What if I told you that the way India thinks about skin care was transformed by one woman’s personal journey.
Back in 2016, the journey of Mamaearth began with a mother’s concern. Agastya, son of Ghazal Alagh and her husband Varun Alagh unfortunately developed a skin condition called eczema that made it difficult to use typical skincare products. Being new parents, they were shocked by the absence of safe, toxin free baby care options available in the market of India. This personal challenge of theirs, planted the seed for what would become Mamaearth.
Ghazal’s vision was clear to build up a brand that would offer safe, chemical free, sustainable products for baby care, designed for Indian customers. Though they created the brand with a deeply personal motive, it became a go to brand for countless others facing the same issue.
Early Life of Ghazal Alagh
Ghazal was born on 2nd September 1988 in Haryana. Her background is as multifaceted as her professional achievements. She completed her BCA from Punjab University in Information Technology and later went to School of Visual Arts and The New York Academy of art for advanced art studies.
Before shifting into the world of entrepreneurs, she used to work as a corporate trainer at NIIT (practicing in technologies like Oracle and SQL).
Later her tenure in the tech world was followed by an entrepreneurial wellness venture with a platform called Diet Expert. Also, her art-based project ‘Being Artsy’ gained recognition within creative groups.
These diverse experiences of Ghazal in wellness, tech and art, became her unique asset and shaped the groundwork of her business venture’s philosophy i.e., emotional intelligence, creative expression and analytical thinking.
Birth Of Mamaearth
Under the parent company, Honasa and Consumer Pvt. Ltd. MAMAEARTH was co-founded by Ghazal and Varun Alagh. In its early stages the brand focused on baby care, offering products like organic lotions, oils, shampoos and creams which are said to be formulated without toxins and certified safe by internationally reputed bodies such as MadeSafe.
What gives Mamaearth a competitive edge over other companies is its transparency and toxin free formulations. From the very beginning the brand has ensured consumers about its products that they are free from parabens, sulfates, mineral oils and any kind of artificial fragrances. The brand’s authenticity was valued by the consumers which helped Mamaearth gain rapid popularity through its direct-to-consumer models, making the most of e-commerce platforms.
Expansion Of Products
By watching the rapid growth of Mamaearth, Ghazal and Varun quickly decided to expand its product line to supply women, men and teenagers. Their product offerings included hair oils, shampoos, face washes, moisturizers, serums, lip balms and a few makeup products and every product promises nature derived ingredients, sustainability and consumers safety.
Under its umbrella, Mamaearth introduced new brands such as “The Derma Co” which targets consumers seeking skin care solutions backed by science like retinol, niacinamide and salicylic acid and “Aqualogica” which focuses on hydration and moisture retention, specifically for the Indian climate.
Milestones
From a homegrown brand to a market leader, Mamaearth grew rapidly in a very short span of time. Looking at its retail development, initially, MAMAEARTH products were available at over 100,000 retail outlets and the brand also launched its own exclusive stores in numerous Indian cities.
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Talking about its revenue growth, in the financial year 2022, its annual turnover reached 946 crore and surpassed 2000 crore by financial year 2025 also the company launched its IPO in 2023, which is valued at around 10,500 crore and by 2024, the brand’s market valuation reached beyond 15,000 crores. Mamaearth further cemented its place as a top Indian unicorn, attracting over 105 million in venture capital funding from global investors.
Social Responsibility
One of the core values of Mamaearth is environmental consciousness to promote sustainability, the brand goes beyond product safety. They commit to plant a tree, for every order placed. So far 3 million trees have been planted and the company has successfully recycled more than 1000 metric tons of plastic to date.
One of the major reasons for its popularity among Gen Z and millennials is that all its products are PETA certified and not tested on animals. The brand has a strong ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) positioning.
Leadership Philosophy
Ghazal believes in a purpose driven entrepreneurship. She says, “that every brand must have an enemy to fight against, for Mamaearth it’s harmful chemicals and greenwashing.”
Being a working mother and founder, she focuses on progress over unrealistic perfection. She truly believes in the 85% rule i.e., you should aim for 85% consistency daily and it helps avoid anxiety and allows room for creativity and balance. As her story resonates deeply with women entrepreneurs, trying to balance business with family responsibilities she advises them to practice journaling and meditation.
Presence In Shark Tank India
Ghazal appeared as an investor on the Season 1 of Shark Tank India, a popular reality show. Her presence in the show inspired numerous women entrepreneurs to balance life and engage in business. She invested in multiple startups especially those led by women pr focused on sustainability, health and wellness.
Achievements
Ghazal Alagh, known for her work in the skincare industry earned widespread recognition. She became the EY Entrepreneur of The Year Finalist and in the year 2024 she was listed among the Indians Youngest Self-made Women by Hurun India. Her biggest milestone was to get featured in Business World 40 Under 40 and in Fortune India’s 100 Most Powerful Women (2019).
What started as a solution for her son became one of India’s most popular clean beauty brands. She built a movement towards wellness, authenticity, clean beauty, and sustainable living.
Mamaearth is not just a brand with toxin free products but a brand with heart and a mission with meaning.
