Written by Lizzie Macaulay
I’ll be the first to admit it: my bathroom counter is not exactly a shrine to self-care.
A face wash. A moisturiser. Maybe a face mask shoved down in the back of a drawer somewhere for if I’m feeling particularly indulgent (which, let’s be honest, is rare).
My approach to skincare has always been decidedly… minimal.
But when you know someone who’s turned the art of skincare into an award-winning science, and they invite you into their workspace to see how it all comes together, you don’t say no.
Especially when that someone is Kim Guseli, multi-award-winning cosmetic chemist and the brilliant mind behind Botanical Skincare Lab, right here in Hervey Bay.
I’ve known Kim for quite some time now, and her commitment to sustainability and creating beautiful, effective products is genuinely unmatched. Her trophy cabinet speaks for itself. Gold Stevie Awards, international business accolades, sustainability finalist badges… the woman is essentially collecting awards like some people collect frequent flyer points.
But what makes Kim truly special isn’t just the recognition (though that’s certainly impressive). It’s her dedication to doing things properly, sustainably, and with a level of care that’s rare in any industry.
So when the opportunity arose to step into her atelier and witness how the magic gets made for this month’s ‘Makers’ edition, I jumped at it.
Kim’s workspace might surprise you. Rather than an industrial laboratory, she creates her award-winning formulas using the kinds of tools you’d find in any well-equipped kitchen: whisks, mixing bowls, measuring spoons. Of course, there are droppers and flasks that add a touch of scientific flair, but the heart of it all is refreshingly hands-on. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best innovations don’t require fancy facilities, just expertise, precision, and care.
And of course, there are her two faithful lab assistants: Dexter and Lucia, her dachshunds, who take their quality control duties very seriously (mostly by supervising from their cosy spots and occasionally investigating interesting smells).
Our first task of the day was unmoulding Kim’s newest creations, her pebble drift trays.
These delicate, beautiful pieces are made from Jesmonite, a sustainable material that perfectly embodies Kim’s commitment to reducing packaging waste whilst creating something genuinely lovely.
The trays themselves are the perfect addition to any bathroom counter, designed to hold your skincare essentials whilst looking like small works of art.
Kim explained the process as we worked. The Jesmonite solution starts as a liquid, and here’s where things get interesting: you have exactly eight minutes from start to finish to mix and pour into moulds before everything sets.
Eight minutes.
No pressure, then.
As someone whose cooking timer anxiety is real, I found this both thrilling and mildly terrifying. Kim, however, moved with the calm confidence of someone who’s done this hundreds of times.
Each piece turns out slightly differently based on the swirl of colour, making every tray unique. It’s like capturing a moment in time, frozen in sustainable beauty.
The colours themselves are inspired by our own Fraser Coast. Golden Hour, Ocean Whispers, Sky Glow and Velvet Moon. Each one evoking different times of day along our stunning coastline.
Once unmoulded (a surprisingly satisfying process, I must say), the bases are carefully sanded and sealed. Kim’s attention to detail at every stage is meticulous. Nothing leaves her workspace unless it’s perfect.
Next up was the product that Kim has become famous for: her Terra Pure Clay Face Mask Pods.
And when I say famous, I mean it. There is literally nothing like these in the entire world.
The origin story alone is brilliant. Kim had created a clay mask bar designed to be reused, which accidentally fell on the floor and shattered one day.
Rather than seeing it as a failure, that moment sparked the idea for individual pods. Sometimes the best innovations come from happy accidents, don’t they?
The pods are perfect for travel, eliminating the need for bulky jars and reducing packaging waste. Just add water, and you’ve got a fresh face mask ready to go.
Kim walked me through the process of creating them. The mixture itself contains kaolin clay, tapioca starch, witch hazel leaf extract, jojoba seed oil, and iron oxides for colour. Every ingredient chosen not just for effectiveness but for sustainability and safety.
These products are specifically designed for our humid Queensland conditions, which is something I’d never really considered before. Of course skincare would need to be formulated differently for different climates. It seems obvious now, but it’s exactly the kind of detail that sets a qualified cosmetic chemist apart from someone just mixing things together.
And that’s precisely why Kim went back to study to become a qualified cosmetic chemist. After years of making her own skincare based on information she’d found online, she realised she might as well learn exactly how to create the best, safest products possible.
It’s that dedication to truly mastering her craft that I’ve always admired about her.
As I watched Kim work, carefully measuring and mixing to the strains of classical music playing softly in the background, I was struck by how much genuine craftsmanship goes into each product.
There’s a rhythm to her process, a sort of meditative focus that transforms mixing ingredients into something closer to art.
This isn’t mass production. This is someone who genuinely cares about every single item that leaves her workspace, someone who understands that when you put love and intention into what you create, it shows in the final result.
The mixture is distributed into moulds to set, then each pod stack is wrapped in delicate tissue paper before going off to happy customers. Kim sells exclusively within Australia, but her products travel far beyond our borders, tucked into suitcases by customers who won’t leave home without them.
That’s what gets me most excited. I’m extremely proud of everything Kim has accomplished, and how far a small business can reach when the ideas and execution are as good as hers.
She’s proof that you don’t need to be based in Sydney or Melbourne to create something world class. You just need dedication, expertise, and a genuine desire to make things better.
As our time together drew to a close, Dexter and Lucia demanded their fair share of attention (quality control is exhausting work, apparently).
I left Kim’s atelier with a renewed appreciation for the makers in our community. The people who don’t just dream about creating something beautiful and sustainable, but who actually do the work to make it happen.
Kim’s story reminds me that making isn’t just about the end product. It’s about the process, the care, the commitment to doing things properly even when it would be easier to cut corners.
It’s about seeing a shattered clay mask bar on the floor and thinking “actually, this could be something even better.”
And it’s about building something remarkable right here in our own backyard, award by international award.
With huge thanks to Kim at Botanical Skincare Lab for opening her workspace to us. You can find Kim’s beautiful creations online at botanicalskincarelab.com.au, or discover them locally at stockists including Replenish Refill and Go Foods Natural. Trust me, your bathroom counter (and the planet) will thank you.