We hear more and more from brands who are seeking to ‘give back’, but few are doing so on such a grand scale as New Zealand skincare line KAEĀ. 

We recently met founder and eco-preneur Suzan Craig on a trip to London to launch KAEĀ, which debuts with a capsule collection of four products co-created with aromatherapy guru Danièle Ryman (and that always gets our antennae wobbling excitedly, since Danièle is one of the most gifted aromachologists/formulators we’ve ever known.) 

Back in 2004, Suzan set about preserving a 780-acre chunk of New Zealand as a nature sanctuary, Tahi. This was a seriously depleted piece of land but is now thriving and biodiverse; it is home to bees who produce one of the only biodiversity-positive Manuka honeys in the world – an ingredient which has been harnessed in KAEĀ’s products. As Suzan explains, ‘KAEĀ’s guiding principle is to put sustainability and quality at the heart of everything we do. Our business is run by nature, for nature, and we are committed to continuing to challenge ourselves and the industry to find more sustainable ways to bring to you the products you need, in a way the planet can cope with.’ 

The products – which aren’t inexpensive – are all water-free and packaged in easily recyclable glass, and are as follows… 

The Cleanser Multi-Active Gel Balm/£79 for 50ml. With Tahi 15+ Manuka honey in the blend, together with cleansing and healing NZ botanicals Kumerahou and Horopito, this rich, gel-like balm melts away make-up, leaving skin soothed, cleansed and revitalised. Slather more generously, and it can double as a mask. (Though you’ll get through the jar pretty fast, we feel.) 

Vitaliser Elixir Multi-Omega Face Oil/£125 for 30ml. Featuring 26+ cell-nourishing actives, including seed oils of blackcurrant, Sacha inchi seed oil and New Zealand Harakeke, this is a light oil that should be layered beneath your day or night product, clinically proven to improve skin firmness by 77%, KAEÃ tell us. 

Multi-Nutrient Face Balm/£105 for 30ml. A waterless balm that you smooth into skin and use as a moisturiser, powered by that biodiversity-positive 15+ Manuka honey, working to improve hydration and elasticity while helping to tackle redness. 

Multi-Essential SOS Balm/£95 for 30ml. The one for skin that’s playing up and troubled, a water-free ‘rescue balm’ powered by that potent anti-bacterial honey, again, alongside other soothing botanicals. Great for grazes and rashes, they promise, or post-shaving. 

There’s also a Starter Set of introductory sizes/£76, at contentbeautywellbeing.com.

Tahi scooped New Zealand’s ‘Most Sustainable Business’ Award in 2020. And one day, we hope, every business will be run in such an environmentally aware and caring way… 

£79-125 – buy here 

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