I grew up in the United States, but my understanding of wellness shifted completely during the five years I lived in New Zealand. Being surrounded by such a different culture made me rethink my daily lifestyle choices.
Living in New Zealand, surrounded by Kiwis, I learned a valuable lesson: overall wellbeing is an ongoing process, not something you fix after it’s too late. I made a simple yet significant change: ditching highly processed foods and opting for locally grown produce. The impact was almost immediate: a noticeable energy boost. But what really caught my attention was the difference it made to my skin. This sparked my curiosity, and I began to notice how the people around me took care of their skin.
I was surprised to learn that in New Zealand, people have been using oils from native plants on their skin for a long time. I had always been told to avoid oils since my skin is oily. But then I tried a simple balm made from plant oils and wax, and I saw a big improvement in my skin. This made me wonder, how does skin actually work, and how can I keep it healthy?
I began to scrutinize the labels on my skincare products, which I had imported from the U.S. What I found was alarming. Most of these products were essentially water, filled with thickeners, fragrances, and harsh cleansers. The actual ingredients that were beneficial to my skin were few and far between. As someone who enjoys finding solutions to problems, I couldn’t help but wonder if I could create something better.
I gained knowledge about creating cosmetics through the Institute of Personal Care Science and learned about the safe use of essential oils from the Tisserand Institute. This education enabled me to develop my own products, which I then refined with feedback from friends and testers. After moving back to the U.S. in 2020 to marry my husband, who is a botanist, I brought along a collection of natural ingredients and my favorite formulas.
Around that time, I started a company called Corum Personal Care – Corum is my maiden name. The idea was to make skincare products that were easy to use and actually worked. For a while, I was making and selling these products to a group of people who, like me, believed in caring for their skin with natural ingredients.
In 2026, I shifted my focus to teaching people how to make their own skincare products instead of just selling them. Now, I don’t send out jars and bottles, but I share what I’ve learned about skincare. This is the book I wish I had when I started my journey. I hope you find it helpful.
Nita Peterson
Founder, CORUM Personal Care
