With a degree in fashion design, a B.S. in business management, and a minor in beauty industry management, Kama Hagar was fully immersed in the beauty and fashion industries as soon as she was able to enter the work force. She found herself drawn to the way that beauty and fashion could help people express themselves, feel empowered, and step into their most embodied, fulfilled version of self. However, it wasn't until she graduated from fashion school that the industries slowly began to eat away at Hagar, who realized that it was time for change.

“I couldn't stand how people treated one another, animals, or the planet,” says Hagar. “It felt inhumane and selfish. I knew I couldn't contribute to this industry that seconded oil in global pollution. I hit a wall so I took a vacation. I bought a one-way ticket to Maui and stayed at Mu. I had no plans but to recuperate and reset my soul. This is where Mukama Botanica was born: the eco-luxury skincare line for selfless self-care.”

Mukama Botanica is a line of sustainable skin care that is inspired by the Hawaiian jungle where Hagar lived and studied Hawaiian healing with native healers. To create her products, Hagar blended powerful healing botanicals to help address a variety of issues from scars and marks to hydrating and calming skin. Her skincare line is 100% natural and organic, handmade in the USA, and designed for all skin types.

We chatted with Hagar, who shared more about how Mukama Botanica came to be, tips for using the products, future plans for the brand, and more.

When was Mukama Botanica founded and what does the name mean?

Mukama Botanica was founded in 2017 under the name Kama Botanicals when I was just a college student. In 2019, we rebranded to Mukama Botanica and the brand as it's known today.

"Mu" is the name of the lost pacific continent and my family's jungle home, "Kama" is my first name and also the word for "child" in Hawaiian. "Mukama" means "child of Mu." This is who I am and this is who my products are.

What inspired its creation?

My dad is a rock and roll Hall of Famer who brought his entire family on the road every summer to tour the globe. I saw so many places and met so many people at such a young, impressionable age that I realized how precious life is and how vulnerable our planet is. I wasn't sheltered. I saw the amount of the trash in underprivileged cities, the waste in foreign waterways, the lack of solutions in different countries, and the absence of education and resources within our own borders. Seeing so much beauty and so much detriment made me realize that whatever I created in this life would need to take everything into consideration.

Tell us more about your skincare line and what makes it special.

Mukama Botanica is 100% natural, organic, vegan, handmade in the USA, and packaged in recycled packaging. Nothing was overlooked here. I was determined to create a business that was fully ethical from and for inside and out.

The ingredients themselves are inspired by sacred Hawaiian plants and la'au lapa'au (Hawaiian plant medicine). They are high vibrational essences and extracts that not only boost your skin, but are intended to boost your mood and well-being.

We also donate 3% of all proceeds from our first product, Skin Superfood Serum, to As You Sow—a nonprofit that effectively works with and persuades corporations to make ethics central to their decision-making. 

How do you use the products together and what are their benefits?

Our two products, Skin Superfood Serum and High Vibe Face Mist, are meant to be used consecutively. Both are multipurpose products packed with antioxidants. High Vibe Face Mist is meant to be misted throughout the day for a refresher, as a makeup setter or after the face is washed as a pH-balancing toner. It can be used with a reusable face pad or misted directly on skin.

After the toning mist is applied, the Skin Superfood Serum can be applied as a serum, facial oil, or mixed in with a face cream or lotion. It's also incredible for nails, ends of hair, hands, and the chest. 

Where are your products sold?

On our website and Amazon.

What's next for the brand?

We plan to grow this business more and more. From expanding into a full facial skincare product line to growing brand awareness, I want this company to be a model and the replacement for all current luxury skin care. We don't have space for anything that isn't selfless anymore—our planet and our people are depending on us.

For more information and to purchase, visit mukamabotanica.com and follow on Instagram: @mukamabotanica

[Images courtesy of Mukama Botanica]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk