Natural Philosophy – NAP is a Melbourne-based, independently owned, award-winning Ayurvedic skincare company founded in 2021 by Priya, a former construction estimator turned certified skincare formulator. What began as a kitchen passion project connecting with her mum, has grown into a recognised brand driven by ancient Ayurvedic wisdom and science-backed plant-actives.

Our core philosophy blends 5,000-year-old Ayurvedic principles with modern plant-based actives like hyaluronic acid and collagen to restore skin balance. We are proudly the only Ayurveda-inspired skincare brand in Australia combining ancestral herbal knowledge with cutting-edge cosmetic science to create truly holistic and effective products.

NAP formulates and manufactures natural, cruelty-free, gender-neutral skincare using ancient herbs, adaptogens, and modern botanical actives. We sell online and at community markets, actively engaging the public through educational campaigns like “Ayurveda Wednesdays” and face yoga workshops, promoting mental and skin health across Wyndham and beyond.

We serve health-conscious individuals—who seek effective, alternatives to conventional, harmful chemical-laden anti-aging products. Many customers are reconnecting with their cultural roots or transitioning from mainstream brands to holistic wellness.

Our hero products—such as the Ghee Beetroot Lip Balm, Saffron Face Cream, and Oasis Serum—have achieved a 39% repeat purchase rate and consistent 5-star reviews. Our growth is largely organic, fueled by word-of-mouth, online engagement, and strong community trust.

Natural Philosophy exists to offer more than skincare—it’s a self-care ritual. We empower our community to experience skin health through nature, culture, and care—crafted with intention, backed by science, and grounded in Ayurveda.

Our products are in demand and are exactly what you needed! They can be worn at home, in Sun, at work and just about everywhere. Thank you for sharing your love with your very own small-batch production house and we promise you, your skin will keep loving you back!

What would you choose in this moment?

Priya Harkare is the founder and creative director of “Natural Philosophy”, an independent ayurvedic, natural skincare brand established in 2021, built on passing ancestral secrets and finding long term skincare solutions for your skin issues. We are a small-batch  house, based in Melbourne, Australia. 

Always keen on learning, our founder and formulator Priya is a certified  skincare formulator with a Diploma in Skincare Formulation from one of  the best skin schools – “Formula Botanica, London”. 

In a world overflowing with skincare products and complicated routines, Priya Harkare decided to do something radical—listen to her mum. In 2021, she stripped back her skincare, ditching synthetic chemicals and embracing simple Ayurvedic remedies like saffron milk and rice water. Her skin responded with radiance. When friends started complimenting her glow—and asking what foundation she was wearing (she wasn’t)—Priya knew she was onto something. That something became Natural Philosophy (NAP): a skincare brand born from ancestral wisdom and modern science. Inspired by Ayurvedic principles and her mum’s time-tested tips, Priya set out to create simple, effective products that deliver real results without the overwhelm.

She believes that skin needs to breathe, live free, and only nature and  natural ingredients can uncover this new realm. She approaches each formulation with precision backed by science. This has helped her explore skin science and ayurveda which descent from as ancient as  5000 years and Cleopatra’s age. Evolving NAP into a unique blend of  these ancient ayurvedic ingredients with modern plant-based ingredients  was nothing less than a skin miracle for herself, her friends, and family  around her. The secret to her ongoing progress has always been her  honesty whether being customers, friends, or family. 

NAP blends ancient botanicals like saffron, fennel, turmeric, and nutmeg with modern actives for deep skin nourishment, improved tone, and lasting radiance. Its hero product, the Saffron Cream, is a luxurious ode to Ayurveda’s holistic beauty rituals—designed for those seeking skin health over hype.

With consciously crafted, minimal-step formulations, NAP proves that less truly can be more. It’s skincare that simplifies, heals, and reconnects us with nature’s brilliance.

Every bottle is a reminder: Your mum was right. And sometimes, the oldest secrets are the ones that still work best.

With that in mind, she also wants our Australian community to experience the transformative power of nature and indulge in a skincare ritual that goes beyond mere aesthetics. Our simplistic approach to the art of making skincare will allow you to experience and invigorate your sensory perceptions towards herbs and its benefits.

At NAP, sustainability isn’t a trend — it’s our foundation! Every product is formulated without synthetic chemicals and made in small batches to minimise waste. Our Ayurvedic base enhances absorption of natural actives like bakuchiol — a powerful, plant-based alternative to retinol — offering results without side effects or irritation.

Natural Philosophy is one of those brands that aims at connecting and resonating with a lot of our lovely customers not only through our natural products but also through our transparency. Our ethics and sustainable practices make us different!

Our packaging is consciously designed: we use recyclable PET and glass jars, and ship orders in compostable mailer bags made from bio-based materials that decompose into water, carbon dioxide, and organic matter.

All our skincare is Australian-made, hand-filled and packaged in Melbourne, home-based studio lab. They are carefully curated in small-batches. Although we have a home-based lab setup, maintaining the best GMP(General manufacturing practices) is very crucial to us. This includes a few activities like cleanliness, wearing safety gloves, inventory management, expiry dates, correct labelling, maintaining equipment. Our dedication to customer skincare journey doesn’t stop at our sustainable products and packaging alone. We are here to guide and support customers along the way, offering expert advice and tips to help you achieve their skin goals through our new Skincare chats on YouTube where we interview industry experts and interview real people with real skincare issues.

We also love giving back to the community and the environment which our customers can be a part of to create sustainable futures.
We proudly donate 10% of every sale to the RSPCA and the Starlight Foundation, supporting both animal welfare and children’s health. As Australia faces rising rates of photoaging and skincare market growth at a CAGR of 6.80% from 2025 to 2034, can you imagine how many consumers are actually putting harmful chemicals on the largest organ of the body – Skin? As per studies, 72% of males and 47% of females, under the age of 30, have photoaging effects already. We see education and access to clean skincare as critical to wellbeing and reaching out to you for support.

We don’t just sell skincare — we advocate for healthier, more conscious skin rituals. “The moment that’s yours!”

Natural Philosophy is a multi-award winning natural ayurvedic skincare brand operating right amongst the lovely West Melbourne community encouraging and unveiling world’s ancestral botanical knowledge and preserve them in an artisan, “natural” skincare range. We have recently won an award for best small business 2023 from Tarneit Business Association & also a proud finalist for Best new & emerging business 2023 from the Melbourne's Wyndham City Council. Our passion has now developed the brand into a professional registered and trademarked Skincare brand where you are receiving information from a Certified Skincare Formulating professional. Although nascent, our unique ayurveda products have received tremendous feedback and 5-star reviews as we continue to deliver quality ayurveda skin active skincare.