Nikki Benett – the queen of „organic botox“ goes USA. A unique success story.
Spilanthox combines nature and science for visible anti-ageing results – founder Nikki Benett in a POLO+10 interview about her vision, the power of Spilanthol and the road to international success.
YOU HAVE DEVELOPED ONE OF THE FIRST NATURAL COSMETICS BRANDS WITH CLINICALLY PROVEN WRINKLE REDUCTION. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO FOUND SPILANTHOX?
I have been using natural cosmetics all my life – not just out of conviction, but because I feel deeply connected to nature. My family and I live with many horses and dogs, and it was unthinkable for me to produce anything that would harm people, animals or the environment. At the same time, I wanted to create something meaningful. I firmly believe that with a clear vision and a genuine belief in an idea, you can achieve great things. And that’s exactly how Spilanthox came about.
HOW DID IT COME ABOUT THAT YOU DISCOVERED SPILANTHOL AS THE MAIN ACTIVE INGREDIENT FOR YOUR PRODUCTS?
It was actually a lucky coincidence! After a cardiac arrest, I could no longer tolerate conventional anaesthetics and my dentist told me about spilanthol – a plant-based anaesthetic. In South America, the plant is traditionally chewed for toothache because it numbs the nerve receptors for a certain period of time. I then did some intensive research and found out that spilanthol not only acts as a painkiller, but also has a relaxing effect on the facial muscles. As my health history meant that I no longer looked quite so fresh myself, I thought to myself: this could be the perfect natural alternative to Botox!
THE EUROPEAN PRESS OFTEN CALLS SPILANTHOL “BIOBOTOX”. IS THAT A SUITABLE TERM?
Yes, I actually think it’s very apt. It perfectly describes what spilanthol does: a natural, gentle smoothing of expression lines – without any mask effect and without the risks of injections. And best of all: the effect is reversible, so that the natural facial expression remains intact.
WHAT MAKES YOUR PRODUCTS UNIQUE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER NATURAL COSMETICS?
Our biggest unique selling point is that we keep our promises. Our products are not only natural, they also have a visible effect – and this has been proven by independent clinical studies. After four weeks of use, we were able to demonstrate a reduction in wrinkles of up to 82%. As the founder, I am also involved in every stage of development, test all products extensively myself and only then release them for production. Our company is a genuine owner-managed family business that guarantees quality – and that’s not just a marketing message, it’s reality.
SPILANTHOL COMES FROM THE PARACRESS – BUT IS IT THE SAME?
Paracress, also known as jambú, is the plant from which spilanthol is extracted. This means that spilanthol is the active ingredient that provides the relaxing effect on the facial muscles.
ARE YOUR PRODUCTS MORE OF AN IMMEDIATE HELP OR DO THEY ACHIEVE LONG-TERM RESULTS?
Both! The effect is immediate: the skin immediately looks more relaxed. But with regular use, deeper wrinkles are also reduced because the muscles build up less and less tension. Over time, the skin acquires a smoother texture – without losing its natural expression.
Left: Wael Hneini / unsplash.com. Right: Venti Views / unsplash.com
SPILANTHOX IS GROWING STEADILY AND IS NOW EXPANDING TO THE USA AND THE MIDDLE EAST. DO YOU HAVE RESPECT FOR THIS NEXT STEP?
This is a huge milestone! And yes, I have respect and sometimes I’m surprised at my own courage – or madness, depending on how you look at it… Our products will be available in the US from this summer and I’m really looking forward to it. The US market offers a great opportunity because high-quality natural cosmetics “Made in Germany” with proven promises of effectiveness are in demand there. We will also be pioneers in our field there. And pioneers are celebrated in the USA. Ideas and visions still have a chance there. Germany has long since ceased to be a country known for innovation or visionaries. That always makes me a little sad, but you have to accept it. I feel up to the task of expanding, but of course I also have a healthy respect for this milestone. There is a lot of hard work ahead of us and also certain risks. I hope that everything will go according to plan. And I see problems more as projects that need to be worked through. This attitude will help us to accomplish this major task. And I’m also really looking forward to the Middle East market from autumn 2025. It’s an exciting, rapidly growing market.
WHY IS EXPANSION SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?
Germany is no longer a business-friendly country. It is becoming increasingly difficult for us to earn money and remain competitive due to constant new burdens and restrictions. Purchasing power in Germany is also falling. As an entrepreneur, you almost get the feeling that politicians want to abolish “Made in Germany”… German companies must now expand strongly and penetrate growth markets, otherwise we will face a difficult future.
BEING SELF-EMPLOYED AND THEN EXPANDING ALSO MEANS A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY. HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO SWITCH OFF?
For me, there is only one real balance: nature, peace and quiet, animals and few people. Whether at my house by the Baltic Sea or in the stables with our horses – as soon as I’m outside, I can take a deep breath and recharge my batteries. As I prefer nature and our animals to people and jet-setting, you’re less likely to see me on red carpets. I think I’ve realised what really counts: family, friends, health and slowing down.
Text POLO+10
Photography Spilanthox
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