Kay Beauty launches Hydra Luscious Gloss Stain in India and UK

MUMBAI: Gloss is having its shine moment, and Kay Beauty is giving it a festive finish. Co-founded by actor and global icon Katrina Kaif and Nykaa, Kay Beauty has launched its Hydra Luscious Gloss Stain simultaneously in India and the United Kingdom, taking its latest lip colour innovation to both markets at the same time.

The launch arrives as glossy, dimensional lips make their way back into the beauty spotlight, combining the reflective finish associated with gloss with the staying power expected from a longer-wearing lip colour. The timing also places the product squarely in the festive and occasion-wear season, when consumers are looking for makeup that can survive long celebrations without demanding constant touch-ups.

The Hydra Luscious Gloss Stain is designed to deliver high shine without the sticky feel traditionally associated with some gloss formulas. Its lightweight, cushiony texture is also positioned to help smooth the appearance of lip lines while giving lips a healthier-looking finish.

The formula includes Chamomile Extract and Vitamin C, continuing Kay Beauty’s #MakeupThatKares positioning, which combines colour cosmetics with skincare-inspired ingredients. At the centre of the formulation is HipDewy Technology with HIPE, or High Internal Phase Emulsion, developed to provide featherlight wear, adherence and a mirror-like shine.

The technology is intended to bridge two ends of the lip-colour spectrum: the payoff and dimension of a high-shine gloss and the longer wear associated with a stain. For consumers, that translates into a product designed to keep the colour visible while maintaining a glossy finish through longer occasions.

The festive angle is particularly evident in the product’s positioning. Glossy lips are returning alongside the growing influence of the Korean glass-lip aesthetic, while the stain element is aimed at consumers who want a more enduring colour payoff for weddings, parties and extended festive evenings.

The collection comprises eight shades spanning nudes, pinks, corals, reds and browns. The shades are named Love, Grace, Tender, Tranquil, Bliss, Kind, Gentle and Honey, giving the range options that move from softer everyday colours to deeper shades suited to more dressed-up looks.

Katrina Kaif, co-founder, Kay Beauty, said the product was developed around balancing high shine with staying power while keeping the texture light and comfortable. She also highlighted its suitability for the festive season, where consumers may want a more dressed-up lip without having to repeatedly reach for a mirror.

Adwaita Nayar, co-founder and executive director, and CEO, House of Nykaa, said the gloss category is evolving as consumers seek high shine without compromising on comfort or longevity. She positioned the simultaneous India and UK launch as part of Kay Beauty’s effort to take contemporary beauty innovations to consumers across markets.

The international launch gives the brand’s latest lip product a simultaneous presence in two markets rather than treating the UK as a later expansion. It also comes as glossy, reflective finishes regain momentum in global beauty trends, adding an international dimension to the festive-season launch.

The Kay Beauty Hydra Luscious Gloss Stain is priced at Rs 1,199 for 3.5 ml. It is available in eight shades through the Nykaa app and website, Nykaa retail stores across India and Kay Beauty’s website from 1 October 2026.

With eight shades, a high-shine finish and stain-inspired staying power, Kay Beauty is effectively betting that the next festive lip need not choose between looking glossy and lasting the evening. The brand’s latest launch puts both requirements into the same tube, with the UK launch extending that beauty bet beyond India.