DRSQ Skincare is an Australian cosmeceutical brand founded in 2017 by Dr Saba Qutub, a registered medical practitioner and cosmetic physician.
The company, which has been expanding the business across the Australian market, was set to make its debut in India in June this year until the country experienced a deadly wave of COVID-19 breakouts.
“I’ve got people ready there with the warehousing, stocking and dispatching. But I just felt that it was not the right time simply because I think people won’t be buying expensive products when there’s a struggle get oxygen?” said Qutub.
Furthermore, the company also specially developed a range of products to tap into the immensely strong skin brightening market in India.
“With the Indian market, I knew I had to have a brightening range because Indian consumers desire to have bright, radiant, healthy skin. At the same time, it can also work as a spot treatment for blemishes and pigmentation,” said Qutub.
The company believes that India’s skin care market presents a huge opportunity for the brand.
“There are some good brands out there in India, but I think there’s definitely a gap in the market for a brand of our standard where everything it Australia-made with Australian ingredients. Also, while there may be many skin care brands, there are not many of cosmeceuticals. I think that will help us stand out in the market.”
While the situation is still uncertain, the company is aiming to finally enter the market by the beginning of 2022 via the e-commerce space.
“The main thing I am aiming towards is entering the Indian market. Just being able to tap into that 1% or 2% of that market…That is the next big step and I’m hoping that by doing that, we can take things to the next level,” said Qutub.
She elaborated that the company is also targeting to launch into the Middle East, where there is a strong appetite for skin care and the buying power to back it.
While COVID-19 pandemic derailed its plans to make its international debut, its ripple effects helped to boost demand for its products
“Last year, we had roughly 50% increase in revenue. I found that people are trying to do their best for their skin. They’ve gotten more educated in understanding that what is effective. I think that’s why we’re seeing an improvement in the market. People are also coming back because they got good results. They're not just buying any old product; they want something that is effective.”
Constantly researching
Aside from business expansion, the brand is researching new cosmetic technologies to incorporate into its products.
“One of our latest developments has been the improvements made to our vitamin A. We have made it more advanced by changing the way that is delivered into the skin. So basically, it absorbs deeper and has got a more potent action,” said Qutub.
At present, the company is currently researching spin trap technology, a Nobel prize-winning antioxidant compound that is different from every other type of normal antioxidant we see in the market today.
“There’s a group of really potent peptides and we call it spin trap technology. It’s a super antioxidant that can reverse the signs of ageing and damage on the skin a lot better,” explained Qutub.
The company currently uses spin trap technology in its I-Magic eye serum to target fine lines, saggy skin, and darkness under the eyes.
Qutub said she hopes to bring this advanced technology to her customers without that exorbitant luxury price tag.
“Many high-end skin creams are using this technology now and we can bring it to more people [at a lower price]. The big brands spend money on packaging and branding and we just take that cost and put it into pure ingredients.”
Moving forward, the company aims to study how it can incorporate this technology into more of its products.
“The problem is that this technology can make the product quite thick so we can’t use it for all products, just creams and balms. But there’s still a lot of research being done on this. We will continue to explore and experiment to see what works best for the skin.”