Good Morning, it’s Wednesday, 15 January. Brazil is telling students they can’t use smartphones in schools, the US TikTok ban is coming and The Real Housewives of Lagos is back with a new season. Also, we are always at the frontline of melanin skincare innovation bringing you news on radical brands who are changing the conversation. Today, we’re speaking today to the founder of Asaya, an Indian beauty brand that is innovating skincare for diverse tones in skin of colour and climates.
Brazil Cracks Down on Smartphones in Schools: Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has signed a bill restricting the use of smartphones in elementary and high schools from February.
Kente Listed as UNESCO Cultural Heritage: The Ghanaian fabric has now been added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Asia’s Gen Z and The Side Hustle Surge: In the Asian workforce, 43% of Gen Zs are taking advantage of remote work and embracing side hustles to supplement their full-time jobs.
TikTok Ban: American TikTok ‘refugees’ are migrating to Xiaohongshu, making it the most downloaded app. Similarly, creators are asking what's next after the ban.
Styling Your Baby Hairs: Don't know how to create those delicious-looking swoops? Nigella Miller is here to show you.
NARS comes to India: NARS Cosmetics has partnered with Nykaa to expand its footprint into India.
Chinese New Year Beauty Gifts: From Shu Uemura’s eye sculpt palette to the Dyson Supersonic Nural, here are the five best beauty gifts for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations.
Junoco has a New Cuticle Polishing Gloss: Fortified with sweet almond oil and shea butter, Junoco’s new Nail & Cuticle Polishing Gloss has been described as ‘couture for fingertips’.
How are Sha’Carri’s Nails Always So Fly?: The answer is her nail tech, Kinaya Haug, and she is sharing the process behind creating nail art that helps the Olympic track star express herself.
Beauty Brands are Closing: Inclusive sun care trailblazer Unsun Cosmetics and halal makeup line Mora Cosmetics are closing. Mora’s cofounders discuss why.
Curating your Bridal Wardrobe: If you’re looking to hire a wedding stylist but have no idea what goes into it, Bana Abujaber shares her process in curating the perfect wedding wardrobe.
Personal Touches are Everything: Meagan and Sheldon kept home in mind by having their wedding in a traditional Catholic Church in Bandra with a Sangeet ceremony two days before.
Bridal Lehengas Colour Inspo: Skip last year’s ivory white craze and try pastels like lavender and mint for your bridal lehenga this year.
AIUla Arts Festival Returns Tomorrow: The Saudi Arabian Arts Festival will be held from 16 to 22 January with an outdoor theatre, photography exhibitions and open mic nights.
Young Gallerists in SE Asia: Artists like Ricky Lee Gordon and Sukontip are finding great success in galleries in Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.
Taiwan Design Week: From sculptures to ecological lighting, see the best moments from Taiwan’s Design Week.
Embroidered Dresses from Haveli: Haveli is a small womenswear brand with roots in Jamaica and India, and one of our favourite finds is the Anya Embroidered Dress.
African Fashion on Guzangs: Guzangs is an online platform for finding emerging African designers and artisans, founded by Idelle Taye.
Death of The Author: African Fantasy writer Nnedi Okoroafor is writing her most autobiographical book yet, and it’s a science fiction drama.
A Growing Love for BL Literature: From Yaoi Manga to Thai Media, Boys Love Literature is quickly taking over book stands.
📺 Season 3 of The Real Housewives of Lagos: The Showmax show is back with more drama and three new socialites.
📺 Season 3 of Young, Famous and African: The Netflix special will be back this Friday, 17 January, with new faces like Ini Edo and Kefilwe Mabote.
🎧 Wacuka: Kenyan singer Sofiya Nzau joins AVAION in this exciting electronic bop.
🎧 Too Many Women: Off his viral hit ‘KEHLANI’, Jordan Adetunji is back with kwn on another groove titled Too Many Women.
🎧 Green Light: In Green Light, a reggae-heavy record, DJ Kaywise brings on Ghanaian act Black Sherif and legendary Jamaican artist Buju Banton.
People of colour need skincare that celebrates the complexity of skin of colour while also catering to climate-related concerns.
As homegrown brands continue to take centre stage in India, it’s worth recognising that the skin care market in India really stands out given the sheer breadth of skin tones across Fitzpatrick phototypes (including melanin-rich skin and East Asian skin) and the diversity of climate.
This is why Eeti Sharma created Asaya, an Indian beauty brand born to cater to the needs of Indian skin while keeping in mind that brown skin isn’t the same across the board. We spoke to Eeti about Asaya, and here’s your info bite on this trailblazing beauty brand.
Why did you launch Asaya?
In the process of trying to cure my adult acne, I realized that generic European skincare products were not formulated for my skin tone and environment. Asaya was created to bridge that very gap and to bring forth melanin-first imagination, conversation, and formulations that have sorely been missing in the world of skincare.
Why is Melanin-rich Skin Different?
Melanin-rich skin is structurally different from other skin tones - it is prone to dryness, hyperpigmentation, and post-inflammatory scarring.
Tell us about Asaya’s innovation & product formulation?
After extensive research we have developed our highly effective, patented technology MelaMeTM that powers our hyperpigmentation range, Unfiltered Views which offers Cleansers, Moisturisers, and Serums and is growing rapidly. Our hydration range Running Deep aims at barrier repair while being gentle on the skin.
One of our cult-favorite products, Running Deep, is powered by Pentavitin™—a moisture-retaining technology that locks hydration into the skin for up to 72 hours. This advanced formula not only supports the skin's natural pH balance but also addresses the unique skincare needs of Indian skin, which is influenced by melanin production and the harsh Indian climate.
What are your ingredients like?
Formulating for Indian skin tones comes with unique challenges, such as addressing hyperpigmentation and ensuring deep hydration without clogging pores.
Asaya’s focus is on using the best ingredients for Indian skincare routines, like bio-mimicking hydrating agents, antioxidants, and brightening actives, which effectively balance skin tone and texture.
These bio-mimicking hydrating agents and also emollients that provide deep moisture and effectively seal it in, making our products particularly beneficial for Indian skin. These formulations are designed to address the unique needs of Indian skin, which can often experience dryness or uneven tone due to environmental factors.
We also understand the importance of balancing potentially drying actives, like exfoliants, with supplementary hydrating agents to maintain optimal skin health.
With an emphasis on hydration, gentle exfoliation, and skin barrier support, Asaya delivers skincare that nurtures, brightens and enhances the natural radiance of Indian skin.
How does your research process work?
Our research process always begins with understanding the consumer. We take the time to assess their concerns, triggers, and experiences, as well as the gaps they’ve encountered, if any, with existing products.
From there, our R&D team develops a precise brief by choosing the right high-performing actives and ensuring the stability, safety, and synergy of all ingredients to deliver effective results. We also prioritize non-greasy textures to suit melanin-rich skin needs, and exclude all toxic ingredients, thereby creating safe and highly effective formulas, especially for concerns like hyperpigmentation and acne.
Education is key in Indian skincare routines, and we believe in empowering our users with knowledge about ingredients, formulations, and the importance of consistent care.
Looking ahead, what’s next for Asaya?
As the Indian beauty industry grows rapidly, Asaya is at the forefront of creating skincare tailored to melanin-rich skin. An immediate area of focus for the brand is dark spots and hyperpigmentation triggered by acne, age spots, and other trauma to the skin with the MelaMeTM range.
