Founder & Formulator

I come from a background in green technology and natural supplements, frequently traveling between the U.S. and Asia and lived out of my suitcase for several years. As a Korean-American, the famous 10-step routine was ingrained in my system, and I spent so much time refilling small travel containers with all my skincare. Then when I turned 40, it was visibly noticeable that the products stopped working for me, possibly from ingredient immunity, and instead harmed my skin with breakouts and blemishes.

One day, I was visiting a friend who was pregnant in her late 30’s and her face was glowing with no sign of large pores and fine wrinkles. She was the first to introduce me to natural skincare products. But the price of natural skincare products was a bit overwhelming. This led me to my journey to research and experiment with natural ingredients to create a skincare product that will help hydrate and fight premature aging with less steps. Furthermore, it was vital for me to continue with the concept of sustainability and the use of natural, plant-based ingredients.

Many brands use water as the main ingredients. According to the United Nations (UN), water scarcity will be exacerbated due to increasing demand, climate change, and global pollution. At Botanical Republic, we only work with certified organic floral and herbal distillates aka "hydrosol" in replace of water. I never thought I would become a natural skincare formulator. The more research I did on natural ingredients, I became intrigued. To find out the benefits of a particular ingredient, I began testing ingredients on myself and attended school to become a skincare formulator.

Botanical Republic marked its beginning in January 2020. Regrettably, just a few months thereafter, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, requiring us to temporarily shutdown our operations. This unprecedented event was a profound reminder for all of us, underscoring the importance of a healthier and sustainable lifestyle in the beauty industry. I truly believe that many skincare consumers will gravitate towards the principles of the conscious beauty that Botanical Republic believes in.

Sincerely,

Hannah Kim