For Elizabeth Isaac from Kochi, like most adolescent girls, skin problems were a part of growing up. She tried various medications over time, but experienced only short-term improvement in symptoms. Some drugs even caused side effects such as vision loss and depression. Elizabeth had always wished better skin care products were available, but the idea of coming up with her own skin care products never occurred to her. However, after a few years, Elizabeth is now a skin care entrepreneur running a brand called ‘Gunam Beauty’ and has won honors for her qualitative approach. Just recently, Gunam made it to the finals of the ‘Beauty & You’ award, a prestigious initiative by New Incubation Ventures (NIV) for budding entrepreneurs in the industry. The winner will get a cash prize of Rs 1.25 billion. Estée Lauder Companies, one of the giants of the cosmetics industry, supports NIV and the award will be presented jointly with Nykaa on October 17th. In a conversation with Onmanorama, Elizabeth talks about her journey so far, how the brand stands out, and her take on the brand. Skin care trends:
A journey towards “Gunnam” products
“I launched Gunum in 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic,” said the 28-year-old, who worked in France at the cosmetic ingredients division of Givaudan, a Swiss multinational fragrance manufacturer, before launching Gunum. look back. At a time when most of the population was in lockdown, she noticed that many people were looking for multi-step skin care and trends like Korean skin care. “I learned how it can damage the skin and wondered how I could simplify my routine,” says Elizabeth. After rigorous product development and testing, she launched Gunam’s first French product set by early 2023. The Indian ingredients are formulated in France by experts in accordance with the world’s strictest French cosmetics regulations, and completed through clinical trials. explains Elizabeth.
Gunam has launched cleansers, toners, face creams and face oils. She says these are safe for all skin types and have a vegan formula. Interestingly, one of the first feedbacks on her products was from Vogue India. “They introduced our toner as a brand they wanted to learn more about. There were not many other products like it in the Indian market at that time,” Elizabeth recalls. Gunam also launched two types of Indian-made supplements in April this year.
Gunam is different from other people…
Elizabeth feels that her grandfather’s words accidentally inspired her to come up with the name ‘Gunam’, which means quality in Malayalam. “No matter what, he was trying to figure out what the ‘gunam’ of a particular product or ingredient was, and maybe that’s what struck my ears when I was trying to name my brand.” I think it is,” Elizabeth says.
Elizabeth says her products are premium products that don’t compromise on quality in a crowded skincare market. “We use many great ingredients that are not currently widely used but are borrowed from Ayurvedic practices. Their effectiveness is enhanced by better formulations with modern technology. “We’re also not interested in hype, and base our statements solely on clinical data.” Entrepreneur who graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York. Looking forward, Elizabeth dreams of Gnam becoming a trusted beauty and wellness brand that truly empowers its customers.
Excess skin care information
When every netizen is a self-proclaimed skincare expert and there’s so much conflicting information out there, how do you decide which products are best for your skin? When we asked Elizabeth, she bluntly said: “This is subjective as all of our skin and bodies are different and have different needs. Personally, I prefer a holistic approach to dealing with it rather than a one-step-fix-all approach. When using Attitude I Believe products, be aware of their ingredients, risk factors, side effects, and seek advice from a professional if necessary. ” She also emphasizes the need for a balanced diet, with the support of supplements if necessary. “Many of us may be deficient in vitamin D or C, and such problems can be solved with supplements. For example, one of our products is a vitamin C-rich acerola from Brazil. We use cherry as an ingredient to maintain these aspects. Also, get your blood tested every six months or once a year to understand what you’re missing,” Elizabeth explains. I will.
Botox, fillers, sculptures…
Where does she stand on surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures that are now commonplace? “I’m not against them,” Elizabeth explains. He says many of the products used for these treatments have been well tested. However, she says, “The way it is administered while ensuring cleanliness determines its effectiveness. These treatments should be performed by a board-certified dermatologist, otherwise there is a risk of damage in the long term.” “You may develop an infection.”
What lies ahead?
Gunam is a finalist along with five other brands for the Beauty & You award. Each brand will compete in the finals on October 17th. The winner will also be announced on the same day. Celebrities like Katrina Kaif, Tarun Tiliani and other industry figures will be present at the event.
Where can I buy Gunam?
Gunam Beauty’s products are available for purchase on its website, gunambeauty.com, and various e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Nykaa, and Ajio Luxe.
