July 19, 2018
Next week it will be 2 years since I launched Clémence Organics. 2 years! Where has that time gone? This past week I’ve been thinking, if I knew then what I know now, would I have done it? The answer, without a doubt, is yes! My passion for organic skincare, and everything that goes with it, has only increased. I am more obsessive about my work now than I ever was.
But skincare hasn’t always been a passion of mine. When I was in my last year of high school I was actually planning on studying law. I had read Nelson Mandela’s ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ and I wanted to make a difference in the world. It was only when I put my university plans on hold to spread my wings and explore, eventually landing work as a legal secretary in London, that I realised there was no way I was going to be a lawyer. The long hours and cutthroat nature of the firms I worked in, did not suit me. My grandfather (who was sooo keen on me studying law) was crushed when I told him the news (sorry Grandpa!)
So after several years in London and a heap of travel, I fell into a naturopathy degree. It felt easy and a natural progression of my interest in health and natural medicine. I loved it. It felt so good to help others with what seemed second nature to me. And natural skincare was always a part of that. Whilst I had dabbled in making products to soothe keloid scars I had suffered since childhood, more significant experience came when my father was diagnosed with throat cancer in my last year of university.
I remember visiting the oncologist to hear all about his intended treatment and to ensure I could prescribe complementary medicines alongside his conventional treatment. This was all fine. The only thing I wasn’t happy with was the barrier cream they gave him to ‘help’ his radiation burn. The petroleum based tube of cream went straight in the bin and instead I made him a natural cream based on calendula and vitamin E. Not far into his treatment, the oncology nurses were commenting on his radiation burn, and how much less it was compared to other patients. In fact he had very little redness at all which minimised his pain. I was so happy. I was also caught on the fact that sometimes it’s the little things you do for someone (like swap one cream for another) that can make a big difference. This was a bit of an ‘aha’ moment for me.
This lesson was further imprinted on me years later when I went into private practice and started making skincare formulations for clients. I treated everything from acne to psoriasis, and the feedback I got from patients inspired me to do more.
I know this sounds a bit silly, and whilst I’m not changing the world anywhere near the scale of Nelson Mandela, I get to make little differences in people’s lives and I love it. Whether it’s a child with painful eczema or a woman with facial rosacea, sometimes all it takes is swapping one cream for another to make a life-changing difference. I do what I do because I want to make a difference in the world. Not only do I want to make people’s lives a little bit easier, but I want to make them healthier. That’s what Clémence Organics is all about.
So as challenging as the past 2 years have been (honestly I’ve wanted to throw in the towel at least once), I’ve loved the ride and I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve got so much planned for the next few years, making Clémence Organics much more than a skincare brand, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
September 03, 2024
Spring is the perfect time to take stock of your skincare products, reboot your beauty routine and get yourself set up for the sun to come.
Here's how: Step 1 - ‘Spring clean’ your skincare
Go through your beauty cabinet and get rid of anything you haven’t used for the last 12 months or anything that isn’t pulling its weight.
August 16, 2024
I really love our eye creme, especially after a sleep-less night. As I enter my 40s I have found that it is now an essential part of my skincare regime and I love what it does for my eyes.
If you are new to eye creams, you may be wondering whether or not you need one and whether it will help you. Well, I’m here to answer your queries and give you all the info you need on eye creams. Here’s just a few of the questions we’ve received lately and our feedback.
July 26, 2024
The quality of your skin varies according to the season, what you’re eating, the climate you’re in, your stress levels, and what you’re using on your skin.
Your skin is never one skin type but rather a living, breathing, changeable organ, and you should treat it as such. By adapting your diet and skincare, you can keep your skin happy, no matter the season.
For example, in Australia we’re mid-winter which means the weather is cool and dry. So I’ve adapted my skincare routine, some habits and my diet, to keep my skin healthy.