Podcast 247: How to build a heritage beauty brand – Evelyn Akande from Kanda Natural

What if your skincare routine could celebrate your cultural heritage while transforming your skin naturally? Now it can, thanks to indie beauty brands like Kanda Natural.

Kanda Natural is a Nigerian skincare brand rooted in West African botanicals that’s committed to educating consumers about the power of natural ingredients. And its story began with one woman’s mission: Evelyn Akande.

Driven by a personal quest to find gentle solutions for her son’s sensitive skin, Evelyn transformed her passion for skincare into a thriving business that reimagines heritage ingredients like shea butter and neem into effective, minimalist skincare products.

In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier—Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist, and CEO of Formula Botanica—sits down with Evelyn to talk about her inspiring journey.

Tune in now to discover how Evelyn built her brand from the ground up, championing heritage ingredients and reshaping perceptions of natural beauty. And who knows? It might inspire you to start your own beauty brand too!

 

“Healthy skin doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive; it just needs the right care”— Evelyn Akande

In this episode with Evelyn Akande, you will hear:

• The inspiration behind Kanda: How Evelyn’s son’s sensitive skin started her journey with natural skincare.
• Why Kanda uses West African ingredients: Kanda has an unwavering commitment to locally sourced, sustainable materials that honour her heritage.
• The power of minimalism in skincare: How the “less is more” philosophy can deliver results with fewer, carefully tailored products.
• Empowering consumers: How Kanda empowers consumers to embrace their natural beauty.

Key takeouts include:

• Building from the ground up: Kanda Natural began as a personal project and grew into a trusted brand, launching with just a few products. Evelyn shares how research, community feedback, and learning shaped her entrepreneurial journey.
• Sustainability and responsibility: The brand’s emphasis on ethical sourcing and supporting local farmers showcases the importance of sustainability in skincare.
• The importance of education: Kanda empowers customers by demystifying skincare while addressing societal pressures like skin bleaching.
• Balancing growth and quality: Evelyn’s plans to expand internationally while maintaining handcrafted, high-quality products reflect her strategic approach to business.

Meet our guest – Evelyn Akande, Creative director and formulator of Kanda Natural

Evelyn Akande is the creative director of formulator of Kanda Natural, a female-led skincare brand that celebrates the power of West African botanicals. Evelyn is passionate about harnessing the richness of indigenous ingredients like shea butter, neem, and moringa to create effective, minimalist skincare products.

Launched in 2022, Kanda Natural has quickly become a trusted name in natural skincare, offering a range of cold-process soaps, body balms, oils, and more. The brand is also committed to helping people embrace their natural beauty.

Find out more about Evelyn and Kanda Natural:

• Website: Kanda Natural
• Instagram: @kandanatural
• Facebook: Kanda

Special offer: Mention “Formula Botanica” when ordering on the website or Instagram for a special freebie.

Related episodes:

• Episode 65: What Africa can teach the world about green beauty
• Episode 106: Should indie beauty go local?

Thank you for joining us for this episode of the Formula Botanica Green Beauty Conversations podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share, subscribe and review this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube so that more people can enjoy the show. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Lorraine Dallmeier

Lorraine Dallmeier is a Biologist, Chartered Environmentalist and the CEO of Formula Botanica, the award-winning online organic cosmetic science school. Read more about Lorraine and the Formula Botanica Team.