Top skincare brand finally launches the item ‘we can’t keep in stock’ at Sephora Australia: ‘I can’t live without it’

A New Zealand skincare brand behind a cult favourite item that sells every 60 seconds has made its debut at Sephora Australia – sending beauty fans wild.

RAAIE has been shaking up the beauty world with its minimalist skincare range, offering a tiny yet mighty lineup of five hero products: Sun Milk Drops Tinted SPF50, Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum, Cocoon Ceramide Cream, Yellow Moonbeam Retinal Elixir and Golden Nectar Mānuka Honey Enzyme Cleanser.

Backed by science, the AM/PM formulas contain ‘powerful’ ingredients that work in sync with the body’s natural internal clock – protecting the skin during the day and repairing it overnight.

The best-selling skincare brand has been wowing shoppers with its high-performing formulas, thanks to antioxidant-rich botanicals native to New Zealand, paired with skin-boosting ingredients like retinal, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C.

Designed for daily use, the sell-out products help improve the appearance of visible signs of ageing including fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, and dullness. 

‘Our AM/PM approach not only enhances product efficacy but also simplifies the routine. It’s essentially biohacking the skin’s natural processes to deliver a visibly brighter, clearer, firmer and more radiant complexion,’ RAAIE founder Katey Mandy told Daily Mail Australia.

‘All RAAIE products are designed to work with your skin’s natural rhythms. Used daily, it supports the skin’s own antioxidant defences and helps build long-term resilience.’

The stand-out Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum is the brand’s number one item they ‘can’t keep in stock’ because it keeps selling out. It has won five prestigious awards, including being crowned the best serum on the market – even beating global beauty giants to take home gold.

And now, shoppers can reap the skincare benefits Down Under as RAAIE has landed in Australia, putting Aotearoa on the map as the first-ever Kiwi brand to hit Sephora, one of the world’s biggest beauty destinations.

‘It’s a surreal and deeply fulfilling moment. Sephora is such an iconic global platform for beauty, and having RAAIE on its shelves feels like a milestone that validates our mission to bring New Zealand’s botanical power to the global stage,’ Katey said.

‘It’s been such a journey from working with native botanicals to now sharing them with a whole new audience.

‘For Aussie shoppers, I’m excited for them to experience how these resilient botanicals, combined with cutting-edge actives, can transform their skin. It’s more than skincare; it’s a way to embrace a slower, more intentional routine.’

Resilience in a bottle

The nature-meets-science formulas are made with botanicals that have adapted to thrive in environments with harsh sun exposure. This means the same properties that allow these plants to survive under these conditions now support your skin. 

‘What sets RAAIE apart is our focus on potent New Zealand botanicals that have adapted to thrive in extreme UV environments – think powerful oceanic and alpine plants packed with antioxidants,’ she said.

‘In response, the plants have developed unique defensive mechanisms by producing very high levels of antioxidants. It’s like they have created their own “plant sunblock”.

‘The botanicals aren’t just beautiful – they’re biologically resilient, and we’ve bottled that resilience.’

The formulas combine science-backed, highly-effective active ingredients, with locally-grown plant antioxidants, including mānuka honey, Sauvignon Blanc grape seed, red marine algae, wild blackcurrant and kānuka – native botanicals known for their resilience and regeneration.

‘We pair the botanicals with cutting-edge cosmeceutical actives… all strategically formulated to align with the skin’s natural circadian rhythm,’ she said.

Each formula is housed in beautifully crafted, refillable sculptural vessels inspired by New Zealand’s white river pebbles – a nod to nature’s beauty and purity. 

‘We wanted each vessel to reflect that serene, organic aesthetic while embracing sustainability. The minimalist design tells the story of our skincare philosophy: fewer, better, and more potent products that truly deliver results,’ Katey explained.

‘Making them refillable was a natural choice, perfectly aligned with our commitment to conscious consumption and reducing waste. Plus, each vessel is crafted with a percentage of recycled materials, reinforcing our dedication to circular beauty.’

How it all started

After forging a successful career abroad in the beauty and fashion industries, Katey transitioned into launching her own skincare line.

‘RAAIE began from a deeply personal place. After more than a decade in London and New York, I returned home to New Zealand during one of the most difficult times in my life. My mum was very ill,’ she explained.

‘After she passed, I found myself reassessing everything. I no longer saw beauty as something purely aesthetic. It became something more meaningful: a way of connecting with wellbeing, with nature, and with the things that last.’

Growing up in the far north of New Zealand, Katey remembers observing the resilience of local plants as she helped her dad plant native trees on their land.

