From busting crime TO FIGHTING WRINKLES!

After leaving the police force, Wellington mum Jo is on a mission to help Kiwi women love the skin they’re in

- Sara Bunny

When it comes to trying new things, few people have a job history as varied as Jo Lehndorf. She’s worked on the frontline as a street constable in Porirua, recorded crime scenes as a police forensic photographer and tried her hand at real estate photography.

But it’s her latest career move as the owner of skincare business Loveskin that has been the most rewarding. “The best thing for me is getting positive feedback from our customers,” says Jo, 46. “Having beautiful skin is much more than an aesthetic thing – it’s like your connection between the outside world and yourself. Having better skin is really transformational for people.”

From her Wellington home office, Jo creates a range of products designed to fight troublesome acne and soothe dry, sensitive skin. A big believer in shunning nasty chemicals and harsh scrubs, the mum-of-two makes each gentle blend from locally sourced plant extracts and calming oils.

With a few items already bestsellers, business is going from strength to strength. But for Jo, it was her own skincare battle that spurred her to success.

“I developed acne at 14, so Mum bought me this cleansing brush and I really went to town with the scrubbing,” she recalls. “I thought having acne meant my skin was dirty. I eventually went on medication for my skin. It cleared the acne, but years later, my skin still wasn’t great.”