Tikitoro: Frustrated by the lack of safe options for her child, Prasanna Vasanadu took matters into her own hands and created Tikitoro—personal care that’s free from harmful ingredients, delivers real results, and makes safety the top priority. No more compromises, just fun, safe, and effective routines for kids and teens!
When did you start your journey as an entrepreneur?
I started my entrepreneurial journey in 2020, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Growing up, I struggled with PCOD, infertility treatments, hypothyroidism, and alopecia areata, so I knew firsthand how hormonal imbalances could affect the body. When I became a mom, I became even more conscious of my son’s health. He was just 5 years old then, and like any parent, I wanted to give him the cleanest food, the safest home, and the best products to use.
Children were exposed to so many toxins, and it was affecting them in ways we don’t always realize—girls hitting puberty earlier, rising cases of hyperactivity and ADHD, and harmful ingredients hidden in everyday products. My heart ached, not just for my son but for all kids out there. I knew something had to change, but I had no idea where to start or who to turn to.
After months of research, I finally had a realization that change wasn’t going to happen on its own. If I wanted things to be different, I had to make it happen. And that’s how Tikitoro was born! While in isolation, I started talking to parents across India, trying to understand their struggles in finding safe, age-appropriate personal care products for their kids. That’s when I realized there was a huge gap in the market.
Since then, it’s been an amazing journey full of learning, challenges, and the joy of knowing we’re making a real difference.
How does Tikitoro ensure that its products are both safe and effective for growing skin and hair, and what scientific research supports this approach?
Revised: Our formulations are developed in collaboration with experts, keeping in mind the specific needs of growing skin and hair. Kids’ and teens’ skin is more sensitive than adults’, so using the wrong products can lead to irritation, hormonal disruption, or long-term skin damage.
We ensure our products are:
- Free from endocrine disruptors, which have been linked to early puberty and hormonal imbalances.
- Non-IFRA compliant fragrance-free, meaning we don’t use synthetic fragrances that can trigger allergies.
- Certified safe by Safe Cosmetics Australia, so parents can trust that every product is truly non-toxic and effective.
- Paediatrician-verified & dermatologically tested – Every formulation is reviewed to ensure it is gentle, effective, and completely safe for kids and teens.
- Non-comedogenic & pH-balanced (5 to 5.5) – Designed to support skin health without clogging pores or disrupting the skin’s natural barrier.
Beyond certifications, We test and review our product with our parent focus group before every launch. And I personally test the products. If I wouldn’t use it for my child, I wouldn’t sell it to anyone else.
In a competitive personal care market, how does Tikitoro differentiate itself in terms of sustainability and ingredient sourcing?
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for us. It’s embedded in everything we do. All of our packaging is made from recyclable, high-value HDPE plastic, which is recyclable and doesn’t end up in landfills. We take it a step further by ensuring plastic neutrality. For every bottle we sell, we remove an equivalent amount of plastic from the environment, we are doing this in partnership with Recircle.
Our ingredient sourcing is also incredibly thoughtful. We use naturally derived actives in the right percentages for different age groups, making our products both safe and effective. We are not just protecting children’s skin but also being responsible to the planet.
Plus, let’s be honest—clean beauty is often expensive. We are committed to making our products affordable because every child deserves safe personal care, not just those whose parents can afford premium-priced brands.
What role does consumer education play in Tikitoro’s marketing strategy, particularly around the importance of using non-toxic, safe ingredients for children and teens?
A massive role! Parents today are becoming more conscious, but there’s still a lot of confusion about what’s actually safe. Just because a product says “natural” on the label doesn’t mean it’s free from toxins. That’s why we focus a lot on educating parents—through social media content, and other direct engagement.
We talk about everything from how to read ingredient labels to understanding the impact of endocrine disruptors. The goal isn’t just to sell products but to empower parents to make informed choices, whether they buy from us or not.
How does Tikitoro balance fun and playfulness in product design with the seriousness of formulating safe, high-quality personal care solutions for young users?
