The Story Behind The Books

I’ve always been curious about why things work — particularly when it comes to health, ingredients and the skin.

Long before skincare became such a big part of my life, I studied natural health — completing Advanced Diplomas in Nutritional Medicine, Western Herbal Medicine and Natural Therapies. Those studies gave me a foundation I’ve continued to build on ever since.

My practical skincare journey began with courses in things like soap making, which soon led me further into skincare and cosmetic formulation. I found myself wanting to understand not just what went into a product, but why each ingredient was there, what it actually did and how different ingredients worked together.

Over the years, that curiosity has taken me through countless ingredients, formulations, trials, mistakes, adjustments and discoveries — and I’m still learning.

More than ten years ago, I co-founded Asarai with my family. My passion has always been researching ingredients and creating formulations, but no business grows through one person’s work alone. Derek has brought the business experience and steady perspective that have helped guide Asarai from the beginning, while Jay and Patrice have brought creativity, vision and their own strengths to the brand. Each of us has contributed something different, and together we have built Asarai into what it is today.

Working so closely with skincare also made me realise just how confusing the subject has become.

There are more products, ingredients, trends and opinions than ever before, and sometimes even the simplest question — What does my skin actually need? — can feel surprisingly difficult to answer.

That was one of the reasons I wrote The Natural Skincare Handbook.

I wanted to create the sort of book I would have liked to have had years ago: something warm and approachable that explains the skin and its ingredients without making everything feel overly complicated. A book you can read from beginning to end, but also keep nearby and return to when you want to check an ingredient, understand a skin concern or make something for yourself.

One of the reasons I wanted to include traditional beauty practices in the book was to show that many of the ingredients we still use in skincare today have been valued for hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of years. I find there’s something useful in looking back at what people used before modern formulations became so complex. Sometimes taking a step backwards helps us understand why certain ingredients have endured — and can help us move forward with a little more perspective.

The book brings together many of the things I love — traditional beauty practices, modern skincare knowledge, natural ingredients, formulation and homemade recipes — but I’ve also tried to keep it balanced. I don’t believe natural automatically means safe, just as I don’t believe synthetic automatically means harmful. What matters is understanding what you’re using, why you’re using it and whether it is right for your skin.

Writing the book also reminded me how much I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned. I certainly don’t think I’ll ever reach a point where I feel I know everything — and I hope I never do. There is always another ingredient to investigate, another piece of research to read and another idea worth exploring.

If you finish the book feeling a little more confident about your skin, a little less overwhelmed by skincare, and perhaps a little more curious about the ingredients you use, then I’ll feel it has done what I hoped it would.

Patricia.