Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about Kavai tattoo oil, Rosie face oil and Verde body oil: how to use them, what's in them, shipping and our 30-day guarantee.
Follow your artist's advice first. Most say wait 24 to 48 hours. Then apply 1 to 2 pumps of Kavai in a thin layer, 3 to 4 times a day while it heals, or whenever it feels tight. Elle at Empowered Tattoo says her clients who use Kavai report minimal itching.
For the first few weeks, the skin over new ink is often dry and flaky, and dry skin makes ink look cloudy. A thin layer of oil keeps the skin moisturized and nourished so the ink looks clearer as it settles.
Sun is the biggest factor, because UV breaks down ink. Dry skin also makes ink look duller. Sunscreen outdoors and daily moisture keep tattoos looking sharp.
Lotions are mostly water, which evaporates, and anything made with water needs preservatives. Kavai is pure oil, so it needs none, and the airless pump keeps it clean.
Elle and Sam, tattoo artists at Empowered Tattoo in Asheville, use Kavai as their studio aftercare and won't go back to lotion. Sam switched for the airless pump: no shared tubs that every client's fingers dip into.
Source: Halla et al. 2018, Cosmetics Preservation, Molecules
1 to 2 pumps covers most tattoos. If your skin feels slick afterwards, use less next time.
3 to 4 times a day while your tattoo heals, or whenever it feels tight. Once healed, daily or as needed to keep the color vivid.
Yes. Daily moisture keeps older tattoos looking bright and the skin around them soft and nourished.
If you see spreading redness, heat, pus or fever, stop using any product and see a doctor.
Not when you use the right amount. 1 to 2 pumps pressed into clean skin absorb quickly and leave a luminous finish, not a greasy one. Many customers with oily skin tell us their skin feels more balanced.
Rosie is made with unrefined, cold-pressed sesame oil and is non-comedogenic. It absorbs quickly, and a thin layer is all you need. If you're prone to breakouts, start with 1 pump at night and patch test first.
For most people, yes. Rosie is made to work as your daily moisturizer on its own. If your skin is very dry, press it over your usual cream.
After cleansing, press 1 to 2 pumps into your face, neck and under your eyes, morning, night or both. Slightly damp skin helps it spread.
Yes. Rosie is made for dry, sensitive and mature skin, and many of our older customers say it keeps their skin feeling soft and moisturized.
No. It works year-round. In summer, many people use 1 pump instead of 2.
Lightweight oils that absorb quickly. Rosie pairs sesame oil with rosehip oil, which are both rich in linoleic acid.
Source: Lin et al. 2017, Topical Plant Oils and the Skin Barrier, Int J Mol Sci
Four ingredients: organic cured sesame oil, rosehip oil, and clary sage and rose essential oils.
Oil, on damp skin. Lotions are mostly water, which evaporates. 1 to 2 pumps of Verde on damp skin hold that moisture in, nourish the skin and absorb quickly.
Yes, for most people.
Not in a thin layer. Give it a minute to absorb before you dress.
Yes, every day, whenever suits you. Right after a shower works best.
Verde smells of fresh citrus and warm cardamom over a soft sesame base.
Organic cured sesame oil, citrus oil and cardamom essential oil.
Sesame oil has been used in Ayurvedic skin care for centuries. It's rich in linoleic and oleic acids and natural antioxidants, including sesamin, sesamolin and vitamin E. A 2018 review in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences found anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects from applying sesame oil to the skin, and a possible effect on skin barrier repair.
Source: Oboulbiga et al. 2023, Sesame Seed Oil Review, Front Nutr
Cold pressing gets oil out without heat or chemical solvents. Studies of cold-pressed oils found they keep more of their natural antioxidants than oils extracted with solvents.
Source: Al Juhaimi et al. 2018, Cold-Pressing vs Solvent Extraction, J Food Sci Technol
Vetiver gives Kavai its clean, earthy scent.
Kavai contains cold-pressed sesame seed oil, vetiver essential oil and plant-based citrus fragrance oil.
That's the sesame. The nutty note fades within moments, leaving a light scent.
Essential oils and plant-based fragrance oils, never 100% synthetic fragrance oils.
Every product contains sesame, so please don't use them if you're allergic to sesame. Kavai and Verde also contain citrus.
If you have sensitive skin, apply a little to your inner arm and wait 24 hours.
It keeps air and fingers out of the bottle, so the oil stays clean and lasts longer without preservatives.
Every bottle is hand-blended in small batches in Asheville, NC, never outsourced. That's been true since Ana started blending in 2004. Each oil uses only a few ingredients, built on cold-pressed sesame oil.
Yes. Everything is vegan, and we're Leaping Bunny certified.
A 4 oz bottle of Kavai lasts about 4 to 5 months.
Shipping is free on all US orders. We ship within 1 to 3 business days, and delivery takes 3 to 5 business days, so most US orders arrive within 4 to 8 business days.
You're covered by our 30-day, 100% money-back guarantee. Email ana@kiwiglow.com to start a return. Return postage is paid by you. See our Shipping & Returns page for details.
Email Ana at ana@kiwiglow.com.