At Tikitoro, we believe that personal care should be both safe and fun. Kids don’t want “boring” products that feel like medicine. They want colors, fun, and a sense of excitement. But that doesn’t mean compromising on safety.
Our approach is to make personal care engaging. The idea is to get kids and teens excited about self-care while ensuring that parents feel confident about the safety of what they’re using.
It’s a win-win: Kids enjoy using our products, and parents don’t have to worry about hidden nasties in the ingredients.
What are the potential long-term health impacts of using products with harsh chemicals in childhood, and how does Tikitoro address these concerns?
Many people don’t realize that the products we use on kids today can have effects that last a lifetime. What we put on our bodies gets absorbed into the skin within 20 Secs and gets absorbed enough to within 25 minutes to excrete it all. Exposure to endocrine disruptors (like phthalates, parabens, and artificial fragrances) in early childhood has been linked to:
- Early puberty
- Hormonal imbalances
- Increased risk of allergies and skin conditions
- Attention issues like ADHD and more.
At Tikitoro, we eliminate these risks by removing all known toxic chemicals from our formulations. Our focus is on long-term health, not just short-term skin benefits. Because skincare isn’t just about looking good—it’s about protecting young, developing bodies from harm.
What challenges did Prasanna Vasanadu face during the creation of Tikitoro, and how did her personal experiences as a parent influence the development of the brand’s products and philosophy?
So many challenges! When you start something from scratch, especially in a niche category, you face a lot of resistance. My personal journey as a parent fueled my determination to create a safe, effective, and age-appropriate personal care brand for kids and teens.
As a mother, I knew firsthand how difficult it was to find clean and effective products for my son. My experience with PCOD, hypothyroidism, and hormonal imbalances made me acutely aware of the impact that environmental toxins can have on health. I couldn’t ignore it—and I didn’t want other parents to feel as lost as I did when trying to make safe choices.
Another challenge was educating parents. Many were unaware that what we apply to our skin gets absorbed in seconds and that some common ingredients in kids’ personal care could lead to early puberty, hormonal imbalances, and skin sensitivities. I spent months conducting market research during the pandemic, speaking with parents across India to understand their concerns. What I found was that most parents were using whatever was available, not because they were happy with it, but because there were no better alternatives.
I also faced product development hurdles—formulating clean, dermatologically tested, and paediatrician-approved products that were not just safe but also fun and engaging for kids. It took multiple iterations, trials, and feedback from our parent focus group to get the formulations just right.
So, I turned that frustration into action. I researched obsessively, collaborated with experts, and refused to cut corners. Today, Tikitoro is more than just a brand—it’s a movement towards safer personal care for kids and teens.
At Tikitoro, our philosophy is simple: If I wouldn’t use it for my child, I wouldn’t sell it to anyone else. Every product is non-toxic, non-comedogenic, pH-balanced (5 to 5.5), and free from endocrine disruptors. The goal was not just to create a brand, but to set a new standard in kids’ personal care—one that prioritizes both safety and efficacy without compromise.
Despite the challenges, seeing Tikitoro grow and gain the trust of Lakh of parents has been the most rewarding part of our journey.
How did Prasanna Vasanadu’s personal experiences with raising a child and navigating the challenges of finding safe, effective personal care products inform her approach to creating Tikitoro, and how does the brand balance practical safety concerns with the desire to make self-care fun and engaging for kids and teens?
As a mom, I always wanted the best for my child. Baby products were too mild, not cleaning him well enough, while adult products were too harsh for his young skin. I spoke to parents across India and realized I wasn’t alone—many were using whatever was available, not because they were happy with it, but because there were no better choices. We believe honesty and safety are such big parts of Tikitoro.
We balance safety and fun by:
- Using age-appropriate, non-toxic ingredients
- Creating products that feel exciting for kids to use
- Ensuring everything is dermatologist-tested and safe for long-term use
For me, Tikitoro isn’t just a business. It’s a commitment—to my son, to other parents, and to the next generation. Because every child deserves products that keep them safe while letting them enjoy the fun side of self-care.
