When chemical beauty products left her hands burning and raw, a young Queensland therapist knew the cosmetics industry needed a radical change. Stacey Hollands was only 24 years old when she launched a company that would ultimately redefine Australia's approach to beauty products.
From Personal Tragedy to Professional Purpose
The turning point came when Stacey's father received a terminal cancer diagnosis. The Sunshine Coast beauty therapist began researching environmental carcinogens and potentially harmful ingredients found in everyday household items.
"I was researching anything and everything to help dad – finding things that were clean, that were natural, that were made in Australia," Ms Hollands recalled.
Her business epiphany struck when the cosmetics she used on clients left her hands so irritated she had to wear rubber gloves during facials. "The penny dropped. I was creating beauty results using chemicals while my dad was going through this, and I thought, 'What am I doing?'" she said.
Building a Clean Beauty Empire
Encouraged by her father, who always urged her to back herself, Stacey left her job to pursue a new mission: making clean, toxic-free beauty products accessible to Australians. What began as a side hustle marketing from her dining room table has grown into Lust Minerals, a major brand that directly employs dozens of Queenslanders and supports local suppliers.
"There was actually a huge gap in the makeup space," Ms Hollands explained. "There was one mineral product that I used at the time that was $89 for a foundation, and I thought, 'Women can't justify this, we need something more affordable and made in Australia.'"
Eleven years after those humble beginnings, the mother of two has built not just a successful business but has become a driving force in the growing clean cosmeceutical movement.
Australian Made at Heart
Lust Minerals' certification as Australian Made remains central to the brand's identity and success. "It's so important to me to keep everything in the country – supporting the land we live on," Ms Hollands emphasised.
The company uses patented ingredients backed by clinical studies, building trust with consumers who are increasingly conscious about what they put on their skin. "People are starting to really fall in love with mineral makeup and trust that it has come such a long way," she noted.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Stacey offers straightforward advice: "Remove the judgement, remove the fear – what have you got to lose?" Her journey from concerned daughter to industry leader proves that personal values can indeed build powerful businesses.
