Our Co-Founder Story: From Hiding My Skin to Helping Women Feel Seen

How my personal struggles inspired the creation of Retreatment Botanics

I know what it feels like to want to hide your skin...

As a teenager, breakouts left me avoiding mirrors and dreading social events. My skin struggles weren’t just surface-level, they chipped away at my confidence, my self-esteem, and the way I showed up in the world. I learned early that skin isn’t just skin. It’s tied to how we feel about ourselves.

In my early twenties, while studying at university in Sydney, a serious health condition tested me again. I spent months curled up on the floor in daily pain, searching for answers, visiting countless doctors who couldn’t explain what was wrong, until one told me surgery was my only option and laughed when I said I wanted to try natural therapies first.

I refused to accept that. Without Google or online forums to turn to, I spent months researching, visiting naturopaths and integrative practitioners and piecing together a protocol that restored my health. I discovered something life-changing: when we nurture the body with the right support, profound transformation is possible.

These experiences didn’t just teach me resilience... They ignited my passion for skincare and wellbeing. I wanted to understand how nature, science and ritual could work together to restore not only skin health, but also confidence and joy.

From New York to Byron Bay

After completing my degree, I moved to New York, where I began mixing early skincare formulas, driven by my fascination with unlocking nature’s intelligence for the skin. I went on to train as a licensed aesthetician, study holistic nutrition counselling and expand into reflexology and energy healing - building a holistic understanding of how the body and skin are interconnected.

Working with clients of every skin type and background in NYC, I listened to their stories. Over time, I realised I was connecting most deeply with women whose skin had been shaped by hormonal changes - whether through pregnancy, motherhood, midlife, menopause, or the years beyond. They spoke about skin that was becoming drier, more fragile, less radiant and no longer reflecting the vibrancy they still felt inside. And time after time, I saw how restoring their skin’s health and glow also reignited something much deeper... Their confidence, their sense of visibility and their belief in themselves.

After more than a decade in New York, I returned to Australia and began creating a high-performing range for luxury facials at Gaia Retreat & Spa, the award-winning wellness destination in the Byron Bay hinterland. And it was here that Retreatment Botanics was born.

At Gaia, I heard the same stories I had heard in New York. Women wanted more than pampering. They wanted transformation. They wanted skincare that delivered powerful, visible results without compromising on clean ingredients, while also giving them joy and indulgence. Time to nurture themselves both physically and emotionally.

The heart of Retreatment Botanics

From the very beginning, I made one promise: every formula must feel indulgent like a spa ritual, yet deliver real, visible results.

That promise lives through five guiding pillars:

1. Botanical Power
   Harnessing the potency of Australian native plants such as Kakadu Plum, Mountain Pepper Berry and Snowflower, enriched with globally renowned actives for visible skin transformation.
   

2. Clean Science
   Powerful results without compromise: clean, ethical and effective ingredients supported by scientific research.
   

3. Palm Oil–Free Commitment
   Proudly the world’s first spa-quality skincare certified Palm Oil Free, protecting rainforests, wildlife, and biodiversity.
   

4. Do No Harm
   Cruelty-free, ethical and uncompromising at every step, creating beauty that nurtures and never harms.

5. Confidence & Community
   More than skin deep: empowering women to nurture themselves, restore confidence, and feel truly seen, while being part of a community that supports and uplifts one another.

More than skin deep

Through my own journey, I’ve come to understand how skin evolves with every stage of life. I know the frustration of changes that don’t always reflect how young and vibrant you feel within. That’s why Retreatment Botanics is designed not only to strengthen the skin barrier and boost collagen, but also to revive your radiance and create moments of self-nurture and joy, at every age.