Inspired by India

A decade ago, the mention of India-inspired beauty products might have evoked the heady scents of patchouli oil and sandalwood soap – limited in appeal to former hippies and the most ardent of yogis.

But today, India is captivating the mainstream cosmetics industry in a big way. From high-end brands creating makeup shades based on the country’s bright colors to skin- and hair-care lines capitalizing on Ayurveda, an ancient medicinal system using herbs and other natural ingredients, when it comes to beauty, inside and out, the industry is increasingly turning to the world’s second-most-populous country.

Photo: Karl Lagerfeld’s pre-fall 2012 collection, the Paris-Bombay Métiers d’Art show

More