Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty enters skincare with two hydration focused essentials

Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty enters skincare with two hydration focused essentials

Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty is expanding beyond makeup with the launch of its first skincare line, bringing its familiar “Makeup That Kares” philosophy into a category increasingly centred on skin health. Co-founded by Katrina Kaif and Nykaa, the brand’s new range begins with two everyday products, the Hydra Glaze Essence and Hydra Base Water Crème, both designed around hydration and skin barrier support.

The move feels like a natural extension of Kay Beauty’s existing approach to makeup, where skincare-inspired ingredients and comfortable formulations have been central to the brand’s positioning. The skincare range was developed around the idea that makeup performs best when the skin underneath feels hydrated, balanced and cared for. The formulations were developed over three years with formulators in Korea and Italy and clinically tested on Indian women with sensitive skin.

At the heart of the launch is the Hydra Glaze Essence, a lightweight milky essence created to hydrate the skin while improving its appearance and preparing it for makeup. The formula combines lactic acid, amino acids and prebiotic saccharide. According to the brand’s clinical evaluations, it delivers double hydration in 30 minutes, a 24-hour moisture-locking effect and softer-looking skin for up to eight hours. It is also designed to create a smoother, makeup-ready base.

The second product, the Hydra Base Water Crème, takes a similarly hydration-first approach in a lightweight, water-based gel texture. Centella asiatica, ceramides and skin-mimetic lipids are among its key ingredients, with the formulation intended to replenish moisture, support the skin barrier and soothe dry or sensitive skin. The brand cites clinical evaluations showing 100-hour hydration, a 138% increase in skin hydration and improvements to moisture-barrier function following application.

One of the more notable aspects of the launch is its focus on sensitive skin. Both products are fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested, with the formulations clinically tested on Indian women with sensitive skin. The emphasis is on keeping the routine relatively uncomplicated while addressing two fundamentals of skincare: maintaining moisture and supporting the skin barrier.

The thinking behind the range also draws from Katrina Kaif’s own experiences with sensitive skin, long hours on film sets and frequent travel. Rather than positioning skincare as a lengthy multi-step ritual, Kay Beauty has chosen to begin with two products that can slot easily into an existing routine, particularly one built around makeup. The result is a launch that connects the brand’s original makeup proposition with the growing idea that skincare and makeup can work together as part of the same beauty routine.

Both products are available from 29 August 2026 through the Nykaa app and website, Nykaa retail stores across India and the Kay Beauty website. The Hydra Glaze Essence is priced at ₹1,099 for 30 ml, while the Hydra Base Water Crème costs ₹1,299 for 50 g

For Kay Beauty, the skincare launch marks a significant expansion of its portfolio. Founded in 2019, the brand has built its identity around performance, care and inclusivity, and has expanded its presence across India as well as international markets including the GCC and the UK. Its entry into skincare now gives that philosophy a new canvas, with hydration, barrier care and makeup preparation at the centre of its latest offering.