Inspired by the traditional healing practices of my Māori ancestors, TOHETAKA creates small batch, handcrafted nourishment and medicine for your skin.
Food for your skin
Our Sacred Formulations
Each product is part of a nightly ritual — made to be massaged in, breathed through, and slept on, so your skin can do its own repair work while you rest.
A raw, bioactive resurfacing treatment designed to brighten dullness and deeply hydrate thirsting skin.
Formulated with UMF 10+ Manuka Honey, wild Rosehip, and California Meadowfoam to reveal a fresh, coastal glow.
This mask is a love letter to the raw power of nature. We formulated it to be a potent suspension of pure, golden honey and nutrient-dense botanical oils, omitting synthetic emulsifiers that would dilute the efficacy of the ingredients. The result is a concentrated treatment where every element serves a purpose. The Manuka Honey acts as a powerful humectant, drawing moisture deep into the skin, while the crushed Rosehip powder provides a gentle, physical exfoliation as you rinse, polishing away dead cells to reveal the fresh, radiant skin beneath.
The Science
The efficacy of this mask relies on the synergy between Enzymatic Activity and Deep Lipid Repair. The raw Manuka Honey contains living enzymes that gently dissolve debris in the pores without stripping the lipid barrier. We pair this with Cold-Pressed California Pomegranate Seed Oil, a rare source of Punicic Acid (Omega-5), which stimulates keratinocyte proliferation to thicken and restore the skin. To prevent the sticky feeling often associated with honey masks, we incorporate California Meadowfoam Seed Oil, which utilizes unique long-chain fatty acids to stabilize moisture, leaving your face feeling plump and velvet-soft.
The Scent
An intoxicating blend of Rose Absolute and Palmarosa provides a lush, floral opening, grounded immediately by the earthy, herbaceous notes of Manuka Oil. It smells like a wild rose garden after a heavy rain.
Best For
Dull or Tired Skin: Instantly brightens the complexion before an event or after a long flight.
Acne-Prone Skin: The high antibacterial activity of Manuka Honey and Oil targets blemishes without harsh chemicals.
Dehydrated Skin: Forces moisture into the deeper layers of the epidermis.
Key Botanicals
Manuka Honey (Raw, NZ): A world-renowned humectant and healer. It draws moisture from the air into the skin and creates an antimicrobial environment that calms inflammation.
Rosehip Powder & Oil (Whole Fruit): A double dose of Vitamin C and trans-retinoic acid (natural Vitamin A) to accelerate cell turnover and fade hyperpigmentation.
Pomegranate Seed Oil (California): A rich, amber oil packed with rare Omega-5 fatty acids and antioxidants to regenerate skin texture and fight free radicals.
Meadowfoam Seed Oil (California): An incredibly stable oil that locks in the hydration provided by the honey.
The Ritual
Apply a thin layer to clean, damp skin.
The Wait: Relax for 5 to 20 minutes. The honey may warm slightly on your skin as the enzymes activate—this is normal.
The Rinse: Wet your hands and massage the mask in circular motions to let the rosehip powder and honey crystals gently exfoliate. Rinse with warm water and follow with your Mārama Ritual Serum.
Note: Because we use raw, unprocessed honey, natural separation or fine crystallization may occur. This is a sign of purity; the crystals simply add to the exfoliating experience and melt upon contact. Stir briefly if needed.
Size: Net Wt. 5.6 oz (160g)
Ingredients: Mel (Manuka Honey), Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Powder, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Seed Oil, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Extract, Leptospermum Scoparium (Manuka) Branch/Leaf Oil, Cymbopogon Martini (Palmarosa) Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Flower Oil.
Inspired by Mārama (the Moon), this serum brings the clarity of soft moonlight to your skin. A union of arid resilience and lush coastal healing, it blends the regenerating power of Prickly Pear with the cooling calm of Blue Tansy.
Like the moon pulling the tides, this formula is made for your evening ritual. Anchored by the grounding earthiness of Manuka and the euphoric, night-blooming Jasmine, this lightweight, silky oil absorbs instantly, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, for a complexion that looks clear, plump, and illuminated.
The Scent
Deeply floral and intoxicating. The heady sweetness of Night-Blooming Jasmine is grounded by the earthy spice of Manuka and the herbaceous, fruity undertones of Blue Tansy.
