India, 29th August 2026: Kay Beauty, India’s most loved beauty brand, co-founded by Actor and Global Icon Katrina Kaif and Nykaa, India’s leading beauty and lifestyle company, enters an exciting new chapter with the launch of its first-ever skincare line. Built on the brand’s philosophy of high-performance products that care as much as they perform, the debut introduces two everyday essentials designed to deliver lasting hydration and healthy glowing skin. The launch includes the Hydra Glaze Essence, which deeply hydrates, gives an instant glow and helps to refine skin texture. The Hydra Base Water Crème is a lightweight, hydrating moisturiser that helps to strengthen and calm the skin barrier.
Katrina’s relationship with skincare has been shaped by years of understanding her own sensitive skin, alongside the demands of working in front of the camera, long days on set and frequent travel. Over time, she found herself returning to the same essentials: supporting the skin barrier and replenishing lost moisture while calming redness and irritation. Her experiences became an important starting point for Kay Beauty’s entry into skincare. The skincare launch feels like a natural extension of everything it has stood for since its inception in 2019. Kay Beauty’s philosophy of ‘Makeup That Kares’; makeup infused with skin loving ingredients, blends seamlessly into our latest launch, the belief that makeup performs best when skin feels balanced, hydrated and cared for. The brand’s first skincare range builds on that philosophy, bringing the same approach to formulations that are thoughtfully designed, uncomplicated to use and rooted in efficacy.
Katrina Kaif, Co-Founder, Kay Beauty says, “My relationship with skincare has evolved through so many different phases of my life. Having sensitive skin, combined with years of working in front of the camera, long days on film sets and constant travel, has made me very aware of what my skin needs and how differently it can respond from one day to the next. Those experiences shaped so much of the thinking behind Kay Beauty skincare. Working closely with our formulation experts, we wanted to create an effective range that really focuses on the fundamentals I’ve come to value most: strengthening and supporting the skin barrier, deep cellular hydration and keeping the skin feeling soothed, calm and protected. It was equally important that the formulas felt lightweight and effortless to use, and created a beautiful, well-prepped base for makeup to sit smoothly. The range brings together Kare and performance in a way that feels like a natural extension to the Kay Beauty universe.”
Adwaita Nayar, Co-founder and Executive Director of Nykaa, and CEO – House of Nykaa, adds, “Since its inception, Kay Beauty has been built around the belief that performance and care should go hand in hand. As consumers increasingly embrace a skin-first approach to beauty, skincare felt like a natural evolution for the brand. With this launch, we wanted to bring the same performance-led approach to formulations that are thoughtful, effective and uncomplicated, while staying true to our #MakeupThatKares philosophy. This range is an important step in expanding Kay Beauty into a more holistic beauty brand, rooted in how consumers are evolving their everyday routines.”
Translating Katrina’s personal experience into high-performance skincare meant bringing together her understanding of how she wanted the products to feel and perform with rigorous formulation expertise. Developed over three years with leading formulators in Korea and Italy, the range has been clinically tested on Indian women with sensitive skin, with every formula designed to deliver measurable efficacy while remaining gentle and easy to use. Biochemist and cosmetic futurist Nausheen Qureshi also worked closely with the teams throughout the development process, with a clear intention to deliver skincare that supports everyday skin health while remaining gentle enough for sensitive skin. All formulas are fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, dermatologically tested, hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin.
The debut range is supported by multiple clinically evaluated efficacy claims. Among them, the Hydra Glaze Essence delivers double hydration in just 30 minutes with a 24 hour moisture locking technology. The Hydra Base Water Crème delivers 100-hour hydration and helps improve barrier function from the first application.
The Hydra Glaze Essence is a lightweight milky essence that delivers deep hydration, glowing skin while helping refine skin texture and restore radiance. It leaves skin with a fresh, healthy glazed finish while creating a smooth, luminous base for makeup.
Powered by Lactic Acid, Amino Acids and Prebiotic Saccharide, the formula gently exfoliates, supports the skin barrier and helps maintain a healthy skin microbiome, leaving skin looking smoother, softer and naturally glowing.
Among its clinically evaluated efficacy claims, the formula delivers:
- Double hydration to the skin in 30 minutes
- 24-hour moisture lock
- Up to 8 hours of softer looking skin
- Smoother-looking skin from the first application and delivers a smooth, makeup-ready base
- Dermatologically tested, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic and clinically tested on Indian women with sensitive skin
*Based on an external clinical study conducted in May 2026. Test results compared treated versus untreated skin when the test area was left unwashed for 100 hours.
The Hydra Base Water Crème is a lightweight, water-based gel moisturiser developed to provide long-lasting hydration without feeling heavy on the skin.
Powered by Centella Asiatica, Ceramides and Skin-mimetic Lipids, it helps replenish moisture, strengthen the skin barrier and soothe sensitive skin while leaving it feeling calm and comfortable.
Its clinically evaluated efficacy includes:
- 100-hour deep hydration
- Boosts skin hydration by 138%
- Strengthens the moisture barrier in just 30 minutes
- 35% enhanced moisture barrier from the first application
- Soothes and comforts dry skin in 30 minutes
- Dermatologically tested, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic and clinically tested on Indian women with sensitive skin
Based on an external clinical study conducted in May 2026. Test results compared treated versus untreated skin when the test area was left unwashed for 100 hours.
