10 QUESTIONS WITH PAYAL THAKER

Tell us briefly about yourself and how you ventured into the business of beauty?

I’m Payal Thaker, the Co-Founder of YBP Skin. I entered the world of clean skincare because I was already on my path as a clean living expert. I wanted skincare made with the best ingredients in the world, valuing integrity every step of the way. From harvesting practices to our environmental footprint as a company, every choice we make has an impact. In the almost 10 years since launching YBP Skin, I’ve discovered that words like “Natural,” “Vegan,” and “Sustainable” are thrown around so much that they’ve lost their true meaning.

Please tell us about your company and brand. How old is it?

YBP Skin is about reconnecting with nature and each other. We started YBP in 2016. It’s the little things—writing personal notes to include in each order, making myself available through Instagram or email, and writing newsletters on different subjects to connect with my customers. This is my way of ensuring they feel loved and cared for. It’s a model for how I hope my clients will use these products to care for themselves. I wanted to create a line that utilizes the best of both worlds—“science-backed lab ingredients” as well as “whole plants” studied by botanists.

How committed is your brand to offering vegan and natural solutions for beauty?

Our line is transparent about everything—from listing every ingredient on our website to explaining our sources and the studies behind our formulations. We want to maintain the efficacy of each formula while educating our consumers at every stage. Most of our whole-plant ingredients are grown by farmers on their own land. We maintain regular contact with them, letting them know how much of each plant we’ll need for the year ahead. They plant, grow, harvest, and then send the ingredients straight to us, where we process them ourselves through methods like maceration, drying, tincturing, and distillation.

These days, the beauty market is flooded with vegan, natural, herbal, and homegrown beauty brands. How tough is the competition for you?

It goes without saying that our products are cruelty-free, and we do not use animal byproducts in our formulations. We do use a small amount of organic beeswax in some products, which is sourced locally and sustainably. The beauty market is as saturated as any other. We stick to what we know. We believe in educating our customers about the importance of our ingredients and the ethical practices we follow at YBP Skin. Most of our customers have been with us from the start, and from there, we’ve grown into a bigger community. I truly believe in Slow Beauty, Slow Living, and not rushing the process—because that’s what adds integrity and quality to our lives.

What challenges are you facing in your sector?

My biggest challenge with the current beauty industry is debunking unrealistic beauty goals. Social media and magazines showcase unrealistic images of skin, with advertising, professional photoshoots, and editing portraying flawless, airbrushed skin with no blemishes or scars. Terms like “glass-like skin,” “spotless skin,” and “aging backwards” need to stop. Skincare isn’t about airbrushed pictures and heavy filters. It’s about taking care of your skin so it can protect your body from external damage.

How smooth has your journey been as an entrepreneur?

The journey of an entrepreneur is never smooth. I’ve learned that freaking out does nothing to solve problems. There will be hiccups. Roll with it. Breathe. I try to center myself by focusing on what really matters. It’s interesting how the things you didn’t plan for can lead to your greatest achievements.

How are you promoting, marketing, and publicizing your products?

Right now, our focus is on brand awareness. We’re educating and sharing more about how we work with our customers through social media, our website, and newsletters. Our goal is to have YBP stocked in shops that align with our philosophy of simple luxury so people can get the most out of these potent gifts from nature! We’ve also had a lot of international interest, which has been great since we just started shipping internationally. Eventually, when we’re confident we can do it right, we’ll expand further. We also re-released a couple of our existing products with new packaging: Hydrating Chia Cream, which is great for dry, dehydrated skin, and Vitamin C Serum, designed for sensitive skin. We’re also exploring the idea of brand expansion. YBP Skin was always meant to be a lifestyle brand, not just skincare.

What product do you personally use the most?

One product that can tackle multiple skin concerns is the Hydrating Serum Mist. It balances pH after cleansing, preps the skin for face oil application, and even sets makeup. When I first created it, it was for my own skin, which was prone to dehydration and combination issues. After just three months of using this serum mist, my skin changed dramatically.

What tips would you give to budding entrepreneurs in your field?

Don’t rush the process. If you’re doing something extraordinary and wholeheartedly, people will find you. It takes time to gain that kind of trust. You don’t want to lose your calm and force yourself into doing things that don’t align with your values. Trust your instincts and build a strong, efficient team.

Any upcoming product launches?

We just launched our Manuka Honey & Saffron Mask, which is truly like nothing you’ve ever used. This entire formulation took over two years because sourcing our honey and saffron was an expensive and lengthy process. It’s a deeply soothing and hydrating mask made with extraordinary ingredients like Manuka honey, saffron, and pumpkin seed extract. I always wanted YBP to have a luxurious leave-on face mask that can be used morning and night to deep cleanse and hydrate the skin without tugging or pulling. The scent is simply divine, and the entire experience of using this product is one-of-a-kind.