[FEATURE] - Liht Organics Founder Interview: Nerissa Polke on Motherhood, Clean Beauty, and Resilience

Liht Oraganics
[FEATURE] - Liht Organics Founder Interview: Nerissa Polke on Motherhood, Clean Beauty, and Resilience

In Singapore, life often moves at full speed. Between rushing to work, caring for family, and trying to carve out a little time for yourself, self-care can slip down the list, especially for mums who are used to putting everyone else first.

That is what makes this organic makeup brand founder story feel so personal. As Mother’s Day approaches, Liht Organics shines a light on founder Nerissa Polke’s journey, one shaped by adult acne, motherhood, and the hard emotional moments that pushed her to create something meaningful.

Recently, Nerissa Polke, the founder of Liht Organics, sat down with us to share how personal health struggles and a difficult pregnancy and birth experience changed the course of her life. Her story reflects strength, moments of isolation, and determination, while highlighting the real experiences of motherhood and encouraging women to focus on self-care and sustainable living.

Interview with Nerissa Polke, the Founder of Liht Organics

Liht Organics: Nerissa Polke

For those who are new to Liht Organics, how would you describe the brand and what it stands for?

I founded Liht Organics in 2019 with a clear purpose: to create makeup that is safe enough to eat. The brand brings together makeup and skincare in one, with formulas enriched with botanicals and essential oils that help nourish the skin with every application. From the start, I wanted Liht Organics to offer gentle, clean beauty for sensitive and eczema-prone skin, while also being safe for expectant mothers and children.

We use up to 90% USDA-certified organic ingredients, and our makeup is gluten-free, cruelty-free, and vegan. It is also made without synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, and nanoparticles, because purity has always been at the heart of what we do.

Your journey started from a deeply personal place. Can you share what you were going through before Liht Organics came to life?

I created Liht Organics after several personal chapters of my life. I was dealing with severe adult acne that affected my confidence, and after pregnancy, I also faced health struggles including a slipped disc in my hip. Those experiences led me to build a brand centred on organic makeup safe enough to eat. For me, it also encourages women to focus on self-care, resilience, and authenticity, especially during times of isolation and emotional strain that can come with major life changes.

Can you take us back to the moment that first set you on this path?

In my twenties, I went through a sudden hormonal acne outbreak that covered my face, chest, and back, and it affected me deeply. It completely destroyed my confidence. Clients would stare, and even my boss commented on my appearance. I felt isolated and ashamed. I was desperate to fix it, so I went through harsh treatments including monthly steroid injections and oral medication like Oratane, which is similar to Accutane, but the side effects were severe and it started to feel like my health was paying the price.

That experience pushed me to make a major change. I removed toxic chemicals from my routine, turned to organic alternatives, and within three months I saw my skin clear up. That breakthrough eventually inspired me to launch Liht Organics in 2019. The name stands for “Living in Her Time”, pronounced “light”, and it came from a very personal place. I wanted to create clean, high-performance makeup without harmful ingredients, built on the values of authenticity and sustainability.

Beyond the personal health challenges, what other obstacles shaped your journey as a founder?

As a woman building a business in a male-dominated world, I faced a different set of challenges too. Less than 2% of institutional funding goes to women-led companies, even though they often show higher success rates, so there were moments when it felt like I had to work twice as hard just to be taken seriously. Growing up as the younger daughter in a Chinese family and not coming from wealth also shaped that mindset in me from a young age.

I saw adversity as my motivation, and I refused to believe we can’t write our own destiny. That belief kept me moving forward. It helped me turn my own healing journey into something bigger, and over time, that became a mission to empower other women too.

Motherhood brought a whole new set of challenges into your life. What was that period like for you?

Motherhood brought a very intense chapter into my life, both physically and emotionally. I was pregnant during a critical share conversion round with investors, so I was managing meetings and financial details while dealing with brain fog and lethargy. The pregnancy itself was also very difficult. My waters broke two months early, and I spent three weeks trying to manage amniotic fluid leaks while keeping my baby “baking.” On top of that, I developed pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, and the labour lasted 35 hours because my baby was in an awkward position. My blood pressure shot up to almost 200, putting me at risk of a stroke. We had no choice but a forceps birth to save my life.

