As someone who has spent years interviewing founders, one thing I’ve learned is that the best businesses don’t start with a business plan.
They start with a problem.
For Deepa Mani, founder of POC Beauty (Proud of Colour), https://pocbeauty.com.au, that problem had been staring her in the face for most of her life.
As a Bharatanatyam dancer, she spent years backstage mixing products, adjusting shades and improvising beauty solutions because mainstream products simply weren’t designed for her skin. Then years later, while teaching the next generation of dancers, she noticed something troubling.
The young girls she was teaching were facing exactly the same challenges.
That’s when POC Beauty was born.
Fresh from winning both Best Inclusive Makeup Brand and Best Inclusive Makeup Product at the 2026 Beauty Shortlist Awards, POC Beauty is quickly becoming one of Australia’s most exciting beauty brands. The brand was specifically created for melanin-rich skin and takes a skincare-first approach to beauty, combining colour with formulations designed to support hydration, pigmentation and skin health.
I recently sat down with Deepa to chat about beauty, representation, entrepreneurship and why inclusive beauty should never be considered a trend.
“It Wasn’t One Moment. It Was A Lifetime Of Them.”
When I asked Deepa when she realised POC Beauty needed to exist, her answer was immediate.
“It wasn’t one moment. It was a lifetime of them.”
Growing up in India, beauty wasn’t about products.
It was rituals.
Turmeric before celebrations. Coconut oil in your hair. Generations of women sharing beauty traditions that centred around care rather than concealment.
But after moving overseas, Deepa found herself standing in beauty aisles that didn’t seem to recognise her existence.
“The foundations didn’t match. The nudes weren’t nude on me. The concealers pulled grey. Every product told me, in its own quiet way, that I was a variation from a norm that had been set without me.”
Years later, she watched her students having the same experience.
“That was the moment it shifted from personal frustration to purpose.”
Inclusive Beauty Isn’t About More Shades
One of the most interesting things Deepa shared was her belief that the beauty industry still fundamentally misunderstands what inclusion means.
“The biggest mistake the industry makes is treating melanin-rich skin as a shade problem rather than a formulation problem.”
It’s a point that makes a lot of sense.
For years, many brands have responded to calls for inclusivity by expanding shade ranges. But Deepa argues that’s only part of the equation.
Melanin-rich skin can be more prone to hyperpigmentation, dehydration and unique pigmentation concerns. Simply making a foundation darker doesn’t address those needs.
“At POC Beauty, melanin-rich skin is not the last consideration. It’s the first consideration.”
And honestly? That feels like a pretty significant shift.
Why Skincare Comes First
One thing that immediately stood out to me about POC Beauty is how strongly Deepa believes beauty should support skin health rather than compromise it.
“People of colour have spent years using products that masked their skin rather than cared for it.”
That’s why every product within the range has been built around a skincare-first philosophy, with formulations containing up to 95% skin-loving ingredients designed to nourish while delivering colour.
It’s an approach that clearly resonates.
Not only has the brand won major industry awards, but it’s also building a loyal community of customers who feel genuinely represented for the first time.
The Product Everyone Should Start With
When I asked Deepa which product she would recommend to someone new to the brand, she didn’t hesitate.
“The Lip & Cheek Tint. Always.”
The multi-use product has quickly become the hero of the range and recently won Best Inclusive Makeup Product at the 2026 Beauty Shortlist Awards.
Available in shades including Inya and Kani, the tint is designed specifically for melanin-rich skin, delivering buildable colour that actually shows up while maintaining a natural, skin-like finish.
Unlike many traditional blushes and tints, it has been formulated with deeper skin tones front of mind, something that remains surprisingly rare in the beauty industry.
The Products We’re Adding To Cart
Lip & Cheek Tint
The award-winning hero product.
A skincare-infused tint designed for lips and cheeks that delivers buildable colour while supporting hydration and skin barrier health. Lightweight, blendable and ideal for everyday wear.
Lip Scrub
Designed to brighten, smooth and prep pigmentation-prone lips.
The formula uses gentle natural exfoliants and is vegan, cruelty-free and suitable for sensitive lips.
Lip Mask
A deeply nourishing treatment designed to restore hydration and support lip barrier repair.
Perfect as an overnight treatment or daily hydration boost.
Ultimate Lip Care Duo
A simple two-step system combining the Lip Scrub and Lip Mask.
Ideal for anyone looking to improve lip texture, hydration and overall lip health.
Radiance Ritual Set
If you’re looking for the full POC Beauty experience, this is probably where I’d start.
The set combines the Lip Scrub, Lip Mask and Lip & Cheek Tint into one complete routine designed to exfoliate, hydrate and enhance.
More Than Makeup
What struck me most about my conversation with Deepa wasn’t the products.
It was the purpose behind them.
In a world where beauty often feels driven by trends, algorithms and aesthetics, POC Beauty feels rooted in something much deeper.
Representation.
Visibility.
Community.
When I asked Deepa what she hopes customers feel when they use her products, her answer was simple.
“Seen.”
And perhaps that’s exactly what makes POC Beauty resonate so strongly.
Not because it’s trying to be everything to everyone.
But because it was built for people who have spent far too long feeling like beauty wasn’t built for them.
Where To Shop
POC Beauty is available Australia-wide via its website.
For more information visit POC Beauty online – https://pocbeauty.com.au
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