Katinko Collaborates with Indigenous Communities for New Wellness Line

Self-care often comes at a cost. But for Katinko, the well-known Filipino liniment brand, the concept of “care” extends beyond just one person or enterprise. The organization, a behemoth in its own right, has continuously used its position to reach out to grassroots communities.

Melissa Yeung-Yap, the CEO of Katinko and an artist to boot, has consistently showcased her support for indigenous communities and local farmers. This time, she and her team have launched a new venture called K-Essentials, harnessing their grassroots network to turn this vision into reality.

“We wanted to create a community-supportive brand where we can sustainably help grassroots communities by integrating their produce into our products,” she shares.

Their first product line — which has gained the support of Miss Universe 2018, Catriona Gray — is comprised of six specially crafted oil blends that target different aspects of personal well-being. These scents have also been translated into soaps, candles, and even diffusers.

Those who need to clear their minds and sharpen their attention spans might consider the Focus blend, which is made with sharp hints of lemon, peppermint, and eucalyptus, and then rounded out with the floral scent of orange.

Meanwhile, Refresh will revitalize tired bodies and minds with notes of peppermint, ginger, and tea tree. Revive provides vitality and balance through lemongrass, vetiver, and tea tree; a contrast to Relax, which calms through a mix of lavender, cedarwood, and cypress.

Like its name, Uplift will energize the mood through whiffs of rosemary, basil, cedarwood, and patchouli while Detox offers natural renewal through peppermint, turmeric, ginger, and frankincense.

With ingredients sourced from local communities — such as ginger farmers from Tarlac whom Yeung-Yap is personally familiar with — each K-Essentials set comes with a handmade pouch crafted using traditional Filipino fabric. The brand has already partnered with T’boli women weavers of the Betek Ifuy Organisation in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato to create these pouches. Travel pouches also come in t’nalak, inabel, and kantarines fabrics.

Their comprehensive offerings range from P90 to P1,000 and are made from natural ingredients that are sulfate and paraben-free. It was important for them to keep their products safe, while still being accessible and affordable. In fact, their soap line is all made from castile soap, which is vegetable-based and free from chemicals. It is also hypoallergenic.

“We have a team of scientists who research and develop our products, together with our sustainable supply chain officers who constantly search for ingredients across various communities,” shares Yeung-Yap of their process. “In the end, we simply want our customers to have better and healthier choices.”