Mother Stories
Meet NYC Mama Raquel Nowak, Founder of Matrescence
Written by Erin Feher
Photography by Photography by Winona Barton-Ballentine
Oct 23, 2019
What better way to welcome fall than a walk through a leaf-scattered NYC park with this powerhouse mama and her two fierce little girls? For today’s Mother profile, we spent the day with Raquel Nowak, the founder of Matrescence—a line of non-toxic, botanical skincare solutions for all stages of motherhood. And the nuances of life’s various stages are something Raquel knows a few things about. Born and raised in Jamaica, Raquel entered college at 16, and earned degrees in teaching, mathematics, computer science, media and communications, and film. She’s worked in casting, marketing, and prenatal wellness, but her focus sharpened on clean beauty when she digested the statistics from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) on the alarming number of chemicals and toxins found in skincare that affect reproductive health. That’s when she decided to change lanes once again and teamed up with chemists to formulate a line of products that were completely free of anything that would be harmful to either mom or baby. Raquel decided to name her company after the term coined by anthropologist Dana Raphael—Matrescence refers to the process of becoming a mother, where a woman transitions from pre-conception through pregnancy and then on to the postnatal period and beyond. With her skincare line, Raquel wanted to promote the importance of “mothering the mother.” Today, she runs her thriving company from NYC, and lives in a charming neighborhood in the borough of Staten Island with her husband and their two daughters, Nahla, 5, and Emilia, 3. Click through the tour below to get to know Raquel and her girls, and take a look around her lovely home and neighborhood.
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- "Since Staten Island is the greenest borough of NYC, we get to enjoy many parks and outdoor spaces. It’s very family friendly in that sense. We’re also close enough to get into the city in less than 30 minutes. What I love most about living in NYC is that it’s such a melting pot of cultures, and the girls get to experience and benefit from that. Diversity is truly what makes New York great."
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- "I’m open to living somewhere else, but that’s definitely a long way off, and I’d need some time to convince my husband!"
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- "We live next to Silver Lake Park and we like to go there for a run with the girls. Some of our favorite restaurants here are Blue, Vinum, and Mar Mar. We also enjoy taking a stroll on the boardwalk—there’s always something happening there."
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- "Every stage of parenthood means something new to be excited about! The girls started a new school and I’m really loving the new adventures they’re having: developing their own world, making new friends, and having new interests. I love seeing them evolve into who they are meant to be. They’re like little flowers opening one petal at a time, and I get to watch it every day."
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- "The teenage years! We’re raising two very headstrong, determined little ladies, but I’m confident they’ll take that and channel it in the right way."
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- "I come from a line of really strong women, so I’m excited to be teaching them all the amazing things my mother taught me...and then some. I get to help them find their true beauty in being bold, strong, and fierce."
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- "My older girl is Nahla Izabela and my second is Emilia Rose. I fell in love with the names Nahla and Emilia while I was pregnant. Izabela is the name of my husband’s grandmother and Rose was my mother’s middle name."
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- "Nahla is 5 and Emilia is 3. They are both very creative and will be up at 6 a.m. to start working on art! They love to read a lot and have a great collection of books. They are also very active and are pretty much always doing something. Always."
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- "I think in theory I knew I wanted to be a mother, but I didn’t have an emotional attachment to the role until after I became one. I also had no idea what it really meant or what it would entail, so the transition was a real shock for me."
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- "Both pregnancies went by with ease. I actually loved being pregnant—no morning sickness, cravings, or anything. The births, however, were wild. My girls were born on the same day (2 years apart!), so while we were prepping for Nahla’s second birthday party, I went into labor with Emilia and had to rush through singing Happy Birthday and blowing out the candles, and then head to the hospital. Emilia was born an hour and a half later!"
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- Raquel wears a custom sweater by Lingua Franca and Sézane pants. Nahla and Emilia wear H&M.
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- "I am the founder and creative director of Matrescence. We design skincare rituals that help women look and feel their best at every stage of motherhood."
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- "Matrescence was conceived from my most important lesson during motherhood: learning to mother myself by making self-care a priority. I learned this when my mom passed away right after Emilia was born, and I literally had to step in and fill the void and take care of myself during those dark postpartum days. It was a life-changing and life-saving lesson that I wanted to share, so when we launched the brand, the Rose Glow Trio became a symbol of that lesson. It started a conversation on self-care and mothering yourself in order to be able to show up as a better woman and mother. I want to help empower moms to take care of their minds and bodies so they can be their best selves."
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- "Before launching Matrescence, I worked in the wellness space as a prenatal coach, advising women on nutrition, fitness, and stress management. But I shifted my focus to skincare once I digested the statistics from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) on the alarming number of chemicals and toxins found in skincare that affect reproductive health. I worked with chemists to formulate each of our products to exclude anything that would be harmful to either mom or baby, and make them safe for use at all stages of motherhood."
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- "My mother passed away shortly after Emilia was born and I tried to stay busy to cope with it."
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- "I’d recommend The Doula’s Guide to Empowering Your Birth by Lindsey Bliss for preparing both physically and mentally for every area of new motherhood. The First Forty Days is also a good resource on the importance of rest and recovery for a new mom. There’s also Nurture by Erica Chidi Cohen."
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- "I have a group of 'sister-friends' who are at various stages of motherhood, and they are all so inspiring. One created an allergen-free and vegan bakery called MoPweeze, inspired by the journey of raising her son, who is allergic to over 30 foods! My celeb mom-crush is Serena Williams. She maintains so much honesty about motherhood and is so relatable despite her celebrity."
