Our Story

Out of the Ashes

The year my body stopped feeling like my own — and how Cheriss rose from it.

Hi, I'm Amanda — the heart and hands behind Cheriss.

In 2014, my world turned upside down. I was diagnosed with Systemic Scleroderma, and almost overnight the body I'd always relied on became something I no longer recognised. The pain in my joints and muscles was relentless. The inflammation, constant. The fatigue swallowed whole days at a time. And on my hardest mornings, I couldn't walk.

I was frightened. I grieved the life I thought I'd have. But somewhere underneath the fear, a quieter, stubborn voice kept whispering: this cannot be the end of the story.

So I started searching — for comfort, for relief, for anything that might help me feel a little more like myself again. And the more I looked at what was on the shelves, the more disheartened I became. So many products were full of harsh chemicals and ingredients I couldn't pronounce, let alone trust to put on a body already under so much strain. I wanted something clean. Something kind. Something real.

When I couldn't find it, I decided to make it myself.

It began at my kitchen bench — small batches, simple ingredients, endless learning. I pored over the wisdom of plants and the science of the skin, body, and mind. I discovered the quiet power of probiotic-rich kombucha, and the gentle strength of botanicals like moringa, gotu kola, frankincense and turmeric — real ingredients my body actually recognised as nourishment. I made things I could reach for every single day. Things I could rely on. Things that helped me feel human again.

And slowly — so slowly at first — I began to come back to myself.

I won't pretend the road was short or easy. It wasn't. But being able to function again, after not being able to walk on my worst days, is the achievement I'm proudest of in my whole life. Every jar I pour now carries that hard-won hope inside it.

That's what Cheriss really is. It isn't just skin and body care. It's everything I wished I'd had in my darkest chapter, made by someone who has lived it. Every product is handmade in small batches, with real, recognisable ingredients — forever cruelty free and vegan, always. No fillers. No harsh chemicals. No shortcuts. Just intention, and care, and a deep belief that your skin and body deserve ingredients they understand.

And here's the thing I most want you to know: you don't have to be unwell to deserve this. Whether you're navigating pain and searching for a gentler way, or you simply want to care for your skin and wellbeing without the chemical load — you belong here. This was built for you, too.

I'm still on my journey. I still have further to go. But I get to walk it doing work that matters, making things that help people feel better — and that is a gift I never take for granted.

I call this chapter of my life Out of the Ashes — and I'm still writing it, sharing each part over on my socials for anyone walking a hard road of their own. If that's you: come find me there. You are not alone. 🤍

Thank you for being here, and for letting me share a little of my heart with you. However you found your way to Cheriss, I'm so glad you did.

With love and gratitude, Amanda 🤍

Cheriss yourself and sparkle ✨ Always cruelty free · Forever vegan · Rooted in nature · Elevated by intention