Nepal's First Science-Backed Himalayan Organic Skincare
From the wild hemp valleys of Karnali to a laboratory in Kathmandu β Kennebis.hemp is the story of reclaiming what the Himalayas have always known.
"For centuries, high-altitude Himalayan communities possessed deep wisdom about botanical dermal health. We cold-pressed wild hemp in Karnali, harvested Chuiri seeds in Palpa, and sourced healing yak ghee from Dolpa β not as cosmetics, but as medicine passed through generations."β Kennebis Heritage Research, 2022
Reclaiming Ancient Beauty Wisdom
For centuries, high-altitude Nepali mountain communities possessed deep wisdom about dermal health. They cold-pressed wild-growing hemp in the valleys of Karnali, creating pure hemp seed oil remedies to protect wind-chafed skin. In Palpa, they hand-harvested native Chuiri seeds for rich, protective butter.
Then came industrialization. Store shelves in Kathmandu flooded with mass-produced, chemically-laden imports. Aggressive pseudo-scientific marketing dismissed traditional knowledge as "primitive." Chronic skin barrier disruption became the norm.
Today, we stand among Nepal's leading skincare brands β backing ancient wisdom with modern dermatological science to formulate the best organic skincare in Nepal. Not imported. Not synthetic. Pure Himalayan heritage, scientifically proven.
No mineral oils, silicones, synthetic preservatives, or artificial fragrances.
Hemp Seed Oil, Chuiri Butter, Beeswax, Yak Ghee & Sheep Ghee β direct from source.
We source directly from mountain villages, supporting rural farming communities.
Why Kennebis Exists
We formulate a standard where our core formulas are composed entirely of edible-grade nourishing lipids and botanicals, completely free of industrial synthetic preservatives. We calibrate specifically to combat intense mountain UV radiation, urban dust, and pollution β challenges no imported skincare brand was ever designed to address.
The Himalayan Pantry
Each ingredient is cold-pressed, wild-harvested, or traditionally processed β sourced directly from Nepali farming communities.
Rich in Omega-3 & 6. Cold-pressed wild seed oil that repairs the skin barrier and calms inflammation without clogging pores.
Hand-harvested Nepali shea. A deeply protective emollient that locks in moisture and forms a natural shield against harsh mountain conditions.
Wild-harvested from cliff beehives. Creates a breathable, protective occlusive layer while delivering antibacterial botanicals deep into the skin.
High-altitude yak-derived ghee, extraordinary in vitamin K2 and CLA. Heals damaged skin barriers in extreme alpine dry conditions.
A rare restorative lipid complex. Deep-nourishing, traditionally used across Himalayan communities to rebuild severely compromised skin.
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Purpose & Direction
To reclaim the lost botanical wisdom of the mountains by translating ancient remedies into high-performance, zero-chemical skincare. We empower rural farming communities in Nepal through ethical direct sourcing, proving that natural, mountain-grown ingredients are far superior to chemically-induced cosmetic imports.
To establish Kennebis as the premier global ambassador of clean, high-altitude Himalayan herbal skincare. We envision a future where chemically-induced cosmetics are replaced by pure, organic alternatives, making sustainable local ingredients the golden standard for healthy skin.
The Chronicles of Kennebis
Disillusioned by the influx of toxic chemical cosmetics, our founding members met in Kathmandu. We recognized that Nepal exported high-quality botanical raw materials while our own shelves were filled with imported chemical products. We began formulation experiments, focusing on hemp seed oil skincare and raw plant emollients.
We traveled to the remote highlands of Karnali and Palpa. We established direct relationships with local farmers and women-led agricultural cooperatives. By paying fair-trade premium prices, we secured the supply of wild-harvested hemp seeds and Chuiri fruit, supporting rural families while ensuring ingredient authenticity.
We opened our dedicated lab in Kathmandu. Combining ancient Ayurvedic practices with modern cosmetic science, we validated our cold-press extraction techniques. We officially launched Kennebis, introducing Nepal's first science-backed, zero-chemical skincare line.
