After completing her diploma in natural cosmetology, Kruthika Kumaran started experimenting with Goat Milk soaps! Based in Coimbatore, she comes from an agricultural background and when her daughter got eczema, a condition with dry skin, it motivated her to find a solution for it herself.
After many experiments, Kruthika perfected a recipe that she created for her family and the idea fructified into Vilvah. She started with 2 or 3 goats on her farm and now, there are enough goats to supply the same goat milk for a large number of people. Even though the brand has introduced different skincare products over time, the classic Goat milk soap still remains a prized achievement in Kruthika’s heart.
She has always dreamed about creating a clean and sustainable skincare range and Vilvah is a complete family project for her. Her husband Kumaran and her daughter are a constant source of support.
She shares, “The vision was to create safe and sustainable products which are curated for Indian skin and the inspiration is my mom. She passed away in 2016 because of a skin problem and which is the starting point for me to start my brand in 2017.
Sustainable skincare
When asked why the name Vilvah, Kruthika explains, “We wanted a sense of Indianness in our brand and the name is derived from the Vilvam or Bilva leaf, believed to be a favourite of Lord Shiva.”
Vilvah is a sustainable skincare brand, which makes skincare products, and claims to use the freshest ingredients and high-performance formulations. The brand strives to use the right mix of agricultural produce, butter, and essential oils to nourish skin by embracing the simple yet effective properties of the ingredients. The product is extracted in its purest form, without any harmful chemicals, additives, synthetic oils, or perfumes and this is the very basis of Vilvah. The painstaking effort to source the finest raw materials reflects in the products.
One of the significant challenges for Vilvah was that six years ago when Kruthika started the brand, there was not much awareness about the kind of ingredients and natural skincare the brand offered. Fortunately, people received it well, as time passed.
Vilvah is ISO and GMP certified. The products are dermatologically certified and clinically proven. Vilvah sources the finest native Indian ingredients from different parts of the country from local farmers. The company promises purity in its products which are devoid of sulphates, silicones, parabens, artificial fragrances, harsh chemicals, Glycols, or any GMOs.
Vilvah takes steps to ensure sustainability progress by avoiding beauty waste by using Aluminium and Glass as the primary packaging material and recycled papers for invoice copies. The brand does not use plastic bubble wrap for online orders, but paper wrap. Recently, Vilvah has introduced a Recycle program where the company accepts empties of the brand and also from other cosmetic brands and takes the responsibility in recycling them too.
Vilvah envisions itself to be a way of Life rather than seeing it as a skincare brand. The plan for the future is to grow, not only as a skincare brand but as a way of life that people will adapt to.
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