Just cause you’re outdoorsy doesn't mean you don’t deserve good-looking skin.
Mercedes Pepper, the founder of Nation Botanics wanted to help people who get outside get good-looking skin, easily! Why are we big fans of her two-bottle system that fits in our carry-on, fanny pack, and glove box? Because we actually remember to use it, it smells so damn good, and it makes our skin look like a million bucks.
As a skier and surfer, Mercedes wanted a product that soothed her sun and wind exposed skin, without having to figure out an overwhelming system. So she decided to do things differently, and built Nation Botanics.
We caught up with Mercedes to ask her a few questions about the why and how of her business and sanity. Here's what she had to tell us.
🌿 Want one of what she's having? Shop Nation Botanics here.
Why skincare, why specifically surf and snow, and why you?
Well, I know how frustrating it is to find one multi-targeting face product that actually works and meets your skin's changing needs. Whether you're surfing in the tropics or skiing at high altitude, two of the harshest environments for your face.
As a surfer, skier (former snowboarder), and well someone who loves being outside, I spend a lot of time in the elements - and in my early thirties, my face started showing it.
Plus, before starting Nation Botanics, I was constantly traveling for my work in international development—different climates, long flights—and my skin was a mess. I wanted something super easy, powerful, yet adaptable. Not a five-step routine. Not a toiletry bag full of products for each climate or concern. Cause I wasn’t—and still am not really - a “skincare person.”
That’s when I saw the gap: skincare for people whose faces are exposed to the harshest elements outdoors. No brands were—or actually are—making products that are specifically formulated to work for the outdoors, adapt to changing climates, and act like a multivitamin for your face.
And while sunscreen gets all the attention (and is good!), no one talks about what your skin needs before or after the exposure—windburn, sunspots, dryness, breakouts, even sunburns—to help protect and repair it.
That’s why I created Surf+Slope: a powerhouse two-bottle routine of a Revitalizing Serum + Nourishing Moisturizer that takes 20 seconds, travels light, and works no matter where you are.
To do so, I quit my job and started by building a database of 250+ botanicals (I’ve been into the healing powers of plants since I was a kid growing up in a hippie town in Northern California). I studied skincare formulation science. And tapped into my global development background to source ingredients that actually do good - for your skin, the planet, and local small farmers. I lived in a trailer while traveling across North America, testing formulas in deserts, cold mountains, ocean air, and humid heat. It took me over four years to perfect Surf+Slope!
How do you find inspiration when your creativity and/or motivation is running low?
I stop trying to force it, and instead, I stop. I either switch gears to work that feels more enjoyable and easier to get done, or I forget about it completely and go do something that recharges me. For me, that’s a walk or hike with my dog, skiing, surfing, basking in the sun, cooking, or meditating.
Then, before bed, I’ll revisit the block. I think of the thing I’m stuck on and ask for inspiration right before I go to sleep. Sometimes that blockage clears the next day—other times, it takes a week or more.
Either way, as hard is can be sometimes, I’ve found it’s important to give myself grace and time to re-find that creativity and motivation, rather than beating myself up for not having it when I want it. I don’t forget about it for days either, as it’s important to consistently check-in and see if things have changed.
What have you learned or come to discover (either about yourself personally, in life, in business) that you didn’t expect when you started your business?
I didn’t fully realize just how much greenwashing and lack of transparency existed in the skincare world—even among the so-called “good” smaller brands. I was shocked to learn that many top and high-end plant-based companies use lab-made synthetics and misleading marketing, like locally grown.
I also didn’t expect how many no’s I’d get from people in the industry telling me my vision wouldn’t work. That traceable supply chains were impossible. That I should use only one-to-three trendy hero ingredients, and not build a unique formula. That I needed to launch a full product line, not just one duo. That a high-nutrient formula was “too expensive,” I need to have a cheap base that’s roughly 80% of the formula. That sustainability and giving back don’t matter. That the only way to sell skincare is to prey on people’s insecurities, or use ingredient fear mongering... The list goes on.
I thankfully ignored all of that and built Nation Botanics how I envisioned skincare should be.
What’s one thing you’ve learned about your business or yourself as a founder that surprised you?
I don’t love being in the spotlight. I’ve realized I’d much rather be working behind the scenes.
But as a small, woman-owned business in a seriously crowded industry, I’ve learned that people genuinely connect with my founder story. It’s also a real differentiator because I’m not your average venture-backed skincare brand!
I’ve had to get out of my comfort zone and share both myself and this journey more openly. When I started, I didn’t think that this would be hard, or a point of resistance. But I still battle it.
How do you manage uncertainty?
By nature, I’m a bit of an optimist, which helps me tremendously.
But what really grounds me is my morning ritual (not trying to be trendy). It includes some gratitude for the present moment, affirmations, envisioning, meditation, and a mix of spiritual reflection. It’s got a blend of all the things. This practice has helped give me peace with what I can’t control and clarity to keep moving forward each day.
Lately, I’ve realized just how much it matters. On the mornings when I don’t do it, the rest of my day feels off. It doesn’t go as planned. I feel down, distracted, or anxious. So it’s part of my routine now and helps deal with all the uncertainty in my life, business, and well, the world these days.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Don’t overthink skincare. It’s better to use something, than nothing, and it doesn’t need to be complicated or overwhelming. Things you have in your kitchen cabinets or can get at a grocery store can work! I created this FREE guide to help you get healthy skin on a budget if you're not sure where to get started.