‘These plants aren’t just beautiful, they’re survivors,’ she recalled. 

‘They’ve evolved under extreme conditions, including some of the highest UV exposures in the world. That resilience fascinated me, especially when we know that around 80 per cent of visible skin ageing is caused by UV damage.

‘After years immersed in the global beauty space, I realised these powerful botanicals were largely being overlooked. I wanted to change that. 

‘I wanted to combine the strength of New Zealand’s native plants with the most advanced skincare technologies (ingredients like retinal, biomimetic peptides, and growth factors) and create something that felt both modern and deeply rooted.’

And so RAAIE was born in April 2022.

‘The formulas are clinically potent yet pared back: everything your skin needs, nothing it doesn’t,’ Katey said. 

‘Every detail, from the texture of the product to the way the bottle feels in your hand, was designed to reflect what RAAIE stands for: quiet luxury, intelligent simplicity, and a deep respect for the land that inspired it.’

Sell-out item

RAAIE has proven popular, experiencing 450 per cent year-on-year growth in 2024.

One of its best-sellers is the Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum, which won five coveted awards, with one bottle flying off the shelves every 60 seconds.

‘The serum has had multiple waitlists, selling out three times in the past six months. We literally cannot make enough,’ Katey said. 

‘Loved for its glow-boosting, antioxidant-rich formula, Morning Dew is our cult-favourite serum and top repeat purchase.’

‘Worth the hype’ 

The serum is so popular, shoppers have given it a perfect five-star rating.

‘It really is my most favourite part of my morning routine. The difference I have seen in the three months of using it is staggering. My skin is smoother, my dark spots have faded dramatically and the glow I have is insane. The texture is gorgeous and it goes on like a dream and absorbs quickly meaning you can carry on with your other skincare. I will never be without this product,’ one shopper raved.

‘It’s definitely worth the hype. My skin says thank you – I can see a noticeable glow that wasn’t there before and my skin tone has become more even in just a week. In addition to making me feel radiant, I’ve seen a significant improvement in my skin’s texture: my skin feels firmer and supple. It’s exceeded my expectations,’ another said.

‘The best product I’ve ever tried on my skin. Simply couldn’t live without it,’ one added.

The antioxidant-rich serum is formulated to support brighter-looking skin. With two forms of vitamin C, it helps enhance radiance, visibly even skin tone, and improve the appearance of redness, pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles.

The formula contains skin-loving ingredients, including alpine rosehip – rich in vitamin A and omegas to support healthy-looking skin and mamaku (native black fern), which helps visibly smooth and firm the skin’s appearance.

Antioxidant-rich blackcurrants help defend against environmental stressors, native kānuka is known for its soothing properties, while marine sea algae delivers nutrients and antioxidants that promote skin vitality.

‘What I love most about this serum is its duality; it’s incredibly effective, but also gentle. It brightens, firms, and protects, but never overwhelms the skin,’ Katey said.

The Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum has won up to five awards – including Best Anti-Aging Product 2024 at the US C&T Allē Awards, Best Vitamin C Product 2024 in the Beauty Shortlist UK and Best Skincare Serum 2023 at the UK PURE Beauty Awards.

Perfect AM/PM duo 

For anyone who has never tried RAAIE, Katey recommends starting with the Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum for the day and the Yellow Moonbeam Retinal Elixir for night.

‘RAAIE is the perfect blend of nature and science, offering potent, clean formulations that respect your skin’s natural rhythms,’ she said. 

‘If you’re looking to simplify your routine while achieving transformative results, start with our Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum for day and the Yellow Moonbeam Retinal Elixir for night. 

‘This AM/PM duo is designed to brighten, firm, and protect, making it a powerful yet minimalist introduction to the RAAIE ritual.’

RAAIE has thrilled fans with the news of its launch in Sephora stores across Australia and New Zealand, as well as online.

‘It’s a turning point for New Zealand skincare. To see our UV-resilient botanicals on Sephora‘s shelves, alongside the world’s most respected names in beauty – is a deeply proud moment,’ Katey said.

‘RAAIE was born from the sunlight of Aotearoa, and now that light shines a little further. We’re thrilled to bring these results to Sephora Australia and continue sharing RAAIE‘s story with even more beauty lovers.’

Fans of the brand have expressed their excitement, with one saying: ‘This is huge!’

‘Incredible! Congratulations and so well deserved,’ another shared.

‘Congratulations guys! Yessss… Now I can buy my favourite honey enzyme cleanser in person,’ one revealed.

‘MAJOR NEWS! Endlessly proud of you,’ another added.

To shop RAAIE’s skincare range at Sephora Australia, click here.