Nominations Open for BEAUTY&YOU India Awards for Beauty Leaders

Deadline: 25-Aug-2026

The BEAUTY&YOU India Awards are accepting applications from Indian beauty entrepreneurs and innovators with in-market, pre-launch, or breakthrough beauty concepts. The fifth edition offers a US$500,000 total prize pool across five award categories, along with mentorship, Nykaa distribution opportunities, Startup India support, and national and international exposure. BEAUTY&YOU India Awards 2026 The BEAUTY&YOU India Awards have opened applications for their fifth edition to discover and support the next generation of Indian beauty entrepreneurs and innovators. The initiative was launched by The Estée Lauder Companies, in partnership with Nykaa and Startup India, to identify innovative brands, products, concepts, and entrepreneurs shaping India’s beauty industry. The programme supports both existing beauty businesses and pre-launch concepts, giving selected entrepreneurs access to funding, mentorship, distribution, and industry exposure. What Are the BEAUTY&YOU India Awards? BEAUTY&YOU India is an entrepreneurship and innovation initiative focused on the future of the Indian beauty sector. The awards seek entrepreneurs and innovators developing concepts that can introduce new ideas, products, experiences, or business models to India’s beauty market.

The fifth edition focuses on:

- In-market beauty brands. - Pre-launch beauty concepts. - Breakthrough beauty innovations. - Creative collaborations. - Innovative fragrance concepts. - Women-led beauty businesses. - Emerging beauty entrepreneurs. Who Organizes the Programme? The BEAUTY&YOU India initiative is supported by three major organizations: - The Estée Lauder Companies - Nykaa - Startup India The partnership combines beauty-industry expertise, retail and distribution capabilities, and India’s startup ecosystem to help promising entrepreneurs develop and scale their concepts. What Do Winners Receive? Selected winners gain access to a broad support ecosystem rather than prize money alone.

Key benefits include:

- US$500,000 total prize pool across five award categories. - Direct mentorship from industry leaders. - Potential distribution opportunities through Nykaa.com. - National platform support from Startup India. - National and international media exposure. - Opportunities to build relationships with major beauty-industry stakeholders. - Support for developing and scaling innovative beauty concepts. The combination of funding, mentorship, distribution, and visibility can help emerging beauty brands move from an early concept to a stronger market position. Award Categories The programme includes five award categories designed to recognize different types of beauty innovation.

The categories include opportunities for:

- In-market beauty concepts. - Pre-launch concepts. - Breakthrough innovations. - Creative collaborations. - Innovative fragrance concepts. - Outstanding or visionary women entrepreneurs. Applicants should select the category that most closely matches their brand, concept, or innovation and review the official category-specific requirements before applying. Who Is Eligible? The awards are open to Indian beauty entrepreneurs and innovators whose concepts or brands align with the programme’s award categories. Eligible applicants may include entrepreneurs working on: - Beauty products. - Beauty brands. - Fragrance innovations. - New beauty concepts. - Creative beauty collaborations. - Pre-launch beauty businesses. - Breakthrough technologies or innovations relevant to beauty. The programme also includes a dedicated opportunity recognizing visionary women founders. Applicants should ensure that their concept fits the relevant award category and satisfies all requirements specified in the official application guidelines. What Types of Beauty Concepts Are Encouraged? The programme is designed for concepts that have the potential to shape the future of beauty in India.

Strong applications may demonstrate:

- Originality and innovation. - Strong understanding of Indian consumers. - Market potential. - A distinctive brand identity. - Product or concept differentiation. - Scalability. - Entrepreneurial vision. - Potential to influence the beauty industry. Both in-market businesses and pre-launch concepts can be considered, making the programme relevant to entrepreneurs at different stages of development. Why Does BEAUTY&YOU India Matter? India’s beauty and personal-care market is experiencing rapid innovation, with entrepreneurs introducing new products, technologies, consumer experiences, and business models. The BEAUTY&YOU India Awards provide a platform for emerging founders to connect with established industry players. The programme is particularly valuable because support can extend beyond financial awards to include: - Industry mentorship. - Retail distribution opportunities. - Startup ecosystem support. - Brand visibility. - Media exposure. - Potential market expansion. For promising entrepreneurs, these resources can help accelerate product development, market entry, and business growth. How to Apply Applicants should prepare their submission around the strength and potential of their beauty concept.

A practical application process includes:

- Identify your award category Determine which of the five categories best matches your business or concept. - Confirm eligibility Ensure that you are an Indian beauty entrepreneur or innovator whose concept meets the relevant category requirements. - Define your concept clearly Explain what your product, brand, innovation, or collaboration offers and why it is different. - Demonstrate market potential Explain the consumer need, target audience, market opportunity, and potential for growth. - Highlight innovation Show how the concept introduces a new product, experience, technology, formulation, business model, or approach to beauty. - Present your entrepreneurial vision Explain your long-term goals and how you intend to develop the concept. - Prepare supporting inform