India Pharma Outlook Team | Friday, 09 October 2026
Akums unveils a skincare portfolio packed with peptides and barrier-focused ingredients just as winter arrives.
The company positions these formulations to meet rising demand for targeted care that goes beyond basic hydration.
Consumers now seek products built around specific ingredients and skin concerns, and Akums responds with concepts that blend ceramides, peptides, butters, minerals and actives.
This launch arrives as colder weather sharpens the need for skin-barrier support and as the broader Indian skincare market shifts toward lighter textures and purpose-driven formulas.
Brands gain new options to create specialized winter offerings that address everyday dryness, intensive nourishment, and targeted concerns.
Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., India’s largest CDMO, introduces a next-generation moisturization portfolio ahead of the winter season. The range spans everyday hydration, intensive care, barrier support, and targeted concepts for acne-prone and uneven-looking skin.
The company builds these formulations around ceramides, peptides, butters and minerals while expanding its cosmetics capabilities through the recent Oriflame India acquisition.
Also Read: Why Peptides and Complex Generics Will Define India Pharma's Future
India’s skincare products market stood at approximately Rs 34,115 crore in 2025 and is projected to reach Rs 60,514 crore by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 6.55 percent between 2026 and 2034.
Moisturizers formed the largest product segment in 2025 and continue to drive growth as consumers look for solutions tailored to different skin types. The Indian moisturizing creams segment alone was valued at about Rs 8,425 crore in 2025 and is expected to climb to Rs 13,823 crore by 2034, registering a CAGR of 5.66 percent.
Colder and drier winter conditions contribute to skin dryness and discomfort, making moisturization and skin-barrier care more relevant. At the same time, consumers move away from conventional creams toward lighter textures, targeted formulations, and ingredient-led products.
Akums develops the new range to give brands multiple concepts within the moisturization category. Key features include:
Sanjeev Jain, Managing Director of Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., notes that winter brings moisturization into sharper focus, yet the opportunity extends beyond a seasonal cycle. Consumers grow more aware of ingredients and seek products that serve a specific purpose. Akums therefore develops different formulation directions while keeping commercial manufacturing requirements in mind.
Arushi Jain, Director at Akums, adds that moisturization remains an established category with considerable scope to innovate through formulation, texture and ingredient selection. Consumers increasingly look for products that fit specific skincare routines rather than a single solution for everyone. The portfolio reflects that shift while maintaining formulation feasibility and commercial scalability.
With the winter season approaching, Akums provides partners with additional options to explore moisturization-led products. The company enables brands to respond to the category’s broader move toward specialized skincare propositions.
Combining its pharmaceutical CDMO strength with growing expertise in cosmetics and personal care, Akums equips partners to meet evolving consumer expectations for purpose-driven winter barrier care.
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