#MotherMuse | Nish Murphy

Nish is the heart and hands behind Naked Tallow, one of Australia’s most beloved low-tox skincare brands. Known for her intuitive approach to business, motherhood, and wellbeing, she weaves together nature, nurturing, and a whole lot of realness. A mum of two with her partner Seb, Nish radiates a grounded kind of magic—one built on courage, creativity, and showing up before you're ready.

Since launching Naked Tallow, Nish has built a devoted community around clean, conscious skincare and gentle living. But beyond the balms and butters, she's a voice for trusting your timing, holding space for both growth and softness, and remembering just how capable you truly are.

You’ve lived with eczema since you were little — how did that shape your approach to skin and self-care?

I’ve lived with eczema for as long as I can remember. As a kid, it often left me feeling self-conscious. I’d go to school wanting to hide, always trying to cover up the rashes or hives. In my teens and early twenties, I became obsessed with finding a solution. I’d stay up late researching every possible avenue, from mainstream dermatology to all forms of alternative medicine.

Over time, I came to understand that true healing isn’t linear, and it’s not just about what you put on your skin. It’s about your mind, your body, your emotional state... it’s all connected. Learning to tune into my body, to listen and respond rather than panic or override it, changed everything. I still love learning from experts and research, but I trust myself now. I know what my body needs in different seasons of life and I no longer make health decisions from a place of fear.

Living with chronic skin issues taught me more than any textbook could. It’s given me a deep, intuitive connection with my body and a sense of calm confidence in caring for it.

What inspired you to try tallow for the first time?

Tallow just made sense to me. After years of trying hundreds of products, I kept coming back to one simple question: how gentle and close to the skin’s natural state can we go? The answer, for me, was tallow.

It’s the rendered, purified fat of an animal. When I learned that its composition closely mirrors our own sebum, it clicked. It felt intuitive and aligned with what the skin actually needs. 

Can you tell us about that first batch you made — and the moment you realised you were onto something?

I have photos of the first batch and looking back now- I actually burnt it haha!! My first batch was not my best but I had no idea at the time. Once I decided to make it into a business, that's when I did some market research, tried a few other brands and realised- I had some work to do before I could take this product to market!

Once my tallow was up to scratch and I began to sell it online and the testimonials that began to pour in... THAT'S when I knew- okay this could help so many people and become something quite successful.

Why do you think simple, low-tox skincare is so powerful for sensitive skin?

Because I know firsthand, when your skin is easily reactive, the last thing it needs is harsh chemicals adding even more stress to an already overwhelmed system. Sensitive skin often isn’t just about what’s happening on the surface, it’s a reflection of everything your body is navigating internally.

We’re already surrounded by many environmental stressors: pesticides in our food, chlorine in our drinking and shower water, pollutants in the air, daily exposure is synthetic fragrance in candles, perfumes, cleaning products, laundry detergents. So when it comes to sensitive skin, it's not just about using the right skincare. It's about reducing your total toxic load. Creating a cleaner environment around you allows your body the breathing room it needs to heal, regulate and thrive.

It’s about doing less, but doing it better.

How do you nourish your skin from the inside out?

Unfortunately, with the busyness of life it can be hard to do all I would love to, to keep my skin thriving. However if I could do all of the things- my focus would be a solid routine in life to minimise stress. Of course- hydration!! With high quality water. Eating nourishing foods in a balanced way that is best for my body. Lymphatic drainage through gua sha, dry brushing, massage. Sleep, a good 8-9 hours every night. Finally movement- to move my body in the ways it enjoys: dancing, walks at the beach, gentle daily stretching and some light weights!

What does your daily skin ritual look like?

Morning AM: Ice bath my face (try it, its amazing!), Naked Tallow Hydration Serum, Mist, Soothing Face Balm and a quick Gua Sha if I have time. Vibrant Oil on my body.

Night time PM: Cleansing Bar OR Powder Cleanser, Naked Tallow Hydration Serum, Mist, Soothing Face Balm

Sleep by 8.30/9pm every night!

What’s it like running a business with your partner and raising a family at the same time?

I’m laughing to myself as I try to answer this, because some days, it’s the absolute best. I get to work alongside my best friend. We’re playful, we’re in sync and everything feels happy. And then there are other days where it’s… a lot. We’re comfortable enough with each other to say no, to pull back if one of us isn’t in a good place and that honesty is a gift, but it can make things challenging too.

The thing that’s made it work for us is structure. We have daily directors’ meetings where we check in, share how we’re feeling and map out the day ahead, emotionally and practically. We use calendars, lists and divide up both business and home tasks so things don't get missed.

When things go wrong, it can feel like the world is ending. But when things are flowing there’s nowhere else we’d rather be.

What’s the biggest lesson this journey has taught you?

Anyone is capable of anything, truly. We are the ones that put our own mental blocks up, we as humans self sabotage at times to keep us safe and in the comfort of what we already know. But in reality, if you want something you are the only one in your way. Keep pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone and watch what happens.

I've also learnt that there is a solution to every problem and with that I've (we've) been able to get over all of the hurdles business has thrown at us.

What’s your hope for people who try Naked Tallow for the first time?

My hope is that trying Naked Tallow sparks something deeper for people, that it inspires people to live in a way that feels more aligned and fulfilling. Whether  it’s gaining confidence in their skin, feeling more at ease in their body or even just taking that first step toward a more natural, holistic lifestyle.

And just as importantly, I hope they feel the intention behind what we do. We’re not here to just sell products; we’re here to walk alongside people on their journey.