During one of her visits to Morocco in 2007, Kahina founder and CEO Katharine L’Heureux discovered the amazing skin care capabilities of Argan oil. She realized that in addition to using the oil to create a luxurious and effective organic skincare line, she could also make a positive difference in the lives of the people who produce it as well. Her goal: creating exceptional products and experiences while supporting women, protecting natural resources, and preserving traditions.

Katharine’s interest and gratitude for what nature has to offer started during her childhood: “I was raised on a vineyard in the Napa Valley, and I think that experience gave me a real love of nature and an appreciation of the environment. Back in 2000, my husband and I purchased a 70 acre piece of land in New York’s Hudson Valley, where I soon developed a passion for organic gardening, and became interested in the healing power of plants. That’s when I first began to make the connection between what we put on our skin, and what goes into our systems. But back then, it was difficult to find truly effective natural skincare products on the market.”

Katharine never really gave much thought into creating her own line of skincare products, that is, until that trip to Morocco.

“Argan oil turned out to be the skincare solution I had been searching for for a long time: effective, organic and with the possibility of making a positive difference in the lives of the people who produce it, the Berber women who extract the oil. ”

And so, Kahina Giving Beauty was born, a name that honors the hardworking Berber women of Morocco who inhabit the Argan forest and produce the oil, while at the same time referring to a Berber queen and prophetess who reigned over North Africa in the 8th century.

Katharine: “I didn’t really have any experience in the beauty industry when we started out, or with manufacturing and sales. On one hand, this was a good thing, as it allowed me to be able to think outside of the box, but it also meant sometimes having to reinvent the wheel –

I didn’t even know what a simple purchase order was, for instance. Compliance with cosmetic regulations, dealing with Moroccan suppliers in a foreign language, logistics, customs – these were all things I had to figure out while doing it. Thankfully, I had the support of my family and some very talented friends. And Google!

Despite not knowing what she was getting herself into, the brand quickly took off. A large bulk of the work was being taken care of by a lean team operating from Katharine’s loft in Manhattan’s MeatPacking district. However they were already in communication with international distributors, such as Amazingy.

More than just a pretty bottle

What makes Kahina stand out from other organic skincare lines is that it was one of the pioneers in the field of ‘luxury organics’, bringing both efficacy, luxury and the promise of sustainability to their products.

“What really makes us stand out is, in my opinion, our dedication to sustainability from the ground up. We source the best organic ingredients, we use recycled and recyclable packaging, and we support the women who extract the precious Argan oil at the heart of our line.”

While Katharine loves dreaming up ideas for new products and researching ingredients, she considers herself more of an ‘armchair chemist’:
“I leave the making of the product to those who really understand chemistry. Instead, I travel frequently to personally source the oil, paying regular visits to the small village in the Anti-Atlas Mountains, where it is produced, ensuring that attention is paid to the proper harvesting and extraction techniques. When I’m not travelling, I’m in my office, which happens to be in my apartment in Manhattan. My day starts at 6.45, when I wake up to get my youngest child breakfast and off to school. I usually get some emails done over morning coffee. We’re a small company, so I have to wear many hats; I spend most of my time communicating with retailers and suppliers, meeting with the team, doing interviews, and developing new products.”

As challenging as it may sound, trying to combine owning a company and having a family, Katharine considers herself to be fortunate in being able to do what she loves.
“Being the owner of a small business and at the same time being a mom means that I never really get to be off duty. The great thing about working from home is that I can be there when my kids return from school. In between the traveling, the work, and my kids, I try to fit in some sort of exercise routine, whether it’s a yoga class, some time spent on a treadmill, or a walk along the Hudson River.”

Inspiration is not something Katharine has to look far and wide for.
“New York City and nature, that’s where I find tons of inspiration. I get especially inspired by the people I see on the street, and I love visiting the galleries in my neighborhood. When we spend time in our Hudson Valley Home on weekends, I try to make time for reading, hiking and working in the garden. Last but not least, I draw inspiration from my travels to Morocco, exploring the lively souks and spending time with the Berber women.”

Transitioning from mainstream beauty products to organic cosmetics can be daunting at first, especially if you’re not sure what to expect or how your skin will react. Katharine has one major tip for anyone switching to organic cosmetics:

“Be patient. Your skin may need time to make the transition to natural and organic products. But the payoff is great – healthy skin, wonderful scents to enjoy, and the knowledge that you aren’t harming your system, or the environment.”

Katharine has some specific tips for different skin types on how to get the most out of the Kahina Products.
“I believe in layering products in order to create a program that is individually tailored to your skin type.” Katherine herself uses every single product from the Kahina line on most days. “For cold New York winters, I especially need to layer to get the desired effect.”

Her recommendations are as followed:

For acne prone/combination skin:
AM: Cleanser, Toning Mist and Argan Oil. Optional: Brightening Serum between Toning Mist and Argan Oil.
Eyes: Eye Serum
PM: Cleanser, Toning Mist and Argan Oil, again with the option of using the Brightening Serum as well.
Eyes: Eye Cream
Twice Weekly: Antioxidant Mask

For dry and mature skin:
AM: Cleanser, Toning Mist, Serum and Facial Lotion. Optional: Brightening Serum between Toning Mist and Serum.
Eyes: Eye Serum and Eye Cream
PM: Cleanser, Toning Mist, Serum and Night Cream. Optional: Brightening Serum between Toning Mist and Serum,
Eyes: Eye Serum and Eye Cream
Twice Weekly: Antioxidant Mask

For sensitive skin:
AM: Cleanser, Toning Mist, Argan Oil and Facial Lotion
Eyes: Eye Serum
PM: Cleanser, Toning Mist, Argan Oil and Facial Lotion
Eyes: Eye Cream
Once weekly: Antioxidant Mask

As Katharine regularly travels long distances, she gladly shares a bonus tip for maintaining your skin during flights: “I always have a Toning Mist, and the Lip and Face Balm within reach on my long-distance flights. I slather the balm on my face to seal in moisture and prevent moisture loss, and spray with the Toning Mist regularly to refresh my skin throughout the flight.”

Just a couple of months ago, Katharine launched a new product in her line, the Moroccan Beldi Soap. “I’m a big fan of visiting hammam’s whenever I travel to Morocco, it helps tremendously with rejuvenating and relaxing after a long flight.” The Beldi soap, ‘beldi’ in Moroccan meaning ‘authentic’, is traditionally used in hammams to soften the skin and prep it for exfoliation. With the luxurious gel-like soap scented with eucalyptus, you can bring a little piece of this ancient grooming tradition into your home, knowing that at the same time, you’re helping to preserve that tradition as well.