My story

After enjoying healthy, clear skin for a number of years, when I reached my late 30s I started to suffer breakouts which often left noticeable pigmentation. Products on the market for “acne-prone skin” were more geared to oily skin types, which really dried out my skin, compounding the problem. 

I became interested in the effects of plant-based ingredients on the skin, as well as the impact on overall wellbeing. I quickly started to experiment with combinations of plant oils and essential oils as my kitchen turned into an apothecary of botanicals!

I undertook a series of courses in skin care formulation and the use of essential oils in order to cement my knowledge and ensure that I was using essential oils diligently. After several months, I was highly encouraged with the results of using my oil blends to clean, nourish and protect my skin. I increasingly focussed on blends formulated with lighter plant oils, therefore minimising the risk of causing congestion and breakouts. My skin visibly improved after months of having been stripped. I started making products for friends and family and was delighted with their feedback. Realising that my products could benefit others too, Apothaka® was born.

Apothaka® today

Apothaka® has evolved from its initial starting point with my deepening knowledge of skincare, product formulation and skin health, as well as my journey with my own skin. I'm really passionate about the use of the right ingredients in robust formulations and my aim is to ensure that anyone with a desire to look after their skin is able to do so using high quality, simple but effective products without any marketing gimmicks. Cleverly and uniquely formulated with lightweight ingredients which won't clog pores. Improving the way your skin looks and feels, and making your skincare routine an enjoyable experience: bringing the spa experience into your home! I strongly believe that less is more and that healthy skin can be achieved with just a few simple steps. I'm committed to continuously expanding my knowledge and expertise in order to further inform my product development. I have a Level 4 CIBTAC award in Advanced Skin Science, and skin health & assessment, which has proved invaluable in understanding the impact of specific ingredients on skin health. As such, my focus is on developing core products that maintain a healthy skin barrier. Whilst my initial interest was solely in plant-based ingredients, I have become more cognisant of the fact that where an ingredient comes from (i.e. whether it comes from a plant or is made synthetically in a lab) has little bearing on how it impacts on skin health (contrary to all the fear-mongering on this topic which has resulted in a lot of misinformation!). So my approach is to incorporate ingredients which support skin health, also trying to take into account their impact on the environment (which isn't as straightforward as we're led to believe!). This is a constantly evolving area and I think it's really important not to be swayed by labels & certifications that can mislead and oversimplify the issue (e.g. "zero waste", "plastic free", "natural skincare", "clean beauty", "B-corp" to name a few).

My products are all made in the UK in small batches (at least, compared to the big brands!), and I plan to keep my collection curated with intentional formulations - never adding more than is necessary because I don't want to contribute to over-consumption with constant launches. My range is available through my store here, and additionally through a small number of carefully picked independent aesthetic clinics who have a key focus on skin health. You won't find my products in mainstream beauty retailers and this is intentional on my part because:

1) I believe there is too much choice amongst retailers and knowing what to choose can be a challenge for consumers, so I prefer to sell direct through my store (where I can help advise you if needed) or through expert aestheticians who will advise you on which products will suit you best to support your skin health - either way, you can expect great customer service which genuinely puts you first!

2) large beauty retailers are often driven by factors other than supporting skin health (trends, gimmicks etc) and I haven't come across any which align with my brand ethos and values, and

3) selling through large beauty retailers warrants very high (sometimes obscene!) retail mark ups, which aren't built into my pricing - as I want to keep my pricing fair and avoid the "constant discount culture"

Skincare shouldn't be overwhelming, so my aim is to keep things as simple as for you, whilst also acknowledging the flexibility needed to accommodate how individual people's skin is. Hopefully as a customer of Apothaka®, you'll appreciate how I like to do things a bit differently here - small business, big conscience!

Natasha xo

Natasha Dauncey, Founder of Apothaka®