Brands
How SkinBB is keeping men’s skincare conversation alive
MUMBAI: Skin Beyond Borders is refusing to let International Men’s Day fade quietly. Even as the calendar moved past November 19th, the science-led skincare platform is doubling down with #YehLadkoWalaKaamHai, a month-long campaign designed to permanently crack the stigma around men’s grooming and self-care. The message is blunt: skincare is not “ladkiyon ka kaam”—women’s business.
The campaign targets the unglamorous reality of men’s skin and hair: ingrown hairs, hair loss, excessive sweating, body odour, uneven jawlines and stubborn belly fat. Rather than dressing these up as vanity projects, SkinBB frames them as legitimate health concerns demanding practical, dermatology-backed solutions. Four key treatments anchor the push: laser hair reduction, body contouring, hair restoration and body odour solutions.
The strategy signals something bigger. International Men’s Day may have passed, but the conversation it sparked—or failed to spark—about male self-care remains urgent. Indian men have spent decades wrestling with skincare in silence, often feeling judged for wanting basic care routines. SkinBB is betting that momentum doesn’t evaporate after a single day of awareness.
Co-founder and chief marketing officer of SkinBB, Supriya Marathe, said, “Men have silently struggled with skincare concerns for years, often feeling dismissed for wanting to take care of themselves. We want to normalise these conversations and place men’s skincare where it truly belongs, in the mainstream.”
To sustain the push, SkinBB released a special episode of The RXFX Show, its flagship edu-tainment series, titled “From Taboo to Trend: The Evolution of Men’s Skincare in India.” The episode, now live on YouTube, traces how Indian men’s relationship with skincare has evolved from soap-and-aftershave minimalism to embracing structured routines, aesthetic procedures and even makeup without hesitation. Three segments—The Past, The Present, and The Future—deconstruct the cultural, scientific and behavioural shifts underpinning this transformation.
The panel reads like a masterclass. Dermatologist Kaleem Khan, founder of Skin Indulgence Clinic, anchors clinical credibility. Neha Kolwankar, founder of Beyond Blendz Derma with two decades in beauty and personal care, brings industry perspective. Geet Rathi, VP marketing at Mosaic Wellness and brand custodian of ManMatters, represents the commercial angle. Celebrity makeup artist Cherag Bambboat rounds out the conversation, challenging the assumption that men don’t use makeup. Hosting duties fall to Surbhi Vaid, a veteran sports presenter.
What emerges is stark: Indian men are ready. Marketing, social media influence and rising confidence are colliding to normalise treatments once considered taboo. The real question is whether society will sustain the conversation beyond a single day of observance.
SkinBB’s extended campaign suggests it will. By keeping the dialogue alive through November and beyond, the brand is signalling that normalising male self-care isn’t a one-day affair—it’s a cultural reckoning that’s only just begun.
Brands
Jubilant Foodworks to end Dunkin’ franchise in India
Pizza chain operator will not renew agreement when it expires at end of 2026.
MUMBAI: When the doughnuts stop turning and the coffee goes cold, even a global giant like Dunkin’ can find the Indian market a tough brew to crack. Jubilant Foodworks has decided not to renew its franchise agreement with Dunkin’ when the pact expires on 31 December 2026, according to a Reuters report. The operator, best known for running Domino’s outlets in India, said it would evaluate options for its existing Dunkin’ stores, including a potential sale or transfer of franchise rights, in consultation with the US-based brand.
The decision follows years of underperformance in a market where local tastes and intense competition have made it difficult for international coffee-and-doughnut formats to gain traction. Jubilant, which has increasingly focused on its core pizza business and newer bets like Popeyes, indicated that the exit would not materially affect its financial or operational position.
Dunkin’ accounted for just 0.61 per cent of Jubilant’s revenue in the fiscal year ending 2025 and recorded a loss of approximately Rs 191 million, according to a regulatory filing. The company operated 27 outlets as of December 2025, having shuttered seven stores over the preceding year.
The retreat comes even as Jubilant’s broader business shows signs of momentum. The company reported a 65 per cent rise in quarterly profit for the October to December period, reaching Rs 70.9 crore, up from Rs 42.91 crore a year earlier.
For Jubilant, the exit reflects a sharpening strategic focus. For Dunkin’, it marks another setback in a market that has proven resistant to imported café concepts without significant localisation.
In the cut-throat world of Indian quick-service restaurants, sometimes the sweetest deals are the ones you quietly walk away from leaving more room for the brands that truly rise to the occasion.
