ABOUT SHALINI VADHERA:
In celebration of South Asian Heritage Month, it’s only fitting to spotlight a woman from the community whose story is not just rewriting the beauty industry playbook, but launching it into entirely new frontiers.
Shalini Vadhera, a global beauty expert, bestselling author, and serial entrepreneur, is the first founder, and the first South Asian female founder, to launch a certified and makeup brand into space, a monumental milestone that further cements her legacy as a bold innovator and fierce advocate for women’s empowerment.
As the founder and CEO of Ready Set Jet, Shalini made history when her skincare and makup formulations officially certified for space travel after 8 months of rigorous testing by space flight specialists, engineers and scientists and now they’re officially on the manifest aboard the 2025 Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station. Her brand is the first in the world to be officially certified for space travel. Built on the idea of fusing ancient global beauty rituals with modern scientific innovation, Ready Set Jet is leading the way in performance skincare that works on Earth and in orbit.
For Shalini, this is far more than a personal victory. It represents a vision she’s nurtured for nearly two decades, one that blends science, storytelling, and centuries-old beauty rituals into high-performance products that honour every skin tone and every heritage. With over $100 million in beauty products developed and sold globally, she has formulated for Hollywood films like Baywatch, top influencers, and placed her brand’s retailers including Sephora, QVC, Nordstrom, CVS, and Victoria’s Secret. In 2006, she became the first South Asian woman to launch a beauty brand into mainstream retail, breaking barriers in a space where few women of colour had a seat at the table.
Shalini’s expertise is grounded in over 20 years of research into ancient beauty traditions and global ingredient sourcing. Known as the “go-to global formulator,” she has created a unique beauty philosophy.that bridges ancient wisdom with cutting-edge innovation. Her appearances on NBC, CNN, The Doctors, The Today Show, and Dr Oz have made her a trusted voice in the world of wellness and beauty.
Don’t wait for a seat at the table, build your own table.
Her work has been recognized with prestigious accolades, including:
Yet perhaps the most powerful element of Shalini’s work lies in her commitment to building a better world for women. After surviving a life-changing moment, her car being struck by lightning en route to meet a Korean master, Shalini felt called to do more.
That moment became the catalyst for launching Power Beauty Living, a platform dedicated to vocational training, financial opportunity, and mentorship for underserved women. She introduced the initiative on the floor of the United Nations in 2016, and it eventually evolved into Pass the Baton, a core mission within Ready Set Jet that focuses on creating level playing field oppotunities for women with a goal of global financial empowerment for all women no matter their socio-economic status.
Shalini also leads Passport to Beauty and The Vadhera Collective, further proving that her expertise and drive know no bounds. From red carpets to rocket launches, Shalini Vadhera is proving that beauty isn’t just about products. It’s about purpose, possibility, and paving the way for others.
Her work honours her South Asian roots while reaching for the stars, literally. In doing so, she reminds us all that when women lead with vision, passion, and pride in where they come from, there are no limits to how far they can go.
Q&A WITH SHALINI VADHERA:
What is your most valuable possession and why?
My most valuable possession is my resilience. It’s not something you can buy, but it’s what’s carried me through life setbacks and allowed me to get back up and still have the courage to rise, reinvent, and keep building. Without resilience, there would be no Ready Set Jet.
What are your top 3 life lessons and how have they changed your life for the better (in other words, how have you implemented them to better your life)?
- Follow your intuition, even when it’s inconvenient. I ignored red flags and would try to paint them white and it never worked out for me. In fact the times I chose not to follow my gut, it cost me dearly. Now I trust my gut—it never lies.
- Build something bigger than yourself and let your purpose guide you. When I aligned my brand with the Pass The Baton initiative of empowering women globally, everything shifted—from investor alignment to personal purpose.
- Your story is your power. I used to get asked why I was so honest about sharing some of the trials and tribulations I had gone through as a female founder,and it used to make me second guess myself for wanting to share my journey to hopefully help other women on their own. I remember getting to a point that I stopped sharing, but now I own every chapter. Sharing my journey from starting my first brand out of my garage into Sephora to global impact lets others see what’s possible.
What is the most valuable advice you’ve received and how did it set you up to win?
“Don’t wait for a seat at the table—build your own table.” That advice lit a fire in me. And, by the way, when I did get to the “table” I was usually the only woman. I took that advice literally and created my own brands, my own stage, and my own impact platform. That’s how Passport To Beauty was born, and now, it’s how Ready Set Jet is redefining beauty on a global—and interstellar—level.
