In his freshman year dorm room at Loyola University Chicago, Kobe Harris began developing what would become Kobee’s, a natural personal care brand focused on sustainability and simplicity. Inspired by Loyola’s commitment to environmental sustainability, Harris spent over a year perfecting his first product formula before launching the brand.
Kobee’s started with a clear mission: to create personal care products using simple, identifiable ingredients while maintaining a commitment to plastic-free and compostable packaging. The brand’s development process reflects Harris’s methodical approach – the signature beeswax lip balm took approximately 7-8 months to formulate and another 6 months to bring to market.
Lip Balm Collection: The brand’s flagship product comes in ten flavors, including classics like coconut and peppermint, as well as unique offerings like mai tai and passion fruit. Each lip balm contains just four ingredients: beeswax for protection, coconut oil for nourishment, sunflower oil for hydration, and mango butter for moisturizing.
Hand Salve: A multi-purpose moisturizer that provides intensive hydration for dry skin while featuring quick absorption and a non-greasy finish. The salve can be used on hands, elbows, and knees.
Cuticle Butter: Designed to nourish and protect nail beds, this fast-absorbing formula supports nail health and creates a protective barrier against environmental stressors.
Lotion Bar: A solid moisturizer containing beeswax, avocado oil, shea butter, and mango butter, designed for dry and cracked skin.
Lotion Stick: A portable moisturizer featuring beeswax, coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, and mango butter in a convenient stick format.
Neck Butter: An evening-use moisturizer enriched with shea butter and argan oil, developed specifically for the neck area.
Lip Scrub: An exfoliating treatment made with sugar, sweet almond oil, beeswax, honey, and vitamin E.
Overnight Lip Mask: A bedtime treatment containing beeswax, shea butter, and kukui nut oil for overnight lip care.
Sustainable Packaging and Environmental Impact
Kobee’s products feature distinctive packaging designed with sustainability in mind. The lip balm tubes, while shorter and wider than traditional designs, actually contain more product than standard tubes. They are made from 100% biodegradable paper, though this means they require proper storage at room temperature and protection from direct sunlight and moisture.
The company directs proceeds to support non-profit organizations focused on environmental causes, including ocean and lake cleanup, tree planting, and air quality improvement. This aligns with Harris’s goal of creating products that benefit both consumers and the environment.
Kobee’s maintains its commitment to simple formulations across its product line, using naturally derived ingredients that serve specific purposes in each formula. This transparency in ingredients reflects Harris’s initial vision of creating products that allow consumers to understand exactly what they’re using and why.
Through Kobee’s, Harris has created a brand that demonstrates how personal care products can be both effective and environmentally conscious, while maintaining a clear focus on ingredient simplicity and sustainable packaging solutions.
