Bette Walker Photography

Girrrrrrl, I’m about to save your @$$ this holiday season.  The Kahina Giving Beauty Glow Box is the best Green Beauty gift set I’ve seen for under $100.  It contains Kahina’s organic, fair trade argan oil, a beautifully wrapped handmade rosemary lavender argan soap and their intoxicating FEZ body serum.  Not only is it a fantastic sampling of Kahina’s life-changing, eco-conscious product line, the packaging is so beautiful – all you need to do is tie a ribbon around the box.  Done and done.  Why haven’t you bought five of these already?  Cost: $75.  Purchase it here.

And because you should know a thing or two about what exactly you are giving this holiday, (hint: when you give the Glow Box, you are doing more than just gifting your sister some high-end argan oil) read on for an informative and inspiring Q&A with Kahina Giving Beauty’s founder, Katharine L’Heureux.

BB:  There are so many Argan oil companies out there.  What makes Kahina Giving Beauty different?

KGB:  There are quite a few companies selling argan oil and claiming argan oil as an ingredient in their formulations now.   This wasn’t the case at all when we launched Kahina in 2009.  At that time, argan oil was hardly known and people were reluctant to use pure oil on their faces.  Times have really changed and argan oil has become extremely popular.  As is often the case with popularity, companies tend to jump on trends without attention to details that ensure quality.   We have always gone to great lengths to ensure that our oil is of the highest quality, carefully harvested and produced using the best extraction techniques, then packaged with an eye toward preserving the ingredient.  We create thoughtful formulations using high concentrations of argan oil with other high quality, carefully sourced ingredients from around the world, with as much organic content as possible to create products that really work and that have a minimal impact on the environment.

BB:  Kahina is Fair Trade.  What does that really mean for the women who work at your co-op?

KGB:  Purchasing certified Fair Trade Argan Oil means that women are paid a fair wage for their work and that a percentage of the purchase price of the oil goes to programs that support them.  At Kahina Giving Beauty, we go beyond Fair Trade requirements and donate an additional percentage of our revenue to support the Berber women of Morocco.  Kahina provides support to these women in the areas of health, literacy, work education and increased opportunity.

BB: What are your favorite, cannot-live-without beauty products?

KGB: I use the entire Kahina line everyday.  The product I’m especially loving right now is our FEZ Hand and Body Balm.  Other products I use on an almost daily basis are Suntegrity 5 in 1 Moisturizing Sunscreen, W3LL People Foundation Concealer, Yarok Feed Your Volume for hair, and Ilia lipstick in Arabian Nights.  

BB: Kahina Giving Beauty was somewhat of a happy accident; you “discovered” an amazing product while on vacation.  What drove you to persist in establishing and growing your company?

KGB: I strongly felt that there was a need in the market for beautifully packaged, organic skincare that delivered, but I was also driven by my love for Morocco and desire to help the impoverished women of that country.  

BB: You are a mother.  What do you hope your children, particularly your daughter, learn from you and your venture with Kahina Giving Beauty?

KGB: I hope I set an example for them to live consciously, compassionately, and healthfully.  I hope to show them that they can create, and succeed, while helping people and the planet.

Thank you, Katharine!

Happy Shopping, Bare Beauties!

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