How Sugar Cosmetics Marketing Campaigns Made them India’s Boldest Beauty Brand?

Published On
January 28, 2026
Sugar Cosmetics built a powerful youth following through digital first marketing influencer collaborations and cause driven campaigns. By challenging beauty norms and embracing inclusivity the brand turned makeup into a tool for self expression and became one of India’s boldest beauty success stories.
Collage showcasing various SUGAR cosmetics promotions. Joyful couple endorsing makeup, a woman applying eyeshadow, and vibrant product displays convey elegance and excitement.

Sugar Cosmetics became a household name in India through bold, socially relevant, and innovative marketing strategies that resonated deeply with young consumers. The brand’s digital-first campaigns, influencer partnerships, and product innovations turned it into one of India’s fastest-growing beauty brands, making it a case study in modern marketing success.​

Sugar Cosmetics' Core Marketing Strategy

1.  Digital-First Approach

Sugar Cosmetics has always prioritized digital channels, reaching consumers through e-commerce, social media, and influencer collaborations. By investing early in a robust D2C website, partnerships with giant online retailers, and leading digital ad spends, Sugar scaled rapidly with minimal retail investment. Today, quick commerce and omnichannel retail power its widespread accessibility.​

2. Inclusivity & Cause-Driven Innovation

The brand frequently disrupts conventional beauty standards with campaigns and products for diverse skin tones, genders, and personalities. Products like Sugar Play (teen-focused, playful makeup) and vegan formulas empower users to express themselves freely and safely.​

3.  Influencer & Celebrity Power

Frequent collaborations with celebrities such as Ranveer Singh, Tamannaah Bhatia, Alaya F, and Nan Tyagi, as well as thousands of micro- and nano-influencers, have allowed Sugar campaigns to go viral among Gen Z and millennials.​

4. Customer Engagement

The brand actively nurtures its social community with user-generated content, interactive campaigns, and loyalty rewards, encouraging word-of-mouth advocacy and ensuring high recall.​

How Trendy Campaigns Made Sugar Cosmetics Gen Z’s Beauty Icon?

Sugar Cosmetics’ youth-centric, trend-driven branding directly connects with Gen Z and millennials through bold campaigns and vibrant visuals.

  • AR try-ons and influencer collaborations make makeup fun and accessible.
  • Festival, meme, and hashtag contests fuel organic buzz on social media.
  • Cause-driven campaigns and real customer stories drive emotional loyalty.

A digital-first mindset, rapid product innovation, and omnichannel expansion made Sugar cosmetics mainstream, aspirational, and a top choice for India’s young beauty fans.

Best Sugar Cosmetics Marketing Campaigns

1. #ShukarHaiSugarHai (2022–Present)

What They Did?

A signature campaign featuring Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh and Tamannaah Bhatia, breaking gender stereotypes in makeup. The slogan, “Shukar hai, Sugar hai,” achieved instant recognition. Ads aired on TV, digital, and radio; CEO Vineeta Singh’s personal appearances added trust.

Performance

  • Outstanding recall among youth.
  • Broke gender barriers in beauty.
  • Cross-platform brand expansion.

Special Features

  • Celeb-driven.
  • Fun, gender-inclusive messaging.
  • Multi-channel presence.​

2. #MySkinMyChoice (2023)

What They Did?

Cause-driven inclusivity campaign challenging colorism and gender norms. Used diverse models and influencers to redefine beauty.

Performance

  • Massive traction on social media.
  • Positive response from progressive youth.
  • Reinforced Sugar’s progressive values.

Special Features

  • Gender neutrality.
  • Social storytelling.
  • Viral hashtag engagement.​

3. #GetThePicture (2024)

What They Did?

Women’s Day viral campaign against female foeticide. Users shared photos with loved women, faces scribbled out, to highlight their essential role.

Performance

  • 17.4 million reach, 5,700+ Instagram posts.
  • High emotional resonance.
  • Big influencer participation.

Special Features

  • Strong social conscience.
  • Emotional storytelling.
  • Viral visual content.​

4. #GetReadyWithSUGAR (2024)

What They Did?

Digital-first campaign uniting celebrities from various backgrounds, supporting diversity and self-care. Powered by Alaya F, Jasleen Royal, Sushant Divgikar, and top influencers.

Performance

  • Boosted empowerment messaging.
  • Increased product awareness among Gen Z.
  • Multi-platform reach: Instagram, YouTube, OTT.

Special Features

  • Diverse celebrity participation.
  • “Self-care for all” narrative.
  • OTT and digital amplification.​

5. Sugar Play Launch (2023)

What They Did?

Launched India's first cosmetics line for pre-teens and teens—Sugar Play—mixing playful shades with gentle formulations for young skin.

Performance

  • The brand expanded into a new demographic.
  • Positive feedback from Gen Z.
  • High social media engagement.

Special Features

  • Teen-safe, vegan, alcohol-free.
  • Interactive packaging and campaigns.
  • User-generated content.​

6. Women's Day Influencer Network (2024)

What They Did?

Partnered with nano and celebrity influencers who shared authentic stories about empowerment, inviting followers to join the dialogue.

Performance

  • Significant community excitement.
  • Spike in user engagement for hashtag-driven stories.
  • Heightened emotional brand connection.

Special Features

  • Authentic, real-life storytelling.
  • Community-building tactics.
  • Participatory social campaigns.​

7. Gen Z-Focused “Molten Beauty” (2025)

What They Did?

Sugar partnered with Myntra to launch Molten Beauty, a new skincare-makeup hybrid tailored for Gen Z; a segment making up almost half India’s beauty market.

Performance

  • Successful launch ahead of Myntra’s Big Fashion Festival.
  • Engaged 25+ million Gen Z online users.

Special Features

  • Skin-first philosophy.
  • Multi-tasking products.
  • Digital-first launch.​

Milestone Timeline & Revenue Growth of Sugar Cosmetics

Year Revenue (INR Crore) % Growth Milestone
2012 Founded by Vineeta Singh
2015 Crayon lipsticks launch; first funding
2016 E-commerce partnerships
2018 First offline store launched
2020 Global entry; Dubai store launch
2023 ~420 +89% 2,500+ outlets across 130+ cities
2024 ~505 +20% ₹4,000+ crore valuation; crossed ₹500 crore revenue
2025 ~415 (decline) -17.8% Strategic reset post retail boom

 

Sugar’s Marketing: The Sweet Secret

Sugar Cosmetics grew by blending creativity, cause marketing, influencer power, and a relentless digital-first strategy. Their campaigns connected deeply by celebrating individual expression, setting bold standards, and focusing on issues that mattered to young Indian consumers. In just over a decade, Sugar evolved from an online disruptor to a retail powerhouse, proving that smart storytelling, inclusivity, and tech-driven engagement can conquer even the toughest markets.​