ABOUT
Wild Alchemy Botanicals – natural skincare, human connection
Meet the Maker
Sandra Moetara
Kia ora, I’m Sandra, creator of Wild Alchemy Botanicals.
I craft small-batch skincare here in Aotearoa, blending a lifelong love of nature with nearly two decades of practice as a dermal therapist and educator.
My work honours formulating with intention, skill, and deep respect for the land I come from.
Formulated with Precision,
Rooted in Taiao (Nature)
After three years of careful development, Wild Alchemy Botanicals was born from my deep respect for nature and proven formulation science.
Every ingredient is chosen with purpose, every batch handcrafted to meet the needs of real skin in the real world.
Whether your skin is navigating acne, dullness, sensitivity, or the signs of ageing, I create formulations that support it, gently and effectively.
Premium Ingredients.
Real Results.
Wild Alchemy Botanicals products are formulated with a balance of active and botanical ingredients, carefully chosen to restore, hydrate, and support the skin barrier.
I formulate products blending active ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, CoQ10, Vitamin C, AHAs and BHAs, potent botanicals like Kawakawa, Mānuka and Kānuka, fruit extracts, and nutrient-rich plant oils - my formulations work in harmony with the skin’s natural rhythm of renewal.
I believe that understanding your skin is powerful, which is why I share honest education, resources and downloadable user guides - to help you build confidence and create rituals that move with your skin, not against it.
Global Expertise
Local Roots
With nearly two decades of hands-on experience in dermal therapy, my work has spanned clinical practice, medi-spa settings, and education - giving me a deep understanding of how skin behaves, heals, and responds in the real world.
I hold a Diploma in Beauty & Spa Therapy from Elite (NZ), along with CIBTAC (UK) and CIDESCO (Swiss) international qualifications.
My journey began at Caci Clinic here in Aotearoa, where I learned how the right treatments and formulations could transform both skin and confidence. From there, my career took me across Australia and the Middle East, expanding my knowledge of diverse skin types and climates.
Licensed under the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) as a Skin and Laser Technician, I worked under the supervision of dermatologists and cosmetic nurses to deliver results-driven skin health programs.
After returning home to New Zealand, I joined Wintec as an academic staff member, teaching Beauty Therapy while completing my Adult Teaching Diploma and contributing to NZQA syllabus development - a role that reinforced my commitment to education and integrity in skincare.
Today, I bring that global and educational perspective into Wild Alchemy Botanicals — blending clinical precision with a barrier-supportive, holistic philosophy that honours both science and nature.
Clinical Expertise & Advanced Certifications
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LHR Laser Hair Removal
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IPL Photo Rejuvenation
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Microneedling, Light Therapies, Sonophoresis Skin Infusion
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Customised Skin Correction Programs
(Dermamelan & Cosmelan Medical Depigmentation Treatments) -
Holistic, Barrier-Supportive Skincare
(both topical care and internal balance)
Nature’s Healing Power:
My First Lessons
My first lessons in skincare didn’t come from a clinic or a textbook—they came from the icy waters of the South Pacific and an intensely bitter herb I was made to drink.
As a child, I struggled with recurring eczema that one harsh winter developed into juvenile plantar dermatosis (JPD)—a painful condition that left my feet cracked, inflamed, and raw. Every step was agony. We tried all the conventional options—steroid creams, ointments, even injections—but nothing brought lasting relief.
In the end, it was a return to nature that made the difference. Every winter morning, my parents led me down to the sea. I’d stand barefoot in the freezing ocean, crying from the sting, while they trusted the mineral-rich saltwater to do what medicine had not. By sunrise, the swelling had eased, the cracks were softer, and walking hurt a little less. That ritual became part of our weekly routine for the rest of the season.
Alongside that, pūhā (Sonchus oleraceus) became part of my daily meals—boiled into kai, or served as a hot, earthy broth. Its bitterness was unforgettable, but so were the results.
Tradition Meets Science
Years later, I would come to understand what my parents—and generations before them—already knew. Pūhā is packed with Vitamins A, B, and C: key nutrients that support skin healing, immune strength, and cellular repair. The ocean’s saltwater, too, is more than a comfort—it’s a natural anti-inflammatory, rich in minerals that soothe, hydrate, and strengthen the skin’s barrier.
This experience shaped everything that followed. It showed me that science and nature are not opposing forces—they’re allies. True wellness, including skincare, honours both: ancestral knowledge and clinical evidence, the wild and the precise.
It’s this belief that continues to guide me—both personally and in my work with Wild Alchemy Botanicals. Every product I formulate holds space for both worlds: the time-tested healing of taiao (nature) and the validating data of skin science.
All content and formulations are original to Wild Alchemy Botanicals. For full details, see our Legal Notice