The wellness pioneer who trusts one very specific type of curcumin over painkillers
Meet Andrea Horwood—the visionary who revolutionised Australian wellness with Invisible Zinc and WelleCo, and now she's cleaning up personal care with ETTO. Here's why she became a KURK shareholder and director.
When someone who's built three breakthrough wellness brands tells you what they take every morning for inflammation, you listen.
Andrea Horwood doesn't just create wellness brands; she creates movements. From pioneering healthier sunscreen with Invisible Zinc to launching the first ingestible wellness on the beauty floor with WelleCo, Andrea has consistently been ahead of the curve. Now, as founder of ETTO, she's on a mission to clean up the personal care products we use daily, championing what she calls "skinimalism"—buying less, using less, and putting our skin through less stress.
ETTO harnesses the power of Australian-grown, steam-distilled Tea Tree oil—super high in bioactive terpinen-4-ol—to create multi-use problem solvers from nature. Think one creamy coconut-based cleansing foam that replaces seven products in your bathroom, acting as face and body cleanser, scalp treatment, and solution for bacne and body odour. Or their petroleum-free lip balms and healing solutions that use powerful plant terpenes instead of problematic chemicals. As Andrea explains: "If Terpinen 4-ol, a powerful terpene extracted from plants, is as effective as the problematic chemical Benzoyl Peroxide in fighting acne causing bacteria, then why wouldn't you use this instead?"
But here's what caught our attention: despite having access to countless wellness solutions, Andrea chose to become not just a customer, but a shareholder and director of KURK.
"Is this micellar curcumin? If so, I'm in"
Andrea's path to KURK wasn't just professional—it was refreshingly personal. "I started noticing pain and swelling after injuring my finger (definitely not age-related 😉) and rather than habitually taking painkillers, I searched high and low for an effective curcumin supplement to deal with the joint inflammation." "When I first encountered KURK, my first question to Trent the co-founder was – is this micellar curcumin? If so I'm in," she recalls.
Through her extensive network of healthcare providers and research exposure, Andrea knew that while curcumin's benefits were transformative, absorption was the make-or-break challenge—and a liquid micellar form was exactly what she'd been searching for.
Testing it like a true entrepreneur
Before investing in KURK, Andrea did what any savvy entrepreneur would do: she tested it properly. And not just on herself.
"Before I became involved with KURK, I sampled the product to people in my circle who were all experiencing varied inflammatory conditions – from the mild to the serious, from young to elderly," Andrea shares. The results? "Based on their responses and my own experience, I became a shareholder and director of KURK."
Her refreshingly simple daily routine
Andrea's daily inflammageing protocol beautifully demonstrates the inside-out approach.
"I start my day out in nature with the sunrise, followed by an Eucalyptus steam shower," she shares. Her morning skincare focuses on terpenes that are "brilliant for an inflamed or compromised skin barrier."
"After breakfast, I take 1ml of KURK in filtered water. I find it's best after food and in a short concentrated shot. I sometimes take another 1ml in the evening before bed if I have trouble sleeping, am stressed or experiencing acute joint pain and inflammation."
Her philosophy is refreshingly simple: "I have reduced the number of topical products I use on my skin down to about 3, and the supplements I take down to 2—KURK for inflammation, plus I wear a trans-dermal NMN patch."
The results speak for themselves: "It's a godsend, I feel the difference with reduced swelling and incredibly, no more pain."
Skinimalism: less is more
Andrea's philosophy with ETTO perfectly complements her inflammation management approach. "Skinimalism is becoming more and more desirable in a sea of overconsumption and overuse in beauty. Buy less, use less and put our skin through less stress, allowing the body's natural systems to function and heal." She believes in multi-use products that simplify routines: "One of the first formulas we created was a beautiful creamy coconut based all-in-one cleansing foam - replacing about 7 old-school products in your bathroom."
Her warning is clear: "Overuse of too many skin products and treatments can compromise the skin barrier and cause the very irritation they should be solving."
Why inflammation matters more than you think
"Inflammation is now widely recognised as the root cause in many health conditions – including our skin," Andrea emphasises. And she's right—it's not just about joint pain. Inflammation quietly drives everything from skin issues to cognitive decline.
Her solution combines both internal and topical strategies. "It's a topical and internal approach. Firstly I start by trying to reduce the toxic load we all encounter everyday, from what we ingest to the products we apply topically."
The convergence of beauty, performance, and longevity
Andrea sees a powerful synergy between internal inflammation management with KURK and external care with ETTO. "ETTO and KURK work together in the convergence of beauty, performance and longevity... seeing the body as a whole, treating inflammation early and naturally, whilst adopting a holistic internal and topical approach."
What particularly impressed her about KURK? "Learning about KURK's early Australian research and development through Boston Global, the unique delivery and effectiveness, and above all, an ethical and accountable company I could trust."
What sets real brands apart
In a market flooded with celebrity-driven wellness brands, Andrea values something different. "For me, it all starts with the product. Forget the marketing, forget the spin, the integrity and effectiveness of the product is the starting point."
She particularly values that "KURK develop and produce through to the final trusted product that lands in the consumer's hands"—no middlemen, no compromise on quality.
Supercharge your anti-inflammation routine
Ready to experience what Andrea calls "a godsend" for inflammation? Whether you're dealing with joint pain, sleep issues, or simply want to get ahead of inflammageing, Andrea's journey from sceptical entrepreneur to KURK director speaks volumes.
Special offer: Andrea and ETTO have generously offered KURK customers an exclusive discount: use code SKINHEALTH20 for 20% off all ETTO single products. Shop to complete your inside-out inflammation management routine.
Start your inflammation-free journey with KURK today—because when a wellness pioneer who's "incredibly selective" chooses to not just use but invest in a product, it's worth paying attention.
