It help my son’s eczema
Valuing traditional Maori wisdom in a modern world
Wild-harvested native Kawakawa for Kawakawa Repair Balm
Kawakawa in Rongoā
There's a lot to Kawakawa, the beautiful plant with the heart-shaped leaves. This unassuming New Zealand native shrub was trusted by our tīpuna for its ability to soothe and support healing for a diverse range of aliments and illnesses, from toothache and skin conditions to colds and bladder problems.
The rediscovery of heritage
Frankie started with the personal discovery of heritage, culture and coming back to the 'old ways' to solve one little girl's dramatic eczema skin condition through creating a high-quality Kawakawa Balm. From there, the word about the precious effect of this traditional rongoā rākau (plant remedy) has been shared with thousand of families dealing with eczema and sensitive skin; with great success.
Harvesting Kawakawa by the moon
The wild crafted Kawakawa for our traditionally inspired products is harvested by hand using centuries-old techniques. We believe that observing traditional methods adds an element of special goodness to the Kawakawa actives.
We wild-harvest the Kawakawa for our Kawakawa Balm with care.
Leaves are picked from the Kawakawa shrubs with karakia, in time with the full moon, Rākau-nui, and the day after, Rakau-matohī, in line with traditional practice. We've heard that plants absorb more water during times of full and new moons, and more moonlight stimulates leaf growth.
We replace used leaves back into the forest.
Kawakawa, asleep and awake
While I was studying rongoā, our Kaiako shared that Kawakawa ‘sleeps’ during the day. Watch it when the sun hits the leaves after an early morning harvest, and it starts to droop slightly, waking again at night.
Because of the action of the sun on the leaves, we learnt that the east side of the tree is best, as it receives the sun's first rays every day. Likewise, the leaves that look lacy with holes have higher levels of medicinal actives. Those little Looper Moths are on to a good thing here; reka rawa, ne!
Karakia/blessings are said over the Kawakawa while harvesting, and again while the kawakawa oil is infusing at our home in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Cherished Kawakawa
The leaves are infused in pure natural oil over many weeks and bathed in karakia and blessing, until the oil takes on a rich green hue and has the distinctive peppery scent of Kawakawa.
This is the gentle process we use to extract the medicinal actives from the Kawakawa.
We love this time. It's slow and deliberate. By the end of this process it has a rich green hue - now infused with the distinctive scent of Kawakawa.
It's easy to see how the goodness of the Kawakawa permeates our products when you look at this luscious oil, now carrying the beautiful actives (lignins, antioxidants, myristicin, antimicrobial and analgesic actives and more) that bring so much relief and pleasure to our customers!
We are so grateful for the journey we are on and for every person who has enjoyed the products we have created.
Ngā mihi nui ki a koe!
Georgina x
There's more to Kawakawa than meets the eye
Traditionally in Aotearoa, Kawakawa plays an important role in the spiritual and physical world of Māori, following the life cycle from conception, birth, life and death.
Kawakawa wreaths are worn as a sign of mourning, and used in the powhiri as tangata whenua welcome the manuhiri onto the marae. To conceive, a woman would place a sprig of Kawakawa under her bed before intercourse as a good luck charm. It is used in birth and name ceremonies, to remove tapu at the opening of a meeting house and as a blessing of food and war and a symbol of mourning.
As a key healing plant, Kawakawa was heavily employed in the ancient lore of Rongoā Māori, the traditional Māori healing system where ailments are treated in a holistic manner which encompasses the use of herbs with healing in the mental and spiritual worlds. Aspects of rongoā can be explained as taha wairua (spiritual), taha hinengaro (thoughts and feelings), taha tinana (physical), and taha whanau (family).
In essence rongoā endorses a holistic embrace of all aspects of wellbeing - and Kawakawa plays its part in this healing methodology so beautifully.
Our Kawakawa range blends knowledge & aroha
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.9 / 5 from 2502 reviews.
This balm has been magic for my babies eczema prone skin, cannot thank you enough! Also great for nappy rash 😊 Will be buying again and again!
I have just had a knee replacement, Once the wound started to heal the whole knee would get unbearably itchy, This is where the Kawakawa Calm came into its own, with almost instant relief the itch was gone. It was a lovely base for massage as well for the intense pain in the first 3 weeks. Thanks for this amazing product that helped get me through this huge challenge.
Absolutely love these products
I have an autoimmune condition which has my skin ranging from dry to welted and itchy. The bath soak is so soothing and it leaves me feeling soft and smooth. It’s so lovely to purchase from people that genuinely care and have a wonderful natural product that works so well.
I wasn't sure what to expect from an oil cleanser but it works so well and does a great job on eye makeup. I am getting quite a collection of Frankie skincare now and love it.
I have been using Frankie products for a few years now with great results. The new facial trio are the latest addition and are working beautifully to add hydration to my skincare regime. I work outside and through winter need something to boost and protect my skin from the elements. They also smell divine!! If I need extra support (as I often scratch, cut or damage myself) I also recommend the original Kawakawa Repair as it is truly heaven sent to relieve & heal skin issues!
I was having an allergy reaction to adhesive on plasters and used the kawakawa healing balm and oil 3 times a day for 5 days and it has cleared it right up. Love the kawakawa balm and oil, I have been using it for a number of years now.
So happy Frankie make the 240ml jar. We use this balm morning and night on our 3.5 year old son so we go through it fast! Love the value in this.
