Unilever has reinforced its strategic focus on India with follow-on investments in two pioneering beauty brands. The venture capital arm of group has participated in a new funding round for Secret Alchemist, a clean fragrance label it first backed in 2025. Concurrently, it has joined a Series A round for the science-led skincare brand SkinInspired, following a first investment in 2024.
These investments are not isolated transactions but key components of the group’s strategy. Unilever has been explicitly prioritizing beauty and personal care, aiming for these categories to generate two-thirds of its revenue in the medium term. At the heart of this ambition are two geographies: the United States and India. The company has stated that future acquisitions will be focused on these markets.
In India, Unilever has been targeting scalable, premium brands with scientific credentials or clean formulations. According to Crunchbase, Unilever has invested or acquired eight Indian companies since 2023, with an emphasis on skincare and haircare. The most notable investment was the acquisition of Minimalist in 2025, a clean skincare brand often compared to The Ordinary, for $342 million.
As Unilever’s CEO Fernando Fernandez has noted, shaping a future-fit portfolio requires a sharp focus on beauty, well-being, and key growth markets. These continued investments in India exemplify that strategy in action, building a portfolio designed for the next generation of consumers.
