Profile

While working as a globetrotting financier, Dana Nashaat was diagnosed with hyperglycemia, quit her job, and embraced an organic lifestyle, which caused her to notice a dearth of reasonably priced natural cosmetics. In 2007, she set out to address this by launching Kaia House, then an online hub for products made without synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, or any other potentially damaging additives. Her first brick and mortar operates according to the same philosophy: that everyone should have access to non-toxic skincare. The small, elevated space is infused with a spicy herbal aroma and stocked with minimally packaged, one-hundred percent natural beauty products. A multigrain facial scrub has the texture of hearty oatmeal, body butters smell like honey or freshly squeezed lime, and anti-burn shave cream and firming eye serum sit alongside rose or lavender water toners (which can be refilled with a quaint glass decanter). In addition to local herbs and flowers, many products include ingredients from Africa and Asia like extra soft shea butter or Rhassoul clay, which is used in Morocco for acne and wrinkles. The store also has its own line of non-toxic vegan makeup, along with vibrant nail colors named after international cities—Stockholm for sunflower yellow and Ibiza for neon pink. — Alexa Tsoulis-Reay