A Simple Approach
The Hydra Glaze Essence and Hydra Base Water Crème are centered around hydration and skin barrier support. Designed to complement every makeup routine, both formulas absorb effortlessly into the skin and remain true to Kay Beauty’s formulation standards as they are fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, clinically and dermatologically tested, and suitable for sensitive skin.
The Kay Beauty Hydra Glaze Essence is priced at INR 1,099 (30 ml), while the Kay Beauty Hydra Base Water Crème is priced at INR 1,299 (50 g). Both products will be available on the Nykaa app and website, Nykaa retail stores across India and on www.kaybeauty.com from 29th August 2026.
About Kay Beauty
Founded in 2019, Kay Beauty is one of India’s leading makeup brands co-founded by Actor and Global Icon, Katrina Kaif and India’s leading beauty and lifestyle destination, Nykaa. In just five years, it has emerged as one of India’s most loved and fastest-growing beauty brands. It has been recognized with prestigious accolades, including Vogue India’s Beauty Brand of the Year 2022, Best New Brand under Consumers Choice Category at CEW Beauty UK Awards 2026, and several industry awards for innovation. With strong digital engagement and collaborations with leading beauty experts, Kay Beauty continues to set new benchmarks in the Indian beauty landscape. Drawing from Katrina’s personal journey and experiences with make-up, each Kay Beauty product is designed to deliver results whilst nourishing the skin. Formulated with skin-loving ingredients like chamomile, marula oil, ceramides, lychee extract, and avocado butter, the brand’s #MakeupThatKares philosophy ensures a seamless blend of care, comfort, and long-lasting wear. Kay Beauty is more than just a makeup brand; it’s a movement that celebrates authenticity and encourages self-expression.
Built on the pillars of performance, care, and inclusivity, Kay Beauty champions the idea that beauty is not about conforming, it’s about embracing who you truly are. Because #ItsKayToBeYou. The brand is loved across the country right from key metro cities, to tier 2 and tier 3 markets, fulfilling order demands of 2.8 Million+ customers till date in India. Kay Beauty has also expanded its offline presence, retailing in over 700+ premium stores across the country. The brand is exclusively available on the Kay Beauty website, Nykaa website and app,
and at all Nykaa stores across India.
Over the past three years, the brand has also strengthened its international footprint. In 2024, the brand made its international debut in the GCC through Nysaa, where it has since grown to become one of the top five brands on Nykaa.com. Building on this momentum, Kay Beauty entered the United Kingdom in September 2025 through an exclusive partnership with leading beauty retailer Space NK, with availability both online and across stores nationwide. This
milestone made Kay Beauty the first beauty brand founded in India to join Space NK’s curated portfolio of global beauty brands
Find us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kaybykatrina/
Website – www.kaybeauty.com
For queries, please contact: [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected] About Nykaa
Nykaa’s vision is to bring inspiration and joy to people everywhere, every day. Born from a desire to make beauty a mainstream choice, the Nykaa journey began in 2012 as a digital-first, consumer-tech beauty company. Falguni Nayar’s entrepreneurial leap with Nykaa tapped into an underserved beauty retail market, disrupting the ecosystem and putting India in the global spotlight. Today, Nykaa has expanded its offerings to include fashion and B2B, launching platforms such as Nykaa Fashion, Nykaa Man, and Nykaa Superstore. Nykaa has also expanded into the Middle East through its omnichannel beauty offering ‘Nysaa’.
Over the years, Nykaa has steadily captured the hearts of consumers, serving over 60 million customers (as of 30 June 2026) through its online platforms and 324 offline beauty destinations (as of 30 June 2026), while building loyal communities through engaging and educative content.
House of Nykaa – Nykaa continues to build its house of brands with a sharp focus on innovation and consumer delight. Nykaa Cosmetics, Dot & Key, Kay Beauty, Nykaa Collections, Nykaa Wanderlust, Nykaa Perfumes, Earth Rhythm alongside celebrated fashion labels such as Nykd by Nykaa, KICA, 20 Dresses, RSVP, and Gajra Gang, have become household names, consistently delivering inspiration and high-performing products to consumers.
Nykaa’s unwavering commitment to authenticity and customer-centricity has cemented its position as the retailer of choice for international brands looking to enter the Indian market. With Nykaa’s Global Store, a gateway to some of the world’s most coveted brands, the company harnesses its powerful supply chain and marketing expertise to create a flawless shopping experience. Trusted by renowned global names like Rare Beauty, K18, JudyDoll, Chanel Fragrance and Beauty, SK-II, Nike, H&M, Charlotte Tilbury, Elf Cosmetics, Urban Decay, Birkenstock, Foot Locker, Revolve, and Cider, Nykaa has empowered these iconic brands to connect with Indian consumers and make a lasting impact in the market.
Nykaa has been recognized with prestigious accolades, including a place in the TIME100 Most Influential Companies List and the Isidoro Alvarez Lifetime Achievement Medal at the World Retail Congress in Barcelona. Falguni Nayar, Founder and CEO, has also won personal honours such as EY Entrepreneur of the Year and Power Businesswoman by Forbes Asia.