We took our zero-chemical philosophy to the extreme β formulating products composed entirely of edible-grade, nourishing lipids and botanicals. Our products gained nationwide acclaim as the premier skin barrier repair cream in Nepal.
Today, Kennebis.hemp stands as Nepal's premier ethical beauty manufacturer. Supporting over 100 rural farming households across the country, we are expanding our zero-chemical skincare ecosystem, demonstrating that genuine Himalayan beauty secrets can outperform any synthetic chemical import.
By the Numbers
Dear Kennebis Family,
When we set out on this path in 2022, we asked ourselves a fundamental question: Why should a country blessed with the richest high-altitude botanical heritage on Earth rely on chemically-induced skincare imports?
We saw our store shelves crowded with products containing synthetic chemical agents, petroleum byproducts, and pseudo-scientific marketing. Meanwhile, the precious cold-pressed hemp oil of Karnali, the wild Chuiri butter of Palpa, the healing yak ghee of Dolpa, the restorative sheep ghee of Taplejung, and wild-harvested raw Beeswax were exported as cheap bulk commodities.
We wanted to write a new story β one where Nepal's high-altitude secrets are honored, backed by clean science, and applied to Nepali skin.
Formulating without chemical binders, synthetic fragrances, or industrial preservatives requires rigorous scientific discipline. Sourcing from remote mountain regions requires patience and commitment. Yet, seeing our customers heal their skin β and witnessing the direct economic impact our sourcing model has on remote farming families β makes every challenge worthwhile.
Thank you for choosing local. Thank you for choosing zero-chemical purity. Together, we are reclaiming the long-lost beauty secrets of the Himalayas.
With gratitude from Kathmandu,
Our Promise To You
We don't use fillers, synthetic fragrances, or preservatives we wouldn't put on our own skin. We don't chase trends. We don't dilute our formulas to cut costs. Every Kennebis product is built around its active ingredients β and we publish why each one is there.
If a formulation isn't performing at the standard we set, it doesn't ship. Simple as that.
"Nepal has been quietly feeding the world's best skincare brands.β Kennebis.hemp, Kathmandu
It's time Nepal fed itself first."
Sourced from Nepal
Nepal is home to an extraordinary diversity of plants, herbs, agricultural products, oils, butters and traditional botanical knowledge. Where quality, safety, consistency and availability allow, we prioritise Nepalese ingredients and local suppliers for our formulations.
From botanical materials to locally produced oils, butters and waxes, our goal is to create greater value from resources that originate close to home. Instead of treating Nepal simply as a source of raw materials, we aim to build a system in which more of the value is created here in Nepalβthrough sourcing, processing, formulation, manufacturing, packaging and distribution.
Our approach
Source locally
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Add value locally
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Manufacture locally
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Build local livelihoods
This helps us develop a stronger connection between Nepal's agricultural and botanical resources and the finished products reaching our customers.
Supporting Farmers & Local Producers
A natural ingredient has a story long before it reaches our formulation room. It begins with farmers, collectors, processors and local producers who cultivate, collect and prepare the materials we depend on.
We aim to develop long-term relationships with local suppliers and farmers wherever practical, creating consistent demand for quality raw materials and helping strengthen the value chain around Nepalese botanical resources.
We work towards:
Responsible Botanical Sourcing
Many traditional botanical ingredients are collected from natural environments. Their continued availability depends on responsible management. We believe natural ingredients should not be treated as unlimited resources.
When sourcing botanical materials, we consider:
Our long-term goal
To develop increasingly transparent botanical supply chains where we can better understand:
Where an ingredient comes from
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Who produces or collects it
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How it is processed
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How it reaches our facility
We recognise that traceability is a continuous process, and we are working to improve it as our supply network develops.
Thoughtful Formulation
We believe responsible formulation requires more than simply choosing an ingredient because it is labelled "natural." Every ingredient has a supply chain, processing requirement, environmental footprint and functional purpose.
