Chemical Engineer to Beauty Disruptor: Building a Beauty Brand Giving Women Time & Confidence, Veena Krishnan, Daybird
Simplifying Skincare For Real Women
After years working as a chemical engineer in a male-dominated industry, Veena Krishnan began questioning the amount of time, money, and energy women are expected to invest in beauty. That frustration eventually became Daybird, a clean, vegan, cruelty-free beauty brand built around a simple idea: one product should be enough. On this episode of The Wild Party Podcast, Veena shares her entrepreneurial journey, the science behind skincare, and why helping women reclaim their mornings is her ultimate mission.
When Beauty Becomes an Obligation
Before launching Daybird, Veena Krishnan spent her career as a chemical engineer in the oil and gas industry.
While she loved solving technical problems, she became increasingly aware of a different challenge many women face every day: the expectation to spend significant time and energy maintaining a polished appearance.
Often the only woman in the room, Veena felt pressure to spend extra time getting ready in order to be perceived as professional.
"I felt like I needed to spend all this extra time in the morning putting products on my face to look professional and feel confident."
That realization became even more apparent during COVID, when working remotely gave her a chance to step back and evaluate how she was spending her time.
"It was the first time that I felt liberated from being tied to my bathroom counter for 20 minutes in the morning."
Like many people, Veena began questioning whether her beauty routine was serving her or simply becoming another obligation.
Building a Better Solution
Armed with a chemical engineering background and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Veena approached the problem the same way an engineer would.
She started with research.
Veena and her team conducted dozens of interviews with potential customers, exploring everything from morning habits and skincare frustrations to purchasing decisions and beauty goals.
What emerged was a clear opportunity.
People wanted fewer products, not more.
"We talked to over 50 people about their morning routines, how they were spending their time, what products they kept reaching for, and what they felt like they didn't need anymore."
The feedback was remarkably consistent.
People wanted more time.
More simplicity.
Less clutter.
"I'd rather spend that time with my kids, working out, or taking time for myself."
That insight became the foundation for Daybird's flagship product, a 4-in-1 Serum Skin Tint that combines SPF 50, moisturizer, skincare serums, and lightweight tint into a single bottle.
The Science Behind Simplicity
Creating a truly multifunctional product was more complicated than simply mixing ingredients together.
Veena wanted every ingredient to serve a purpose and be present at clinically effective levels.
Among the ingredients featured in Daybird's formula are niacinamide, a vitamin B3 antioxidant known for supporting collagen production, and bisabolol, a chamomile-derived ingredient that helps calm inflammation and soothe the skin.
For Veena, effectiveness was non-negotiable.
"We wanted skincare ingredients present at clinically proven active percentages."
She wasn't interested in creating products loaded with trendy ingredients simply for marketing claims.
"If an ingredient is in the formula, it should actually deliver the promised benefit."
The result is a product designed to work harder so consumers don't have to.
Why SPF Became Non-Negotiable
One of the most surprising statistics Veena shared is that only a small percentage of Americans wear sunscreen every day.
Because Daybird was designed to be a true one-step morning routine, SPF had to be included from the beginning.
"If you're going to put one thing on your face before you head out the door, it should be SPF."
As someone with sensitive skin herself, Veena also prioritized creating a mineral sunscreen that would be comfortable enough for daily use.
The goal wasn't simply protection.
It was consistency.
Creating a product people would actually use every day.
Beauty Without Compromise
From the beginning, Veena knew Daybird would be vegan and cruelty-free.
As a lifelong vegetarian and self-described dog mom, she wanted the company's values reflected in every aspect of the business.
"We wanted to make sure we were giving our customers the assurance that we're not testing on any of our furry friends."
That commitment led Daybird to pursue Leaping Bunny certification, one of the most respected cruelty-free certifications available.
For consumers, certifications like these help remove decision fatigue by providing confidence that products have already been thoroughly vetted.
"Customers can see the logo and know we've gone through that extensive process for them."
Changing the Beauty Conversation
What makes Daybird particularly unique isn't just the product.
It's the philosophy.
Veena doesn't believe people need to abandon beauty entirely. Instead, she encourages consumers to take ownership of what beauty means for them personally.
If a 10-step skincare routine feels joyful and relaxing, great.
If it feels stressful and overwhelming, that's okay too.
"The challenge is when self-care starts feeling stressful. That's not the way it should go."
The goal is to create choices rather than obligations.
Beauty should support your life, not become another item on your to-do list.
Growing Without Adding More
Today, Daybird is available online, on Amazon, at Sprouts stores nationwide, and in select Whole Foods locations.
As the company grows, Veena remains committed to keeping the product line focused and intentional.
Future products will continue the Daybird philosophy of combining skincare benefits with everyday essentials, helping customers simplify rather than complicate their routines.
"We're not trying to add steps. We're trying to make the steps you're already doing more effective."
Whether that's a concealer that helps address hyperpigmentation or a lip product with skincare benefits built in, the goal remains the same: helping people get more from less.
A Different Vision of Beauty
In a world constantly encouraging consumers to buy more, apply more, and fix more, Veena Krishnan is offering an alternative.
Daybird isn't about perfection.
It's about helping people show up for their day exactly as they are.
"We're trying to help people feel like they have ownership over beauty, not that they're just following a trend they feel like they have to do."
For many consumers, that might be the most refreshing beauty trend of all.
Listen to the full episode of The Wild Party Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
Visit Daybird and use code WILDPARTY15 for 15% off your first order. https://daybird.co/
