This series aims to amplify the stories of the people behind small businesses that we know and love, so we’ve had many career journeys and paths featured here. But fashion business turned skincare? The Skög’s founder Gautami Agarwal has (cat)walked a different path from the ones we’ve featured before.
Gautami’s journey began in Paris, where she moved to pursue studies in Fashion Business. While studying there, she had the opportunity to work with several fashion brands in Paris and help them expand their reach internationally. The coolest thing on her resumé? Organising the first-ever catwalk event on the iconic Eiffel Tower. Gautami’s career in luxury fashion took her to various European countries, but she eventually made Sweden her home where she worked in luxury art, working on projects from renowned institutions like MoMA in New York, to Changi Airport in Singapore.
Like many of us, throughout discovering her career ambitions, Gautami was on a skincare journey of her own. She had sensitive skin and began creating DIY skincare and haircare products using locally sourced ingredients from the cities she lived in.
“People around me started noticing the positive effects on my skin and hair, prompting me to share my homemade recipes. Before I knew it, I was crafting these personalized products and sharing them with those around me in Sweden and this is how Skög started as a small project on the side.”
Her career and small side passion were steaming ahead but things changed, like for many others, because of the pandemic. Gautami returned to India to be with her family and found herself stuck and unable to return to Sweden. After all of her globetrotting and country hopping, Gautami felt like it was time for her small side hustle to plant its roots in her new home.
“It was during this time that I decided to elevate Skög from a small personal project to a full-fledged brand. Today, Skög has its roots deeply embedded in India but reaches beyond borders, sourcing unique ingredients from around the world and expanding its presence in the global market.”
Though Gautami had experience as an international business developer for creative brands, starting a skincare business of her own had a steep learning curve. She’s open about this, sharing:
“The journey of entrepreneurship is an ongoing learning experience, isn’t it? It’s filled with daily challenges, and each day brings new lessons.”
Gautami shares that after spending nearly 8 years outside of India in multiple countries and markets, a significant challenge was understanding the Indian market, including consumer psychology, and work dynamics. After all, selling and developing a business in India is quite different from Europe, with variations in consumer preferences, product design, and expectations.
“I interacted with vendors for tasks like printing packaging boxes or the bottles and assumed that once the details were discussed, artwork sent, and payments made, I could simply wait for the order to arrive like I would do in Europe. However, I quickly learned that consistent follow-up is essential in this market. It’s crucial to double-check every detail, as there are varying interpretations of ‘good quality’ in India. Sometimes summed up as “unnis bees (19/20) chalta hai, madam”, meaning that 19 out of 20 is considered acceptable but trust me, sometimes it was even 8/20. So, the challenge lies in ensuring that things are done correctly and meeting the desired standards.”
As Gautami said, this journey has definitely been a source of learning but in order to learn and succeed one needs to remain open to continuous growth, adaptation, and forward momentum. It’s clear through Skög that Gautami does just that.
“Every facet of running Skog brings me joy, but if I were to choose a favourite, it would undoubtedly be the process of developing new formulations. This part of the journey is a captivating blend of challenge and excitement. Searching for those rare yet highly effective ingredients poses its own set of challenges, but the true test lies in creating formulations that are not only clean but also rival the efficacy of chemical products. It’s a test of patience and determination. However, when we finally succeed in cracking the code, there’s nothing more gratifying.”
So now it’s time to take a deep dive into the products I got to try.
Birch Sap facial cleanser
Key ingredients — Birch sap
Before I get into my review, we start with this one because of the story Gautami shares:
“During my time in Sweden, I had a unique encounter with birch sap that left a lasting impression. While on a hike with friends, we stumbled upon buckets tied to trees — an odd sight that piqued our curiosity. Investigating further, we discovered that these buckets collected water dripping from the trees, which was none other than birch sap.
Birch trees release this precious sap for just three weeks in the whole year during the early spring, and it’s harvested manually. This natural elixir is a powerhouse of nutrients, including vitamins (A, B complex, C, and E), essential minerals like potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron, and a variety of beneficial enzymes and 14 amino acids. It’s a true superstar for your skin.
Inspired by this incredible find, I embarked on the journey of formulating a facial cleanser that would be gentle, SLS-free, non-drying, and harness the goodness of this super ingredient. The birch sap also plays a vital role in our Birch Sap Facial Tonic Mist, a leave-on product that has garnered rave reviews from our clients, including myself, for its wonderful results.
This unique ingredient, harvested for a brief window each year, encapsulates the essence of our skincare philosophy — clean, natural, unique, and effective.”
This story is a testament to what Gautami’s vision for The Skög is and why I’ve chosen to highlight the key ingredients in each product. As their About Us section says, “Today, firmly rooted in India, SKÖG’s story is woven with the essence of diverse lands across the globe, where Gautami Agarwal, the founder embarked on her journey,” and you can see the story woven into each and every project. Now, I work in Brand, hence the excitement, and combined with me trying and testing each of these products, The Skög has my heart. Spoiler alert: This cleanser smells and feels so good!
Under Eye Repair Oil
Key ingredients — Cranberry, Rosehip, English daisy, Licorice, Bergamot
While I might like to think I’m immune to dark circles and fine lines, this magical potion’s effects couldn’t be denied. The under-eye oil feels both soothing and like it isn’t there, and that’s important for someone like me who doesn’t like anything sticky or icky. The roll-on applicator is easy to use, and I have a sneaking suspicion that my “non-existent” crow’s feet would actually become non-existent.
De-tan cream and Hydrating cream
Key ingredients — Cloudberry and Sea lettuce for the hydrating cream, Lingonberries and Elderflower for the de-tan cream
We’re talking about two creams at once because I find that there are purposes to both at the same time. The de-tan cream is meant to be removed after about 15 minutes of application, similar to a face pack, and following it up with a cream seems to be the best way to seal the deal. That could be through a hydrating cream, which has ingredients I had honestly never heard of before — cloudberry and sea lettuce feel like words that form a heavenly sea-scape — but that could also be through the sunscreen you’ll read a review of down below. But before you read on, don’t sleep on the creams, The Skög clearly knows what they’re talking about.
Daily Sun Shield
Key ingredients — Chaga Mushroom Ext, Orange oil, and Carrot seed oil
Now this, this is what I need to get into. While I know you usually don’t start a review with a smell test, when have I ever done things the usual way? When you think sunscreen there’s a very specific scent that springs to mind. Possibly with all the natural goodness, this sunscreen smells nothing like what you’d imagined and instead has a slight citrus scent. But like with all of the other products, the scent isn’t overwhelming and more so feels like a gentle spa scent you waft to those close to you. As a sunscreen, I’ve tried and tested it so much that it’s over (and I’m sad) but let that be a call to action for you. Do keep in mind that it’s SPF 35 and would, therefore, not be the one I choose to take on a full day hike, but as the product says, it’s a daily sunscreen (that needs to be above 30 anyway), and does its job super well.
You’ve read it all right here but given Gautami’s eye for the future, I had to ask about what’s next.
“I’m thrilled to let you know that a range of exciting new products, each showcasing unique ingredients inspired by different parts of the world. What’s even more exciting is that we’re not just growing online; we’re also making our way into offline retail stores in India and other countries. Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements — I can’t wait to share more with you soon when the time is right!”
To keep an eye out for those upcoming announcements, head to The Skög’s Instagram page and website.
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