Founded by highly acclaimed dermatologists, meet Dr. Abhijit Desai & Dr. Gauri Desai, the power couple behind Brownkind. Their revolutionary skincare is focused on melanin-rich skin and targets dark spots and dryness. Read our exclusive interview to learn about their background, products and more.
Thank you for joining us. You both have impressive backgrounds. Please Tell us about yourselves.
With over 25 years of in-clinic dermatology practice in Mumbai, we have had the privilege of treating every shade of brown from the light end of the spectrum to the darkest end. But beyond that, being brown ourselves, we’ve lived it. We know what it’s like to deal with dark spots, sudden patchy dryness, irritation from harsh products that weren’t made for skin like ours: melanin-rich skin. We saw and experienced the frustration of not easily finding products that worked for us.
What was the motivation to start your own skincare line?
Combined with the misguidance of years, especially by the big MNC brands in beauty that tell us that one size fits all and that all skin types have the same needs, that is what motivated us to start our own skincare line. We wanted to create skincare that works for melanin-rich skin, using ingredients that are safe, gentle, and effective. Brownkind uses gentle ingredients that can be used safely over long periods of time. Great results can be achieved by regular and disciplined use of lower concentrations of the right ingredients. Brownkind believes in preservation over correction or perfection. Our range of products help to maintain the even tone and the natural youthful glow of the skin.
What sets Brownkind apart from others and who is your target customer?
We belong to every shade of brown across the world. Our skincare line is gender-agnostic and our target customer is anyone with melanin-rich skin who is looking to understand the needs of their skin, how it ages or reacts to the environment and is willing to use the products regularly to keep their skin looking smooth, even toned, and youthful.
What is the significance of the brand’s name?
The name Brownkind was coined to convey our sincere thoughts behind creating the line ‘BROWN’ for the color of skin we were born with and the people we choose to serve. ‘KIND’ for the gentle ingredients used which are kind to our brown skin and to signify we need to be kind to ourselves and people around us. The hidden within the word “br(own)kind” is the word. ‘OWN’…to own our skin, to own our identity and to own the tone we bring to the world and be proud of it.
Your products are well known for enhancing melanin-rich skin. Can you please elaborate on this?
The early signs of aging are different for brown skin as compared to Caucasian skin. Fine lines and wrinkles appear much later in melanin-rich skin. However, patchy dryness, roughness, uneven tone and pigmentation are the early signs of aging. All Brownkind products have our proprietary Even Tone DefenderTM complex which is rich in phytonutrients. These help to protect against daily oxidative damage which causes signs of aging. Using multiple products throughout the day lets us have the benefits of the ingredients over a longer duration each day. In addition, each product like the glow moisturizers, eye cream, and dark spot corrector has ingredients that provide the necessary action like hydration, support and correction as the need may be. All products have been formulated to be lightweight and fast absorbing so that they can even be used together or layered without leaving the skin feeling greasy or heavy.
Working in the skincare industry for so many years do you have a couple of top tips you could share with us?
Over the 25+ years of seeing and advising numerous patients about daily skincare and delaying the signs of aging, one of our top tips would be discipline and regularity. Gentle products used daily over longer periods yield the best results. Do not run after quick fixes and fads. Cleansing is an important step in skincare and removing dirt, dead cells, and excess oils without stripping the skin should be followed daily. However, harsh over-exfoliation should be avoided. Lastly, protecting the skin from the sun is important and sunscreen should be used daily in all seasons. UV rays play a major role in aging the skin.
Anything else we should know?
Beyond ingredients and science, Brownkind is a brand with a purpose. At Brownkind, we honor the beauty, heritage and diversity of melanin-rich skin by creating skincare rooted in science, guided by culture and inspired by community. We wish to be a movement that unites and empowers people of color to feel seen, celebrated, and cared for in every shade, story, and skincare journey.
Visit the extraordinary line at https://brownkind.com/