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- "I had a close family unit, made up of my parents and two brothers. My parents were pretty strict. My mom was an education officer and a disciplinarian, and my dad an accountant. I also went to an all-girls school that was very structured."
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- "I’d like to think I’m pretty laid-back, but the truth is I have become my mother! There’s definitely a lot of structure in how I parent the girls, but I also see them as individuals and respect their choices and my role is to stand in as a guide. I also believe that mothers instinctively know what's best for their own families, so while I may listen to outside advice, I always go with my gut in making decisions."
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- "It’s made me more determined to introduce my girls to as many cultures, people, and experiences as possible. When we understand and appreciate the differences in others, we see them as humans like ourselves and treat them accordingly."
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- "Take the time to build your village. Prepare for the fourth trimester. Don’t be afraid to say no to visits. New moms need time and space to heal, so protect that. Those who mean you well will understand and respect this."
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- "We moved to Staten Island from Park Slope in Brooklyn six years ago and have been in our new house for two years. Our neighborhood is a hidden gem, even native Staten Islanders are unaware of it. I stumbled upon the area during a drive one day and instantly fell in love with how tranquil it was. There was nothing for sale at the time, but we weren’t deterred. We sent letters of inquiry to the entire neighborhood, hoping someone would be interested in selling at some point. Out of a few responses, there was only one wanting to sell, and it was just the perfect match. The timing coincided with the sale of our other house. Long story short...we found our home!"
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- "I’d call our home rustic chic. It definitely embraces the perfect imperfection of nature, and above all, it’s comfortable."
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- "I try to keep each room true to its intended function, so the girls have a dedicated playroom, but we also keep a few toys and books in the living room so the entire family can enjoy that space as well."
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- "I love the chandelier in our dining room that my husband chose. It’s very bold and unique, and brings that entire room to life."
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- Raquel wears a Tory Burch top and Zara skirt. Nahla and Emilia wear Mini Boden dresses.
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- The welcoming kitchen is the heart of the home.
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- "The girls share a room. The nursery of our last house was green, as I tried to have a gender-neutral approach, but when we moved here they declared they wanted a pink room!"
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- "I like to be comfortable but still put together, so I’d say effortlessly chic."
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- "I’ve become more eco-conscious and have adopted a less-is-more approach."
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- "Jumpsuits. I could wear a jumpsuit everyday."
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- "Simple, effective, and non-toxic. I prioritize healthy skin over makeup and use the Matrescence Rose Glow Trio daily—I especially love the Purifying Cleanser as it literally wakes my skin up. I exfoliate twice a week with African Botanics Enzyme Polish and I also get monthly facials. When I do use makeup, I go light with Ilia and some lip treats from Kosas."
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- "I practice what I preach and self-care is a must. I try to work out three times a week or at least stay active, meditate using the Happy, Not Perfect app, and focus on my mental health. I am quick to remove things and people that threaten my peace."
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- "I make 'me time' consistent and manageable by finding at least 5 minutes at the start and the end of each day to be by myself, check in, breathe. Just power myself up. I like to incorporate my skincare routine into this because taking care of my skin makes me feel good and it’s a good way to start the day. Before bed, I end by literally washing the concerns of the day away and reminding myself that I did my best."
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- "I was born and raised in Jamaica, in a small town called Santa Cruz. I still consider it to be home. I started college at 16, got a teaching degree in mathematics and computer science, then another in media and communications. I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, where I lived for a few years before relocating to NYC to study film. My first job was as a marketing associate for an architectural design firm in Midtown while I was still in in grad school, and after that I worked with casting agencies and on several creative projects."
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- "When I was pregnant with Nahla, I became very health conscious and got certified as a holistic nutritionist, specializing in prenatal wellness. I wanted to equip myself with that knowledge and peace of mind—and then I wanted to share it with other women."
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- "Our support system is small but strong. My husband and I are equal partners in parenting and that has made the journey easier. One of my closest friends grew up two houses away in Jamaica, but we lost touch for several years. When we reconnected I found she was also here and living nearby! She’s been a great support and an aunt to the girls. I’ve also been fortunate to connect with some amazing souls since living in NYC, like the real estate agent who sold our first house. She has remained in our lives as a mother figure to me and a grandmother to the girls. We also have a really great sitter!"
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- Raquel wears a Tory Burch top and Sézane overalls.
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- "For me, it was about redefining this idea of balance, and realizing that it all evens out in the end. Some days I lean more into my role as a mother and outsource business tasks to my team so I can be present with my girls, and then there are rare occasions when I have to show up all day for an event and I may not get to see the girls before they go to bed. I'm fortunate to have been able to design my life in a way that works for me and my family, so we get to prioritize family time."
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- "Absolutely, especially at the beginning. Now, I’m quick to remind myself that I am doing the best I can by actually being present when I’m present."
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- "It’s important to me that they grow into confident, strong individuals, so I know I have to model that, as well."
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- The Matrescence Rose Glow Trio is the foundation of Raquel's brand as well as her personal beauty routine.
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- "We just added three Stretch Mark Relief products to our skincare collection. It took me awhile to get on board with creating this product line, and I wanted to introduce it in a way that was meaningful and empowering. I also wanted to continue the conversation we started with self-love and self-care, which has been the foundation of the brand. We put together the Love Your Lines campaign to encourage women to examine their relationship with their bodies, and how that relationship changes as our bodies change during motherhood. I think by acknowledging that these changes do affect how we feel about ourselves, we can move toward reshaping that perception."
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- "I live by the Maya Angelou quote 'A woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself and only herself.'"
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- For more on Raquel, her girls, and Matrescence, be sure to follow her on Instagram.
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