Kawakawa Healing Skincare - From Tasman Bay, New Zealand
New Zealand is a gateway to medicinal plants with restorative powers. For centuries, Māori have harnessed these plants to calm, protect and nourish the skin.

Kawakawa is found throughout Kara’s skincare range – delivering anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and antispasmodic relief.

Gentle on our skin, Earth and wallet.
Tough on skin conditions and microbes.


How is Kara's Kawakawa Healing skincare range formulated and made?
While creating a new product, Kara carefully formulates, tests and reformulates until the product is perfect.
From there, it is processed in small batches to guarantee consistency and potency.
All products are made in a sanitised space, always wearing clean gloves and aprons.

Kara’s unique extraction process is what gives her products a distinctive potency. While we won’t give away all her secrets, kawakawa leaves are steeped in Coconut Oil, Olive Oil or Sweet Almond Oil for a minimum of 4 weeks at a low temperature. At this point, the oil has a rich earthy kawakawa aroma and distinctive dark green colouring.

Kara’s Healing Balm, Body Butter, Kawakawa Soap, Face Lotion, Body Lotion, Harakeke Soap, and Scentsless Deodorant are made without essential oils or additives. This makes them safe for sensitive skin, babies and animals.
The rest of Kara’s Kawakawa Healing Skincare products are lightly scented with low quantities of essential oils. They are kept well within best practices and safe amounts while also considering sensitive skin. This way, anyone with sensitive skin can enjoy all products and are unlikely to have a reaction.
Formulas use minimal, select ingredients that have purpose and power.
No pointless ingredients, fillers, or harsh chemicals.

I like to keep it real – real ingredients that real people can afford.

Mild preservatives are added to water-containing products and products that come in contact with water. These include body lotion, face lotion, shampoo bars, conditioner bars, and shave bars. These preservatives protect the integrity of the active ingredients – so they can be enjoyed over a long time.

Every scoop, slather and lather is a skin-serving experience that doesn’t compromise the environment.


How is kawakawa harvested?
Kawakawa is harvested by hand in the Marlborough Sounds. Kara’s process respects New Zealand’s heritage, ancestors and future generations by honouring Māori tradition and sustainable practice.
Care is taken to not break branches, disrupt the surroundings, or over-pick plants. We pick only the leaves with the most holes and only a few from each tree.

The looper caterpillar favours potent kawakawa leaves, leaving holes as they forage. These are the leaves we pick, as they are rich in active medicinal compounds

We take only what’s needed and return any spare flora to the Earth. Honestly, there usually isn’t excess as we use all of the plant, including the stalks.
Harvested kawakawa is washed in clean water before processing.


Kara Kawa Packaging
Minimal, eco-friendly packaging is always at the forefront of Kara Kawa products.
From formulating and manufacturing to posting the finished product – Kara leaves a minimal footprint. During manufacture, Kara actively sources compostable, biodegradable, reusable, and recyclable products like piping bags, cling film, and glassware.
Packaging is minimal and recyclable – including compostable cardboard, recyclable plastic tubs, glass tubs and bottles, and kraft card packaging printed with natural vegan ink.
Where possible, containers are abandoned altogether – for example, Kara’s Shampoo Bars, Conditioner Bars and Shave Bars.
Finished products are delivered in compostable postage bags.


Kawakawa Healing Balm Uses
Kara’s 5-star-rated Kawakawa Healing Balm is powered by plants for ultimate skin relief.

It’s a hardworking multitasker, the type of product you keep on hand for every occasion: chapped lips, dry cuticles, cuts, grazes, aches or pains. As a natural multipurpose salve, use it for any and every part of your skin that experiences dryness, pain or swelling.
Its ideal home would be in your handbag, nappy bag, car glove box, first-aid kit, travel bag or on your bathroom counter.

4 Modes of Action, One Balm
Based on the traditional use of Kawakawa:
– Hydrates and seals in moisture
– Calms inflammation and irritation
– Prevents and combats bacterial and fungal infections
– Relaxes muscular cramps

For more on Kawakawa’s incredible benefits, read this complete guide to Kawakawa’s therapeutic qualities.

You can read all about Kara Kawa’s harvesting and extraction process here.

101+ Uses
We’re not one for bragging, but here’s why our customers love Kawakawa Healing Balm…
Helps support recovery of:

Cuts
Burns
Eczema
Bruising
Swelling
Alopecia
Psoriasis
Scratches
Cold Sores
Skin Rashes
Nappy Rash
Insect Bites
Dribble Rash
Fresh Tattoos
Cracked Nipples
Acne and Pimples
Fungal Infections
Dry, Cracked Skin and Lips