Essence of Namibia captured in skincare

Jana Hougaard

What was your inspiration to start the brand Mbiri?

I have always had a passion for Namibia and its plants and people. My mother is a plant ecologist and she works with many of the Namibian communities doing research on plant ingredients. I spent my childhood in the desert with mother and it has always been a key part of who I am. I started Mbiri Natural Skincare because I wanted to support the Namibian communities and I wanted to put Namibia on the map in the international skincare market. The true inspiration for Mbiri comes from Namibian Myrrh essential oil. This oil comes from a resin, which is wild harvested in the Namibian desert by the Himba women. The women collect the resin during the dry seasons and it is sent to a community owned factory where it is processed and the oil extracted. I buy this oil directly from the community enterprise and use it in every product. Traditionally this resin is called Omumbiri and that is why I called the brand Mbiri.

What makes Mbiri so different from other skincare products?

The unique thing about Mbiri is the story it tells. Mbiri is a story about Namibian women sustainably harvesting potent African ingredients, and even more so, in the desert where people thing nothing can live or survive. Mbiri is not only a high-end effective product but it supports communities not only in Namibia but in Africa. Other key aspects are that the products are 100% natural, they endorsed by Beauty without Cruelty and are registered with The Vegan Society.

What inspired you to find a passion for skincare?

My passion lies with the ingredients as they are the core to any good skincare product. I fell in love with the people and the plants and then the ingredients followed suit.

How did you begin your brand?

I first started in my garage and slowly saved money to then expand the business. Access to finance is the biggest challenge when starting a brand and still today I do freelance work to help pay the bills.

What factors incorporate the uniqueness of Namibia into your products?

The key factors are the three Namibian ingredients which are highlighted in the brand. These are Marula oil, Kalahari Melon Seed oil and Namibian Myrrh. Namibian Myrrh is unique to Namibia as it cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Why would you encourage others to pursue a career in skincare?

The skincare industry is extremely competitive but if you have something unique to offer then there is space for you in the market. The reason I would encourage people to enter the skincare market is because the market is huge and there is always space for something new. Skincare is such a broad industry that you could easily find a new niche to tap into.

Besides Mbiri what else do you do in your free time?

I am a freelance video editor and do a lot of work in this regard. I am also a yoga instructor and I teach yoga whenever I can.

What does it feel like to have started a company which has been so successful?

I am extremely proud of my little brand and what it has achieved. There is still lots to do and higher heights to reach and but nothing is impossible without perseverance!

What has been the biggest accomplishment as an entrepreneur?

Last year I was selected by the US Embassy to represent Namibia on the African Women's Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) in the United States.

What is your goals for Mbiri in the future?

Export! The big goal now is to get Mbiri internationally compliant so that we can start exporting to the EU and USA, and spread the word internationally that Namibia has an awesome product that can compete with the “big guys” out there!