My most valuable possession is my resilience. It’s not something you can buy, but it’s what’s carried me through life setbacks and allowed me to get back up.
What is the worst advice you’ve received and how did it impact you?
“Tone it down—don’t rock the boat.” I listened to that for most of my younger years. Maybe it was cultural for an Indian girl not to have an opinion or create any potential conflict by voicing herself, so I made myself smaller, quieter, less ambitious because the opinions and strength I knew I had inside me made so many people uncomfortable. And I lost myself. I was miserable because I knew my voice mattered and that I was destined for something more. It took years to unlearn that message and reclaim my space unapologetically.
What is the one mistake you regret in life, and why?
Letting the wrong people stay in my life—and in my business—far longer than they deserved. I’ve learned the hard way that loyalty without discernment can be dangerous. I gave too many second chances, and allowed toxic energies to affect me. I’ve learned to build firmer boundaries and protect my peace, my brand, and my power. Who you keep close can either fuel your growth—or destroy everything you’ve built.
When you face a challenge, what’s your method to move past it?
I give myself 24 hours to feel everything and think about all options. Then I shift into strategy. I consult my trusted inner circle of sages and immediately start navigating around the challenge. Also learning the art of detachment makes it easier to move thru challenges as you are able to make decisions based on facts vs emotions.
One of the best pieces of advice I received was from a Monk who told me that focusing on the old story or the negative was no different than buying and drinking expired milk. It’s expired – throw it in the trash and buy new milk – or look for a new way to do things.
How do you create a work-life balance?
I don’t believe in balance—I believe in alignment. If my mission aligns with my soul, my work becomes part of my life’s purpose. But I do schedule me time—for walks with my dogs, dinners with friends, and travel that fuels my soul and inspires me to stay in that state of wonder. But it’s definitely something I need to be mindful of, I can easily get caught up in ‘work work work’ mode!
I don’t believe in balance, I believe in alignment.
What “women” hangups have you been a victim to, that you feel sets women up to fail in their professional career?
I have really seen the best behavior from women and the worst behavior from women. The attitude that we can’t all win because there is a limited supply of opportunities and room for women is so lack driven. And it’s everything I stand against which is why I launched the Pass The Baton initiative in Ready Set Jet to build a global community of women who understand that when we collaborate we are so much more powerful than when we compete. I want more women to realize that when you join forces and have the right tribe it’s a force multiplier!
Are you affected by the Confidence Gap?
Absolutely. Early on, I felt I had to over-prove my worth—especially as a South Asian woman being raised with the traditional Indian thinking of not being too opinionated or too loud. I had the skills but not the confidence. Now, I know confidence comes from doing. Every win, every no I turned into a yes—that built my confidence.
What does equality mean to you and is it important?
Equality is not about being the same, it’s about having the same access to opportunity, investment, mentorship, and leadership. It’s vital. Without it, innovation suffers, communities suffer. We launched Ready Set Jet focusing on bringing funding in from women investors. We taught a lot of women how to invest and even opened up a 70 day campaign for women who could not afford to come into our larger rounds to own equity in a global beauty company for as little as $100.00. I did this to create level playing field opportunities for women to be able to walk into a room and say they were an investor and stand level with men.
I recently met Cherie Blair (ex prime minister Tony Blair’s wife) she talked about the inequality of women receiving investment. She said that if the world invested in female founded companies at the same rate men recieved investment, the GDP would increase $5 Trillion dollars and the GDP in India alone would increase by 27% – how’s that for some stats!
In your experience, what types of male allyship do you feel women need to foster?
There are a lot of good men out there. I call them my manbassadors! We need men who don’t just say they’re allies—but act like it. That means advocating for women in rooms where we aren’t, sharing resources, mentorship and network building. My male ally’s have always been the force to move the needle forward for me.
What would you tell your 18-year-old self, looking back over your life’s experiences?
To trust your inner voice and drown out the noise around you. Don’t let anyone dim your light. Your voice, your story, your ambition—they will all change the world one day. And not everyone is going to like you – don’t take it personally – who cares, just stay true to yourself and your goals.
What advice would you give to women to help them step into their power?
Own your narrative. Don’t wait for permission. The world needs your version of leadership. Create your lane and invite others in—it’s amazing what a like minded group of women can help you achieve!
Can you share one resource (book, course, mastermind/masterclass, etc.) that you feel all women need to have?
