G is for GIVEAWAY! Kahina-Giving Beauty...

In the age of crazy, regulated TSA guidelines (very grateful!), it's almost commonplace to make it onto the plane with a much lighter carry-on. In Katharine L'Heureux's case, her 2007 trip to Morocco began with a checkpoint confiscation of her coveted luxury face cream. But, as fate would have it, she was surrounded by good company upon her arrival in Marrakech. Her guide walked her to an apothecary, where she encountered Morocco's native argan oil...a meet cute that changed her life, and the lives of Berber women, forever.

Her skin care line, Kahina-Giving Beauty, focuses on the notion of women helping other women with their regional, natural beauty rituals. She gives back 25% of her profits to the Moroccan women who work in her co-op! The products are made of sustainable, natural ingredients that work...I've even heard a friend comment that "one treatment feels like you just got a facial". Her main ingredient? Argan oil, of course.

Over the weekend, I had the chance to chat with Katharine L'Heureux, founder of Kahina-Giving Beauty. All-inspiring and...she likes the Beatles!

Your idea of perfect bliss? A hot bath / Greatest fear? Global warming and that it won’t stop raining / Your most prize possession? My volumetric flask / Song describing your current mood. “Fixing a Hole” by the Beatles – it won’t stop raining / Words or phrases you most overuse? “It's my Destiny” / Which talent would you most like to have? Speaking Berber and Arabic / Where would you most like to live? Fes, Morocco / My favorite snack food is... raw almonds / If you could be anyone, real or fiction, who would you be? Michelle Obama / Your motto? I believe in Destiny / On a plane, sleep or get some work done? Both

VR: I love the concept of women helping women. In what ways does this philosophy help women beyond Morocco?

KL: The mere concept of “women helping women” raises awareness of women’s issues around the world. The more that people know about the struggles of underprivileged women, the more we can make a real change.

VR: Volunteering is something I've done in the past and really want to get back into. How can women give back? Are there opportunities to help the Berber women face-to-face?

KL: There are so many organizations that can provide direction for people interested in volunteering, depending on their schedules, their locations and their interests. And if a person doesn’t have the time, it is easy to donate money to many causes online. If it is helping women there is the Global Fund for Women for Women International which help women in need around the world. There are also great sites like Nest which provide micro-loans to women in third world countries, often in exchange for goods which are for sale on the website.

Big, big thank you to Katharine for working with me on this! She's a gem! For more on her story, visit Kahina Giving Beauty or check out the behind-the-scenes on her blog. I'm sure we'll be seeing more great things from her in the near future! xo

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*To enter the being red giveaway, leave a comment below with your favorite beauty secret and/or beauty ritual. It can be anything from generic chapstick to high-end face wash to all-natural egg whites! Spill the juicy beans and your entry could be the one randomly selected on August 17th!

GRAND PRIZE: Kahina Giving Beauty Travel Kit (Facial Cleanser, Facial Lotion, and Argan Oil)

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UPDATE: The lucky winner is Underfunded Heiress! Congrats, Melanie! xo