The global beauty industry is in the midst of a transformative era—one defined not just by bold colors and innovative formulas, but by visionary leadership that challenges convention, champions inclusivity, and redefines what beauty means in today’s world. From sustainable product development to tech-enabled personalization, the industry’s most influential business leaders are driving meaningful change that extends far beyond skin deep.
Saahil Nayar (Co-Founder & CEO, Mila Beauté) envisioned a beauty brand that resonated deeply with Indian consumers, particularly concerning skin tones and formulations. He observed a significant gap in the market: many existing products either didn’t match the diverse range of Indian skin tones or felt too heavy for daily use. Beyond that, Saahil noted that most makeup brands in India weren’t truly indigenous, often importing products from China and other countries. He was driven to create a makeup brand that was made for India, by India, while also ensuring non-toxic formulations. This passion led to the concept of skincare-infused makeup specifically designed for Indian skin tones.
From Vision to Reality: Saahil Nayar’s Mila Redefines Indian Makeup
Over time, Saahil has cultivated Mila Beauté into an essentials-first brand: youthful, versatile, and tailored for today’s young consumer. The journey has been exciting, evolving from their initial lip product launches to now offering a wide catalogue that includes a face range as well. Mila has established a widespread presence, available across all major marketplaces, quick commerce stores, D2C channels, and in over 8,000 retail counters nationwide.
Elevated Beauty, Everyday Prices for the Indian Consumer
Saahil Nayar’s philosophy for Mila is remarkably straightforward: “elevated beauty at everyday prices.” Every product developed under the Mila brand is meticulously crafted to perform exceptionally well, be user-friendly, feel comfortable on the skin, and genuinely serve the Indian consumer’s needs. The goal is for customers to view Mila products as reliable, everyday essentials rather than fleeting trends, all without straining their budget.
At its core, Mila focuses on creating skincare-infused makeup that is specifically formulated for Indian skin tones and designed for real-life use. Their formulas undergo rigorous testing to ensure they are suitable for Indian skin and weather conditions, are comfortable, versatile, and notably free of harmful chemicals. This commitment extends to their pricing strategy, which is consciously inclusive. Saahil also believes that Mila’s distinct tone—fun and modern, yet firmly rooted in efficacy—plays a significant role in helping the brand stand out in the competitive beauty market.
Mila’s Approach: Listening, Authenticity, and Agile Growth
For Saahil Nayar, the foundation of Mila’s success lies in listening first. He and his team are deeply attuned to their customers’ desires, meticulously sifting through comments, DMs, and reviews. While they observe global trends, Mila adapts them specifically to fit the Indian consumer and brand identity. If a trend doesn’t feel authentic to Mila, they simply don’t pursue it.
Building trust proved to be one of the most significant hurdles for the new brand. Without the luxury of large celebrity ambassadors or massive marketing budgets, Mila leaned heavily on product quality and organic word-of-mouth. Another crucial lesson for Saahil was agility—the willingness to adapt quickly when something wasn’t working. This core principle has profoundly shaped his leadership style, fostering an environment that is highly collaborative, open, and fast-moving.
Purpose-Driven Culture
Under Saahil Nayar’s leadership, Mila has experienced remarkable expansion. Over the past year, the brand has successfully doubled its online customer base, with year-on-year sales growth in the high double digits. Mila has cultivated a robust Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) presence and is actively expanding its footprint across major marketplaces, quick-commerce platforms, and traditional retail channels. This impressive trajectory was recently underscored by a valuation of ₹303 crore in their latest funding round.
Saahil firmly believes that culture is everything. He strives to foster an environment that is open and collaborative, where ideas are encouraged from every team member, and speed is prioritized. Central to his leadership is the commitment to recognizing talent and empowering individuals with ownership. Saahil feels fortunate to have assembled a team that genuinely believes in the Mila brand, a key factor in its rapid and sustained success.
Digital-First Future and Ambitious Goals
For Saahil Nayar, the future of beauty is undeniably digital-first, encompassing everything from virtual try-ons to AI personalization and creator-led commerce. Mila is actively embracing these shifts with a strong emphasis on digital platforms, data-driven marketing, and community building.
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Mila Beauté has clear short-term and long-term objectives. In the short term, their focus is on expanding their face and skin-first categories, cultivating deeper consumer engagement, and growing their omnichannel presence. The long-term goal is even more ambitious: Saahil envisions Mila becoming the go-to Indian beauty brand.
Ultimately, for Saahil, it’s about building a brand that genuinely resonates with real people, making beauty feel accessible and joyful rather than intimidating. Equally important is fostering a business where his team feels empowered and valued—a legacy he deeply aspires to leave.
Guiding Principles for Entrepreneurial Success
- Stay close to your consumer.
- Stay hungry.
- Don’t be afraid to fail—it’s often the best way to learn.
- Build something you truly believe in; that conviction will sustain you through all the challenges.
Advice for Work-Life Balance
Saahil Nayar emphasizes the importance of intentionality when it comes to work-life balance for business leaders. He advises that founders, who can easily lose this equilibrium, should schedule personal time just as they would a crucial meeting. Additionally, Saahil believes having interests outside of work is vital, as these pursuits can actually enhance one’s performance and effectiveness in their professional role.
Best Lesson Learned
Throughout his career, the most impactful lesson Saahil Nayar has learned is to Fail Fast, Learn Fast. He consistently highlights that the market moves quickly, and agility is everything for sustained success.
Mila’s financial journey, as briefed by Saahil Nayar, began as a bootstrapped venture. The company then successfully raised $2.16 million from Rukam Capital, marking a significant milestone in its growth trajectory.
5 Key Takeaways from Saahil Nayar’s Leadership of Mila Beauté
1. Build for Local
Saahil Nayar identified a critical gap in India’s beauty market: a lack of truly local products that cater to Indian skin tones and climate.
2. Empower Through Accessibility and Clean Innovation
Mila’s philosophy of “elevated beauty at everyday prices” reflects Saahil’s commitment to democratizing beauty.
3. Let Product Quality Speak Louder Than Celebrity Endorsements
Without flashy marketing or celebrity backing, Mila earned consumer trust through product efficacy and word-of-mouth.
4. Listen Relentlessly, Adapt Quickly
A cornerstone of Mila’s evolution is Saahil’s habit of deep listening—paying attention to consumer feedback through reviews, DMs, and comments.
5. Culture and Vision Drive Sustainable Growth
Saahil prioritizes a purpose-driven culture where ownership, speed, and collaboration are central.
