A childhood exposed to the toxic chemicals used on her family’s banana farm on Hawai‘i Island led Kūlia Skincare (kuliaskincare.com) founder Jasmine Keeney to search for honest, well-sourced ingredients that were lacking in other beauty brands. The result was a small but powerful line of serums that quickly grew a cult following. Keeney, who now calls Kula, Maui, home, filled us in on the details.
Kūlia Skincare regenerative face serum, kuliaskincare.com PHOTO BY LE MAUI
Where do you source your ingredients?
From all over the world. Some of the most amazing ingredients only grow in specific areas, like Bulgarian rose otto from the Valley of Roses in Bulgaria, cacay seed oil from Colombia, Kalahari seed oil from the drought-stricken region of Kalahari in Africa, and, last but not least, I‘liahi (royal Hawaiian sandalwood), which is endemic to the slopes of Mauna Loa on the island of Hawai‘i.
Your serums have a ‘functional fragrance’ component. What does that mean?
There’s no fragrance in my products, but there are aromatherapy benefits from the essential oils. Rose oil helps to induce feelings of love, neroli oil is uplifting, royal Hawaiian sandalwood is amazing for centering and calming, and together they create a rounded mood enhancer for helping to uplift, ground, calm and center yourself.
Why infuse your serums with crystals?
It sounds a little woo, but I started looking into how crystals can complement plant oils that I was using to make my skincare products, and found they help to create a higher vibration when they are infused together. It’s a very subtle aspect of helping whoever uses the product to uplift their own personal vibration.
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