Gordon, Nicky: - Nicky Gordon is a powerhouse of creativity. In the last twenty-five years her career has morphed from one creative pursuit to another. Starting out as a photographer, after having studied at Sydney Institute of Technology, Nicky worked as a lifestyle photographer. Her photography has been extensively published in newspapers, books and magazines in Australia and overseas. From here, Nicky's career took a side step towards her childhood aspiration of writing and not long after she was promoted to editor of South Coast Style magazine, an award-winning glossy lifestyle magazine for the New South Wales south coast. A position she still holds today. It was whilst researching a story about the cosmetic industry Nicky was drawn to the uncertain ingredients used in commercial brands of cosmetics, skincare and cleaning products. She dug deeper and was alarmed by the lack of government regulation and the associated health and environmental hazards of many commonplace ingredients used in these everyday products. Her concerns led Nicky on a quest to find safe, natural and ethical alternatives. When they were not easily found, she set out on a mission to make her own. By making her own products, she was able to ensure that all ingredients were pure, safe and natural. Not only that, she soon discovered that her own products actually worked much better! Before I knew it, our skin was radiant and our complexions glowing. We all smelt wonderfully sweet and totally natural with not a whiff of artificial fragrances, says Nicky. Inspired, she launched her own line of mineral make-up quickly followed by a range of skincare products. It was 2009 and Maeve Botanicals was born. After a few years of trial and toil, Nicky discovered her Thermomix could manage many of the precise phases with such accuracy that it transformed the entire process into an easy and effortless experience. The Thermomix negated many of the tools and utensils previously required and each formula could be recreated in half the time, with half the effort. Nicky is so enthused and excited by how easily the Thermomix can create quality skincare and body products she felt she had to share it with the world.