Cosmetic Brands in India: 10 Names You Can Trust!

If you were born in the 80's or 90's, you would probably remember asking your NRI cousins to get back home some quality cosmetic products from the US or UK. Back then, we really did not have many Indian beauty brands that were within reach of the common crowd. Fast forward to 2020's, India has transformed into a hub of beauty and cosmetic manufacturers, which are giving global brands a run for their money.

10 Best Beauty Brands in India, 2021:

Let us look into the details of each of these top 10 Indian cosmetic brands listed in no particular order:

1. Lotus Herbals:

Lotus Herbals is a reputed Indian herbal cosmetic brand started in1993 by Mr. Kamal Passi. The main aim of the brand was to offer natural beauty solutions that are both safe and effective. From sunscreens to facial kits, cleansers, face packs and cosmetics, every product from this brand comes with a promise of chemical-free and cruelty-free! These non-toxic beauty products are created especially to cater to the needs of Indian skin and it's many types.

2. Himalaya:

Himalaya is another trusted Indian beauty brand established in 1930 by Mr. M. Manal. It is one of the very early Indian brands which has attempted to use ancient herbs and formulations in a commercial product line. Apart from it's best selling personal care products like face washes, shampoos, conditioners etc. beauty products like Kajal, lip butter, balms, etc. are also earning rave reviews from users across the world.

3. Lakme:

Lakme has the credit of being the first Indian company which has introduced the concept of "makeup" to the local audience. It was established by J.R.D Tata and Simone Tata in the year 1952. For the past 65+ years, Lakme has remained the undisputed leader of the Indian cosmetic world. It has continuously evolved to stay afloat in the competition by introducing a wide range of lipsticks, foundations, serums, eye shadow palettes at affordable pricing. The brand has also extended its beauty services through a chain of Lakme salons in all major Indian cities.

4. Enn's Closet:

If you are keen on giving nothing but the best of nature's care for your skin, then Enn's Closet is the brand for you! It is also the first Indian organic beauty and makeup brand that uses no chemicals, preservatives, or toxic ingredients in its products. It offers a variety of skin and hair care products like ghee moisturizer, serums, rice water toner, face wash and a range of colorful, hand-whipped face masks. Do try out their natural lipsticks, tinted sunscreen and innovative beauty blenders.

5. Colorbar:

Colorbar is one of the most popular Indian cosmetic brands which was founded in the year 2004 by Samir Modi. The idea was to fill the void left by international brands that failed to address the needs of the Indian brown skin. Through more than 2000 retail points in the country, Colorbar offers a wide range of lipsticks, eye makeup, foundation, nail polish, pressed powders, primers etc. The shades are created to suit diverse skin tones and complexions in India.

6. FAE Beauty:

FAE Beauty is an upcoming Indian vegan beauty brand based out of Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was founded by Karishma Kewalramani, who wanted to create a "Free and Equal" (FAE) beauty line for Indian women. The best part about this brand is the way it boldly tackles the stereo types associated with brown skin. The products are designed for everyone irrespective of gender, skin tone or age. Currently, you can try out their range of buildable lipsticks, mascaras and combo packs etc.

7. Arata:

Arata is one of the leading plant-based, chemical-free beauty brands that proudly comes with the tag "Made in India". It was started by Dhruv Madhok and Dhruv Bhasin who wanted to make safe, non-toxic personal care products reachable for everyone. The company had humbles beginnings with organic flaxseed hair gel for men as their first marketable product. Later, it witnessed exponential growth and is currently offering a number of cosmetic and beauty products for both men and women.

8. Ilana Organics:

Ilana Organics is an Indian organic beauty brand that promises to deliver high standard, all-natural skin and beauty care products. Every ingredient used in these products is carefully sourced from trade-safe certified farms to give nothing but the best that your body deserves. You can expect a variety of nature-based cleansers, toners, makeup removing balms, concealer, foundation, serums and moisturizers from Ilana. The Beet lip and cheek tint is a must-try!

9. Raw Beauty:

Raw beauty is another upcoming skincare brand which focuses on providing honest and natural products for its customers. All the ingredients are sourced directly from organic farmers which are then handmade with love. The products are also safe to be used on kids as they contain no harsh chemicals. They have an interesting range of healing salves, moisturizers, facial cleansers, lip balms, natural deodorants, masks, ubtan etc.

10. Forest Essentials:

How can we conclude this article without mentioning the most reputed Indian ayurvedic brand- Forest Essentials. This brand is associated with luxury, right from its superior quality formulations to attractive packaging. Forest Essentials was founded in the year 2000 by Mira Kulkarni, who wanted to reintroduce the secrets of ancient Ayurveda to the modern world. It is also the only Indian brand in which the global cosmetic leader, Estee Lauder Group has made significant investments.

Apart from these 10 best beauty brands in India, there are many more startups which are coming with innovative products. Did your favorite brand make it to the list? No? Can you tell us more about it?