We prioritise plant oils, butters, waxes and botanical materials where they are technically appropriate for the product. At the same time, we avoid adding ingredients simply for marketing value.
Our formulation philosophy considers:
Small-Batch Manufacturing
Our products are manufactured in controlled small batches. Small-batch production allows us to maintain closer oversight across every stage, and producing according to realistic demand helps us avoid unnecessary overproduction and excess inventory.
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Batch Consistency
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Closer Quality Oversight
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Less Overproduction
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Full Traceability
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Use thoughtfully. Make carefully. Waste less.
Waste reduction starts before manufacturing. We work to reduce unnecessary waste through better production planning, controlled batching, careful raw-material management, purposeful product development, and continuous packaging optimisation.
Better production planning
Producing to demand reduces unnecessary finished-product inventory.
Controlled batching
Accurate weighing and documented procedures minimise avoidable losses.
Raw-material management
Proper storage protects ingredients from unnecessary deterioration.
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Protecting the product without unnecessary packaging
Our objective is not simply to use less packaging, but to use appropriate packaging. A package that looks environmentally preferable but causes a product to spoil prematurely can create another form of waste.
Our direction: Less unnecessary material. Better choices. Appropriate protection.
Made in Nepal
Kennebis is proudly built and manufactured in Nepal. We believe local manufacturing can contribute to sustainability by keeping more stages of the value chain within the country.
The more value we can responsibly create within Nepal, the greater the potential benefit to the local ecosystem surrounding our business.
Our long-term vision is to continue strengthening Nepal's capacity to produce high-quality botanical skincare for both Nepalese and international customers.
Our work brings together
Preserving Botanical Knowledge
Nepal has a long history of using plants, herbs, oils and natural materials for personal care and traditional wellness. We believe this knowledge deserves to be respected, documented and developed responsibly.
Our objective is not to simply reproduce traditional recipes. We aim to understand traditional ingredients and practices, then evaluate them through modern considerations of ingredient quality, formulation science, stability, skin compatibility, manufacturing consistency and product safety.
Kennebis works at the intersection of
Traditional Nepalese
botanical knowledge
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Modern cosmetic
formulation
People & Community
Environmental responsibility is only one part of sustainability. A sustainable business should also create value for the people connected to it. As our company grows, we want the benefits of that growth to extend beyond the products themselves.
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Creating demand for Nepalese raw materials.
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Building stronger agricultural and botanical supply chains.
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Creating opportunities through manufacturing, packaging, operations and distribution.
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Supporting greater participation of women within our business ecosystem wherever possible.
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Demonstrating that high-quality skincare can be developed and manufactured in Nepal.
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Cosmetic manufacturing requires water, energy and cleaning materials. We recognise that responsible manufacturing means understanding and progressively improving how these resources are used.
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Manufacturing efficiency can reduce both operational waste and resource consumption. We are working towards better processes that make better use of the resources required to make each product.
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A responsible product begins with a responsible supply chain. We are working to improve visibility across our raw-material network.
Our Commitments
Sustainability is not a finished project. Our current focus is on building the systems required to make meaningful, measurable improvements over time.
Increase the proportion of suitable raw materials sourced from Nepal.
Improve our ability to identify the origin and supply chain of botanical ingredients.
Develop longer-term relationships with Nepalese farmers and local producers.
Reduce unnecessary packaging and progressively evaluate better material options.
Improve production planning, inventory control and batch efficiency.
Measure and improve water and energy use as our operations grow.
Strengthen our approach to wild-harvested and cultivated botanical materials.
Increase the amount of processing, manufacturing and value addition carried out in Nepal.
Share measurable progress rather than relying on unsupported environmental claims.
Transparency
We believe sustainability should be based on evidence, continuous improvement and accountability.
We will not claim that every ingredient, package or process we use has zero environmental impact. Nor do we believe that being a natural skincare company automatically makes every aspect of our business sustainable.
Instead, we are committed to understanding our impact, identifying weaknesses and improving them over time.
As Kennebis grows, we aim to publish: