We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicolina Kolster. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicolina below.

Nicolina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry? Any stories or anecdotes that illustrate why this matters?

Big companies in the beauty industry focus too much on quick fixes instead of real healing. They sell products that only cover up the problem instead of asking why the skin is struggling in the first place.

At Matka Botanicals, we see skin differently. It’s never just about the skin – it’s about what’s happening inside the body. Gut health, stress, hormones, and toxins all play a role. But mainstream skincare rarely talks about this because it’s more profitable to keep people buying product after product instead of actually helping them heal.

Take acne, for example. Big brands push strong treatments that strip the skin, but they never ask why the breakouts are happening. When I talk to customers with stubborn skin issues, I usually find the problem is deeper – inflammation, digestion, or even toxic overload. Once we address that with gentle, supportive skincare and internal balance, the skin clears naturally. No need for aggressive treatments.

The industry also makes people afraid of aging. Instead of honoring skin’s natural changes, we’re told to fight against time. I don’t like this approach. At Matka Botanicals, we focus on strengthening and nourishing the skin at every stage of life. We use powerful botanicals, adaptogens, and traditional wisdom that have been trusted for centuries – real ingredients, not synthetic shortcuts.

This is what corporate beauty gets wrong. It treats skin like a problem to fix instead of a reflection of overall health. I want to change that.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Nicolina, the founder of Matka Botanicals. “Matka” means “journey” in Finnish, where my roots are, and that’s exactly what this brand is—a journey to clean skin, deeper healing, and reconnecting with nature’s wisdom.

I started Matka Botanicals because I’ve always believed that skin health isn’t just about what you put on your skin but also what’s happening inside your body. I’m a cosmetic formulator, an herbalist, a registered holistic nutritionist, and certified aesthetician, and my approach is rooted in the idea that true beauty comes from balance—balancing the gut, the nervous system, and the body’s natural rhythms.

My journey into this industry started when I was studying advanced aesthetics in Helsinki. I saw firsthand how loaded cosmetics were with chemicals—many of them toxic, irritating, and completely unnecessary. I couldn’t justify spending hundreds of dollars on products filled with synthetic concoctions that did more harm than good. So, I started experimenting and formulating my own skincare at home, using natural ingredients that worked with the skin instead of against it. Friends and family started noticing my creations and wanted to try them for themselves. Word spread naturally, and before I knew it, the business found me rather than the other way around.

Later, I realized that skin health isn’t just about what we put on it—it’s deeply connected to what’s happening inside the body. My own struggles with IBS, chronic constipation, estrogen dominance, and heavy periods made me aware of how inflammation, gut imbalances, and toxins show up on the skin. That led me to study holistic nutrition at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, so I could better understand this connection and help others heal from the inside out. That’s how Matka Botanicals was born—not just as a skincare brand, but as a full-body approach to beauty and wellness.

Matka Botanicals is different because I don’t just sell skincare—I teach people why their skin is reacting and how to support it from the inside out. I create natural, high-performance skincare made in small batches in my studio in Nanaimo, using only the cleanest ingredients. I also offer nutritional coaching, detox programs, and inner beauty rituals because healthy skin is an inside job.

I solve problems for people who feel stuck—those struggling with breakouts, inflammation, or dull skin, who have tried everything and feel like nothing works. I help them understand that their skin isn’t the problem; it’s a messenger. Once we address the root cause—whether it’s gut imbalances, toxic overload, or stress—the skin naturally clears, glows, and thrives.

I’m most proud of building something that is honest, intentional, and actually helps people feel better in their skin—not just temporarily, but for the long run. What I want people to know about Matka Botanicals is that this is about more than skincare. It’s about remembering forgotten wisdom, reconnecting with nature, and creating rituals that nourish not just the skin, but the whole body.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Matka Botanicals started as a personal passion project, but my love for skincare goes back even further—I was introduced to it early on by my mother, who was an aesthetician. For years, formulating was more of a paid hobby while I worked my 9-5 job at a health food company in Nanaimo. I loved creating natural skincare, but I wasn’t thinking of it as a full-time career.

Then COVID changed everything. When I got laid off, I had to make a choice—go back to working for someone else or take a chance on my own business. I decided to go all in. In 2021, I did a full rebrand to make my products more retailer-friendly and professional, and that’s when things really took off. Since then, I’ve been running Matka Botanicals full-time, and the business has been growing steadily.

From making tiny baby batches in our one-bedroom basement suite to now having a full “beauty lab” studio in our converted garage, I’ve come a long way. What started as a small, hands-on passion has grown into something so much bigger—both in scale and impact. It’s been a journey of learning, refining, and growing, but through it all, the heart of Matka Botanicals has stayed the same: creating natural, effective skincare rooted in deep healing and traditional wisdom.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that security comes from a steady paycheck. For a long time, I was afraid to take the leap into full-time entrepreneurship because I didn’t want to lose the financial stability of my 9-5. Even though I felt frustrated and unfulfilled at my job—like I was pouring my time and energy into something that wasn’t truly mine—I still held onto the fear of “What if this doesn’t work?”

Imposter syndrome made it even harder. I questioned whether I was really good enough, really ready, really capable of running a successful business. But when I got laid off during COVID, I was forced to face that fear head-on. I had two choices: either scramble to find another job I didn’t love or finally bet on myself.

The moment I decided to go all in, everything shifted. It was like the universe had been waiting for me to fully commit. Opportunities started flowing, my business started growing, and things unfolded in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Looking back, I realize that my fear of failure was actually holding me back from success. Trusting the process, believing in my work, and letting go of the “safety net” mindset was what allowed Matka Botanicals to bloom into what it is today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.matkabotanicals.com
• Instagram: @matkabotanicals
• Facebook: @matkabotanicals
• Other: Tiktok: @matka.botanicals, Pinterest: @matkabotanicals