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Skin deep secrets reveal India needs more than foreign fixes
MUMBAI: Turns out, Indian skin isn’t just a vibe, it’s a science. And no, that imported miracle cream may not know what it’s dealing with. In a fresh move that puts the focus (and the microscope) on local skin needs, ITC Dermafique has launched the Dermafique Indian Skin Knowledge Centre (DISKC), a first-of-its-kind initiative to decode the DNA of desi skin. And it’s not just skin-deep. Backed by the Dermafique Indian Skin Health Report, created with Kantar and top dermatologists, the campaign spills the serum on what truly sets Indian skin apart and why your skincare routine might need a rethink.
Among the glow-getting revelations? Indian skin has more melanin, larger pores, stronger collagen, and a weaker moisture barrier making it a unique cocktail that doesn’t quite play well with one-size-fits-all solutions from abroad. For instance, pigmentation not wrinkles is our early sign of ageing. And while sunburns are rare, 81 per cent of Indian women battle tanning far more frequently.
One insight that’s pore-raising? Indian skin reportedly has four times larger pore size and five times the pore density of Chinese skin. Yet only 7 per cent of respondents saw it as a concern meaning there’s a serious knowledge gap between what’s visible and what’s understood.
The report also sheds light on common concerns like dryness, under-eye flakiness, and acne. A staggering 94 per cent of women aged 20–25 are still battling breakouts, proving acne isn’t just a teenage trauma. And despite diligent moisturising, 87 per cent report under-eye dryness, likely due to a weaker skin barrier and low natural moisturising factors.
ITC Limited divisional chief executive personal care products business Sameer Satpathy states, “Indian skin is unique and requires customized solutions. With the launch of the Dermafique Indian Skin Knowledge Centre, we are committed to fostering awareness and education on the distinct characteristics of Indian skin. Building on this initiative, the ITC Dermafique Indian Skin Health Report offers insights from Indian consumers, that highlight the need for skincare solutions specifically designed for Indian skin. Our new digital infomercials help consumers to understand the uniqueness of Indian Skin, and highlight Dermafique’s expertise in providing solutions that are designed for and dermatologist tested on Indian skin.”
Internationally celebrated cosmetic dermatologist Jaishree Sharad adds, “The Indian consumer is not only more informed today but also deeply invested in understanding the unique needs of their skin. It is vital to recognize the distinct nature of Indian skin, as it presents specific challenges and requirements that are often overlooked in global skincare narratives. The Dermafique Indian Skin Health Report is a great step to bring to light these crucial insights, offering a science-backed perspective on the unique characteristics of Indian skin. Raising awareness about these differences is not just important, it is essential. The Institute marks a significant step towards better understanding the diverse skincare needs of Indian consumers and offers solutions to address the specific challenges they face, empowering them to make more informed, effective choices in their skincare routines.”
To make the science sing, Dermafique has launched a series of digital infomercials demystifying key concerns from pigmentation and tanning to pore care and hydration paired with targeted products designed for Indian skin. There’s even an AI-powered Smart Skin Advisor to help decode your own dermis in a few clicks.
With over 800 women surveyed across four metro cities, the Dermafique report doesn’t just scratch the surface. It reveals that Indian skin needs and deserves skincare that’s rooted in local insight, not just global trends.
And if the Skindian Dot (yes, that’s a thing) is anything to go by, the future of Indian skincare is looking smooth, bright, and gloriously homegrown.
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Tessolve lands a semiconductor veteran to drive its next big push
Ravi Kumar Chirugudu, who started his career at ISRO and has spent 35 years building chips and companies, joins the Bengaluru-based firm as president and chief operating officer
BENGALURU: Tessolve has never been shy about its ambitions. The Bengaluru-based engineering services firm already counts 18 of the world’s top 20 semiconductor companies among its clients, employs more than 3,500 engineers across 12 countries, and last year pocketed a $150m investment from TPG. Now it has hired the executive it believes can turn those assets into something bigger. Ravi Kumar Chirugudu, a 35-year semiconductor veteran who once built satellite payloads for ISRO and has since scaled engineering organisations across three continents, joins as president and chief operating officer, effective immediately.
THE MAN AND THE MANDATE
The appointment is, by any measure, a serious hire. Ravi Kumar Chirugudu comes to Tessolve after senior leadership stints at HCL Technologies, Altran and Wipro, where he managed large profit-and-loss portfolios and oversaw cross-regional teams. Over the course of his career, he has been instrumental in bringing more than 1,000 new products to market across the high-tech, energy and manufacturing verticals. Before the private sector claimed him, he began his working life as a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation, contributing to research and development in charge-coupled device technology and satellite payloads, a foundation that shaped everything that followed.
In his new role, he will lead Tessolve’s global growth strategy: expanding its engineering capabilities, deepening customer relationships and accelerating innovation across semiconductor and high-performance computing domains. The brief is broad, but the context is specific. Tessolve operates in the $550 billion global semiconductor market, and its recent moves, the acquisition of Germany’s Dream Chip Technologies and the TPG funding round, have sharpened both its reach and its expectations.
Srini Chinamilli, co-founder and chief executive of Tessolve, is characteristically direct about why Ravi Kumar Chirugudu was the choice:
“As we scale our global semiconductor and system engineering capabilities, Ravi’s appointment marks an important step forward. As global semiconductor demand continues to accelerate across industries, it is creating significant opportunities across the semiconductor lifecycle, from design, packaging, validation and systems integration. Ravi’s deep knowledge and leadership in this ecosystem brings the right mix of industry expertise, customer connect and execution capability, which will play a key role in strengthening our position as a trusted global engineering partner and reinforcing our market leadership.”
THE NEW ARRIVAL SPEAKS
Ravi Kumar Chirugudu, for his part, frames the move in terms of timing and culture, two factors that veteran executives tend to weigh as heavily as title or compensation:
“I am happy to join Tessolve at a time when the industry is rapidly evolving towards more complex, AI-driven systems. What stands out to me is its strong people-first culture and its commitment to bringing value to its customers. The strength of its global team, combined with its deep expertise in semiconductor innovation and next-generation product engineering, creates a solid foundation to build differentiated, scalable solutions. I look forward to working closely with the team to drive strategic growth and strengthen its role in shaping the global semiconductor ecosystem.”
The reference to AI-driven systems is not incidental. The semiconductor industry is in the midst of a structural reshaping, driven by the insatiable compute demands of artificial intelligence. For engineering services firms like Tessolve, which offers end-to-end capabilities from silicon design to packaged parts and invests in high-performance computing, high-speed interfaces, photonics and 5G, the moment is both an opportunity and a test. The company says it is well positioned to capture the next wave of industry growth. Ravi Kumar Chirugudu is now the person who has to prove it.
He came in from outer space, literally, and spent three decades learning how the semiconductor industry works from the inside out. Now Tessolve is betting that accumulated knowledge can help it cross the next frontier. In the $550 billion global chip market, the gap between ambition and execution is measured in engineering hours and leadership quality. Tessolve has just gone shopping for both.
