Ten years ago, I couldn't find a skincare brand I actually trusted. So I built one.

"I started this brand in 2015 out of genuine frustration not a business plan. The skincare I could find was either full of ingredients I didn't want on my skin, white-labelled from a generic manufacturer with a pretty logo slapped on it, or clinical and cold in a way that made the whole routine feel like a chore.

I wanted something different. So I started learning.

I threw myself into formulation. I studied ingredient science, read dermatology journals and clinical studies, and eventually began developing recipes from scratch, not tweaking someone else's base, but building formulations from the ground up. Over time, I've worked with cosmetic scientists to test and refine those formulations, so what ends up in every bottle reflects both my ingredient obsession and rigorous real-world testing.

Zen Botanics has been running for over a decade now, still small-batch, still made right here in Australia, and still every single product formulated by me.

Most skincare brands don't make anything. They pick from a catalogue of pre-made bases, add a fragrance, choose a name, and call it their own. We've never done that.

Every Zen Botanics product starts with a blank page. I choose each ingredient for a reason, checking comedogenic ratings, reading the clinical evidence, sourcing cold-pressed oils over refined, and finding ECOCERT/COSMOS-approved preservatives instead of taking the easy (and cheaper) route. That last one matters more than most people realise. Better preservatives are harder to source in Australia and they cost more. We use them anyway.

What you'll never find in our formulations: synthetic fragrances, drying alcohols, parabens, sulphates, artificial dyes, or mineral oils. Not because it's trendy to leave them out because I genuinely believe your skin doesn't need them.

Every ingredient earns its place. I research actives through dermatology journals and published clinical studies before they go anywhere near a formula. When you see 5% Niacinamide or Canadian Willowherb™ on our label, it's because the evidence is there -  not because it looked good in a marketing brief.

We're cruelty-free, vegan, and proud to manufacture in Australia. This is skincare made by someone who cares what goes on your skin, because it goes on mine too.

Zen Botanics reflects years of relentless learning, reformulating, listening to customers, and refusing to cut corners. Some of our customers have been with us since the beginning. That means everything to me.

If you ever want to know why a specific ingredient is in a product, or why we made a certain formulation decision or how Zen Botanics can work for your skin, just drop me a message at hello@zenbotanics.com.au.

Welcome to Zen Botanics."

— Annie

Where it all began. Annie selling her handmade skincare at the farmers markets, 2016.