Key Botanicals
Prickly Pear Seed (Desert): Often called "nature's most potent elixir," this oil is extraordinarily high in Vitamin K to brighten dark circles and restore elasticity.
Kiwi Seed Oil (NZ): A powerhouse of Alpha Linolenic Acid (Omega-3), this lightweight oil locks in moisture and maintains the skin’s structural integrity against environmental stress.
Blue Tansy: Rich in chamazulene (which gives the oil its sapphire hue), it cools the heat of inflammation and soothes reactive skin.
Manuka Oil (NZ): The grounding force; it clarifies the microbiome and centers the spirit.
Jasmine: The "Queen of the Night," this precious bloom boosts cellular turnover and inspires a sense of euphoria.
The Ritual
Dispense 3-5 drops onto fingertips. Warm the oil between your palms to activate the Jasmine. Press firmly into damp skin, inhaling deeply to quiet the mind. Use as the final step in your evening ritual to seal in hydration and drift into rest.
Why Mārama?
In te reo Māori, mārama means clear, light, lucid. It’s also the word behind the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar, which reads time by the moon. This serum is made for evening, when the moon is up.
Read the story behind the name
Ingredients: Squalane (Olive), Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Seed Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica (Prickly Pear) Seed Oil, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Santalum Paniculatum (Sandalwood) Oil, Boswellia Carterii (Frankincense) Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Citrus Aurantium (Neroli) Oil, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Absolute, Tanacetum Annuum (Blue Tansy) Flower Oil, Leptospermum Scoparium (Manuka) Oil, Vetiveria Zizanioides (Vetiver) Oil.
Brighten. Nourish. Fortify. The complete botanical ritual.
Experience Tohetaka’s full philosophy in one set. This limited-edition trio brings together our three inaugural formulations, each made in small batches from whole, nutrient-dense ingredients to brighten your skin, deeply hydrate it, and fortify your hair at the root.
From the resurfacing glow of our Rosehip Honey Mask, to the clarity of the Mārama Ritual Serum, to the root-deep support of our Hair Oil, this collection bridges the wild botanicals of California and New Zealand.
What’s Inside:
The Glow: Rosehip Honey Mask (160 g) – A raw, bioactive treatment of UMF 10+ Mānuka honey, wild rosehip, and California meadowfoam to brighten dullness and deeply hydrate.
The Clarity: Mārama Ritual Serum (60 ml) – A lightweight, silky oil of prickly pear seed, kiwi seed, blue tansy, and night-blooming jasmine, for skin that looks clear, plump, and illuminated.
The Root: Hair Oil (60 ml) – A slow-infused blend of nettle, California rosemary, and amla in a light, silky base that absorbs without weighing hair down, to fortify thinning hair at the source.
The Ritual:
Weekly, to reset: Apply the Rosehip Honey Mask in a thin layer to clean, damp skin. Relax, then massage with warm water to gently exfoliate and rinse.
Evening, to seal: Warm 3 to 5 drops of Mārama Ritual Serum in your palms and press into damp skin, breathing in the jasmine.
For your scalp: Massage 1 to 2 droppers of Hair Oil into the scalp for 3 to 5 minutes, then leave on for 30 minutes or overnight before washing. Or warm 1 to 2 drops and press into the ends to tame flyaways.
Ingredients:
See the full ingredient lists on each product page: Rosehip Honey Mask, Mārama Ritual Serum, and Hair Oil.
The First Formula
My first skincare formula was born when my sister brought me fresh chickweed from her garden. I made a salve to soothe my kids’ cuts, burns and bug bites — and never stopped.
Tohetaka is what came after: small batch skincare made the way the women before me made things — from what the land (whenua) actually gives you.
Sacred Values
Everything we do is guided by respect for tradition, care for the earth, and commitment to our community.
Every ingredient is ethically sourced to support local growers and protect our environment.
Sustainable Sourcing
Ancient Wisdom
Honoring traditional Māori healing practices passed down through generations.
Earth’s Nourishment
Using only the purest, whole food ingredients that the Earth naturally provides.
Community
Empowering indigenous communities and preserving cultural practices through partnership.