My name is: Nyakio Grieco.
I’m known for being: A female beauty entrepreneur.
I'm talking about: My skincare line, nyakio, which consists of five products, all geared toward clean beauty, anti-aging and embracing your natural beauty. All of my products are made from ethically- and sustainably-sourced ingredients, and are inspired by everything that has been shared with me about global skincare.
You can find it at: nyakio launched in 2020 exclusively at Target stores nationwide and Target.com.
Before I created this line, I was: I was always passionate about beauty, but never thought to put everything I had learned together into one all-encompassing line. Nyakio is the culmination of everything I have learned and experienced throughout my life regarding beauty and skincare.
For some more background, I graduated from The University of Oklahoma with a business degree in marketing. I value education so incredibly much. Education is power. One thing I learned through experience, as opposed to through my educational experience, was the internal power of just going for it and taking risks in a bigger way. Instinct is not learned; it’s felt.
Additionally, before I pursued beauty, I was a Hollywood assistant. Landing in Los Angeles and working 12-hour days that were packed with massive responsibility taught me how to be resourceful, face challenges head on and gave me the stamina and courage to become an entrepreneur. I realized I wanted to pursue my passion in my 20s. When I realized there were many countries under-represented in prestige skincare, and that I had the chance to tell their stories and bring good-for-you ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients, in crafted efficacious formulas, celebrating secrets from my family, friends and travels to market, I had to take that leap of faith!
What inspired me to launch it was: As a young girl, I spent a lot of time in Africa with my family. My beauty journey started when I was visiting my grandmother, a coffee farmer, in Kenya, who taught me to crush coffee beans and rub them on my skin using sugarcane. I was inspired, not only by my namesake paternal grandmother, but also by her maternal grandfather, a medicine man who extracted oils from the earth to treat the skin. Combining that background with my travels around the world, I created a skincare line based on cultivated global beauty secrets and traditions, while only using ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients.
How it works is: These products all have specific, unique properties that help your skin flourish. They’re made from such amazing ingredients, such as manketti, mafura, maracuja, yangu, marula and neroli oils, all of which help transform your skin. Whether you’re working to target discoloration, anti-aging or simply need a calming touch, these products are designed to help you feel your best in your skin, while embracing your natural beauty.
What makes it special is: The tie that it has to my family, girlfriends and world travels. Unlike other skincare lines, nyakio is the culmination of my life experiences and family history and is made to highlight natural beauty with clean and green ingredients. I simply want to share everything I’ve learned or been taught about global skincare.
With nyakio, I personally want to recognize every ingredient within the skincare product, and I love the history behind the ingredients. For instance, baobab oil from the baobab tree—referred to as the “African Tree of Life,” which is in my Baobab Youth-Infusing Daily Defense Creme—is a superfruit that helps to fight free radicals. I love that families gather around it in Kenya when naming a baby.
One thing you can’t miss is: You can’t miss my Maracuja & Yangu Rescue Oil. Made to soothe and nourish skin while calming sensitive areas, it is a blend of maracuja and yangu oils, both of which are high in fatty acids that help restore and protect your skin.
My favorite secret detail is: I use my oils to combat oily skin. I typically use my oils with my favorite facial sculpting wand, from my good friend Shani Darden, to firm and tighten my skin. Using oils to fight oil is one of my favorite beauty secrets, and, especially when paired with an amazing sculpting wand, the results can be transformative.
For me, “clean” or “conscious" beauty means: Taking a slower approach to what you put on your skin and in your body. I grew up being taught to use natural resources in my beauty routine and knowing that your products come directly from the earth is something that I find rewarding and reassuring. I have strived to make all my products clean for this reason.
One ritual you can practice with this line is: My daily skincare routine is a ritual of mine and a ritual I encourage others to adopt. I find my skincare routine very grounding and it allows me to connect with both myself and my heritage. I typically begin by using my Sweet Almond Cleansing Oil Balm to remove any remaining makeup, dirt or impurities. After cleansing, I typically use a few of my oils, choosing the one that is best fit for what my skin needs that day. My current favorite is the Marula & Neroli Brightening Oil, which contains Marula Oil, also known as “Africa’s Miracle Oil.” The oil is known for its ability to reduce dehydration and increase smoothness, which is perfect for summer. To finish my routine off, I use my Baobab Youth-Infused Daily Defense Crème, which works to moisturize and restore my skin’s natural glow.
It can help you live your process because: Not only do I love the routine of taking care of my skin, but, each time I use these products, I am reminded of those who came before me and the secrets they’ve passed down. Nyakio allows me to embrace my heritage while also treating my body with the care and love it deserves.