Harlin Sachdeva, the visionary force behind House of Makeup, traces her profound journey back to the cherished moments of her childhood. Enthralled by the enchanting rituals of her mother’s nightly makeup routine, a lifelong passion for beauty products was ignited within her soul.
Embarking on her professional odyssey, Harlin lent her expertise to shaping renowned beauty brands such as Nykaa and Sugar Cosmetics. Yet, amidst her ascent in the cosmetic industry, a poignant realization dawned upon her. The pervasive presence of toxic ingredients in conventional makeup formulations struck a discordant note, prompting her to embark on a transformative mission.
Fuelled by her unwavering commitment to purity and integrity, House of Makeup emerged as a beacon of innovation and conscientious beauty. Rooted in the ethos of cleanliness and compassion, Harlin’s brainchild offers a sanctuary of 100% clean, vegan, and cruelty-free cosmetics, accessible to all.
Harlin Sachdeva’s resplendent vision for House of Makeup resonates as a testament to her indomitable spirit and unwavering commitment to redefining the beauty landscape. Here, Harlin Sachdeva talks to TheGlitz about why everyone should embrace the artistry of clean, cruelty-free beauty.
Over to Harlin Sachdeva
Life-changing milestones:
The biggest life-changing moment for me was when my father passed away. I was 17 at the time. My father’s death made me realize that life is short and extremely unpredictable – there is no point waiting to find the right time to follow your dreams or passion. One must just seize the moment — the moment you’re in — and go after what you want.
Setbacks faced and tackled:
In entrepreneurship, challenges are a part and parcel of everyday life… we are constantly firefighting every moment. I’ve faced innumerable setbacks but among the biggest would be the pandemic. Back then, we had not yet relaunched in the avatar you see us today. We were smaller but selling through retail outlets too. The pandemic compelled us to shutter these stores and we were on the verge of shutting shop permanently. But the love and loyalty of our customers pulled us through. We pivoted to 100% online sales, and orders started pouring in – even during the lockdown – when we thought people won’t have any need for makeup.
That was one of the toughest times of our business.
When faced with setbacks, what helps me is to take a couple of deep breaths to find my bearings, and then try to find some quiet space to reflect and figure out a solution, especially if it’s a serious issue. If there is no issue, then I have learned to accept it and move forward in spite of and despite it. What I’ve taken away from these challenges is to keep pushing forward, and eventually, you will get better and find a way. If something doesn’t kill you, it only makes you stronger!
3 qualities that have helped me become who I am today:
The first one would be perseverance — the will to never give up.
The second would be humility — to accept my mistakes, learn from it, and become better.
And the third would be gratitude—to be always grateful to my family and friends for always standing by me.
People in your life who have been the wind behind your wings:
That would be definitely my family, and also, my colleagues who have always believed in me and stood by the company through thick and thin.
Quote to define me:
Harlin Sachdeva
“The day you give up on your dreams is the day you give up on yourself.”
Just keep putting one step in front of the other and believe in your end vision.
