Mamta Nihalani founder of Apothecary by Mamta shares her journey to clean beauty
Anyone’s first words to describe Mamta Nihalani would be warm and effortlessly beautiful. She is a woman in the middle of her life who radiates the optimism of someone still discovering its secrets. Case in point – the many twists and turns her self-care brand had to undergo before the world came to know it as Apothecary by Mamta (@apothecarybymamta).
After spending about five hours with her, she reveals the main aim behind going into the beauty industry was that she had long observed, both in herself and young women around her, the habitual use of cosmetic products laden with unnecessary, sometimes harmful, ingredients.
Nihalani firmly believes that one of the main causes of both health and aesthetic decline in women is consumerism – a world saturated with top-dollar chemical skincare products promising to work every kind of anti-ageing miracle.
“In my early twenties, I would apply anything and everything to my skin, hair, and body just for the sake of trying something new. Only later did I begin to understand the long-term side effects,” she explains.
Since then, raw-factory-style, Nihalani has boldly put on her lab coat and spent years on the research and development of her products. “I wanted to put out products that I loved, had been using myself and found effective,” she shares. “It took me ten to fifteen years of self-use before I could say they were ready. I initially gave them to friends, who encouraged me to turn this passion into a business. The growth has been entirely organic.”
Aromatherapy, a particular area of interest for her, played a pivotal role in this journey. It provided solace during times of grief, thanks to its calming and anti-anxiety properties. If her products could offer others the same sense of peace, she felt her mission would be complete.
With inquiries from around the world flooding the brand’s Instagram DMs, Apothecary has developed a global fan base. Its biggest challenge: shipping out these products, which are hand-made in small batches and packed in sustainable glass packaging. But it’s a nice problem to have, admits Nihalani.
She isn’t too worried about scaling quickly either. For her, if the end product isn’t satisfactory, research and development can easily take one or two more years. That is the pace she prefers – quality over quantity. “Those who use my products can feel the love that goes into creating them. That’s what I envision for Apothecary’s future – a self-care brand built on love and dedication,” she says.
If you’re wondering how she does it all – being a mother and businesswoman, balancing life’s daily dramas, her approach is inspiring. “I don’t believe in balance as an ideal. We all struggle with it, day in and day out. The key is to wake up, take life as it comes, and focus on what drives us. When you approach things with passion and love, everything else falls into place.”
Her advice to aspiring business owners is equally simple and powerful. “Don’t let the immensity of starting something new overwhelm you,” she says. “If you have an idea you’re passionate about, pursue it. Start small, and see where it leads.”
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