Before meeting up with True Botanicals founder Hillary Peterson for coffee and morning buns at Tartine Manufactory, we already knew a couple things about her:
One: Years ago, a cancer diagnosis set her on a path of health and wellness, culminating in her clean, consciously crafted skincare brand.
Two: She lives in Mill Valley.
By the end of our lively conversation, another simple fact had revealed itself—Peterson is one ridiculously cool woman. Smart, approachable and endlessly engaging, she’s still smitten with the Bay Area even after almost four decades living here.
Did we mention she could also give Martha Stewart a run for her money? Peterson’s a skilled cook, a natural at home design, and a talented flower arranger, often using fresh blooms cut straight from her backyard garden. Said backyard—which also features a clawfoot tub tucked among the greenery—is attached to the Mill Valley house she has shared with her husband for 20 years, and where her (now-adult) kids grew up.
The True Botanicals products Peterson can't live without.(Courtesy of @truebotanicals)
Peterson’s Bay Area love story began post-college with a weekend visit to friends in North Beach. She instantly packed her bags and moved from Los Angeles, starting a career in banking that soon shifted to marketing for several different places including Levi Strauss & Co., “an iconic Bay Area company that taught me so much.”
Circa 2006, Peterson’s own thyroid cancer journey sparked a new calling. “I became aware of toxins in personal-care products and had a strong feeling there was something I could do to create change in the beauty industry,” she recalls.
Peterson worked with a small beauty company for a while, reached out to top anti-aging experts, and looked to green science for the most potent molecules in nature to support skin vitality. “The goal was to put nature and science back together,” she explains.
Today, True Botanicals is celebrating its 10th birthday. “I was on a mission to prove that clean products that prioritize the health of people and the planet can be the most effective. And we’ve done that, which is so exciting,” Peterson beams.
Want a taste of Peterson’s world? Here, she shares some of her favorite Bay Area restaurants, shops and things to do—plus the one True Botanicals product she’d rescue in a fire.
Peterson on a ride. Hawk Hill in Sausalito is one of her favorites.(Courtesy of Hillary Peterson)
What’s your favorite thing about living in Mill Valley?
I get to walk through a redwood grove to get to the True Botanical office in town. Along with that, one of my favorite things about living where we do is access to nature: I can get on Mount Tam in 10 minutes. My husband and I love to ride bikes, so I walk or ride every day. One of my favorite rides is up Hawk Hill (Conzelman Rd., Sausalito).
What’s your favorite restaurant?
My daughter lives in San Francisco and we love taking her out. Right now, our favorite place to take her is Saru Handroll Bar on Polk Street (Russian Hill). The seaweed is so crunchy, the fish is so fresh; i’s just so good. Eating at Saru is always a wow. We took friends there last week—and they went back the next day. In Marin, Picco (320 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur) is my favorite restaurant. It’s so good.
What’s your preferred local coffee and brunch spot?
Honestly, my house. We have an espresso machine from Breville and I just love our coffee so much. Plus, I enjoy making my own pancakes and waffles.
What’s your go-to bakery?
My absolute favorite scone is from Arsicault Bakery (multiple locations, incl. 397 Arguello Blvd., Laurel Heights). It’s the cranberry-coconut scone. I truly think it’s the best scone ever.
Peterson always gets prepared food from Bay Laruel Culinary at the San Rafael Farmers Market.(Courtesy of Hillary Peterson)
What’s your favorite weekend ritual?
I go to the San Rafael Farmers Market (3501 Civic Center Dr.) every week. It’s an extraordinary, very authentic, beautiful, beautiful farmers’ market. I get all my vegetables, fruits, nuts, and this jug of golden olive oil. Then, I go home and look at recipes and figure out what I’m going to make.
The other reason I love going to the farmers’ market is Bay Laurel Culinary. It’s from this adorable Irish woman who makes the most gorgeous prepared food like chicken pot pie and braised beef. She uses all organic and seasonal ingredients, and it’s stuff that if you ate it in a restaurant, would blow your mind. Everything is so divine and I’m very picky. Every week, I’ll treat myself to a meal or two from her.
Do you have any local brands or stores in regular rotation?
I love Hero Shop at Marin Country Mart (2257 Larkspur Landing Cir., Larkspur). Emily [store owner] curates all these outfits for me. Also [points to chic loafers], I’m a big fan of Freda Salvador, and founders Megan and Cristina. And the thing is, I’ll get shoes and still love them years later. Both the women are so fun and such good people. I always want to support female-founded businesses so, for example, I use Koala Eco for my cleaning, Innersense for my haircare. Basically, I’ve just been really thoughtful about curating high-performance, clean products.
What’s your perfect Bay Area day?
Actually, I just had one. It may sound boring to some, but it was the best day. My husband and I went to Arsicault on Clement Street, and I had my scone. We sat in the sun and drank coffee next door and walked down to this nearby flower shop—Paul Robertson Floral Design (14 Clement St., Laurel Heights)—where they have really unusual flowers like boronias and stuff you don’t usually see. I’m flower-obsessed and have a cutting garden at home so I usually do my own flowers. But when I find a place that has amazing blooms, I’m all in.
What are your must-dos when visitors are in town?
We always take out-of-towners on a super gorgeous hike on Mount Tam that goes to the West Point Inn (100 Old Railroad Grade., Mill Valley) and then back down. We’ll often take them to Stinson, to the beach and then the Parkside Cafe (43 Arenal Ave.) for lunch. Also, we like to take visitors on the ferry from Sausalito into the city and grab lunch. We recently did that… had lunch at Cotogna (490 Pacific Ave., Jackson Square) and then went to the top of Coit Tower (1 Telegraph Hill Blvd., North Beach) and checked out the amazing murals. Super cool.
Peterson often takes visitors to Stinson Beach and the Parkside Cafe.(Courtesy of @parksidecafestinsonbeach)
Where do you shop for beauty or go to be pampered?
Other than truebotanicals.com, Credo (2136 Fillmore St., Pac Heights) and Nordstrom are the main places I shop for beauty products. My number one for pampering? The incredible Michelle Homes (25 1st St., Cortre Madera) who does my eyebrows. Plus, I’m a big fan of her Rye Beauty brand. (I’m wearing the Tinted Brow Milk right now.) And I also love getting the True Botanicals facial at Cavallo Point (601 Murray Cir., Sausalito). It’s such a treat.
You’re stranded on a desert island: what True Botanicals product do you grab?
Pure Radiance Oil. It’s our very first product and in all the clinicals, it outperformed a global iconic brand (that shall not be named). It leaves skin glowing and has innovative anti-aging ingredients from nature. I never leave home without a bottle. But if I could bring one more, I’d grab our Chebula Active Serum. These two products do amazing things together.
