Reset Body Alchemy x Russell Smith: A creative ritual in skincare storytelling
A new body of work between natural skincare brand Reset Body Alchemy by Kay Almitra and acclaimed photographer Russell Smith is a visual journey into ritual, texture and atmosphere.
This is a collaboration that felt inevitable – born of friendship, trust and a shared creative sensibility. Captured in Russell’s signature moody style and styled by Kay herself, the photographs unveil Reset’s philosophy in layers – skincare not simply as product, but as an alchemy of intention, beauty and care. Set against deep jewel tones, each image fuses artisanal formulations with the raw materials that inspire them – fynbos, botanicals, crystals and earth textures – evoking a world where ancient wisdom meets contemporary self-care.
“For me, it was never just about showing the products,” says Kay. “It was about creating a feeling – the grounding, the slowing down, the ritual that Reset represents.”
Russell echoes the sentiment: “I’ve worked with Kay before, so I knew there’d be magic. She brings her own sense of mood and creativity to the styling, which made the collaboration effortless.”
From Interiors to Alchemy
Many will remember Kay from Envy & Co, the interior design brand and lifestyle consultancy she co-founded in 2016 with the late Jaco Janse van Rensburg. Her career has always defied neat categorisation: chef, sculptor, artist, stylist. Reset Body Alchemy is the culmination of these creative threads, woven together with a passion for natural ingredients, women’s well-being, and rituals rooted in the wisdom of the earth.
“Everything I’ve done creatively has led me here,” she reflects. “Reset is personal. It’s about helping people feel grounded and radiant in their own skin.”
About Reset Body Alchemy
Hand-blended by Kay in small batches, Reset Body Alchemy products celebrate pro-ageing – honouring the skin’s natural journey while harnessing the potency of organic oils, botanicals and time-tested remedies. Each formulation is designed as a ritual: to restore, to ignite, to soothe.
The collection includes:
- Face Potions – A trio of elixirs, from hydrating FacePotion No1 to radiance-restoring FacePotion No2, and YouthDew for younger skins.
- Luxurious Body Oils – The Healer, a restorative balm for body and spirit; The Lover, a sensual oil to soften skin and awaken the senses.
- Oil Rollers – Rosehip Roller to smooth, strengthen and glow; Passion Roller, a seductive blend that lingers delicately on the skin.
- Mousses, Balms & Exfoliants – From the whipped Face Mousse cleanser and Body Soufflé cream, to Microdermabrasion exfoliant and Sacred Balm – a multi-purpose salve for skin in need of nourishment.
Every product is infused with what Kay calls her “witching alchemy” – a careful hand, a respect for natural materials, and an understanding that skincare can be as much about the senses as it is about the skin.
Reset Body Alchemy is available directly from Kay via WhatsApp (+27 82 080 8899). Follow @resetbodyalchemy on Instagram for more.
