What is your background and what inspired you to found Nyakio?

I’m the founder of nyakio Beauty. nyakio is a clean and green skincare line inspired by my family beauty secrets, my girlfriends beauty secrets and the beauty secrets I’ve learned in my travels.  My grandmother was a Kenyan Coffee Farmer and my grandfather was a medicine man.

I read how watching your grandmother hand make her own beauty products in Kenya was influential. What did you learn from her and how does she continue to inspire you today?

My grandmother shared her recipe for Kenyan Coffee scrub when I was visiting her in Kenya at age 8, this is my beauty journey began.  :)  She would take Kenyan Coffee Beans from the farm and crush them, add oils, and use sugarcane rods to exfoliate her skin.  “Nyakio” means “hardworking”, and as her namesake she and her legacy influence me everyday.

Why was having a clean beauty line important to you?

I learned at an early age the importance of “clean” beauty and using natural ingredients, that weren’t full of chemicals were the best way to treat the skin.  My grandfather, a medicine man,  had the ability to go out in nature and extract oils to treat the skin and ailments. These lessons taught me about the restorative power of using clean ingredients that come from the earth to treat the skin.

How do you think sun safety is an important element of health and beauty?

Sun safety is crucial when it comes to health and beauty. Sun protection is important 365 days a year.  As a woman of color, I really want to help spread that message to our communities. The beauty industry has work to to do in sharing that messaging in a bigger way, especially with people of color, and I hope that I can help to move the needle with this important movement.

How do you integrate sun safety into your beauty routine?

I wear sunscreen every single day. Not only do I wear sunscreen on my face and neck, but on my hands as well, since we get sun exposure when driving. Sunscreen helps to protect us from harmful rays, but it also helps to reduce the signs of aging.  If you’re worried about your Vitamin D intake, wear sunscreen to protect your skin and ask your doctor about boosting your Vitamin D with a supplement! :)

For more on Nyakio, go here