“Cosmetic Chemist is much like an art as it creates unparalleled beauty products”: An Exclusive interview with Themsao Khiamniungan an Esteemed Cosmetic Chemist from Noklak village, Nagaland, Whose Passion for Beauty has Ignited a Revolution.
If there is such a thing as cosmetic chemist from Nagaland then Themsao Khiamniungan is the name to be mentioned among the list, known for her experience in formulating natural alluring herbal products for the green beauty in Nagaland, she is an embodiment of innovation in an industry where true originality is a rare gem. It is exceptionally difficult to make something that is truly innovative but she develops cosmetics that are safe and effective to your skin, bestowing upon your skin the gift of unblemished beauty. She is the mastermind behind the illustrious brand “TK Herbal”, dedicated to bring unique herbal acne skin beauty products free from harmful synthetic chemicals, such as parabens and sulfates that can cause skin allergies and irritation and enduring allure of perfumes fragrances that resonate to your aura you use every day to add to your beauty list.
In this exclusive interview we are honored and privileged to have Themsao Khiamniungan with us. Together , we embark on an exhilarating world of a brilliant cosmetic chemist gaining invaluable insights about her awe-inspiring journey, her creative process, her innovative products and formulations, her profound knowledge of the cosmetics industry, tips for achieving healthy, radiant skin and all you need to know about beauty. So what are you all waiting for? Nature is calling; let’s plunge in to embrace nature’s wisdom and unravel the secrets behind the creation of your favorite herbal cosmetics lovingly handcrafted exclusively by the visionary Themsao Khiamniungan from Nagaland.
Allow us to present her captivating responses below!
Wondanglo: Could you please introduce yourself to the readers and briefly describe your journey as a cosmetic chemist?
Themsao: I am Themsao Khiamniungan a proud inhabitant of Noklak village, Nagaland. I hold a B.tech degree in civil engineering graduate from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad.
I love to learn new skills and skin care was one of them so I have taken up couple of cosmetics courses, immersing myself in the secrets of medical plants and their transformative potential.
Wondanglo: What initially sparked your interest in cosmetic chemistry and how did you cultivate your expertise in this field?
Themsao: I always have a keen interest to work in medical field especially for skin. Hence after completing my engineering degree I started to research about medicinal plants and took couple of online & offline course.
I started to experiment and after learning the formulation process, I created my own formulas to form unique products. It is through this tireless and unwavering dedication that I acquired the expertise that defines my journey as a cosmetic chemist.
Wondanglo: What motivated you to transform your passion into a professional career as a cosmetic chemist, and what aspects of this journey do you find most rewarding?
Themsao: The response I get from customers/users motivated me to turn my passion into career. I know that I will not be able to accomplish my dream with other sector and I wanted to come up with a product which is not common in Nagaland. Therefore, I started to study on herbs.
I must say that getting a very positive feedback from customers who had skin problems and have healed by using my products is the most rewarding for me.
Wondanglo: What inspired you to turn your passion into a business and when did this remarkable journey commence? Could you enlighten us about the core concept behind your brand “T.K Herbal”?
Themsao: We can be our own boss and earn unlimited money in business if we are creative, innovative and have never give-up attitude. I want to do what I’m passionate about and be limitless unlike working in govt. sector with limited career growth.
In the year 2020, I launched my brand TK herbal which stands for Themsao Khiamniungan and also my products are plant base so I name it as TK Herbal.
Wondanglo: Can you describe the process of how you developed into a Dermatologist certified chemist?
Themsao: Firstly my products were tested in a lab by the dermatologist and then experimented on some patients to check the effectiveness and quality of my products. After clearing all the steps and process, my products were declared as Certified by Dermatologist.
Wondanglo: How do you market and promote your business? What strategies have been most successful?
Themsao: My products are mostly marketed through recommendation by my regular customers to their friends, family and relatives. Free Skin care consultation is provided on Instagram business account allowing individuals to connect to me on a personal level and discover the perfect product for their unique needs. In addition to that order services are also provided.
Word of mouth promotion has been the most successful strategy in my business marketing.
Wondanglo: What are your areas of expertise within the cosmetic chemistry field?
Themsao: My expertise lies in the captivating realm of Perfume Fragrances & the art of treating Acne-prone Skin.
Wondanglo: Can you give an outline of some notable cosmetic products you have worked on in the past? Which products do you consider are desired or sought by many?
Themsao: Some notable products I have worked on in the past are Face serums and Face Pack. A lot of new customers come to me and message me regarding their Acne problems. I take their skin baseline information and customize their products accordingly. Out of 100% users, 95% people have healed their Acne problems.
Facial bomb, Hyaluronic serum, Vitamin – C Facewash and perfumes are desired by many.
