Golden Glow, No Sun Required
Basekin Tanning Serum
Meet Lucy and Isabella, Founders of Basekin
Today we sit down with Lucy and Isabella, the dynamic duo behind BASEKIN, an all‑Australian beauty brand born from friendship, necessity, and a love of glow. Starting in sunny Sydney—a city famous for its perfect weather and relaxed lifestyle—the two friends bonded over their shared obsession: self‑tanning. But when Lucy discovered potentially harmful ingredients lurking in many fake‑tan formulas during her pregnancy, both women realised the market needed something cleaner, safer, and smarter.
That realisation sparked a new mission: craft a self‑tanning serum that delivers a consistent, radiantly natural glow without the fuss. The result? A multitasking, science‑backed serum—with DHA derived naturally and made from a short list of premium, skin‑friendly ingredients—that integrates seamlessly into your existing skincare routine. As a working professional always on the go, Isabella knows the value of simplicity; and as a busy mum, Lucy knows the power of quality.
BASEKIN products are proudly Australian made, ethically produced, cruelty‑free, and formulated without parabens or SLS. Tested rigorously for quality—yet intuitive enough for everyday use—they make achieving a healthy, luminous complexion both effortless and effective.
Isabella & Lucy
How did Lucy’s pregnancy journey shape your philosophy around “clean” tanning, and what does that mean for the ingredients you ultimately chose?
Lucy’s pregnancy was a bit of a wake-up call. It made us rethink everything we were putting on our skin, especially tanning products, which often get overlooked in the clean beauty conversation. Suddenly, the long ingredient lists and artificial additives didn’t sit right.
That’s where the idea for BASEKIN started. We wanted something that felt safe, gentle, and genuinely good for skin, whether you’re pregnant or not. Clean, to us, means no unnecessary fillers, no synthetic fragrance, no sulphates or parabens. Every ingredient we chose had to serve a purpose, from hydrating hyaluronic acid to brightening vitamin C and 100% natural DHA.
It also had to be non-comedogenic meaning it wouldn’t clog pores or mess with your skin. Because when you’re dealing with hormone changes, sensitivity, or just everyday skin stress, your products should support your skin barrier, not challenge it. That’s the standard we set from day one.
How did you discover the benefits of DHA, and did its natural origin make the development process more challenging?
We both knew DHA was the active ingredient behind any glow-giving tan, but once we started researching it properly, we were shocked by how many products used synthetic versions. For us, going with 100% natural DHA was non-negotiable. It’s derived from plants and still delivers that golden tan, but in a way that’s much gentler on the skin.
That said, the natural route definitely made development trickier, it took us longer to get the colour just right without compromising on texture, skincare benefits, or the overall experience.
"We were really strict from the start: every ingredient had to do something. No fluff, no filler."
Says Lucy
You have an impressively low list of ingredients in your product, did you find the development process harder without the added fillers, sulphates and parabens?
Absolutely — but in the best way. We were really strict from the start: every ingredient had to do something. No fluff, no filler. It took time to perfect, but what we ended up with is a formula that’s hardworking, multifunctional and gentle enough for sensitive skin. We leaned into actives that we already loved in our own skincare like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin C and paired them with natural DHA to get that golden, hydrated glow in one step.
If we apply the product at night, is there a risk of transferring pigment onto our sheets? And if so, will it stain?
Because it’s a clear serum, there’s no colour or tint to transfer, so no brown marks on your sheets or pillowcase. Just make sure it’s absorbed into the skin before your head hits the pillow.
We would love to know a bit about how you two met and the story of your working relationship.
We first met working at a PR and events agency in New Zealand, then by complete coincidence, ended up in Sydney a few years later, working together again at another agency, in brand and creative roles. From there, the obsession began. We were constantly immersed in designing campaigns and activations for luxury beauty brands, and while we loved it, we started dreaming about building something of our own. BASEKIN started as a side project, born out of a shared frustration - we both loved the confidence a tan gives, but couldn’t find a product that felt aligned with the skincare we were using. So we set out to create one: something that delivered a golden glow, but put skin first.
What is the cadence of use with BASEKIN — is it an application every day to get the desired colour, and how do you maintain?
It really depends on your skin tone and the depth of tan you’re after. For a light glow, every two to three days is plenty. For more colour, you can use it daily until you hit your desired tone, then drop back to every few days to maintain. What we love is how buildable it is and how easily integrated it can be into your daily routine.
Serum
Basekin
Tan and Hydrate Serum
$69.00