LI Man Forges Own Skincare Business Based On Family's Recipes

HICKSVILLE, NY — Atul Bhatara isn't just overcoming hardships, he's conquering them.

Bhatara, a Hicksville resident, is the founder and CEO of Atul Skincare. However, his family played an integral part in the research and development.

At a young age, he would stay with his grandmother in India.

"[She] would cook all the meals. Sometimes they would whip up spices in yogurt and they would put it on their face," Bhatara told Patch. "I remember that feeling from being a kid."

Those unique flavors for the face include turmeric, saffron and cinnamon.

He packed up his bags and those memories after three years with his family. He joined other relatives in a catering hall business in Queens. Once the COVID lockdown happened, Bhatara began to focus his energy elsewhere. Ultimately, his line of skin products was born.

Not before gaining a degree from St. John's University in finance. The path to entrepreneurship, though, was not easy. Bhatara, who has cerebral palsy, was unable to find a job. That's when he decided to forge his future and draw on those makeup moments from years earlier.

"Culturally, this is something that we are very used to," he said.

Bhatara also got help from a cousin, who at the time worked for JP Morgan Chase. One of his clients on Long Island ran a private skincare company. Bhatara went to the factory to discuss his idea.

"They thought I was completely crazy. They never heard of food-grade spices or spice oils to help with skin care," Bhatara said. "Especially someone with no background in skin care."

Bhatara was up for the challenge of bringing his skincare line to market, but "it's been very hard to get it out there."

Marketing helps to attract customers, and the professional-looking website introduces people to Bhatara's bio and, of course, the products, such as facial cleansers and refreshing moisturizers.

While Bhatara rolled out Atul Skincare in 2021, he admits there were gaps in the sales as his aunt and mother died in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

"But God looked out for me," he said. "I met my fiance and we live together. We should be getting married soon, so that's another chapter to look forward to."