Yemi Yilma was inspired to create Kenatae because of the beauty rituals she saw growing up. Yilma was born and raised in Ethiopia, where natural beauty was all around her. Nourishment was key, nourishing the skin and nourishing the soul. She grew up with women who used coffee and honey to moisturize their skin and hair.
“They would take time to butter up their hair, butter up their face, really believing in that deep nourishment for radiant skin,” she said, adding that she gravitated to skin care and beauty.
Those rituals using natural ingredients were simple, intentional and effective. It was Yilma’s dream to combine the natural ingredients that she used to nourish her skin with the science of modern actives. Kenatae means from my mother in Amharic. For Yilma, it represents natural beauty that has been carried through generations.
“It’s a symbol of beauty that is passed down, ingredient wisdom and love carried through generations. It didn’t come from a lab, it just came from this ritual in beauty that has been passed down from mother to daughter,” she said.
The first product, Radiant Shield, is an antioxidant oil serum that uses chlorogenic acid (CGA). Yilma described Radiant Shield as part of the Ethiopian ritual of renewal for skin because it has coffee and honey in it. She said in Ethiopia, coffee is used on the face, to darken gray hair, as a scrub and as an invigorator. As Yilma was doing her research, she discovered the CGA in green coffee is a very powerful antioxidant that helps with minimizing fine lines and wrinkles. CGA also helps support collagen production, defends against environmental stressors and promotes healthier, more resilient-looking skin.
Yilma set out to find green coffee extract that had a high CGA that would give the user the skin hydration and anti-aging benefits, while leveraging the beauty rituals that are performed in Ethiopia. It also has squalane, ferulic acid and Vitamin E to further elevate it. Yilma said that Radiant Shield gives users a luminous finish and after a couple of weeks the skin will look more nourished. Users will also notice a lit from within glow and a silky luminous look to the skin. She said it will give the users a deep hydration that makes skin bounce and give it elasticity. Because it is a light oil serum, it can be applied after any water-based serums and before a moisturizer. Yilma said for people who use it in the morning, she recommends wearing a sunscreen. It is suitable for all skin types and will not clog pores.
Yilma said the green coffee oil for Radiant Shield has been extracted using CO2 extraction, which makes it more stable and more potent. People who have used Radiant Shield said it sank into their skin and left a radiant glow. They also like the chocolate scent that they described as invigorating and the feel on the skin. In addition to Radiant Shield, there is a brightening mask and a nourishing hydration mask.
“Keeping in line with what I always refer to as ritual of renewal, my philosophy for skin health is that nourished skin is radiant skin, nourished skin is beautiful skin, nourished skin is healthy skin,” she said.
With that in mind, Yilma focused on masks that use all natural ingredients. The brightening mask has Teff, Fenugreek and Turmeric, which brighten and smooth. She said that over time users will see a brighter, more even skin tone. The nourishing hydration mask has flaxseeds in it, which is rich in Omega fatty oils. It is a deep moisturizing cream that gives cushiony hydration. Both masks can be worn for 20 minutes, then removed. Yilma’s suggested regime is to use the brightening mask twice a week, use the nourishing hydration mask twice a week and use the Radiant Shield daily.
“We’re taking this time-honored ingredient wisdom that has been passed from mother to daughter and elevating it with modern science and ingredient purity and potency,” she said.
