A New Chapter, In Her Own Skin
From the Byron Bay hinterland to a new identity inspired by the sea, Australian skincare brand PRAYA is celebrating the beauty of evolving. We meet founder Trudi Jaye to explore the stories, connections and everyday rituals behind its next chapter.
Our skin has a wonderful way of telling our stories.
The fine lines left behind by years of laughter, freckles collected over long Australian summers, the expressions we’ve made a thousand times without even realising. There are decades of memories written across our faces, each one a reflection of the lives we’ve lived and the people we’ve become.
It’s quite extraordinary when you think about it. Our skin has been with us through every version of ourselves. The carefree years, the adventures, the heartbreaks, the excitement and all those beautiful, ordinary days in between.
So, when did laughing too much, smiling too often or simply growing older become something we needed to correct?
Our skin is constantly evolving, shaped by the lives we lead, the environments we live in and the natural changes our bodies experience along the way. From our first lines of expression to the hormonal shifts of perimenopause and menopause, every stage brings something new.
Rather than trying to stop our skin from changing, what if we became better at understanding it, caring for it and feeling beautiful in it?
It’s a perspective Australian skincare founder Trudi Jaye has spent decades exploring. Now, with the arrival of PRAYA, she’s bringing that philosophy into a new chapter, one that celebrates skin at every stage of life.
A Celebration Of Becoming
This November marked a rather special occasion for Australian skincare founder Trudi Jaye.
To celebrate the arrival of PRAYA, the new identity of her much-loved brand Retreatment Botanics, Trudi brought together a wonderful community of women at Riva Rose Bay, a fitting waterfront setting for a brand whose very name draws inspiration from the sea.
Perched above Rose Bay Marina, with the water stretching out beyond, Riva offered a beautiful setting for the occasion. Soft sunlight fell across woven rattan chairs and tables adorned with gorgeous blue florals, bringing a touch of Riviera charm to the afternoon. Relaxed, elegant and perfectly suited to a celebration of beauty, connection and new beginnings.
We were delighted to be among the creative and inspiring women who came together to celebrate PRAYA’s new chapter.
Among the afternoon’s creative experiences was a collaborative artwork by artist Alexandra Nea, who had hand-illustrated the botanicals found in PRAYA’s skincare collection in graphite across a large canvas. Guests were invited to pick up a paintbrush and add their own watercolour touches, gradually bringing the illustrations to life.
A thoughtful way to celebrate the brand’s connection to nature, while giving everyone the opportunity to contribute to something beautiful together.
Naturally, we wanted to hear all about it when Ruby returned. From the atmosphere to the inspiring women she met, she came away feeling rather moved by the experience.
“The event was so beautiful and my heart is so full. It was so nice to be surrounded by these creative and inspiring women. Trudi was so lovely, she literally gave me a hand massage,” Ruby shared.
There’s something wonderfully personal about that gesture. Amid the excitement of a brand launch, Trudi still found time to make someone feel genuinely cared for.
The afternoon also offered an introduction to PRAYA’s latest skincare innovations, including the Collagen Revival Serum and Collagen Calming Mist, reflecting Trudi’s evolving approach to supporting skin through different stages of life.
Yet beyond the beautiful setting, the new formulations and the excitement of a fresh identity, it was the warmth of the occasion that stayed with us. A room full of women sharing stories, creating something together and celebrating the beauty of embracing what’s next.
The Woman Behind PRAYA
For Trudi, this next chapter is personal.
Originally from Sydney, she trained as a facialist in New York before dedicating much of her career to understanding women’s skin.
Through years spent working closely with women navigating hormonal changes, Trudi began noticing how deeply these transitions could affect not only their skin, but their confidence. When she started experiencing similar changes herself, her professional observations became something much more personal.
She saw an opportunity for skincare that could deliver results while respecting the skin’s changing needs, without losing the sensory pleasure of a beautiful treatment.
In 2019, alongside Olivia Newton-John, she launched Retreatment Botanics at Gaia Retreat & Spa in the Byron Bay hinterland.
The brand soon developed a devoted following, finding its way into spa treatment rooms across Australia. Yet as Trudi’s own experiences and understanding of skin evolved, she began imagining what its next chapter could look like.
“Since 2019, I’ve evolved and so has the brand,” she shares. “There wasn’t one single moment. It was more of a knowing that kept growing, until it felt like my soul was calling for this shift.”
PRAYA wasn’t created to leave Retreatment Botanics behind. It was an opportunity to give the brand an identity that better reflected the woman behind it, the knowledge she had gained and the conversations she wanted to have.
“I wanted the identity to say three things at once: real results, deep expertise in how skin evolves, and joy.”
The name itself draws on roots meaning “by the sea”, inspired by the brand’s coastal beginnings in the Northern Rivers and Trudi’s personal connection to the ocean.
“Like water, PRAYA is about flow and renewal: moving through life’s changes, enriched by experience and strength.”
It’s a fitting sentiment for a brand embracing change while remaining connected to where it began.
While the name and visual identity have evolved, the familiar textures, aromas and spa-inspired rituals remain. At its heart is the same belief that first inspired Trudi to create the brand: women deserve to feel confident and cared for in their skin, whatever stage of life they’re experiencing.
As she explains, “When women understand what’s happening with their skin, they can choose what’s right for them and care for it with real confidence.”
A Life Well Lived
There’s something rather beautiful about the rituals we return to each day.
The first coffee of the morning, a swim in the ocean, fresh sheets after a long day or those few quiet moments spent caring for ourselves before bed.
They aren’t necessarily the moments we remember as milestones, yet they have a wonderful way of making everyday life feel richer.
For Trudi, this appreciation for the everyday sits at the heart of PRAYA.
“Results will always matter to me, but skincare is so much more than what we see in the mirror. It’s one of the few moments in the day that’s just for you, and how you care for your skin often reflects how you care for yourself.”
Having spent years working in spas, Trudi has seen firsthand how a treatment can leave someone feeling renewed in ways that extend beyond their appearance. It’s a feeling she wanted women to experience in their own homes.
“Ritual is in our brand’s DNA. We were born in a spa, and I’ve always loved that a great treatment does two things at once: your skin is visibly renewed, and you walk out feeling completely restored.”
But it’s what Trudi says about finding joy that really stays with us.
“One of the biggest lessons in my own life is that joy isn’t waiting at the next milestone. It’s so easy to think, ‘I’ll be happy when…’, but we don’t have to wait for life to look a certain way to care for ourselves and find joy.”
It’s a thought worth holding onto.
How often do we find ourselves waiting for something? A birthday, a holiday, a new opportunity, the next version of ourselves we hope to become.
What if we gave ourselves permission to enjoy where we are, without feeling the need to change something first?
For Trudi, happiness is often found away from the beauty counter altogether. Walking in nature, spending time by the water, being around animals and staying close to the people she loves.
There’s something refreshing about a beauty philosophy that encourages us to appreciate the present rather than constantly looking for ways to improve upon it.
We can enjoy beautiful skincare, embrace the changes that come with age and still feel excited about the people we’re becoming. None of those things need to contradict one another.
As Trudi looks towards the future, it’s the women around her who remain at the centre of it all.
“For me, it’s always been about women supporting women.”
A sentiment that feels particularly fitting after hearing Ruby’s experience at the launch.
Perhaps that’s what makes this new chapter so meaningful. PRAYA may have a new name and identity, but its story is ultimately about the women who will grow alongside it.
Our skin will continue to change with us, collecting expressions, experiences and memories along the way.
The years will change us. How wonderful that they do.
Discover PRAYA.
Words by Bailey Doyle
