Aegte Lifescience

Aegte Lifescience: Redefining beauty with revolutionizing Makeup and Vegan Skincare products

Most Influential Women In Beauty And Skincare Industry 2024

Modern women know how to create a mark and redraw the entire entrepreneurial landscape with flair. We see them smashing the glass ceilings to create more ventures from scratch. Women folks are now turning the boardroom meetings into brainstorming sessions, tapping into their creative streak.

Their bold statements have not just made their ventures famous brands but led them to change the game for good. Embodying the spirit of resilience and creativity, they have created distinct identities in their fields.

This time, we shed light on the success story of Rupali Sharma, who is a woman of substance. She embarked on her fantastic entrepreneurial journey after realizing her creative streak and fondness for nature. Her brand, Aegte Lifescience, has been creating ripples in the cosmetics industry, catering to millions of people out there seeking a vegan and cruelty-free brand.

In her journey, Rupali’s husband, Dhiren Sharma, extended persistent support that led to the success of her brand. Their partnership is instrumental in carving the brand’s name as a trusted name. The dynamic couple is empowering cosmetics and creating product lines that can resonate with a diverse consumer base. The name of her iconic brand is indeed unique. Aegte is a Danish term that means authentic; she revealed the inspiration behind her venture’s name. For her matchless leadership skills, Rupali has become the recipient of The Times 40 under 40 Award, ET Inspiring Women Leaders, ET Most Inspiring Business Leaders Asia, and Forbes Leading Women Award.

In an intriguing conversation with Rupali Sharma, we explored various aspects of her brand as well as her journey as a ‘wompreneur’. Let’s take a closer look at her path that has caught global attention:

The company profile

Aegte entered the industry with the launch of its very first product, Premium Onion Hair Oil, in 2018. Rupali and Dhiren bootstrapped this venture and converted it into a thriving multi-crore enterprise. Today, the brand is synonymous with providing 100% vegan, natural, and results-driven premium makeup and skincare solutions.

The brand’s ethos revolves around combining the power of Mother Nature’s organic and botanical ingredients with advanced science to develop multi-functional beauty staples.

The duo now boasts of having 50+ products where a few products became the talk of the town and all-time best sellers such as Aegte Beetroot Lip & Cheek Tint, Pore Blur Primer + Sunscreen SPF 55++, 3-in-1 Strobe Glow Sunscreen Spray SPF 60++, etc. The differentiating factor of the brand is its skin-health-conscious approach that allows them to formulate such composition that not only enhances beauty but avoids harm to our precious skin.

The brand has stood adamant on its promise to ensure the quality of its products, which has made it a trusted beauty brand in the cosmetics industry. The testament to this assertion is the recognition of the brand with awards like ‘Best D2C Brand of the Year’, ‘Femina Power Brand’, and ‘Most Trusted Brand of India’ and counting.

The spark that ignited the vision

As per Rupali, Aegte is the sheer manifestation of her personal struggle with postpartum hair fall. She was truly disappointed with the results of all the existing hair care products on the market that were neither effective nor safe to use. This propelled her to contemplate the solution to this issue, and eventually, she decided to use a homemade onion oil that was prepared by her mother.

To her surprise, after using the oil, her hair was incredibly transformed. She always believed in the healing power of natural products, and the results from the onion oil inspired her to fill the market gap.

Hence, she decided to establish a natural, vegan, and cruelty-free skin and hair care brand that could provide tangible results to consumers. This scenario inspired the inception of Aegte. Now, the brand’s flagship product, Aegte Premium Onion Hair Oil, has gained global acclaim in the market. All the 50+ products are known for their pledge to product purity and excellence.

A shared vision

“Our team is driven by a shared passion and values. Our keen focus since its inception has focused on bringing together individuals who are not only skilled but also deeply committed to our mission of promoting makeup with skincare benefits.

Our team comprises experts in cosmetics, skincare, formulation, marketing, accounting, operations, and customer service, all working in synergy to create products that have won millions of hearts. We ensure every employee with necessary training and support to enhance their skills,” conveyed Rupali concerning the team-building process at the organization.

Role of technology and R&D

Staying ahead of the curve in the beauty industry is not a cakewalk. To keep abreast of the market trends, Rupali and her team are always too open to embrace the tech advancements and make the best use of the R&D process. This not only contributes to improving the product formulations but also allows them to meet the highest standards of efficacy and safety.

Aegte’s Pore Blur Primer with SPF 55++ is the sheer revelation of the founders’ keen focus on innovation. This product perfectly blends makeup and skincare with sun protection in an extraordinary gel-based, non-comedogenic formula. Moreover, Rupali’s team leverages digital tools for customer engagement and feedback that prove as catalysts to improve their products for better consumption.

