A peronal problem led to a life enhancing career change for Dayyan James.
What’s your story?
I started CocosBotanica out of a personal need after working long hours in yacht servicing, which damaged my skin despite sunscreen. My wife, Michelle, suggested coffee scrubs made from used Nespresso capsules, sparking my interest in skincare. What started as a hobby quickly grew into an obsessive passion. While I never intended to turn it into a business, Michelle’s pregnancy and the need to move my lab out of the house pushed me to take it more seriously. The business has naturally evolved, largely through word of mouth and happy customers.
What excites you most about your industry?
What excites me about the skincare industry is its constant innovation and impact on people’s lives. The science behind skin health, especially creating products that enhance natural beauty and wellness, is truly fascinating. I love the creativity and experimentation it encourages, from exploring new ingredients to refining formulations. Building Cocos Botanica has been especially rewarding, combining tech-driven problem-solving with hands-on creativity to deliver products that enhance daily life. My focus is on creating skincare my family and I trust and use ourselves—a personal touch that ensures the products work as intended and meet real needs effectively.
What drives you in your career to push beyond what other people consider normal?
I am not 100% sure what people consider normal or not, but I guess my drive comes from the obsessive need to find solutions to problems. I don’t always manage to find solutions to everything, but when I do, it’s exciting. If that can then be turned into something people like using and benefit from, then this further fuels the flames that drive me.
What have been the most useful skills you have learnt and applied in your journey?
Not being afraid to fail. There was an old TV commercial for a popular cheese brand I saw growing up with the catchphrase, “Good things take time”. I think that’s just the half of the equation. In reality, “good things come out of lots of failed attempts – which takes time”, as in the case with some of my experimental formulas. Not every formula hits the jackpot, so patience, tenacity, and motivation to get to the root causes and understand what needs to change are some of the key skills I’ve applied in my journey.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Don’t try to please anyone else. Create something that you yourself are truly happy with.
Who inspires you?
People like Nick Lane, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Monty Lyman, Brian Cox and other scientists who have a relentless desire to better understand how our bodies, our world and our universe work; from cellular biology through to quantum physics, it all relates in one way or another – but don’t ask me how!
What have you learnt recently that blew you away?
Over the last couple of years, I’ve been diving into research and books about the brain-gut-skin axis, and it’s incredible how interconnected these systems are. One thing that really blew me away is how we perceive and remember pain. In The Painful Truth by Monty Lyman, he explains that the brain can “remember” pain even after the original cause has healed, and this memory can amplify future pain or contribute to chronic pain syndromes. The science behind why this happens is fascinating, and it completely shifted how I think about pain and its role in our overall health and well-being.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I don’t think I would change anything; if not for the mistakes of the past, I wouldn’t know what I know today. I am happy to take risks for the future, but if I were asked to go back in time and change anything I would strongly object, I wouldn’t want to not be right where I am now.
How do you unwind?
It’s my job to put our 8-month-old boy to bed every night. Right after work, I’ll have my shower, take the lad off my wife and for the next hour, Dylan (my son) and I will wrestle, fly, explore the jungle, sail the ocean or whatever story I can think of each night. Finally, once he’s had enough, we’ll have a snuggle, and he’ll be off to sleep on my shoulder. This is also my time for a bit of an evening nap.
What is a major mindset change, belief shift or ‘ah ha’ moment that you’ve experienced in relation to your career?
It surprised me a bit, but no amount of posting online, advertising or marketing campaigns come remotely close to building a successful business than personally connecting with my customers does. It’s for this reason I opened a store, and rather shyly began posting myself, being myself in reels.
Everyone in business should read this book:
Monty Lyman’s The Remarkable Life of the Skin is a must-read for anyone in the skincare industry or curious about understanding their own skin better. This engaging book takes readers on an incredible journey through the fascinating world of the skin—the body’s largest and most visible organ. Lyman explores its functions as a barrier against pathogens, a temperature regulator, and a reflection of our identity and emotions. He also addresses societal perceptions of beauty, the stigma of skin conditions, and their psychological impacts. Written in an accessible style, the book offers a deeper appreciation of the skin’s complexity and significance.
Shameless plug for your business or career:
At CocosBotanica, we make skincare and scents we use ourselves every day. What started as a personal need became a passion for creating products that work. Each formula is crafted in small batches, using the best natural and synthetic ingredients that are gentle and effective. We focus on real results and products you can trust – because we use them ourselves.
How can people connect with you?
Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dj-james/
Social Media Links?
Website: https://cocosbotanica.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/cocosbotanica
Instagram: https://instagram.com/cocosbotanica
This interview is part of the CallumConnects series.