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Noted Noire sits down with Carine Moko, the visionary founder behind Eléngé, a brand inspired by her Congolese upbringing and motherhood journey. In this candid conversation, she opens up about the purpose behind her brand, the challenges of balancing business and caregiving, and how her dedication to authenticity and sustainability is reshaping the beauty landscape.
CM: My coffee beans are sourced from Kivu (Congo) and the shea butter is from Ghana. I use ethically sourced ingredients and I make sure that the businesses are properly set up to ensure that the suppliers are actively supporting the community, making sure that workers are paid, especially working mothers.
CM: I don’t use any radiation in my production process, I whip the shea butter myself. I hand make every product, never using more than five ingredients, each of which I know well. The ingredients we use are 100% natural – transparency is key. I’m proud to say that my products are multi-use and work on all skin types, from infants to adults.
CM: I have had a lot of setbacks. I’m a female founder and as black women, we don’t receive much exposure here in the UK in comparison to America for example. The journey can be lonely and hard – I am my own investor, I am the only one running this business. I have had to make sacrifices – like putting my daughter first. She is autistic and I have had to choose her over everything, which means that some weeks are unpredictable. Being a carer can be draining and sometimes I don’t have the strength to put into my business, but I have to remind myself that even if I feel that my pace is slow, I am still moving. As long as I am putting in the work, my time will come. God is with me. In the next five years, I hope to have my products in stores, hopefully an investor and co-founder and my own space, where I can provide bespoke facials and as-you-wait products made to cater your skin. I have faith and sometimes I don’t like to overwhelm my self with so many plans, I just focus on the next step and what is meant for me, it will be!
CM: When I get feedback from customers, when people actually buy my products and tell me they’re working.
CM: I always focus on why I made the products, my purpose and I try to show that through my content. I try to be as honest and authentic as possible. My aim is that this will aways show through in my products, my message and my decisions. I am a shy, reserved person so this year I am focusing on building a community. I’ve learned I need to show my face more as no one can represent my brand more or tell my story, better than me!
CM: I love my multi-use oil, it has a really nice citrusy, orange scent. I use it on my hair, on my tracks when my hair is braided, on my skin, as a massage oil, as a cleanser – I carry it everywhere. People always smell it on my hands and ask what it is.
CM: As a facialist, I actually make my own cleanser and masks as I like to know what I’m using on my clients’ skin. So eventually I want my own space, providing not only bespoke Eléngé products and skin services but also health and wellbeing services.
CM: Funnily enough, I’m a big fan of juicing! I strongly believe that you must deal with the inside as it will 100% reflect on the out. Ageing is inevitable, but if you don’t look after yourself from the inside it will show, and juicing heals the body in every way.
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Noted Noire is a digital magazine celebrating the global Black diaspora through the lens of culture, luxury, and innovation. We spotlight untold stories, explore rich traditions, and highlight the contributions of communities across the world. From heritage to modernity, our curated features inspire, empower, and connect a global network of visionaries and changemakers.