Wondanglo: What do you consider are the finest skill required by a cosmetic chemist to bring innovative cosmetic products to the market?
Themsao: Analytical skills and mathematical skills are the finest skills required by a cosmetic chemist. To bring innovative products, one must see the most common problems faced by the people and bring out the solution to that problem
Wondanglo: What do you fancy most about working being a cosmetic chemist and why?
Themsao: Cosmetic chemist is much like an art as it creates unparalleled beauty products. One need to sharpen their creative skills to come up with new product ideas, new formulating approaches, and new ways to solve unique manufacturing problem
Wondanglo: What steps are essential in researching the effectiveness of ingredients in cosmetic formulations?
Themsao: The essential steps or process in researching the effectiveness of ingredients is firstly creating and testing each quality of ingredients with comparison to its rates.
Wondanglo: How do you ensure the efficiency and safety of ingredients in cosmetic products?
Themsao: My Ingredients are checked during the purchase, procurement and import of raw materials. The ingredients I used are safe and mentioned in the label. Customers also should check if the products they purchase contain any harmful ingredients such as sulphate & parabens.
Wondanglo: What do you consider are the key ingredients recurrently used in your cosmetic formulations?
Themsao: I use different types of herbs as the key ingredients in cosmetic formulations.
Wondanglo: Do you believe that food choices impact skin health and overall appearance? Can you provide examples of specific dietary components that are beneficial for promoting healthy skin?
Themsao: Yes Food choice impact Skin health, what you eat can significantly impact the health and aging of your skin.
A diet rich in healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants can support skin health. We can find those in fruits, vegetables and fatty fish. By choosing healthy food, one can have a good healthy skin and overall appearance.
Wondanglo: How do you manage multiple projects besides being a cosmetic chemist?
Themsao: Every day I make a list of my work and set a target time for every task so that I will not miss anything and balance them accordingly. Time management and prioritizing are the key to managing multiple projects.
Wondanglo: What drives you to create innovative and unique cosmetic products? Can you share some highlights from your previous projects that you are particularly proud of?
Themsao: My passion for chemistry and my care for my skin drive me to create the products. I did not have flawless skin during my teenage and had regular pimples on my face. I could not find a product in the market that could cure my pimples. Consequently, as a science student, I learned more about medicinal plants and started experimenting on my skin. After experimenting I could see positive results on my skin and that’s how I was driven to take courses.
It took me 3-4 years to get the correct formulation like the perfumes and serums which I’m extremely proud of.
Wondanglo: How do you handle custom orders or requests from clients? Can you provide an example of a challenging custom order you completed?
Themsao: Many of my clients come with problems such as acne, pimple, pigmentation, and infections. Depending on their skin type I customized for them. One of the challenging custom orders I completed was on pigmentation. There are many reasons for causes of pigmentation. Without studying the medical history and habits of the customer, it’s very challenging to create a custom product because the product may or may not work for her.
Wondanglo: How do you handle constructive criticism and feedback on your product creations? How do you use feedback to improve your work?
Themsao: Whenever I get negative feedback, I always thank them because it pushes me to create the perfect formulation for each problem. Honestly, I work on the problem faced by people and feedback given by the clients be it on the quality of the product, formulation, or fulfilling orders drives me harder to work harder and experiment more.
Wondanglo: What challenges have you faced being a cosmetic chemist? How do you handle challenges or setbacks in your journey? How has it influenced your growth as a Cosmetic Chemist?
Themsao: Being a cosmetic chemist, one of the major challenges is change of supplier. Purchasing ingredients from small manufacturing unit to now big companies is quite challenging as I have to go for proper testing for the ingredients they offered. I handle it by testing more on the ingredients.
The more I test the products, the more I’m able to learn about the formulation.
Wondanglo: Can you share a memorable experience or milestone you have achieved through your journey?
Themsao: One of the memorable experience ever happened was on World Tourism Day 2022 held at Noklak. A lot of people were surprise with my beauty business as it is unusual for Nagas to create beauty products. Through this event I was able to meet high officials and many renowned intellectual people. I was appreciated, recognized and was able to go further ahead through the guidance and help from IPS Ma’am Dr. Pritpal Kaur.
Wondanglo: What are your long-term goals and aspirations as a cosmetic chemist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Themsao: My long term goal is to expand my business and create job opportunity for youth and farmers with many new launches and to build confidence in people about their skin. In order to succeed, I need more fixed assets.
Thank you, Themsao Khiamniungan. May you continue to excel and make significant contributions to the field of cosmetics
Her Customized products and Herbal products can be purchased on the official Instagram account @”TK Herbal”. If you prefer to make an offline purchase, they are available at Noklak, Wokha, and Pfutsero Town.
