How I Turned My Skin Condition Into A Multi-Million Dollar Beauty Empire

For years, Jacine Greenwood suffered from acne. It was so bad she said it severely affected her self-esteem and that’s what led her to research and launch her own skincare range for acne-prone skin.

Jacine, who is an Australian businesswoman, spent almost two decades studying skincare before launching Roccoco Botanicals. Now, almost ten years on, Jacine’s skincare range is selling over $4.2 AU million a year.

“I had cystic acne as a teenager all over my back and face,” explains Jacine. “After getting told a different story from every skin specialist that I went to, I decided to start studying skin myself. For 17 years I didn’t watch TV. I didn’t read books. I just read journal studies. I questioned, researched and studied skin and what ingredients, botanicals and actives would work best with acne-prone and sensitive skins.”

This week, Jacine’s hard work paid off when her company Roccoco Botanicals won a prestigious award in New York – the Cosmetics & Toiletries (C&T) Allē Award (previously known as the R&D awards) for its unique 7 in 1 Ruby Crystal Cleanser.

The Ruby Crystal Cleanser, which reduces inflammation, is anti-inflammatory and collagen producing, was among seven finalists from around the world in the Indie category. Previous winners include global beauty powerhouse brands Yves Saint Laurent Beauté, L’Oréal and Shiseido.

“It’s incredible news. I’m pinching myself,” says Jacine Greenwood, the founding Chief Cosmetic Chemist and CEO of Roccoco Botanicals from New York where she was presented with the award.

“It’s especially gratifying and humbling to be named the winner by a judging panel which includes scientists from industry royalty like Chanel and Estee Lauder,” adds Jacine. “We won the award because they judged Ruby Crystal as the most innovative product of its class, and they loved the sustainability of it.”

The Ruby Crystal Cleanser contains active ingredients specifically selected by Jacine Greenwood such as Ethyl Linoleate, Jojoba Oil, Rose Absolute and Passionfruit Seed Oil.

“Skin is my passion,” says Jacine. “I’ve spent my life finding ways to heal, nurture and maintain acne-prone and sensitive skin so to be named as a global winner is an acknowledgment of my life’s mission and work.”

In February 2013, Jacine launched her business from her kitchen bench in Queensland, Australia. Now, Roccoco Botanicals is Australia’s fastest growing beauty brand as well as being named an international Allē award winner.

“My biggest skin issue acne ended up creating a muti million-dollar business for me,” adds Jacine, who sells more product in the USA than anywhere else.

 “Personally, I suffered skin conditions for many years, and this allows me to understand what my customers are experiencing. 

“It took me until I was 40 years old to look into a public mirror in a bathroom without feeling bad – that’s’ how much acne affects your self-esteem. So, I decided to do something about it. 

“I used my own pain as fuel so that others didn’t feel the same as me but instead felt beautiful. 

“It gives me great sense of pride to know people like me can now feel comfortable and feel they don’t have to cover up their skin anymore.”

Jacine has certainly come a long way since those days working from her kitchen bench and the announcement this week in New York cements Roccoco Botanicals’ status as Australia’s fastest growing beauty company.

“At Roccoco Botanicals, our mission is to support and repair the skin barrier particularly for the more than 50% of women who suffer from acne and others who contend with skin conditions such as pigmentation, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, molluscum contagiosum and atopic dermatitis,” says Jacine. “There’s an epidemic of people suffering from skin problems, and we exist to help them.”

While the Roccoco Botanicals team is celebrating the Ruby Crystal Cleanser’s win on the international stage, its founder hopes to use the spotlight to help people everywhere. “We are especially delighted to know more people who suffer from acne-prone and sensitive skin might now hear about our range of products with active ingredients that are designed to help them and have proven results,” says Jacine.