Rock Melan, an innovative Australian skincare brand, is taking a bold step toward changing beauty standards by embracing melanin-rich skin tones and celebrating the natural beauty of South Asians. Founded by Gold Coast-based couple Dr. Sanam Dhillon and Dr. Gobinder Kashmirian, Rock Melan aims to address the unique skincare needs of South Asian skin, a demographic often overlooked in mainstream beauty. Their debut product, the Dewy Glow Serum, launched in November 2024, is a reflection of their mission to create inclusive skincare solutions.
For Dr. Sanam, the path to launching Rock Melan was deeply personal. Growing up in Australia, she faced a skincare landscape that didn’t cater to her skin concerns. “I struggled with pigmentation and sensitive skin, and I couldn’t find any products designed for my needs,” she shares. Dr. Gobinder, a cosmetic physician, echoes this frustration. As a healthcare professional, he frequently encountered South Asian patients who were unable to find effective skincare products for their skin tone. “The market is dominated by products designed with Western skin in mind, leaving South Asians and the broader Skin of Colour community with unmet needs,” he explains.
Understanding the Gap in Skincare for Melanin-Rich Skin
The journey of Rock Melan began with the realization that melanin-rich skin requires different care compared to lighter skin tones. The founders recognized that many skincare products are formulated based on Western beauty standards, often overlooking the unique needs of South Asians. Issues like hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, impaired barrier function of the skin, skin sensitivity and acne are particularly common among people with darker skin tones, yet they are not always adequately addressed by existing brands.
“The skincare industry is obsessed with ‘fine lines and wrinkles’ and yet statistically melanin-rich skin will develop this 10-20 years later than Caucasian skin,” explains Dr. Gobinder. “Our issue is not ‘fine lines and wrinkles’, it’s issues like post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, where acne scars or blemishes leave darken marks that can take weeks, months or years to fade,” adds Dr. Gobinder.
Cultural beauty ideals also play a significant role in shaping skincare habits. In many South Asian cultures, lighter skin is often associated with beauty and social status, leading to the widespread use of harsh skin-lightening products (bleaching agents). These products can cause long-term health issues and often go unregulated as they are classified as “cosmetic products”. According to the World Health Organistation, some bleaching agents contain mercury at levels 50’000 times the safe level and are readily available in less regulated countries.
Crafting Solutions for South Asian Skin
As Skin of Colour experts, Dr. Sanam and Dr. Gobinder knew that developing cosmeceutical-grade skincare products for South Asian skin would require a novel approach that holistically addresses its unique characteristics and issues.
This understanding guided the creation of Rock Melan’s first product, the Dewy Glow Serum. Formulated with Bakuchiol (a gentle retinol alternative), Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Rock Melan extract and short-chain hyaluronic acid, the serum addresses pigmentation, uneven skin tone, and skin sensitivity while being non-comedogenic (non-acne inducing), oil-controlling, and gentle enough for twice daily use.
The challenge was to develop a product that could do it all without compromising on quality while simplifying the skincare routine. The Dewy Glow Serum condenses multiple complex steps into a single step, used right after cleansing. “We wanted to eliminate all the guesswork in what feels like a minefield for the average person—especially for those with the added complexities of melanin-rich skin. This is truly The Ultimate All-In-One Serum for melanin-rich skin,” the founders explain.
This level of sophistication and refinement is what sets Rock Melan apart from the conventional skincare industry. Staying true to their commitment to ethical and environmental responsibility, all Rock Melan products are vegan, cruelty-free, and fragrance-free. They are made in Australia using cosmeceutical-grade ingredients.
Changing the Beauty Narrative for South Asians
At the core of Rock Melan’s mission is the desire to change the narrative around South Asian beauty. Rather than promoting harmful skin-lightening trends, Rock Melan advocates for celebrating melanin-rich skin, emphasizing skincare that nurtures and balances rather than altering natural beauty.
“There needs to be a paradigm shift in how we value and perceive beauty, how these conversations take place in every South Asian home, and how we teach our children. We need to be the change in beauty ideals that our mothers needed, our sisters believe in, and that our future generations deserve,” says Dr. Sanam.
This mindset is not just about skincare; it’s about challenging outdated beauty standards and embracing the diversity of skin tones. The founders commitment to the South Asian community is deeply rooted in the values of compassion and service, and through Rock Melan, they aim to foster inclusivity in the beauty industry.
Rock Melan’s Impact on the Beauty Industry
As Rock Melan continues to grow, it is creating a broader conversation about the need for representation in skincare. By addressing the unique needs of South Asian skin, the brand is helping to fill a critical gap in the market while promoting the idea that all skin tones are beautiful just as they are. This aligns with a larger movement toward inclusivity and diversity in the beauty industry, which is often slow to adapt to the needs of a global and multicultural audience.
Through their work, Dr. Sanam and Dr. Gobinder are not just creating skincare—they are creating a movement to redefine beauty standards, emphasising that all skin tones deserve attention, care, and celebration. As Rock Melan continues to educate and empower the South Asian community, they remind us that embracing and caring for melanin-rich skin is not only a beautiful and healthy way to shine but also a responsibility to pass on to future generations.
