People often ask how Nurse Renee began. The truth is, it never started as a business. It started with my dad.

I studied Nursing at the University of Notre Dame before becoming an Intensive Care Nurse at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney. Caring for people through some of the hardest moments of their lives taught me that healing isn't just about medicine, it's about preserving dignity, confidence and helping people feel like themselves again.

Not long after, I followed my passion into Cosmetic Nursing, joining a Doctor-led cosmetic clinic in Paddington. It wasn't a career change I expected to make so soon, but it allowed me to be closer to home as my dad's health rapidly declined.

My dad, Peter, was diagnosed with Amyloidosis, a rare and devastating disease. As his condition worsened, our family entered a world of hospital appointments, chemotherapy, uncertainty and hope. He was eventually accepted into a Stage III Clinical Trial after meeting the strict eligibility criteria, giving our family something we desperately needed: a chance.

Throughout months of intensive treatment, I became one of his carers. The chemotherapy was incredibly harsh on his skin. It became fragile, dry and sensitive, while the disease left him with dark circles beneath his eyes that quietly stole away his confidence. We'd even use makeup to help him feel more like himself before leaving the house.

Every day, I searched for products gentle enough for compromised skin but nourishing enough to restore comfort. I kept coming back disappointed. Many formulas were overloaded with unnecessary ingredients, fragrances or actives that simply weren't right for someone in Dad's condition.