True Botanicals founder Hillary Peterson at home in her garden PHOTO COURTESY OF TRUE BOTANICALS
Harnessing the power of plant-based ingredients, True Botanicals has redefined the clean skincare category with highly effective nontoxic products. Here, founder Hillary Peterson—who grew up in Pasadena—shares her story.
What prompted you to launch True Botanicals? I always wanted to have clear, glowy skin and it eluded me until I got involved in the beauty industry and developed a clear understanding of how to nourish and clear blemish-prone skin. I came to beauty as a result of my discovery, post-thyroid cancer, that my skincare products contained toxins. I tried the clean products available at the time and they did not off er the results or sensorial experience that I was seeking, so I decided that I should create an alternative.
True Botanicals Chebula Extreme Cream PHOTO COURTESY OF TRUE BOTANICALS
There are so many lines that brand themselves as “clean,” but what does it really mean? To me, ‘clean’ should not be a gray area. It should unequivocally mean that every ingredient and oft en hidden subingredients are proven safe for humans, animals and the planet. And that is why we MADE SAFE-certify every product that we make—to assure that our products are indeed as safe as we intend them to be.
How does living in California inspire what you do for True Botanicals? In California, we see the abundance and beauty that nature provides every day, and at the same time, I am surrounded by creators and innovators, so it has been an ideal place to envision and then bring to life a disruptive brand that is steeped in the power and luxury of nature.
How has the brand evolved since launch? As we have gained traction and grown, we have had an opportunity to update packaging, dedicate more resources to new product launches and further engage a passionate group of vocal advocates. All of this has led to a momentum that is very exciting to see!
True Botanicals Pure Radiance Oil, truebotanicals.com. PHOTO COURTESY OF TRUE BOTANICALS
What have been some of your biggest challenges along the way? When I first started True Botanicals, there was a misperception that clean products could not be as effective as conventional brands, and we needed to work very hard to bust that myth. With the combination of testimonials from passionate customers, beauty experts and celebrities, and convincing independent clinical trial results, we have been able to reposition our clean products made with the most potent active ingredients nature has to off er as truly transformative.
What are some of your proudest moments? In one week, Lizzo, Ariana Grande and Diane Keaton all organically showed love for True Botanicals and I realized that, wow, we are really reaching a lot of people with our passion for creating transformative products made with sustainability at the center of everything that we do. From how ingredients are grown to how our products are made to our packaging, we are considering the health of people and the planet at every step and I am so proud of that.
How do you incorporate wellness into your routine? An abundance of whole vegetables and fruits in my diet makes me feel the best, so I center my diet around what’s available at our local farmers market. And most days, I try to get out for a walk, bike ride or run. For me, it provides an emotional and physical reset that leads to better mood, sleep and overall sense of well-being.
“...YOU CAN DELIVER CATEGORY-DEFINING RESULTS WHILE FORMULATING WITH INGREDIENTS THAT ARE SAFE FOR HUMANS AND THE PLANET—AND IT’S SPARKING REAL CHANGE.” –HILLARY PETERSON
What are your five desert island products? Chebula Active Serum, Vitamin C Booster, Renew Pure Radiance Oil [all from True Botanicals], lipstick and sunscreen
What do you love most about what you do? My work with True Botanicals has been incredibly rewarding because we’re showing that there’s a better way. We’re providing an example to the industry of how you can deliver category-defining results while formulating with ingredients that are safe for humans and the planet—and it’s sparking real change. That’s the legacy I hope to leave for this massive industry that has a big impact on people’s health and the environment.
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