Our Story

Kosmea is an Australian natural skin care company and an international success story, founded on the healing properties of certified organic rosehip oil. From the earliest days the company and its products have been developed with a strong vision, determination and commitment to integrity.

Certified organic rosehip oil

Certified organic rosehip oil and its unique ability to nourish and balance all skin types is the foundation of Kosmea Australia.

In 1993, I discovered the unique qualities of rosehip oil when mixing ingredients for a home-made face mask. I had always enjoyed making my own skin care concoctions with natural ingredients including avocado, brewer’s yeast, yoghurt and herbs. A new recipe that I wanted to try included rosehips, so I headed to a rose farm where the owners were happy for me to pick some rosehips and also gave me an article about rosehip oil benefits including it’s nourishing and healing qualities. Crammed with essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants, I learnt that rosehip oil was ideal for dry, scarred, sensitive and sun-damaged skin. I was intrigued.

I was impressed with the results that rosehip had on my skin. I couldn’t think of any other product that was completely natural and affordable, and could be used for a baby’s nappy rash, a teenager’s pimples, sun damaged skin of any age, or a grandmother’s dry, sensitive skin. Surely other people would share my enthusiasm when they tried it and saw the results for themselves. And they did.

A strong vision

I was driven by my vision to create the leading natural skin care company in the world.

I would do this by changing the way people thought about skin care: instead of using chemicals as a band-aid solution to skin problems, I wanted people to start questioning the ingredients in their skin care products and to start caring for their skin by bringing it back into balance. This vision is reflected in the name I chose for the company: the word ‘Kosmea’ comes from the Ancient Greek meaning to harmonise and bring into balance.

Determination

Having a vision is one thing; making it a reality is another. Kosmea’s success and growth was the result of single-minded determination.

I believed in my idea of taking rosehip oil to the Australian market; no one else was selling rosehip oil in Australia and I was determined to be the first. But I had three small children and no spare money. I wanted to buy one drum of rosehip oil and 4000 bottles (the minimum order) to fill with the oil. Much to the dismay of my husband and children, I sold the family car to raise the capital I needed.

My family and I then sat around the kitchen table for many long days and nights, filling the bottles with oil and labelling them. The next step was selling these 4000 bottles into retailers. Over the next few weeks, I personally visited every health food store in South Australia — about 80 stores in total. We had bought a really old car to replace the car I sold, so I had to park my car around the corner from each store, hoping that no one would see me get out!

I knew that once people had the chance to try the oil for themselves, they would be hooked, so I gave each store owner a bottle to try. Everyone who tried the oil was convinced and I was able to sell a tray of bottles into each store I visited. Within 6 months, I had sold all 4000 bottles.

Through sheer determination, I was able to secure a bank loan to buy more drums of rosehip oil, to develop new skin care products in the range, and within a few short years, to begin exporting to Hong Kong (China), the UK, Canada and New Zealand. I never stopped believing in my vision or in myself. Giving up wasn’t an option.

Integrity

My belief in natural skin care means that I will never compromise on using the highest quality natural ingredients and on the way each product in the range is formulated.

In the early days, manufacturers told me that the way I wanted to make my first moisturiser wouldn’t work. They thought they knew better and tried to change the formula, but I persisted until I found a manufacturer who had the integrity to make my products the way I had intended.

I am dedicated to changing the way people treat their skin. Kosmea was one of the first skin care companies to challenge conventional skin care manufacturing by avoiding the use of harmful synthetic ingredients, and I will never compromise on that principle. Our skin is a living organ and we should nourish it with ingredients that we recognise and would be prepared to eat!

I hope you enjoy learning more about Kosmea and rosehip oil — and please keep telling us about your wonderful experiences using Kosmea Certified Organic Rosehip Oil.