Katey Mandy isn’t one for trends, though she’s seen plenty in her own journey. “These days I prefer rituals to trends,” says the founder of Raaie, who embodies the quintessential female founder look of glowing skin and a fabulous head of hair.
She spent years living in London and New York working in account strategy and consulting for global heavyweights like ghd and Unilever Prestige Beauty (think Armani and Tom Ford Beauty). In 2022, after moving home to Aotearoa, she launched Raaie: a tightly edited skincare line (just five products for now) designed to address sun exposure.
The clue is in the name. On Raaie’s site, products are divided into ‘sun’ (protect) and ‘moon’ (repair), inspired by one of Katey’s earliest – and most relatable – beauty memories: a loved one soothing sunburn with aloe vera.
The formulas centre on ‘clean’ ingredients and UV-resilient native botanicals like mamaku black fern, kawakawa, mānuka and harakeke, all in sculptural, pebble-like packaging and with mystical, vaguely granola sounding names. I gotta be honest: the hefty bottles hooked me before the formulations did (though I’m now a big fan of the Cocoon Ceramide Cream, and just started using the Yellow Moonbeam Retinal Elixir).
Today, the business is growing. Katey recently returned to the UK with her family, setting up a global base in London as her business goes global. But home is still close to her heart: Raaie just became the first New Zealand skincare brand to launch into Sephora Australia and NZ.
What is your earliest memory of beauty?
Being sunburnt on the nose and my grandmother dabbing fresh aloe from her garden on it. I remember the relief of the cool liquid. I didn’t know what polysaccharides were, or that plants held coded instructions for repair. That was my first lesson: that nature often has the answers.
How has your look evolved over the years?
Oh, it’s been a journey. I was born in the 80s and came of age in the 90s… So there was definitely 90s bleach-blonde hair (thanks, Sun-In!), over plucked eyebrows, too much blue eyeshadow and butterfly clips.
Then came my London career girl era; this was defined by dead straight hair (always with my GHDs), bold lips, and strong brows.
These days, it’s back to the basics; hydrated, dewy skin, maybe a smudge of something earthy on the eyes and cheeks. It’s all about looking fresh and dewy.
Who are your biggest beauty influences?
My mother, without question. She never made a fuss about beauty, but somehow, she embodied it without trying. Everything she touched – skin, fabric, food – she treated with care. I think that’s what stayed with me. Her version of beauty wasn’t about looking a certain way, it was about how you did things. There’s a kind of reverence in that. A softness that felt powerful. You can’t fake it. It’s the kind of beauty that doesn’t fade, because it lives in the details, in the way you move, the way you care, the way you show up.
What was the first beauty product you fell in love with?
Oh now we’re talking. Bonne Bell Lip Smacker in Dr. Pepper. It was sticky, pointless and yet absolutely the coolest thing on the playground.
The other one was the St Ives Apricot Scrub. Iconic. I mean, it was catastrophic for my moisture barrier, but at the time it felt like magic, which is what beauty is all about. It smelled like dessert and gave you that squeaky-clean feeling. Now I’m all about enzymes – not as delicious-smelling, but much friendlier to the microbiome. And completely magical in their own way.
What’s the first fragrance you ever owned?
CK One. It was such a moment, right? Unisex, clean, cool. It made me feel super grown-up. It takes me straight back to the Year eight blue-light disco whenever I smell it
What fragrance do you wear now?
Abel's Laundry Day. It's fresh, citrusy and smells like sunshine.
What is your ethos when it comes to beauty? Has this changed over time?
Massively. I used to think more products = better results. Now, it’s all about intention. What does my skin actually need today? Where am I in my cycle? How am I feeling?
It’s more about tuning in than piling on. The skin is a sensory, self-renewing organ and I have learnt that when I’m overstressed, tired or not eating well, it’s the first place to let me know (and sadly show it). I have learnt to listen with time. This for me, means hydration at the cellular level, mitochondrial health, how melatonin receptors in skin trigger repair at night. Beauty for me is about working with biology – not against it.
Do you follow beauty trends?
