RAAIE of Sunshine

At FENN we champion a good cleansing ritual. We swear by it, live and breathe it.

So when one of our favourite brands is set to launch a cleanser that nails the brief, we celebrate.

Katey Mandy of RAAIE sat down with us and answered all our burning questions about who, what, why, how and when!

After spending 15 years in the beauty industry in London and New York, I returned home to my family's farm in northern New Zealand. The return to this unique environment really inspired me to delve into the bioactive properties of the plants growing on our own land.

New Zealand’s native flora, such as mānuka and kānuka thrive in one of the harshest UV environments in the world. To survive, these plants have adapted by producing exceptionally high levels of antioxidants, making them incredibly effective for protecting and healing the skin. Even plants brought from overseas exhibit significantly increased antioxidant capabilities when grown in New Zealand, such as the Sauvignon Blanc grape seeds here versus in France. Our environment amplifies the antioxidant and healing potential of our flora, making them a powerful ally for skincare.

With 80% of skin ageing caused by sun damage, it makes sense to harness the protective and self-healing properties of these plants that have adapted to withstand extreme UV exposure. This synergy of New Zealand's botanicals and advanced cosmeceutical science is what sets RAAIE apart.

The formulation process is very cool and brings together experts from various fields, including botanists, chemists, and dermatologists. We formulate with a focus on chronobiology. This is the science of how natural biological rhythms impact skin health on a 24-hour period, AKA the solar day. Our skin's needs vary throughout the day. We design products to work in harmony with these rhythms, ensuring the right ingredients are delivered when the skin best absorbs and benefits from them.

In the morning, your skin often needs protection against environmental aggressors, so our Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum is formulated to shield and brighten the skin. At night, the skin switches to repair mode, so our Yellow Moonbeam Retinal Elixir is designed to enhance cell turnover and repair damage while you sleep.

We prioritise a balance between effectiveness and gentleness. Each product undergoes rigorous testing, and we use encapsulation technology to ensure that potent ingredients, like retinal, are delivered to the skin in a way that minimises irritation. Our selection of New Zealand botanicals is guided by their naturally soothing and antioxidant properties, such as

our Antarctic marine algae, which complements active ingredients to further nourish the skin. This meticulous approach ensures that every product is both highly effective and gentle, even for sensitive skin.

A good cleanser is arguably the most crucial step in an effective skincare routine, and I’m really excited about this launch as it elevates daily cleansing into a sensorial ritual.

Our Golden Nectar Mānuka Honey Enzyme Cleanser is unique because it harnesses 30% pure Mānuka honey, along with potent fruit enzymes, to gently cleanse the skin. It removes makeup, sunscreen, and pollutants without stripping or drying the skin. I also love the versatility - it’s a two-in-one as it can also be used as a nourishing treatment mask.

Mānuka honey is such an powerhouse in skincare, due to its natural antibacterial properties, which help combat acne-causing bacteria. It also soothes inflammation and protects the skin from free radicals, leaving your skin feeling fresh, bouncy, and baby-soft. The cleanser’s texture feels like honey, smells like honey, looks like honey, but doesn’t have that sticky rinse-off mess. It instead transforms into a milk, making it a truly luxurious and effective cleansing experience.

The cleanser was specifically formulated to work in harmony with the rest of the RAAIE skincare routine. Our AM and PM serums are quite active, so we wanted a cleanser that would effectively prep the skin without overdoing it by using harsh acids or stripping ingredients. This is why we focused on gentle exfoliation— using fruit enzymes to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores without causing irritation.

The cleanser’s role is to ensure the skin is thoroughly clean, calm, and balanced, so it can effectively absorb the benefits of the following products. Cleansers are often overlooked, but if the skin isn’t properly cleansed, the active ingredients in subsequent steps won’t penetrate as well, compromising the entire skincare routine. By ensuring a clean, fresh base, our new cleanser sets the stage for the AM and PM serums to deliver their full benefits, making it an essential first step in a well-rounded skincare regimen.

