One-on-One with Dr. Divneet Kaur — CEO & Co-founder, Dermabay

In a world overflowing with skincare brands, few manage to stand out for their integrity, innovation, and impact. At the heart of one such brand is Dr. Divneet Kaur — a visionary, a doctor, and a woman determined to reshape the skincare narrative in India. As the CEO and Co-founder of Dermabay, Dr. Kaur combines clinical expertise with a deep passion for conscious beauty. In this exclusive one-on-one, she opens up about her journey, the science behind her formulations, and what it truly takes to build India’s most trusted skincare brand.

1. What inspired you to enter the skincare industry?
It all started with a revelation. As a pharmaceutical scientist, I observed how global skincare brands presented their products with attractive packaging but most failed to develop products suitable for Indian skin requirements. Indian skin deserved better than conventional skincare solutions and the gap felt deeply personal. The sense of urgency for our skincare to deliver excellent results while matching perfectly to our Indian environment turned a thought into a purpose.

2. How did your journey as a medical professional evolve into becoming a beauty entrepreneur?
The evolution was natural. The pharmaceutical research at the lab focused on developing delivery systems that used peptides in precise applications. I realized that scientific skincare development contained tremendous potential to deliver products that would achieve actual results. Dermabay was at the pinnacle of my research that transitioned from lab reports to practical effects on human skin.

3. What’s one belief that has consistently guided your path as a woman leader?
Credibility always trumps charisma. Our scientific-based work that uses data will always stand stronger than the flashy appearance of multinational brands. My dedication as a woman leader within this space focuses on using scientific evidence instead of marketing gimmicks to create the strongest brand impact.

4. How was Dermabay born? What was the core problem you aimed to solve?
The first laboratory facilities of Dermabay operated from a garage workshop located in Ludhiana with its sincere approach to develop skincare products. Simran and I encountered a two-fold market problem since Indians could only access either expensive imported skincare products or domestically made products without scientific evidence. We chose the more challenging approach to create our own formulations from scratch while performing local testing and maintaining full control over chemical production. Our direction was guided by how the products would perform on real Indian skin under real Indian environmental factors.

5. How do you ensure that Dermabay products are both effective and trustworthy?
For us, every new launch is a mini pharmaceutical marvel. We conduct thorough assessments of absorption profiles and bio-compatibility as well as long-term safety throughout our lab synthesis and prototype testing process. We never compromise—no white labeling, no buzzword-driven shortcuts. We explain the scientific explanation of each formula to our customers. People trust us because transparency serves as our core principle instead of being a trendy term.

6. What’s the hero product of Dermabay—and what makes it special?
The hero product at Dermabay is our SPF 50 PA++++ sunscreen. The lightweight sunscreen product protects skin from UVA/UVB radiation as well as blue light, pollution and sweat. The sunscreen contains actives such as tetrahydrocurcumin and methoxyphenyl triazine which comes at an affordable price point. Our promise comes alive through this product which demonstrates scientific complexity in everyday skincare formulas.

7. What’s your day-to-day like as CEO?
I dedicate my days to uniting scientific work with strategic planning. I dedicate my first few hours to receiving research updates from the Ludhiana laboratory while studying product prototypes and providing guidance to our fundamental team members. Around afternoon, I analyze plans for retail operations while examining AI quiz boards and checking customer feedback. My evenings start with training sessions and educational workshops. The constant among all of this? Listening—whether data, team members, or customers.

8. What is your personal involvement in product R&D, branding, or customer experience?
I lead R&D from ideation to iteration—I sketch formulation strategies, oversee stability trials, and guide packaging science. I ensure that branding messages are both authentic and straightforward while learning from what we know about our customers. I take pleasure in reviewing customer feedback while asking additional questions to guarantee that all consumer interactions follow our brand standards.

9. Dermabay is often referred to as one of India’s most trusted skincare brands. What do you think has built that trust?
Trust is a compound interest—it’s earned through original science, transparency, and real results. We built our formulas in-house, priced them fairly, and refused shortcuts. We speak candidly about actives, limitations, and outcomes. Our community sees that: we have high repurchase rates, word-of-mouth growth, and customers who know us for our substance—because we never settled for surface-level beauty.

10. How do you balance science, skincare, and inclusivity in your brand approach?
Inclusivity stands as a fundamental requirement for me. Indian skin displays wide variety rather than a unified type. Our product testing process includes evaluation of products under typical Indian conditions such as humidity and sensitivity variations. Our development team creates multifunctional skincare products which honor diverse skin issues together on various skin textures under environmental conditions. The combination of scientific testing with practical adaptability forms the foundation of our approach because empathy serves society better than scientific methodology alone.

11. What advice would you give to young women aspiring to start their own skincare or wellness brand?
Let empathy be your guide! The first step should be to identify actual consumer problems and real-world challenges. Study the science through direct knowledge or work with someone who grasps the concepts. Focus on creating meaningful change while building transparency and building community relationships instead of following fleeting trends. Real brands develop their long-term credibility through deep work rather than superficial promotions

12. What’s next for Dermabay? Any exciting launches or expansions on the horizon?
We’re on an exciting trajectory. Our pre-seed funding will enable us to create a dedicated lab while expanding sustainable practices and strengthening our quality control measures. The company plans to introduce retail operations across Gujarat, UP and MP during the next 6–8 months. Our future product development will focus on creating targeted skincare lines for acne-prone and sensitive skin types. We are also venturing into AI with a platform that offers personalization because we believe skincare should be based on science rather than speculation.

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Thankyou for reading. I’ll be back with another amazing story soon. Till then, keep reading and keep taking care of your skin. More from India’s best beauty blog here.