are left with your purest essence, a clean and revitalized body.     Active Calming And Soothing Facial : Duration-1 Hour   You cannot deny the importance of giving special attention to your face no matter how much you neglected them all these years. A young, soft and luxurious skin gives you the feeling of ever-youth look and reduces all the signs of ageing. This technically Active facial cools and comforts irritated skin that is prone to redness. Using Super Active products that contains active and natural ingredients to improve micro- circulation and help strengthen capillary walls with specially selected cream, make this facial particularly effective in providing soothing relief. The beneficial effects are enhanced by the specific therapeutic techniques used. Redness is visibly reduced and the skin is left calmed, soothed and hydrated.   De-Tox Bath : Duration- 45 Minutes   Gift yourself a royal and rejuvenating bath before your wedding. An ideal way to pamper and detox yourself with the bath having antiseptic and skin soothing property. A luxurious bath with Aroma Oils, Aroma Candle all around and Floating Flower Petal gives pleasant look. This bath reduces pain and swelling, wash out toxins accumulated in the blood and supplement the electrolytes need for the body.

New Delhi, February 03, 2026:   British cosmetic giants LUSH, synonymous with fresh, cruelty-free, and innovative beauty, today announced the opening of its first-ever retail store in India at the Nexus Select Citywalk, Saket, here in Delhi.   The opening of the store marks a landmark in LUSH’s India journey, following the successful launch of Lush.in in November last year. LUSH’s entry into India is facilitated through a strategic Licensee Agreement with Bengaluru-based Bilberry Brands India Private Limited. This partnership will initially focus on the D2C route and a carefully curated retail experience.   The store was inaugurated by Vishal Anand, Founder and CEO, Bilberry Brands India Private Limited, and Sophie Matheson, Senior Global Business Development Retail Manager, LUSH. The retail store at Nexus Select Citywalk will offer Indian customers the brand’s immersive, sensorial retail experience, a first of its kind in India. The next two stores would be coming up in Mumbai and Bengaluru over the next few months. Lush’s expanding retail footprint signals the brand’s commitment to building a strong omni-channel presence in India. Commenting on the launch of the store, Vishal Anand said: “Bringing Lush to India is deeply personal for me. This is not just the opening of a store but it marks the beginning of a movement rooted in freshness, ethics, and conscious beauty. Indian consumers are increasingly seeking transparency, authenticity, and products made with care, and Lush represents all of that, uncompromisingly. Our first store at Nexus Select Citywalk is only the starting point of a long-term commitment to build Lush in India with integrity. celebrating handmade craftsmanship, ethical sourcing and fresh ingredients.”   Sophie Matheson added: “A Lush store is much more than a retail space. It is a place to experience creativity and conscious beauty up close. The store allows us to deliver the authentic LUSH experience that customers around the world love, while thoughtfully building a local community in India that shares our values of sustainability, transparency, and fun. The new LUSH store will showcase a comprehensive range of the brand’s globally loved products across skin and hair care, bath and body, and fragrance. We look forward to delivering the authentic LUSH experience from this store.”   Nirzar Jain, President, Leasing, Nexus Select Malls, said: “On LUSH’s spectacular India debut at Nexus Select Citywalk, we are thrilled to welcome a global pioneer in fresh, handmade cosmetics to our flagship destination. LUSH’s commitment to ethical, innovative beauty perfectly complements Nexus Select Citywalk’s ecosystem to create unforgettable experiences for our discerning shoppers.”   Indian consumers will gain access to a comprehensive range of over innovative products across multiple categories, including skin and hair care, bath and body and fragrance, with innovative items such as fresh face masks, solid shampoo bars and seasonal limited editions that have made LUSH a favourite among conscious beauty enthusiasts globally. Customers will also experience LUSH’s signature bath bombs, invented by Co-Founder Mo Constantine in 1989, and now a global phenomenon with over 21.2 million sold annually worldwide.   Founded in the UK in 1995, LUSH has emerged as a global brand synonymous with conscious beauty, driven by sustainability, inclusivity, and activism. It has a presence across 50+ countries with more than 850 stores worldwide.