Each product we create is designed to complement and enhance the benefits of the others, creating a seamless, multi-step routine that delivers optimal results. This synergistic approach means that every product is carefully formulated to work together, addressing different aspects of skin health without overwhelming it.

The Golden Nectar Mānuka Honey Enzyme Cleanser is the ideal first step. It prepares the skin by gently cleansing and exfoliating, ensuring that it’s free from impurities and ready to absorb the active ingredients in the next steps. After cleansing, we recommend following with our Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum in the morning. This serum brightens and protects, setting up the skin for the day by defending against environmental stressors and boosting radiance.

Our Cocoon Ceramide Cream is then applied as our moisture layer, it is a deeply hydrating cream that helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier and lock in moisture, keeping the skin plump, smooth, and resilient. After your active skincare and as a final layer, we apply the Sun Milk Drops SPF50, a skin tint with SPF50 that shields the skin from harmful UV rays while giving a subtle, radiant finish. Sun protection is crucial, especially when using active ingredients, and this product ensures your skin protection all day long.

In the evening, after cleansing, our Yellow Moonbeam Retinal Elixir can be applied to repair, firm, and smooth the skin overnight. This PM serum takes advantage of the skin’s natural regeneration process during sleep, helping to renew and rejuvenate. We follow this with the Cocoon Ceramide Cream. Our products are designed to be layered effortlessly. Customers can build a well-rounded, consistent routine that addresses their skin needs around the clock, with products that support and amplify each other.

Sustainability has been baked into the brand’s DNA from day one. Our sustainability mission is to develop planet-friendly solutions that span the whole business, from ethical ingredients sourcing all the way to non-toxic packaging.

We are incredibly selective with the suppliers we work with when ingredient sourcing. With our marine algae, we work exclusively with Māori and female-owned suppliers who adhere to Tikanga Māori, the traditional harvesting practice of New Zealand’s indigenous people. 

This ensures that the ingredients are harvested sustainably, with deep respect for the land and water they come from.

We believe that as we receive resources from Papatūānuku (Mother Earth), we must also give back, ensuring the balance is maintained and her mauri (life force) remains strong. To give back to the land that provides us with so much, we donate to Tress That Count, an organisation dedicated to replanting native trees across New Zealand.

We’re also proud to have introduced the world’s first incentivized empty bottle collection program. Customers can return three or more empty bottles and receive 20% off their next order. This initiative encourages recycling and ensures that our packaging doesn’t contribute to environmental waste. But sustainability doesn’t stop there—it’s a continuous process that guides our daily decisions. Our potent botanicals and highly active formulations allow us to combine multiple treatments into fewer, more effective products that cater to what your skin needs at different times of the day. This means less packaging, less waste, and more streamlined routines, all without compromising on efficacy.

Without doubt, the most rewarding part of the journey is when a customer gets in touch to share their results. We get these emails weekly – sometimes daily – with before and after photos, and deeply personal stories of how their skin issues have impacted their life, and what impact it has had on their confidence and self-esteem. As women, we are our own worst critics, and if we can help change that inner voice from positive to negative one, or simply make someone feel confident to step outside without make up, then that is incredibly rewarding for us at RAAIE HQ.

As for the future, I want to push boundaries by creating products that are not only effective but also sustainable and mindful of our planet. We’ll keep innovating, focusing on fewer, high-impact formulations that align with our philosophy of conscious consumption. Ultimately, I see RAAIE growing as a brand that celebrates both the simplicity and strength of nature, helping people feel radiant, confident, and connected to the world around them.

Can I go into the future? I’m super excited about what’s happening in the world of biotech!

Advanced ingredient delivery systems, like nanotechnology, are fascinating. These nanosized particles are able to penetrate deeper layers of the skin for enhanced effectiveness. It opens up so many possibilities. Then there are new and exciting encapsulation methods for active ingredients that protect sensitive compounds, ensuring they remain stable and potent until they reach the skin. This precision delivery system maximises the benefits of key ingredients like antioxidants, peptides, and vitamins while minimising potential irritation. The future is about further innovation, effectiveness and sustainability. I just can't wait to see how these trends evolve.