Our Story
Lila began long before it became a product.
My mother is Iranian, and the art of preparing kuhl was passed down to her by her mother, who had learned it from her own mother — in a time when the modern cosmetics industry did not exist as it does today.
They lived close to the land, on a farm where nothing was wasted and everything was treated with respect. The cow was not simply a source of meat for nourishment. After the meat was consumed, every part was used with intention. The fat was carefully rendered into tallow to hydrate the skin and enrich food. The bones were simmered into nourishing broths. And the precious marrow from the leg bones was slowly refined to create something delicate and rare.
The oil of the bone marrow was gently rendered over very low heat for long hours, sometimes repeated several times, allowing impurities to separate and fall away. What remained was a remarkably pure, soft oil — subtle, clean, and suitable even for the sensitivity of the eyes.
This practice was never only about beauty. It was born from a deeper understanding that purity nourishes. Women used this traditional kuhl not only to enhance the eyes, but also because they believed this gentle substance supported eye comfort and clarity over time.
My mother never intended to turn this tradition into a business. She simply continued the practice she had inherited. But over the years, women who experienced the softness, purity, and beauty of her handmade kuhl began asking for it — first friends, then family, then friends of friends.
What began as a quiet personal tradition slowly became something to share.
Lila exists today not as a commercial creation, but as a preserved lineage — a small offering for women who value simplicity, heritage, and intentional beauty.