I love to watch (and see them on other people) but rarely participate. I think as you grow older, you learn what works for you. These days I prefer rituals to trends.
Consistency when it comes to skincare is key. Especially when you’re working with active ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin A, peptides and AHAs – you need to commit to reap the rewards.
Are there any beauty looks you would love to try that you haven't yet?
I mean, the likelihood of this ever happening is slim to none (see above), but if I were to find the courage, I would love to try a bold, editorial wash of colour across the eyelids – like a smoky lavender or peacock blue.
You have such fab hair. What do you do and use in its upkeep?
It’s a bit of a love/hate relationship, to be honest. My hair has a natural curl, so I swing between embracing the wild mane texture and going into full smooth mode when I need control. Curly hair tends to run dry, and after years of highlights and heat styling, it’s all about repair and nourishment for me.
I live by the Davines Oi Hair Butter; it leaves my hair incredibly soft. For daily hydration, I use Sans Ceuticals Nourishing Hair Hydrant as a leave-in. I wash with Sans Ceuticals nourishing shampoo, and then rotate K18 and Olaplex every other wash.
I always rinse with cold water and gently blot with a microfibre towel - no rough rubbing! If I’m going curly, I air dry to about 80%, then plait it before bed to help define the shape. If I’m going straight, it’s all about heat protection and smoothing. I love CZE’s Glorifying Mist and Silk Balm for a smooth, polished finish.
When in Auckland, I see Kath at Bulls & China. When in London, I see Sophia at Mane Hackney.
Beauty is inextricably tied to youth in our culture. What has been your approach to ageing, personally?
Losing my mum changed the way I think about ageing completely. Ageing is a gift, not everyone gets to do it. I used to think ageing meant “trying to stay looking young,” but now I see it as becoming more like… myself.
I’m deep in the science of how our skin renews over time, so I like to support my skin’s natural function – red light therapy, well-formulated topicals – but I don’t want to erase the life I’ve lived. I want to keep the softness, the expression, the humanity.
Do you have any daily beauty must-haves? What’s your beauty product philosophy?
I’m very loyal to a simple but powerful routine. A gently exfoliating (ideally enzyme) cleanser that doesn’t strip the skin, a great antioxidant serum, SPF50 every day, and something barrier-repairing at night. That’s the core. Everything else is mood-based. Skincare should feel like a collaboration, not a takeover.
What is your most sentimental beauty product?
It would have to be the first product I ever made: the Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum. It holds so much of my heart. A bright, antioxidant-rich blend of sauvignon blanc grape seed, wild blackcurrants, native marine algae and kānuka, layered with the most advanced form of vitamin Cs, hyaluronic acid and ferulic acid.
It took over two years and 148 formulations to perfect. Finding the balance between potency and sensorial beauty was a science and an art. We wanted it to feel luxurious and deliver clinical results which is no small feat, but we got there in the end.
It’s also the product that put us on the map, winning five global beauty awards since it launched three years ago. But beyond the accolades, it’s sentimental because it marked the beginning of everything.
What is the most important beauty lesson you’ve learnt?
That your skin is in constant communication with the rest of your body. Your stress hormones, your sleep quality, your inflammation levels, they all show up. The skin is a mirror, but it’s also an interface. Learn to listen to it, and it will tell you everything.
What beauty item or look makes you feel like your true authentic self?
Fresh, hydrated skin with a bit of glow, a flush of colour on my cheeks, and my brows brushed up. Nothing too polished. Just skin that looks alive, like I’ve been in the sun (safely!) and laughing with someone I love.
On Katey's beauty wishlist right now:
Angela Caglia gold cryo face wands, $213 – amazing for anti-inflammation and circulation
Eugenia Kim ‘Arabella’ cutout satin-trimmed straw sunhat, about $999 – because sun protection is the ultimate beauty
FENN Sydney Signature Facial – Clare has magical hands
Dr. Lara Devgan Platinum Lip Plump, $93 – a tiny bit of tingle
Facial acupuncture with The Facial Alchemist – for that internal/external reset
