How I Started My Own Skincare Brand from Scratch

How I Started My Own Skincare Brand from Scratch

Posted by Nicole Sherwin on

I wanted to take a moment to reflect and share with you the story of how Eco Diva Natural came to life. The journey wasn't easy, and at times, I truly didn’t know where to begin. What I did know, though, was that I had managed to heal my own skin—adult acne, rosacea, and pigmentation no longer ruled my life. I thought, “If I can heal myself, why not help others too?” So 10 years ago this month, I took a leap of faith, believed in myself and began this magical journey.

Armed with my homemade skincare recipes (from my time as the Cosmetic Chef on SABC3’s Expresso morning show) and an unwavering passion to heal skin, I connected with two brilliant biochemists and started the formulating process. I had zero funding, limited business experience, but what I did have was grit, determination, and a deep love for the impact I knew these products could make.

After 4 years of formulating, tweaking, and learning on the fly, I launched Eco Diva Natural in 2014 with 10 of my favourite products. Little did I know just how tough the beauty industry would be—cutthroat, fast-paced, and full of unexpected challenges. But every hurdle has been worth it. Every step of this journey has brought immense joy and fulfilment, and sometines deep frustration that I've had to talk myself off a ledge from.

Fast forward to today: 5 beauty awards, a stand alone emporium, worldwide shipping availability, thousands of clients with healthy, happy, glowing skin, and a passionate community that I’m forever grateful for.

And as I sit on the edge of exciting new ideas for the future, I take a moment to breathe, appreciate how far we’ve come, and reconnect with the heart of what we do—healing skin, advocating for animal rights and environmentalism, and championing the power of natural and organic superfood ingredients. I am so grateful for my small, committed and utterly wonderful team that helps bring my dreams to life everyday with me, without them, this would all be very lonely.

Our mission has always been bigger than beauty. We want to promote conscious consumption, how to reduce waste and plastic pollution, and do our part to plant more trees, because the world needs oxygen now more than ever.

What does sustainability mean to you? How do we sustain a life on this magical planet?

As we celebrate 10 incredible years this October, I want to thank you for being  part of our kind, caring, fun, confident, vivacious, outspoken, loving community. You’re the reason we continue this journey, and I can’t wait to see what the next decade holds.

This month, we celebrate YOU every step of the way with free gifts with every purchase, a WIN your Cart back draw with every purchase that is made, a competition prize running on our socials, and every Friday - our #FLYDAY Friday specials where we highlight a product that is one of our faves and offer it to you for 20% less for 24 hours. Keep an eye out on our socials for all the deets.

With immense love and gratitude,
Nicole

P.S. We’d love to hear your thoughts on sustainability and how you’re celebrating with us! Feel free to reply and share your story. 💚

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