Bottao Cosmeceuticals is a medical grade cosmeceutical skincare line designed for the modern person.

The idea of the Bottao Skincare Duo, was sparked in 2020 by Samantha Appel, founder of The Skin Bar & Dr Kelly Thornbury, Plastic & Reconstructive surgeon. Over three years, Samantha & Kelly worked with Australia’s best Cosmetic Chemist & Manufacturing companies to develop these two serums.

Our collaboration draws on years of research, training, science and clinical experience to confidently bring you skin care products that are considered, revolutionary and game changing for the skin care industry.

Together we are bringing you scientifically formulated uncompromising skin care.

Meet the founders Kelly & Samantha

Our relationship has been organically founded on mutual respect and a shared interest in skin care.

We had been referring clients to each other to benefit from our skills for some time and after multiple conversations about the limitations, confusing messaging and overwhelming complexity of multistep regimes, Bottao was born. 

Dr Kelly Thornbury

There has been a genuine undertone throughout my life which has been to help people through whatever skills, talent or opportunity that came to me. My younger self had obstacles and challenges that would be met with an uncompromising work ethic and desire to be the best that I could be. This ultimately and quite naturally would led me to study medicine. I would go on to find an affinity for surgery and a passion for Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery. I found the elegance, diversity and challenges of this specialty particularly attractive. The compromise was going to be my 20s and 30s and at the time I was spectacularly naïve about this.

 

I was selected through a rigorous process to train with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons to become a Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgeon. This ensured that I would competently and ethically be able to deliver world class plastic surgery to my patients. And that skill set does not come easy. 

 

Throughout my training I had two beautiful daughters that would complete our family. Now an established Plastic Surgeon in Sydney, I have had exposure to so many patients who have skin concerns that are quite overwhelmed by skin care. My approach had been to recommend a specific regime that was mandatory for optimal skin protection and rejuvenation for the Australian climate. However the complexity and expense of this regime was often an obstacle for many people.

Samantha Appel

My journey into the world of skincare began with a personal struggle that spanned over a decade. 

From the age 15 - 28, I battled with cystic acne, a condition that completely affected my self-esteem and confidence. This challenging time in my life ignited a deep-seated passion within me to understand the intricacies of skincare and the science behind it. 

In pursuit of my passion, i embarked on a journey that led me to drop out of my finance job at the age of 25, and embark on a journey that led me to become a qualified dermal therapist. I was quite literally obsessed with skin treatments and skincare products that could help me improve my skin texture. I was left with such intense acne scarring, my journey into dermal therapies happened by no accident. I have a burning desire to help as many people as i can to achieve confidence within their skin. I know the importance of looking in the mirror and loving the skin you are in. 

This pursuit has also led me to join forces with Dr Kelly Thornbury to cofound Bottao, a skincare line where science meets beauty and simplicity reigns supreme.

My personal experience with skincare challenges has helped me to create the foundations for Bottao. I know what it's like to yearn for healthy, clear skin and the self-confidence it can bring. It’s this personal journey that drives me with a relentless desire to transform not only my skin but also the lives of others.

I believe that skin care should be a source of joy and not a source of stress. Bottao is a skincare solution that is simple, effective and rooted in science. This is why Bottao offers two exceptional serums, meticulously crafted to provide your skin with the active ingredients it craves.