I had an episiotomy, lost a litre of blood, needed a blood transfusion, and experienced elevated iron levels that put my thyroid health at risk. Post-birth, I developed a slipped disc in my hip, which felt like a strange electric spark when I bent down. At first, I thought it was just part of recovery, but it stayed with me and affected how I moved. I have to be intentional with how I move, bending my knees properly and minding my posture. I now manage it with regular chiropractic care, Chinese acupressure, and by staying active so my joints do not stiffen.

But honestly, the emotional side was just as hard. I had just moved to Australia with my husband, and I found myself without family or close friends nearby. I never thought I would feel so isolated. I handled housework, a newborn, and running the business mostly alone as good help was hard to find. I am very grateful for my husband, who was supportive and hands-on through it all. It pushed me emotionally in ways I had never experienced, but it showed how resilient we can be.

You were building a business, becoming a mum, and dealing with serious physical challenges all at once. How did you keep going?

Balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with the joys and challenges of raising a family pushed me in ways I never expected. I was dealing with pain, recovery, and the relentless pace of building a business, while also wanting my son to grow up seeing what perseverance looks like. Becoming a mother ignited a fierce determination in me. The slipped disc was excruciating, forcing me to confront my vulnerabilities head-on. But it taught me that true beauty comes from inner strength, and I wanted to create products that empower other moms to feel confident without compromising their health.

I turned those setbacks into motivation, and that drive helped me grow Liht Organics into travel retail, international markets, and eco-conscious initiatives. During my pregnancy, I continued leading the company at full speed, doubled our product lines, and increased revenue in the same year. In fact, most of my investors did not even realise I was pregnant because I never slowed down.

Did becoming a mum change the way you thought about clean beauty?

Absolutely. Motherhood made me even more conscious of what goes into the products I use and create. I became even more pedantic about clean products during pregnancy. Mums often text us asking if our products are pregnancy-safe, and at Liht Organics, we are very strict about that because we understand their concerns firsthand.

This has helped shape Liht Organics’ mission in a more personal way. It has strengthened our focus on family wellbeing and mental wellness, while guiding how we support women through their healing journey.

Lip products can be very personal for a lot of people. What did you want your lip range to offer?

Liht Organics: Color-Intense Liquid Lipstick

I wanted the lip range to bring back that sense of comfort and confidence, especially for people who have dealt with formulas that feel drying or fade too quickly. In daily life, those small frustrations can really add up, so I wanted to create something that feels hydrating while still delivering lasting colour.

One of our bestsellers, the Color-Intense Liquid Lipstick, reflects that idea well. It has a velvety matte finish and contains jojoba and shea butter, so it feels comfortable on the lips without drying or cracking throughout the day. For me, it is more than just a lipstick. On emotional days, it can feel a little like armour, giving you that extra push to show up as your boldest and most authentic self.

What did you want your face collection to do for people, especially on days when their skin feels difficult to manage?

Pore Perfection Primer with Rosehip Oil & Aloe
Youth Elixir Liquid Foundation

We all have moments when stress shows up on our skin, or when dullness, sensitivity, or breakouts make getting ready feel harder than it should. I wanted to create products that feel soothing, with organic ingredients like rosehip oil and aloe that help hydrate, protect, and bring out your natural radiance.

Two of our bestsellers really reflect that. The Pore Perfection Primer with Rosehip Oil & Aloe helps smooth the look of pores, hydrate the skin, and calm areas that feel unsettled, so the makeup routine feels easier for people dealing with shine or dry patches. The Youth Elixir Liquid Foundation gives lightweight, buildable coverage with antioxidants for a luminous finish. For me, it feels a bit like a hug for the skin, especially on mornings when you want something gentle but still want to feel put together.

When you look at everything you have been through, what does Liht Organics mean to you today?

When I look back, I see a journey shaped by vulnerability, setbacks, and growth. I went from dealing with acne-related isolation and post-partum trauma to pushing through self-doubt as a woman entrepreneur, and all of it has shaped who I am today. Now, Liht Organics represents clean beauty, with products that emphasise safety, efficacy, and environmental responsibility.

Every scar and every challenge has shaped me. I hope my journey inspires other mothers to embrace their power and pursue their passions unapologetically. One of the moments that means the most to me is seeing my family support me at events, especially when my son watches me speak. It warms my heart, and I hope it inspires him to pursue his passions and build something meaningful.

Visit the Liht Organics’ website to learn more and discover the products that might just earn a spot in your daily routine.

 

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