How beauty brand Kreyol Essence is helping relaunch Haiti’s development
Haiti is exciting, scenic and memorable. It distinguishes itself as an independent and progressive black nation that harmoniously blends the cultures, traditions and beauties of the Old and New Worlds. The Caribbean The country experienced a devastating earthquake in 2010 which left many dead, injured and displaced, and destroyed many property and lands. CEO and co-founder Yve Car Momperousse created Kreyol Essence in 2014, with the goal of providing jobs and income that would help the people and economy of Haiti rebound from this disaster.
“I had a vision to stimulate economic activity in Haiti, but it was clear that the Haitian The community needed urgent help and care, so I thought about taking the activist route,” she said.
“Then my mother said to me, ‘Now more than ever, our people will need jobs and a way to be self-sufficient. When the donations stop, how will the country survive? This question prompted me to create Kreyol Essence and provide lasting help.
A social entrepreneur, Yve Car holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Rutgers University, began his master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated from Cornell University with a major in international development with a specialization in rural agriculture. She has experience in fundraising, business consulting and managing relationships with boards, staff and volunteers.
Yve Car knew what kind of brand she wanted to create from her experience dealing with a different kind of disaster. After every damage to her natural hair, she would ask her mother to send her a bottle of Haitian black castor oil.
“After a specific hair disaster, I went to natural and Caribbean stores in Philadelphia looking for Haitian black castor oil, and to my dismay no one had the organic oil available. That’s when I decided I was going to make the oil not only accessible to me, but accessible to anyone who needed it, and Kreyol Essence was born.

Kreyol Essence is the first Haitian company to bring natural and ethical products for the hair, skin and body of Haiti in the world. The brand’s eco-friendly formulations are made from pure, natural ingredients with a special focus on dry hair and skin. For scalp and hair health, Kreyol Essence offers black castor oil of Haitian origin, commonly known as lwil maskriti, also available in organic essential oil blends of lavender, hibiscus, mint rosemary and mango, payaya and coconut.
“Our signature black castor oil is the liquid gold of the Caribbean. It is known to promote the growth and thickening of hair, eyebrows, eyelashes and healthy skin. It is also known to soothe muscle pain and fade stretch marks.No other oil contains 80-90% ricinoleic acid, which is key to its ability to transport moisture to the hair, skin and body.
Kreyol Essence offers a wide range of products for hair repair, hairdressing, vitamin needs of dry, aging skin and hairand body and dermatitis treatment.
The company’s top four sellers are Original Haitian Black Castor Oil, Peppermint Castor Oil Blend, Moringa Oil and their Multi-Function Hair Mousse. The beauty product of the season, mousse is the perfect standalone product for all your hair needs: protective summer hairstyles, washes and scrubs, braids, twists, locs, and more.

But not only does the brand benefit people through its natural products; Kreyol Essence is achieving its goal of creating jobs to help self-sufficiency and relaunch Haiti’s development. With its partnership with Ulta Beauty, the company contributes to the economic development of Haiti through its six objectives:
- Recruit producers
- Employ Haitian farmers
- Reduce gas emissions, soil erosion and deforestation by planting castor bean plants
- Economic growth through work impacting more than 30,000 households
- Wellness Education for Women of Color with over 1 million impressions
- Promote diversity and inclusion through their retail partnerships
Economic development and women’s empowerment have always been and remain at the forefront of Kreyol Essence’s mission and goals. These are important causes that Yve Car defends through its brand for several reasons.

“Women are the backbone of Haiti and as a Haitian-owned social enterprise, I understand that every social issue starts with financial issues, so we focus on the root to get to the heart of changing lives. I know what poverty looks like and that’s what fuels my obsession with economic development and women’s empowerment because I know that every purchase of Kreyol Essence products helps change a family’s life. being a victim of gender-based violence, I want to bring hope to women, that’s why 90% of Kreyol Essence staff are women.
Kreyol Essence is looking forward to adding new partnerships with various content creators and having more fun with the brand while deepening its partnership with Ulta Beauty. You can follow the company on instagram and ICT Tac to stay connected and subscribe to the mailing list.

“We often go live and talk about beauty and wellness. We do giveaways, collaborations and entertaining global content that everyone can relate to.
You can also follow the founders, @yvecar and @sjeanbap33and watch a clip from their Shark Tank episode here.
Yve Car would like to share the following travel recommendations and information for those interested in visiting Haiti:

Specific places to travel in Haiti:
Haiti’s second largest city, Cap-Haitien, is quiet, open to tourists and absolutely worth a visit. You can get there by plane directly from the United States to its own airport, Hugo Chavez International Airport, or by boat. Many Royal Caribbean cruise itineraries call at Labadee Beach. With an average daily cost ranging from $20 to $250, you can check out local eateries such as Cap Deli, Boukanye, and Kokiyaj Bar & Grill, to name a few.
Some historical sites and architectures not to be missed include the Citadelle Laferrière, the Sans Souci Palace and the Notre Dame Cathedral. After sightseeing, Cap Haitien offers many easily accessible beaches for cooling off, including Cadras Beach and Ile a Rat Beach, Paradise Bay, and Rival Beach.

What’s a fun trip without a fun look? These Kreyòl Essence essentials are easy to pack, TSA approved, and will give you your best!
- Haitian Moringa Oil: “Love Me, Leave-In” Detangler – Summer weather inevitably leads to more perspiration, which makes the hair more tangled than usual. Having a detangler on the go is a perfect way to prevent breakage when combing your hair.
- “Glow On” Haitian Moringa Skincare Trio – Not only does our skin darken in the summer, but it also collects more dirt, oil and pollution, and is overall prone to more acne breakouts due to travel, heat and humidity . This simple and easy to use Trio Kit included the essentials; a cleanser, a toner and moringa oil. is perfect for taking care of your skin on the go.
- Oils of Haiti travel kit – Hair oiling is known to stimulate blood circulation to the scalp, which stimulates hair growth and rehydrates the hair, especially from summer heat and frizz.

Overlooked travel items you’ll need:
- First of all, your passport. While as a US citizen you do not need a visa, a valid passport is required for tourists.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses to protect you from severe sunburn.
- Mosquito repellent is essential. Mosquitoes are known to spread many diseases across Haiti, such as Malaria, Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya, to name a few.
- Flash light. Electricity isn’t the most reliable in Haiti, so it’s good to pack a flashlight with extra batteries just in case.
- Camera. Haiti is too scenic to leave your camera at home!
Related: Haiti Should Be Your Next Island Getaway, Here’s Why