Nuga - Essence of Heart!

We all know taking care of one’s skin is very important but choosing the right product is always a big hassle.

Nuga, a Nepali skin care brand, has been selling natural, handmade products since 2016.

Before starting the brand, Nuga started in a stall at a college fair by two batchmates.

And now it is a well-known handmade brand.

Suyash Shrestha, co-founder of Nuga, says, “I always wanted to be involved in work related to manufacturing agro-based elements. So, my partner, Rasana Shrestha, and I decided to do some research on skin care products. At a college fair in 2016, we decided to create some prototypes and see how people would react to it. We got a very good response and that is when we decided to run ‘Nuga’.”

Nuga, meaning ‘heart’ in Newari language, sells skin-care products that are made from organic materials. And they make it a point to strictly avoid the use of chemicals.

Registered in 2017, Nuga manufactures natural hair oil, body and face scrub, and handmade soaps. 

Suyash explains, “We work along with food technicians and botanists to ascertain which ingredients can be used to make various products for different skin types. My partner and I do a lot of research after we come up with an idea for a new product.”

Though people know about the benefits of handmade organic beauty products they hesitate to buy such goods due to the cost factor. Suyash explains that the products tend to be expensive, so most customers would rather use the brands that are affordable and easy to find.

Suyash says, “The reason why hand-made products are a little bit more expensive is because of the raw materials we use. The soap we make takes about six to eight weeks to manufacture. It also differs on the volume of production.”

However, if we wonder why we should use natural hand-made products then let’s remember the time your mom or aunt would boast about how their hair or skin was so good due to the water and natural herbs they used.

Chemicals used in the commercial products are harmful for our skin and hair.

Surely, commercial products are easily available. “You walk into any department store or your neighbourhood store you can find such goods but the market for natural products is definitely growing,” Suyash shares.

Suyahs adds, “We know the market for natural products is expanding as we can see other brands dealing with natural products in the market. We have many regular customers and I have seen big differences from the time ‘Nuga’ started. In 2016, when we talked to people there weren’t many who used natural products but now the number is growing which is definitely a good sign.”

But before using any product we have to make sure that we know what our skin type is.

However, what do you prefer: commercial products or natural hand-made ones?