If you have sensitive skin, Koyal Beauty is a gamechanger. I have been blushing for decades, regularly turn puce after cardio workouts and I flare up with itchy hives if I so much as look at skincare the wrong way.
I have many unguents designed for sensitive skin, and they’re good, but Koyal stands out.
The collection was founded by Toronto-based Preeti Nigam, a former corporate management consultant. “My experience in beauty/skincare is through my own personal journey with scalp psoriasis,” she says. “While I had medication for my scalp, I didn’t know how to manage the rest of my dry skin. I used to think more expensive products would work better but quickly learned that’s not the case. Often times, expensive products are filled with ingredients like essential oils and fragrance that can irritate my skin type. I wanted to create a brand that focused on simple and effective skincare, with a routine that’s rooted in minimalism.”
Koyal Beauty Founder Preeti Nigam.
The Koyal Beauty Collection, which is made in Toronto, includes a Gentle Gel Face Wash, Soak + Glow Face Cream, H2-Glow Face Serum and One and Done Lip Balm. All are vegan, made with minimal ingredients and are fragrance- and toxin-free (no parabens, sulfates, phthalates, silicones or petroleum). As Preeti mentioned, they’re also easy on the wallet which isn’t always the case with well-designed skincare (the Lip Balm is $15 and skincare starts at $20).
I use them all but if I had to pick a favourite it would be the Serum – it’s lightweight and has Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil, which works wonders on itchy skin. And while it really hydrates, it almost has this mattifying quality that makes skin look smoother.
The pretty name was thoughtfully chosen as well. “Koyal is a type of bird in India, and it’s referenced in poetry and songs for its beautiful sound,” says Preeti. “In Indian mythology, some say that its arrival is a sign that monsoon season is beginning. I thought it was a great symbol for how Koyal Beauty represents the beginning of hydrated skin and relief from skin irritation.”
I love Preeti’s honest holistic approach – she’s a big advocate of healthy eating, getting enough sleep and managing stress – and how she started her own brand based on what she needed. I find those kinds of businesses have integrity and always offer quality products. She’s working on expanding the collection (a face mask and body formulations are in the works for later this year) and if they’re anything like the current Koyal Beauty lineup, I’m in.
