Interior design and nutraceuticals are two seemingly unrelated fields, but they converge in their goals of supporting a person’s wellbeing - the former does so by enhancing living spaces and the latter by improving a person’s health.
“Quite frankly, I never saw myself entering the science field, but every time I delve deeper into the nutra industry and the interior design industry, I realised that they are not very different from each other.
“Interior design focuses on psychological wellness and nutraceuticals focus on the body, on internal wellness, so they both come in together and when they are put together, I think it makes such a beautiful blend of your overall health and wellness, your mind and spiritual wellness,” said Yashna.
In fact, she founded YuGap Wellness at the same time as her interior design company Y Designs Impressions where she currently provides consultation for residential and corporate projects.
For YuGap Wellness, her aim is to tap on the benefits of plant-based and clinically-proven ingredients to help people suffering from skin issues, in particular, acne, regain confidence - something she was all too familiar with.
Acne has never been a problem for Yashna, even during her teenage years, until three years ago.
“I did not have any skin issues until 2022. As a busy professional, I was juggling with work, with travel, with external stressors, and I noticed that it has taken a ripple effect on my overall health, and my skin became a barometer of my internal struggles.
“It was reflecting on my gut imbalances, fatigue, and a general feeling of being ‘off-balance’,” she said, adding that extreme acne had also lowered her self-confidence.
Prescriptions from dermatologists had only provided a quick fix and inflamed bumps appeared on her face again in a matter of one to two months' time.
She also tried various skincare and supplement products which unfortunately did not work for her.
Realising that she was not alone in the struggle against adult acne, she began her quest for an efficacious solution which can help herself and many others.
“After speaking to a lot of people, my friends, my family, I realised that it (adult acne) wasn’t just an issue that I alone was facing, but also a common issue among the young generation of today.
“That’s when I realised YuGap Wellness could be more than just my personal journey, and I felt that products that could heal us from within are a necessity and that’s basically how YuGap was born.”
The product that led her into setting up her own nutraceutical business was YuClear. The anti-acne formulation made into a powder sachet consists of glutathione, resveratrol, Lactobacillus plantarum, zinc, dietary fiber, and vitamin C.
Today, YuGap Wellness also counts the melatonin and vitamin B6 oral spray product YuSleep as its bestseller, alongside digestive health product YuGut, a powder sachet formulated with bael extract and dietary fiber.
This year, Yashna said her company would continue to assess the market fit of its existing products, as well as exploring partnerships with third-party platforms, retailers, and influencers.
Aside from nutraceuticals, there are also plans to launch a skincare line to complement the existing products.
Don’t only look at the trends. Do thorough research. Study the comments section in Flipkart, Amazon and see where the market gaps are. Talk to people, reach out to good mentors. The reality is that entrepreneurship today is glorified. It needs to come out loud and clear that the path is not going to be easy. Be ready for the hustle.
Yashna's top tips for newcomers looking to set up a nutraceutical business
How it all started...
Yashna’s journey into the nutraceutical industry started back in January 2020, when she had just returned to India after completing her Master of Fine Arts - Interior Design at Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta, US.
With seven years of training in interior design and architecture, she was looking forward to building a career in the design industry - until COVID-19 hit and brought her plans to a halt.
“After completing my masters in the US, I came back to India in January 2020, and in less than two months, COVID-19 hit. During that time, I needed to make a shift in decision making...Everything was shut, I could not get clients at that point or even a job, because there were a lot of layoffs happening at that time as well.”
It was at this point when she joined her family-owned Zeon Lifesciences as a design consultant working on the company’s webpage and product packaging design.
“It was during this time that I got the opportunity to work with Zeon Lifesciences, where I joined as a design consultant, and I was handling social media, redesigned the entire website, and was also doing packaging design, and through all of these different phases, I learned a lot about the nutraceutical industry.”
Along the way, she also accumulated knowledge on the gaps of the nutraceutical industry, consumer trends and demands, which eventually also prepared her for her own company.
Today, she continues to work in Zeon Lifesciences as the chief marketing officer.
“I’m quite blessed to have people around me who are very supportive. Honestly, it’s difficult if you do not have good support around you. I do end up working additional number of hours, but I’m okay with that, as long as somebody is not getting burned out, it’s okay to choose that sort of life.”
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