Why Aegte’s competitive edge can’t be copied?

“Quality is at the heart of everything we do at Aegte,” claimed Rupali. Well, the cosmetics market is all about quality as well as value for money. Rupali, as the CEO of the brand, acknowledges this fact and curates strategic plans in this direction.

Be it implementing stringent quality control measures or supervising the overall product development process under strict environmental conditions, her focus is always on meeting customer expectations and even going beyond that. Rigorous quality testing of the products is done to be 100% sure concerning the safe use.

Apart from quality control, they only source the finest natural ingredients to create authentic products. “Each product, from the Strobe Glow Spray SPF 60++ to Beetroot Lip & Cheek Tint, undergoes strict testing to ensure it meets our high standards. We work closely with certified laboratories to ensure that our formulations are lab-verified, safe, effective, and consistent. We also provide lab test certification for our marquee products like Lip & Cheek Tint and DD Cream to our customers,” shared Rupali regarding their USPs.

Moreover, Rupali shed some light on what sets her brand apart in the field. Well, it is their competence to combine ‘Makeup with Skincare’ benefits. The products not only enhance their appearance but also nourish and protect their skin. Each offering reflects their philosophy, ‘Beauty is for All’, where a majority of their products are gender-neutral. Yes, products that can be used by men and women both.

And as a pioneering attempt to launch kids-safe products in the same range, the brand has received applause from peers and critics. The idea behind creating kids-safe products is the fact that the modern generation of kids is curious to use the beauty products with or without the consent of the parents. Hence, the products should be mandated to be kid-friendly, keeping the sensitivities of their skin in mind.

In a nutshell, the formulations of the products are indeed irreplaceable, but the outlook behind the process is worth many praises. Rupali quipped that beauty products are meant to boost our confidence that comes from true beauty. The intent behind creating a product is their personal hallmark that cannot be duplicated by any of their competitors.

Keeping up the spirits of the employees

Aegte’s senior leadership advocates the quote: motivated team is the cornerstone of business success. In order to sync with this principle, the management adheres to employee engagement programs. They facilitate professional development by offering regular training sessions and opportunities to upskill the workforce.

“We never fail to establish a supportive work environment where creativity and innovation are in the air. We organize team-building activities to maintain enthusiasm and promote a sense of camaraderie. Recognizing and celebrating individual and team achievements is another way we keep morale high, ensuring that every employee feels valued and appreciated,” shared Rupali concerning the work culture at Aegte.

Jewels in the crown

In such a highly competitive industry, Aegte has created a unique brand identity of its own. Today, it stands at the valuation of ₹150 crore and is on its way to reaching ₹300 crore in the upcoming three fiscal years, based on its exponential sales. This reflects the wide acceptance of the brand’s philosophy and offerings among the global population, which is their proudest accomplishment.

So far, the brand has garnered significant recognition for its commitment to quality and innovation. A few of the considerable accomplishments bagged by the brand are:

• Femina Power Brand Award
• Most Trusted Brand of India Award
• Best D2C Brand of the Year 2023 Award

Futuristic roadmap

We asked Rupali to unveil her future plans for Aegte. To this, she replied that they are all set for product expansion in the makeup category. This upcoming initiative would attract new consumers and cement their range of customer needs eminent status in the beauty industry. Also, there would be more and more investment in innovation and will continue to launch unique, effective products that would address a wide range of skin and hair issues.

As far as growth strategy is concerned, the leaders are targeting a 500% increase in sales this fiscal year alongside the geographical expansion of their market presence in South and East India. To sum it up, Aegte is geared up to reach more consumers in the next 5–6 years.

Wise words from a ‘wompreneur’

“As a woman entrepreneur and a mompreneur, I have learned that success in business requires both passion and perseverance. To all aspiring entrepreneurs, I encourage you to stay true to your vision and never underestimate the power of resilience. Challenges will arise, but it’s how you respond to them that defines your journey.

In every challenge, there’s an opportunity to rise, and as women, we bring a unique blend of resilience, creativity, and empathy to the table. Remember that your journey is not just about achieving your own dreams—it’s about breaking barriers and paving the way for others. For women, I want to emphasize the importance of believing in yourself and your capabilities.

We have the power to balance multiple roles and still make a profound impact in our chosen fields. Embrace your uniqueness, stay confident, and remember that with determination, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. As I always say, “Keep shining, keep leading, and never stop dreaming.”
– Rupali Sharma, founder and CEO, Aegte.

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