Do you agree? We all focus on our faces, whereas our body skin often gets the rawest deal. While faces get lavish serums and endless glow-up solutions, the rest of us settle for, well, less. But prepare for a major glow-up, because something truly revolutionary is here! We’ve discovered Hibiscus Monkey, India’s pioneering body specialist brand, and trust me, your skin is about to thank you.

Who are the brilliant minds behind this skin-changing movement? Mona Mehta, a visionary mother, stands alongside her equally remarkable twin daughters, Naina and Roshni—a trio to admire. Imagine a Chartered Accountant, a Harvard MBA, and an MIT/Harvard dual MBA-MPP uniting formidable intellects for one glittering purpose: bringing face-grade care to your entire body. It’s literally genius, bottled.

With finessed Harvard and MIT incubation and deep research, Hibiscus Monkey offers targeted solutions for concerns like strawberry skin, discolouration, and ingrown hair. Their formulations are plant-powered perfection, dermatologically tested, and utterly clean. No wonder their viral Velvet Spray and other delights have cultivated a formidable following. So, when TheGlitz secured an exclusive sit-down with this extraordinary trio, we had to uncover their gleaming success.

Over to Hibiscus Monkey Co founders…

TheGlitz.Media: Mona, Naina, and Roshni – why don’t you each take a moment to tell our readers a little bit about yourselves and your individual backgrounds?

Mona: I’m a Chartered Accountant and former corporate banker who began her career at HSBC. I stepped away from my career’s prime to raise my twin daughters, Naina and Roshni. Twenty years later, at 60, I found a new purpose: co-founding Hibiscus Monkey. For me, it’s a profound rebirth, a renewed adventure where my financial acumen now blends seamlessly with the captivating art of building a brand from the ground up.

Naina: An MIT-trained engineer, I honed my skills over a decade in the US, starting as a Management Consultant for luxury beauty clients in New York. Fascinated by how technology crafted meaningful consumer experiences, I joined Unilever Arabia’s pioneering Marketing Digital Transformation team, managing iconic brands like Dove. Post my Harvard MBA, I moved to India, driven by a clear vision to build Hibiscus Monkey with my mother and sister.

Roshni:  Also, like Naina, having spent a decade in the US (post-Cornell undergrad), I quickly pivoted from corporate consulting. Driven by a desire to contribute to India’s growth story, I joined a high-action government war room rolling out Prime Minister’s priority welfare projects. This experience underscored India’s necessity for a job-creator economy, prompting my dual MBA and Master in Public Policy from Harvard and MIT. My unique journey now equips me to build a business deeply rooted in India’s economic success and community.

“Hibiscus Monkey” in the beauty industry? We’re intrigued! Spill the tea on how this playful name came to be?

Naina:  There is a wonderful story behind the name. The very first product we launched was our beloved Hibiscus Monkey Love Scalp Oil, a recipe inspired by our beloved Nani. Fresh hibiscus flowers are the heart of this oil, a tradition passed down from her. And “Monkey”? Well, Nani affectionately called Roshni and I “bandarias” – mischievous little monkeys! So, Hibiscus Monkey was born – a tribute to our roots, our Nani, and the playful spirit that drives us.

How are balancing premium high-grade formulations with business viability here in India?

Roshni:  The beauty industry has long neglected the body, prioritizing face care innovation while relegating body care to an afterthought. Hibiscus Monkey has a radically different approach to body care. We are extremely demanding about our formulations and fastidious about every ingredient that goes into our products. We don’t cut corners. This uncompromising approach is costly, but we believe discerning Indian consumers are ready for a higher standard. They seek results and holistic care, and we’re here to deliver.

What are the sustainability initiatives Hibiscus Monkey imbibing?

Mona: Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for us – it’s our foundation. We refuse to build a proudly Indian brand while ignoring the environmental crisis our cities face.  We do not use any ingredient in our products that would go down our drains polluting our rivers or seas. Our care is 100% clean – we strictly use nature derived ingredients.

Our packaging is consciously sustainable too. We opt for reusable glass and aluminium alternatives over plastic wherever possible.  For our in-shower products, where plastic is more prudent for safety, we have opted for recyclable PET bottles and have recently launched a “Circle of Sustainability” program where we take back the bottles to be recycled into brand new plastic material.

How are you differentiating yourself amidst the clutter and competition?

Naina: As Roshni explained, body care has long been neglected in the beauty industry.  As a result of this, we have accepted substandard care for our body and continue to neglect the remaining 95% of skin on our body beyond our face. Hibiscus Monkey is rewriting the rules. We’re bringing face-grade science and efficacy to body care.  Hibiscus Monkey is committed to providing targeted solutions for specific body concerns such as strawberry skin, discolouration, and ingrown hair. All products are dermatologically tested and formulated without synthetic fragrances, dyes, parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, or other harmful additives.

What led to identifying body care as your niche, and how did your Harvard-MIT research validate this?

Naina: While Roshni and I were in graduate school, Hibiscus Monkey was incubated in some of the most prestigious accelerators at MIT and Harvard. During this incubation period, we took a very academic approach to identifying the space we wanted to play in. Part of this included conducting extensive primary research, wherein we connected with hundreds of Indian women to identify pain points. This is when we identified a critical gap in the market – products that solve for skin issues on the rest of the body.

What drives the organic growth of your brand community and word-of-mouth success?

Roshni: We truly believe in the power of authenticity. Indian consumers don’t want replicas of western brands, they want uniquely Indian brands. For us Instagram is the heart and soul of the brand. Naina and I are the face of our brand. Whether it be through DMs or calls, as founders, we personally connect with our consumers. This has built a lot of trust and an emotional connection with our consumer; when they experience the product and it does what it claims, we end up with not only loyal consumers, but brand champions. Our consumers are our cheerleaders, they have introduced Hibiscus Monkey to so many people in their lives, be it their mothers, sisters or even husbands!

What’s your vision for Hibiscus Monkey’s evolution in product innovation and market expansion?

Mona: We dream big. We’re building an Indian body specialist brand for the globe. In the short run, we have incredible innovations lined up. All our innovations are in house, which is why we have longer innovation cycles than usual…we strictly don’t use white label products. At the same time, we are now focusing on channel expansion now that we have hit some critical financial milestones for our D2C.