Ten Years in the Making: How Allergic Reactions Led Nadia Doh to Build Natural Skincare Brand Sweetwater Labs

Sweetwater Labs founder Nadia Doh spent a decade researching apothecary traditions and botanical ingredients after repeated reactions to conventional skincare, setting out to prove that natural products can work for every skin type.

“We spent ten years in formulation research specifically to address that assumption,” said Nadia Doh, founder of Sweetwater Labs, on the belief that natural skincare cannot match conventional formulations.

New York, NY, USA - November 8, 2026 - PRESS RELEASE - Many skincare brands begin with a gap in the market. Sweetwater Labs began with a problem much closer to home.

Founder Nadia Doh experienced repeated allergic reactions to conventional skincare products. Rather than keep searching for something her skin could tolerate, she set out to create it herself. She spent ten years studying apothecary traditions and botanical ingredient science before the first Sweetwater Labs product ever reached a customer.

Her goal was to challenge a common assumption: that natural skincare cannot perform as well as conventional formulations.

“We spent ten years in formulation research specifically to address that assumption,” Doh said.

The result is a line built on simple principles. Sweetwater Labs products contain no synthetic fragrances, parabens or chemical preservatives. Its formulas draw on ingredients such as Bulgarian rose oil, argan oil, sugar cane-derived glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid, and every product is cruelty-free and non-GMO. The range is vegan apart from the brand’s goat’s milk soaps. Because the line was born from sensitivity, it is designed for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

That focus has shaped the brand’s growth. Sweetwater Labs began in Manhattan retail, with locations at the Turnstyle Underground Market near Columbus Circle and The Oculus at the World Trade Center. After pandemic-era closures, it moved primarily online, where it has built a loyal following, with some customers buying consistently for six years or more.

The brand’s bestsellers, the Rose Face Oil and the Vitamin Face Serum, sit alongside newer additions such as the Bloom Night Retinol Serum, a Firming Booster and the Revive Glycolic Acid and Rosewater Mask. The company’s stated mission is to create natural skincare that truly works and elevates everyday rituals.

Today, Sweetwater Labs holds the Google Top Quality Store badge, which it notes is awarded to fewer than 3% of e-commerce brands, and ships across the United States with free shipping on orders of $30 and over.

The full collection is available at sweetwaterlabsnyc.com.

About Us

Sweetwater Labs is a New York-based natural skincare brand founded by Nadia Doh. Developed after a decade of apothecary and botanical science research, its products are made from pure, natural ingredients for all skin types, including sensitive skin. The brand is cruelty-free and non-GMO.

Website: https://sweetwaterlabsnyc.com