Skin Gourmet, a Ghanaian skincare company, is revolutionizing the beauty industry by offering products made from locally sourced, edible ingredients. Founded in 2014 by Violet Amoabeng, the company creates cleansers, scrubs, oils, and butters that prioritize natural, raw materials from Ghana.
Amoabeng believes in the importance of using only ingredients you can safely eat on your skin. She says, “If you can’t eat it, why put it on your skin?” For her, anything applied to the skin is absorbed into the body. Skin Gourmet’s products are free from toxins, waste, and gimmicks, aiming to help consumers feel connected to something meaningful.
One of the brand’s standout products, its palm kernel butter, is made from locally sourced palm kernels blended with cocoa and vanilla. This skin and hair balm was awarded the Best Eco-Friendly Product at the 2024 Ghana Beauty Awards. Known for its smoky, chocolatey aroma, the palm kernel butter has become a popular ingredient in local cuisine. Sorella Bakery in Accra, for example, uses it in their baked goods. Skin Gourmet also made a special palm kernel butter cake with passion fruit curd and lime buttercream, which was given to customers who purchased their products.
Another popular product is the Hibiscus & Tea Sugar Scrub. This colorful and sweet scrub acts as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory treatment, perfect for combating acne. Made with cane sugar, raw hibiscus powder, coconut oil, Ghanaian sea salt, tea tree essential oil, and wild northern honey, it can even be added to drinks and food. Renowned chef Selassie Atadika, a 2025 Time Earth Award recipient, has used this scrub’s hibiscus powder and coconut oil in her cooking.
Amoabeng, who holds an MBA from Shenandoah University in the United States, founded Skin Gourmet to tap into Ghana’s natural resources while boosting local economic growth. After using shea butter to treat a sore lip, she learned that some Ghanaian communities eat it, sparking the idea for the business. Starting with just $45, she began sourcing raw materials from smallholder farmers in Ghana. The products are then processed, packaged, and sold in over 30 countries, including Switzerland, Japan, Qatar, Turkey, Germany, and France.
The edible cosmetics market is booming. In 2023, it was valued at $266 million and is growing as more consumers seek natural, health-conscious ingredients in their beauty products. The African beauty market, particularly, is expected to grow by $8.18 billion between 2023 and 2028, with a rising demand for natural ingredients and anti-aging products.
Amoabeng is now focused on expanding Skin Gourmet globally, guided by her faith. She believes true innovation comes from God, and says, “Everything we make starts with prayer and reflection because true innovation flows from Him. It’s not just about creating skincare — it’s about stewardship.”
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