Kay Beauty Wins Best New Brand at CEW UK Beauty Awards 2026
Kay Beauty, the beauty brand co-founded by actor and global icon Katrina Kaif and Nykaa, India's leading beauty and lifestyle company, has been awarded 'Best New Brand' in the Consumer Choice Awards category at the CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) UK Beauty Awards 2026. The award, held in partnership with Superdrug, recognizes outstanding product innovation and creativity, voted for by over 1,000 CEW members in the UK, including industry professionals and consumers.
Rapid International Success in the UK
Launched in the UK with Space NK in September 2025, Kay Beauty became the first Indian-founded beauty brand to retail with the prestigious retailer. Within less than a year, the brand has received strong consumer and industry response, culminating in this recognition. The UK market, with its discerning beauty consumers and vibrant South Asian community, was a key focus for Kay Beauty's global expansion.
Katrina Kaif, Co-Founder of Kay Beauty, said: "When we created Kay Beauty, our vision was to build a brand that truly understood and celebrated diverse beauty while delivering products that perform without compromise. To receive recognition from both consumers and beauty industry insiders in the UK within such a short time of launching there is incredibly special."
Commitment to Inclusivity and Performance
Since its launch in India in 2019, Kay Beauty has championed high-performance makeup infused with skin-loving ingredients like chamomile, marula oil, ceramides, lychee extract, and avocado butter. The brand's #MakeupThatKares philosophy emphasizes care, comfort, and long-lasting wear for diverse skin tones, particularly addressing the needs of South Asian consumers. This approach has resonated strongly in the UK, where the brand has built a connection with its community.
Adwaita Nayar, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Nykaa and CEO, House of Nykaa, stated: "Kay Beauty's journey has always been rooted in the love and trust of its consumers. To receive the CEW UK Consumer Choice Award for Best New Brand, less than a year after our UK debut, is a remarkable milestone for the brand."
Kay Beauty's Growth and International Footprint
Kay Beauty has rapidly grown in India, serving over 2.8 million customers and retailing in over 700 premium stores across the country. It has also expanded internationally, debuting in the GCC in 2024 through Nykaa's platform Nysaa, where it became a top-five brand. The UK launch with Space NK marks a significant step in the brand's global ambitions.
In India, Kay Beauty is available on the Nykaa app, nykaa.com, and at Nykaa retail stores. In the UK, it is exclusively available at select Space NK offline stores and on spacenk.com.
About CEW and the Awards
CEW is a professional organization founded in 1954 that promotes the British beauty industry. The CEW Beauty Awards, launched in 2006, are recognized as one of the most coveted awards in the industry, with winners chosen by industry professionals and consumers.
This recognition reinforces Kay Beauty's ambition to take Katrina Kaif's vision for inclusive, high-performance beauty to consumers around the world.