A good community that supports your goals, dreams and gives you the resources you need to achieve them. And start attending events like SXSW or Step conference where you can hear different women speak on their journeys while also getting to network with women on the same journey as you.
What mantra do you live by and how has it impacted your life?
“Why compromise?” It’s the heart of how I build my brands and a value system that is deep in Ready Set Jet. I won’t compromise on values, vision, or mission. And that’s what’s allowed me to build something truly revolutionary.
Which therapies/modalities have helped you heal?
Dahn Yoga – this incredible Korean Yoga that changed my life, nature, guided meditations, and good music on a long drive! The best vision work happens in the car for me .
MORE ABOUT READY SET JET:
Skincare and makeup has officially entered a new era with Ready Set Jet, a pioneering beauty and wellness brand that recently made history as the first skincare and makeup line approved for space travel. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the brand, which launched its hero products into orbit aboard the Axiom-4 mission, becoming the first female-founded, space-certified beauty brand.
Ready Set Jet was designed with the fast-paced, high-achieving woman in mind. Its clean, travel-friendly, and high-performance products have always been formulated to withstand the rigours of modern life. Now, these products are being tested under the extreme conditions of space travel, including microgravity, radiation, and dehydration. Upcoming research missions will evaluate the effectiveness of the brand’s formulas in maintaining skin hydration, supporting barrier repair, and adapting to the harsh environmental stresses of space.
What makes Ready Set Jet truly unique is its blend of biotechnology, ancient beauty traditions, and modern wellness. The brand’s formulations are powered by biotechnologically enhanced ingredients such as proprietary marine extracts, neurocosmetic adaptogens like turmeric and fermented rice (coming soon!), and space-inspired hydration systems. These ingredients are designed not only to nourish and protect the skin but also to soothe the nervous system, helping to support the skin-brain connection in both earthly and space conditions. We were lucky enough to have a leading neuroscientist invest in our company and join our research team. Her knowledge and insights have brought the brand into a holistic approach to beauty and wellness.
The brand’s solid-state beauty batons, which contain complex technologies like HydroLock Marine Matrix™ and Resilience Shield Technology™, are engineered for extreme environments. They provide hydration, soothe irritation, and protect the skin, while also offering buildable colour for lips and cheeks. These multifunctional products are portable, efficient, and designed to meet the skincare needs of women on the move—whether that’s on a long-haul flight or in zero gravity.
The mission to space also serves as a proof of concept for the brand’s commitment to performance. “If Ready Set Jet’s skincare can protect the skin in space, imagine what it can do here on Earth, the skin doesn’t lie. It remembers every fight and every flight, these formulas target how stress effects the skin, and now in even the most extreme environments,” says Shalini Vadhera, the visionary behind Ready Set Jet. Her goal is to create skincare that goes beyond surface-level beauty, offering products that deliver tangible, effective results under the most extreme conditions. This mission is part of a broader effort to push the boundaries of beauty and wellness, proving that the future of skincare lies in both innovation and performance.
Ready Set Jet’s products were subjected to extensive testing by aerospace engineers to meet the rigorous requirements for space certification. These tests included material safety, spacecraft compatibility, resistance to radiation and vibration, and structural integrity during launch. As a result, Ready Set Jet’s beauty batons passed all necessary benchmarks for human-rated payloads and are now officially registered in the AstroCertify database and on the Axiom-4 mission manifest.
Following the mission, the space-flown batons will be evaluated to assess ingredient stability and packaging integrity. These batons will be designated as Certified Space-Flown Items, with products receiving the official Space-Certified™ label. The brand’s future plans include continuing research and formulation in microgravity, ushering in a new frontier of beauty innovation that will shape the future of skincare.
To commemorate this historic achievement, Ready Set Jet will release a limited-edition Space Beauty Baton Space Box Kit, available exclusively on the brand’s website – launching soon. These collectible items feature commemorative packaging and an official Certification seal with blockchain authentication, making them a rare and valuable addition to any beauty collection.
At the heart of Ready Set Jet is a global network of female investors, scientists, and engineers, all committed to advancing beauty, biotech, and well-being. The brand’s mission goes beyond beauty products, it aims to inspire a paradigm shift in the way we think about skincare, blending the best of science, technology, and emotional wellness.
Ready Set Jet is not just about skincare; it’s about empowering women around the world to embrace their fullest potential – whether on Earth or in orbit.
To contact or learn more about Shalini Vadhera or Ready Set Jet: Web, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Shalini’s Instagram