We saw result in 3 days! Amazing product, especially when it’s ALL natural. Love it x
Frankie’s Kawakawa repair has been the only thing to calm Miss 2’s eczema. Pic 1 was the day i received my order, her eczema was at its worst, keeping her up at night scratching and uncomfortable. Pic 2… makes me teary, I was genuinely at my peak of “nothings working”. The fatty creams doctors prescribed did nothing, even applying 3-5 times a day & I wanted to avoid steroid cream as much as possible after reading of TSW. Away from home, I’d keep her from water play or anything too messy, knowing she’d be irritated and dried out before I could get her home for a wash. Now.. I have literally cried from happiness from the way her skin healed and continues to heal. We do 2 rub-downs a day, one in the morning and one at night after a quick lukewarm shower or weekly janola bath. Her joints are clear of hardened itchy skin & she’s not waking up dry or disturbed during the night from being itchy. Couldn’t recommend Frankie’s enough, it’s given my baby’s comfort back to her.
This is brilliant. It smells good. Is feels great on skin and smooth, moisturizing and it's wonderful. Thanks for a great product.
Kūmarahou Facial Cleansing Cake - Winner, Best Cleansing Bar 2024
The inflammation is going down, sorry I didn’t took before photo this is him today.. Thank you for your good work. I will order another one soon.
I've been repeating this product so many times! Recommended for itchy and dry skin!! Everyone in my family use it! I love it!!
Excellent product, it gives you an excellent facial texture.
We have been using this product for a year now and love it! It keeps my sons eczema at bay and is a much better alternative to steroid creams! I also use it on my face when I get dry patches and as a lip balm.
I decided to give this product a go after learning how harmful "regular" sunscreens are for us and the ocean. I have not looked back! I really appreciate the natural ingredients and protection from the sun it offers. I'm a regular customer now.
My neck before was peeling, sore and very itchy. After using the kawakawa balm for just one week, applying whenever i felt it was dry, it completely cleared up and has stayed cleared up since.
When I got Millie as a wee puppy she had a rash so I used Frankie Kawakawa Balm. She loved the care (and the taste!!) and it was good to know that when she licked some off it was not harmful and had no nasty chemicals in it. She still comes running whenever I open the jar and I use it if my dogs get cracked paw pads, and grass rash, or cuts.
I'll never use anything else to treat eczema. I also use it as a lip balm :)
My son’s Skin looks so much better!
I’m really enjoying these. You really don’t need to use much either, especially the shampoo one. I used way too much the first time and it dried my hair out a bit but I’m gonna be ok. The conditioner is my favourite, smells divine, could even be a touch stronger with the scent. I’ve been using it to shave my face with too with great results along with the added bonus of smelling it more. Then I use the balm as an aftershave. Great products, I’m so happy to have discovered them. Lovely people to deal with too. Thank you.
This balm is just brilliant. After 6 days of using it Millah-Ivy’s rash completely disappeared. She was 6 weeks old so it’s totally safe to use on newborns.
Great
I got it for my wife and she loves it.
Cleared my baby’s acne up so well!
My daughter started getting eczema at the age of 2 months an just started to get worse so decided to use kawakawa repair balm anf oat soaker it's cleared up her back an started to clear up her arms and chest
I just love this stuff. Every home should have some. I use it mainly as an aftershave balm and it leaves my skin feeling like it’s not even mine. Also handy to have around for scrapes and cuts. A pleasant faint scent too. I also want to thank Frankie Apothecary for their outstanding customer service and support in sorting out an issue after an unfortunate incident with the courier. Good delivery times, great customer service and a fantastic product. Well done guys. Thank you.
I've been purchasing Frankie for the past few years... the kawakawa balm, oil and soap. I sent it as gifts to my hubby's family in the UK and they love it. It resolved his nephew's eczema flare ups to their amazement! I recently had a baby. My hubby has eczema so I knew we'd only be using Frankie skin care on him. We use the soap and after each bath or shower we massage him head to toe in kawakawa oil. Everyone comments on how clear his skin is for a baby... It has to be his skincare! I also use the balm on my face regularly and I get compliments on how good my skin is for 40. Again, we keep it simple and natural. Can't recommend kawakawa highly enough for everything from proactive to cure.
We’ve noticed a huge difference since using this brand. Our baby’s skin barrier is a lot stronger compared to the other creams where we noticed it was thinning his skin barrier. So much relief more relief for our pēp thankyou!
My daughter has been having this eczema on the back of her knees and no matter cream we put in, it doesn’t seem to work. I have been using this Frankie kawawa since my daughter was infant, but I have only applied it to her face. This time, I tried them on the affected area behind her knees and viola!! It has lighten the redness and eventually cleared the skin. I have been applying them regularly since. Amazing product!
Hi I just wanted to say thanks for the balm! It has really helped with my babys skin and when she flares up I just put some on the flare ups 🙂 her skins looks so much better now thanks again!
I've stocked up to take with me while I'm away in the UK for a couple months
Our whanau have only used Frankie shampoo and conditioner bars for years now, whenever we’ve tried other products the noticeable inferiority leaves us wanting Frankie only. Healthy scalps and healthy hair. Environmentally responsible. Good for us and Papatuanuku ♥️♥️♥️
Awesome I use this everyday all over.
My daughter gets a dry itchy scalp. This shampoo bar is the only thing that stops the itching and helps with the dandruff. It's all we use. Great shampoo, won't use anything else.
These products have been a game changer for my daughter’s eczema! I have tried pretty much everything on the market, followed naturopath plans and even tried the full medical route but nothing has worked this effectively with long lasting results as the Kawakawa balm in combination with the oil and the oat soak. It’s made a huge improvement in my daughters skin!
I broke my right wrist. I used Kawa Kawa Balm for the scar.,It is minimal now. Highly recommend for any scars or bruises as well.
My hair feels soft and looks fantastic! No more itchy scalp. Highly recommend. You won’t regret it. As your hair will thank you for it!
Love love this product . My skin is the best it's been for along time. Natural no harsh products om my skin
