About Karuna Essentials
Our Story
Where nature meets intention, and skincare becomes sacred.
A Quiet Beginning
Karuna Essentials was born not from a business plan, but from a moment of presence.
In a quiet garden in the west of Ireland, calendula flowers were thriving in the family polytunnel. To most, they were just flowers. However, to Karen, they were about golden joy—little suns lighting up grey days. Their beauty, their softness, their quiet strength—something about them spoke deeply to her.
At the time, Karen was doing The Artist’s Way, a creative recovery process designed to reconnect people with their creativity and inner truth. For years, she had held a belief that she wasn’t creative. But during a morning journaling session—what Julia Cameron calls “Morning Pages”—a spark arrived. An idea. A balm.
That single, divinely inspired idea led to the creation of the very first Calendula Balm.
However, it wasn’t about about skincare. It was about expression, healing, and joy. And as she began to share her creations at small markets, with friends, with family—the feedback was immediate and deeply moving. People felt better. Their skin healed. They felt cared for.
That feeling never left. And since, Karuna Essentials has been quietly growing.
Rooted in the Timeless Beauty and Healing Power of Nature, Lovingly Crafted with Care to Nurture and Revitalize Your Skin.
About Karuna Essentials
Our MISSION
To create intentional skincare that nourishes the skin, supports the nervous system, and offers gentle moments of presence, peace, and compassion in everyday life.
We believe skincare is more than a routine—it’s a ritual of returning to self. Every jar we craft is infused with purpose, presence, and the healing essence of nature.
OUR VISION
We envision a world where skincare becomes a sacred act of self-connection.
A return to stillness.
To return to nature.
A return to the body as a place of care and reverence.
At Karuna Essentials, we invite you to slow down, tune in, and rediscover the healing power of compassion—starting with yourself.
OUR VALUES
This is not pampering. This is remembering your worth, restoring balance, and treating your needs with gentleness and respect.
Made by hand in small batches, each jar is filled with mindfulness, care, and good energy.
Karuna means compassion—and it’s more than our name. Every formulation, every message, and every interaction is rooted in care.
We don’t follow trends—we follow nature. Our ingredients are chosen for their vibrational quality and healing power, grown and prepared with reverence.
We believe beauty isn’t about perfection. It’s about slowing down, tuning in, and honoring what’s real.
Meet Karen
I’m Karen, the founder and formulator behind Karuna Essentials.
For over a decade, I’ve been handcrafting natural skincare from the heart—with my hands, with intention, and always with compassion. I’m also a trained psychotherapist who has spent many years working with women, children, and families through complex trauma and emotional recovery.
Karuna Essentials is where both of my paths meet.
It’s where I bring together what I know about nervous systems, healing, and emotional wellbeing—with the power of plant medicine and sacred ritual. These products are my offering. They are here not just to care for your skin—but to bring you home to yourself.
I know what it means to put yourself last. I know what it takes to learn self-care as an act of self-respect, not self-indulgence. That’s what these jars, balms, and moments are about. Compassion, for real people, in real life.
Our Stockists
Karuna Essentials Calendula Balm and select products from the Karuna Essentials range are available from the following retail outlets:
Donegal
- The Natural Way, Letterkenny Shopping Centre
- Angel Hair and Beauty, Mountcharles, Co. Donegal
- Stacey’s Studio, Millcourt Mews, Donegal Town
- Simple Simon’s Healthfood, The Diamond, Donegal Town
Dublin
- Wholehealth Centre Ballybrack Shopping Centre, Churchview Rd, Ballybrack
Leitrim
- The Leitrim Design House, The Dock, Carrick-On-Shannon
Longford
- Golden Health Store, 4 Grafton Court, Longford
Mayo
- Ylang Ylang Health Store, James Street, Westport
- Ishsko Wellness Centre, 2 Lannagh Road, Castlebar
- The Mood Designs, Ellison Street, Castlebar
- West Craft Craft Co-op, Knock
Roscommon
- Au Naturel, Goff Street, Roscommon
- Boyle Craft Shop, Grounds of King House, Main Street, Boyle
- Live 5D Health Centre Riverside Offices, Bridge St, Boyle
Sligo
- Higgins Pharmacy, Market Cross, Sligo
- All Things Natural, Wine Street Carpark, Sligo
- Horan’s Health Store, O’Connell Street, Sligo
- Shells Little Shop, Strandhill, Sligo
Westmeath
- Au Naturel, 3 Payne’s Lane, Athlone
If you can’t find what you’re looking for at your local stockist, feel free to reach out to us directly or browse our full collection in our online store.
For Retailers
If you’re a retailer and believe Karuna Essentials would be a great fit for your shop, we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to us to discuss stocking our range.