Our story
Welcome to KAIKE
KAIKE (pronounced “cake”) is a plant-based skincare brand on a mission to celebrate melanin-rich skin.
Our origin
Skincare from Scratch
I launched KAIKE in 2015 after struggling to find clean skincare that didn’t irritate my eczema-prone, melanin-rich skin. Then a documentary connected the dots: the conventional products I was using could be making my skin concerns worse.
What I couldn’t find on beauty shelves, I created: clean yet effective skincare treats as easy and enjoyable as indulging in an actual piece of cake. What began as me mixing oils and butters in my kitchen has grown into a brand serving up decadent, award-winning skincare that celebrates the beauty of melanin-rich skin everywhere.
Keli Smith, Founder
Why melanin-rich skin?
Melanin-rich skin is beautiful, and it has its own needs: it’s more prone to dryness and ashiness, dark marks that linger, and sensitivity to harsh ingredients. Most products aren’t made with it in mind. Every KAIKE recipe is.
Our Pillars
Born from the belief that less is more, and that skincare is self-care.
Clean
Waterless, preservative-free formulas made with botanical ingredients your skin actually recognizes. Nothing it doesn’t need. Everything it does.
Simple
Less is more. Minimal, multipurpose products and three simple layers that work with your skin, not against it.
Celebratory
Rich, indulgent botanicals made for melanin-rich skin, because your skin deserves to be celebrated, not punished.
“With so many beauty products full of toxic ingredients, especially those targeted at Black women, I decided to make my own. I never dreamed that something I made for my family would reach yours, too.”
❤️ Keli Smith, Founder