Meet the Founder

Hey, I’m Nick.

I grew up in Bend, Oregon, and now live in Seattle. I know exactly where this began, a tingling pull toward what feels real. In a world driven by hype and surface-level promises, I’ve always been drawn to what’s honest, grounded, and true. After nearly a decade living in densely populated cities across Asia, far removed from nature, I felt deeply disconnected.

I took a sabbatical to reset, inspired by a documentary about cycling across New Zealand with no experience. I flew to Christchurch, rented a bike, packed a tent, and set off. Experiencing New Zealand slowly, its landscapes, its people, its quiet, changed me. Along the way, I tried Manuka honey for the first time. Produced in New Zealand from the Manuka flower, which is endemic to the country, and naturally rich in beneficial compounds, it quickly became a staple in my cycling diet.

I left Christchurch and rode into the Mackenzie Basin near Mount Cook and Twizel, then on to Alexandra in Central Otago. I spent long days cycling with Sigur Rós in my headphones, eating more meat pies and Manuka honey than I care to admit. I followed the Otago Rail Trail to Middlemarch, then boarded the Taieri Gorge Railway in Pukerangi with my bike into Dunedin, where an old friend lived.

It was on that farm where I learned that Manuka was more than something delicious on bread before a long ride. For centuries, it had been part of traditional Māori skincare practices, valued for its nourishing and restorative properties, alongside the oil of its rarer cousin, Kanuka. I also learned about bee venom, an ingredient gaining attention in modern skincare as a natural alternative to harsher chemical or synthetic approaches. I was fascinated by how it could gently stimulate blood flow and support collagen, all while being harmless and ethically collected through gentle vibration that never harms the bees.

That farm stayed with me. Over time, it became more than a memory. Today, the Manuka honey, Kanuka oil, and bee venom used in New Pacific Skincare come directly from that same source in New Zealand. The relationship is personal, transparent, and rooted in trust. Knowing exactly where these ingredients come from, how they’re harvested, and who is behind them matters to me.

I continued on my ride through New Zealand’s pristine and remarkable natural landscape, camping beside mountain lakes, scuba diving in the world-renowned Milford Sound, and riding a steam boat across a lake into the outdoor mecca of Queenstown.

From there, I climbed up and over the Crown Range Summit, New Zealand’s highest road, before descending into Wānaka and eventually making my way slowly back to Christchurch. After five weeks on the road, I flew home to where I’m from, the west coast of the United States.

When I returned home, something had shifted. That journey stayed with me not as an idea for a product, but as a reminder of what matters. Slowness. Integrity. Ingredients with history and intention. I didn’t come back with a clear plan or a desire to build something big. I wasn’t interested in scale for its own sake. What I felt instead was a quiet pull to create something thoughtfully, to let it grow only as far as honesty and care would allow.

The people I met, the landscapes I moved through, and what I learned along the way reshaped how I thought about care, for skin and for life. New Pacific Skincare grew out of that experience, guided by respect for nature, ethical sourcing, and formulations that feel honest and purposeful. This is what I use myself, and what I share with my family and friends. It’s the manifestation of a meaningful chapter of my life, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.