Hillary Peterson has spent the last decade redefining what “clean beauty” can look like. Through True Botanicals, she’s proven that nature and science aren’t opposites but collaborators, working together to create products that feel luxurious and deliver real results. Her approach, grounded in what she calls plant intelligence, looks at every ingredient, texture, and scent as part of a larger ecosystem that supports both skin and wellbeing.
In this conversation, Hillary shares the discoveries that shaped True Botanicals’ evolution, from the antioxidant chebula to the brand’s four part PI⁴ framework. She also reflects on the rituals that keep her balanced, the value of community, and why living well often begins with simply paying attention—to ourselves, to nature, and to the world we’re helping to create.
Living well with Hillary Peterson
You’ve described your cancer diagnosis as a kind of “igniting moment” for the creation of True Botanicals. Looking back now, what stands out as the most unexpected insight you gained from that journey? I had no idea at the time of my diagnosis that the products I was using contained ingredients known to be harmful to human health. Who could imagine there would be toxins in our personal care routines? With that realization, a deep conviction hit me like a wave—the beauty industry should be a wellness industry. Ingredients that are harmful to human health have no place in our products, and we don’t need them to create irresistible, highly effective skincare that outperforms leading conventional brands.
The “PI⁴” philosophy is unique. Could you walk us through how that framework was developed and how it influences everything from formulation to packaging to brand voice? At a time when there’s so much talk about AI—something new and incredible—we wanted to highlight the incredibly transformative power of PI, or plant intelligence. Our PI philosophy guides every formulation to ensure our products meet our rigorous standards at every step. This means they are:
PI¹ BioCompatible
Prioritizing molecules small enough for your skin to easily recognize and deeply absorb.
PI² BioActive
Maximizing cellular performance and delivering transformative results.
PI³ BioHolistic
Offering an irresistibly captivating experience, from exquisite scents to indulgent textures.
PI⁴ BioProtective
Independently certified to be safe for both people and the planet.
What product was hardest to get right—the one that took the most back-and-forth in the lab? It’s hard to pick just one because our product development philosophy demands innovation at every step—our textures must be exquisite, our scents captivating, and our results truly transformative. Identifying the right ingredients from nature to meet this high bar is an ongoing opportunity for innovation.
I’ve always seen challenges as opportunities, and in that sense, we have had many opportunities at every step! Whether it’s finding the best preservative system for a water-based formula or the perfect natural ingredient to create the luxurious slip and glide people expect from serums, our team tirelessly searches for a certified MADE SAFE, EWG-verified solution. We don’t believe in compromises—and while it’s a high bar, our customers are worth it.
The ingredient chebula has become almost iconic for your brand. What about this ancient botanical captivated you, and what do you think it teaches us about longevity and protection? Chebula is an extraordinarily potent antioxidant that uniquely supports skin vitality at every age. While most antioxidants lose effectiveness within hours, chebula is a cascading antioxidant—it remains active for as long as the serum stays on your skin. Antioxidants are essential for skin vitality at any age, and this one stands out in a big way.
Which product in your line feels most personal to you—the one that represents the brand’s essence in a single bottle? Our Renew Pure Radiance Oil was our first launch, and it put us on the map by dramatically outperforming a global iconic moisturizer. We have so many passionate customers who say they couldn’t live without it—and I’m one of them! It smells divine, offering a spa-like moment morning and night, and the results are undeniable. The Renew Pure Radiance Oil definitely holds a special place in my heart.
For someone new to the brand, what’s the best way to start—what are the entry-point products that always win people over? When people try our Chebula Active Serum and Renew Pure Radiance Oil together, morning and night, I know they’ll be back. The transformations these products deliver are undeniable. Our retention rates far exceed industry standards, and these two products have a lot to do with that!
Your Renew Pure Radiance Oil has become a cult classic. Why do you think people connect to it the way they do? The Renew Pure Radiance Oil offers such a luxurious ritual—and it truly works. We lose up to 3% of the fats in our skin every year, and this product helps replenish the lipid barrier with the perfect blend of essential fatty acids and antioxidants. I knew we were onto something early on when so many people told me that, after just two weeks of using it, friends and family were stopping them to ask what they had done to their skin.
What’s one product in the line that deserves more love—the one people discover later and say, “I wish I’d tried this sooner”? I would say our Phyto-Retinol Advanced Clinical Cream, because it delivers all the smoothing and firming benefits of retinol without any of the irritation. It’s a rich, nourishing cream that feels like it’s doing something good the moment you apply it. The active ingredient, Peptilium, has actually outperformed synthetic retinol in clinical trials—proven to be twice as strong and work twice as fast. Nature is amazing!
What other brands—in any industry—do you admire for their integrity or innovation? I always love sharing my go-to clean beauty and home staples—the ones that make everyday routines feel a little more special—because cleaning up what we’re exposed to daily is easier than most people think. Once you make a change, you don’t have to think about it again. These brands are led by founders who truly care about the health of people and the planet, and they make products I genuinely look forward to using.
Innersense Organic Beauty: My favorite hair care brand—salon-quality, sustainably sourced, and committed to full transparency. Their products are free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrance—which is harder to find than you’d think. My favorite is the Refresh Dry Shampoo. It’s a lightweight foam (not a powder or aerosol), so it feels much cleaner to use. A few pumps massaged into the scalp, let it dry, then brush through—it refreshes my hair without buildup and brings it back to life. I never travel without it.
Corpus Naturals: I’ve been using this deodorant stick for years, and I keep coming back for one reason: it works. Even on long travel days or during back-to-back meetings, it never fails me. Nº Green is my favorite scent.
Koala Eco: I love every product in their line, but there’s something especially satisfying about seeing their Dish Soap, Hand Soap, and Multi-Purpose Kitchen Cleaner all lined up on my sink—they look beautiful and work incredibly well. The Kitchen Cleaner has the most uplifting scent, like freshly picked citrus on a summer day. It actually makes me want to clean my counters, which says a lot!
Building a brand is demanding. How do you take care of yourself so you don’t lose sight of the joy in what you’re doing? I love how you phrased that because that’s exactly what happens—the joy fades when I don’t take good care of myself, and that’s not good for anyone. I try to start each day with a sunrise meditation—just 20 minutes makes a big difference. Lately, the owls in our neighborhood are still active at that hour, and it’s incredible to listen to the transition from owls to hawks and crows. It’s such a beautiful reminder of the ecosystem that surrounds us and how often we overlook it.
I also try to hike or ride every day to give myself space for creative thinking and connection with nature. It fills my tank and helps me take on all the exciting—and energy-demanding—work that I do.
What’s a podcast, book, or film that’s genuinely changed your perspective lately? A Book of Blessings: To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donohue. This beautiful collection of blessings by the Irish teacher and poet offers meaningful perspectives on life’s many, often simple, moments. The way he reveres nature and brings it to life deeply resonates with me.
What does living well mean to you right now, in this season of life? For me, living well means bringing my authentic self to each day and working with whatever comes my way. I’m also integrating nature more fully into my life—gardening, eating nourishing whole foods from our local farmers market, taking hikes in the middle of a busy workday, and using products that truly provide self care. We are nature, and the more I weave it into my life, the better I feel.
Equally important, I prioritize community at every step—family, friends, coworkers, and customers are the spice of life. So many studies have shown that people with strong communities live longer, and I wholeheartedly believe that.
The post Living Well with Hillary Peterson, Founder of True Botanicals: On the Balance Between Science, Nature, and Ritual appeared first on The Chalkboard.