Nourishe Skincare was created by Tauranga-based naturopath and medical herbalist, Serina Gardner. The skincare range was born from a long-time love of the natural healing properties in herbs and essential oils. All the ingredients are thoroughly researched and carefully selected for their medicinal and healing qualities (with absolutely no questionable ingredients and not tested on animals). We spoke to founder Serina Gardner to learn more about how she got started.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
When I was pregnant with my daughter 12 years ago, I couldn’t find anything on the market to soothe and hydrate my skin the way I wanted. And this inspired me to create my own products. When I began gifting them as presents to people, and they would fall in love with them, this encouraged me to start selling them, to reach more people. Nourishe Skincare was created from a need but also a love.
The Launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
My love for natural products goes way back to when I was nine years old and my sister and I tried to make wonderful smelling perfumes. However, sadly for us, they never quite came out the way we envisioned! Then during my teen years I made all of my own hair and body masks and whatever else I could find recipes for. By my late teens/early twenties, I was working in a natural skincare shop, helping the customers and training the other staff in the benefits of essential oils for therapeutic purposes and the beneficial uses in skincare.
I continued to follow my passion studying aromatherapy and manufacturing, which followed onto making oil-based skincare that I used throughout my pregnancy, and this created the basis of the products I sell today.
In my late twenties I decided to return to school and complete my Bachelor of Natural Medicine, qualifying me to become a naturopath and medical herbalist. Partly I did this to continue my love of natural skincare but also to help people with a holistic approach to their health.
These products are handcrafted with love in small batches using all natural ingredients, including medicinal herbs and essential oils, to ensure your skin is soothed, moisturised and beautified.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
My biggest breakthrough is the ability to create natural skincare that provides healing, nourishing and effective results with medicinal herbs that have been used successfully for centuries. These products are handcrafted with love in small batches using all natural ingredients, including medicinal herbs and essential oils, to ensure your skin is soothed, moisturised and beautified.
I guess another breakthrough is to see people getting results for their skin in a healthy way, letting their skin breathe and seeing them look radiant and happy with products that are free of all nasty chemicals, artificial fragrances, colourings, mineral oils, petrol chemicals, silicons, sulfates and parabens, and are not tested on animals.
