As the world grapples with the unfolding of one of the toughest challenges we’ve faced for almost a century, our individual stress levels are understandably rising with each passing day. It’s difficult to maintain focus and keep to ‘new normal’ everyday routines and activities when so much is happening to so many.
So we do what we can. For us here at Clémence Organics, that’s helping you look after yourself and your skin.
If you’ve found your skin isn’t behaving in its usual way lately, perhaps it’s reacting to products or foods that are normally fine or you’re breaking out more than normal, elevated stress levels are likely to be the culprit.
Your skin is the largest organ of your body and provides critical barrier and immune functions. What’s going on inside your body is, more often than not, reflected in your skin.
Repeated or prolonged stress suppresses your skin’s immune function, which increases inflammation, allergic response, susceptibility to infection, and reactivity to new stimuli. A spike in the stress hormone cortisol adds to the inflammatory response, making your skin work even harder.
This is why, if you have an underlying skin condition, stress is probably going to make it flare up. To add to that, it can also make even usually well-behaved skin hyper-sensitive.
So stress directly affects the health of your skin from the inside.
But it also disrupts our good habits. We stop taking the best care of ourselves and our skin loses out. Poor sleep, skipping steps of our skincare routine, eating sugary, processed food and drinking less water all contribute to depleted skin health.
So, how does all this play out for your complexion?
Cortisol is a power player that wreaks havoc on your skin. Not only does it increase inflammation, but it also breaks down collagen and thins your skin.
Prolonged periods of stress and sustained cortisol levels don’t give your skin the break it needs to repair and rebuild.
During times like this you can support your skin with products that contain potent anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as our Repair Face Serum. This luxurious serum uses Organic Rosehip Oil for powerful anti-ageing and to promote skin elasticity, and beautiful Calendula to soothe inflammation.
For added benefit, try rolling it into the skin with a Jade roller to reduce puffiness, and to soften and relax tight facial muscles.
If your skin is prone to sensitivity, rosacea or eczema you undoubtedly already know how much stress can affect a complexion. Once again, cortisol and its immune-suppressing effects are to blame for the heightened inflammatory response and ensuing flare-ups that occur during times of stress.
When your skin is suffering flare-ups or hypersensitivity the best way to adapt your skincare routine is to bring it right back to basics.
Remove any products that might cause irritation or sensitivity and use simple yet powerful ingredients such as Calendula, Rose Otto and Biofermented hyaluronic acid to increase hydration, ease inflammation and soothe hypersensitivity.
Our Ultimate Face Crème incorporates these divine ingredients and has gathered a loyal following for its skin-soothing effects.
Possibly the most common side effect of stress, acne and breakouts occur when the skin starts overproducing oil. Stress can be a catalyst for this as it disrupts our delicate hormonal balance and signals the skin to start producing excess oil.
Your first thought may be to start scrubbing it away with strong cleansers, but hold that thought! Over-cleansing and stripping your natural oils only makes your skin work harder to replace the lost oil.
We highly recommend cleansing only once per day with our Refining Cleanser and then toning with our Ultimate Biome Spritz which gently balances pH levels, tightens pores without drying and strengthens your skin’s natural barrier to reduce infection and inflammation.
Stress and sleep….well, there’s a huge topic. But we all know the feeling of tossing and turning as our thoughts run away with all those hours we should be using to recharge. And, of course, lack of sleep leads to the inevitable, tell-tale dark circles.
Turning off screens in the hours preceding bed-time, meditation, essential oils – all these activities will help optimise your chance of some rejuvenating rest.
If you need some extra help to combat dark circles and puffy eyes, our Lime Caviar Eye Crème is formulated with brightening and skin-tightening vitamin c. Rosehip oil and Biofermented Hyaluronic Acid work to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to give your peepers the lift they need during trying times.
When overwhelm gets the better of your skin, the best thing you can do is go back to basics.
Skin that’s feeling hypersensitive will benefit from a simple routine that doesn’t put too much pressure on it.
All Clémence Organics products are gentle and made with 100% natural, certified organic ingredients and nothing synthetic.
If you are using any skincare that has excess fragrances, dyes or colours, now is the time to have a break from them as they can irritate stressed-out skin.
Make sure your routine is simple and brings you a little joy. Cleanse, tone, serum and moisturiser should give your skin the break it needs while not demanding too much of you either.
As always, we highly recommend only cleansing once per day, as over-cleansing can strip your skin’s natural protective barrier and leave it exposed. Choose morning or evening, whichever suits your lifestyle, and simply splash your face with warm water before toning at the other end of the day.
Wishing you and your loved ones the best of health,
Bridget x
It’s cast in movies as one of the great battles of our teenage years. However, many adults can attest to the fact that acne is definitely not confined to that tumultuous time.
Adult acne can occur at any stage of life and its appearance is just as unwelcome as it was in our teens. So, why does it occur and what can be done to banish the breakouts?
If you’ve ever experienced acne you’re likely well aware that it’s not always easy to pin down what’s causing it. Its progression can be affected by a multitude of factors ranging from sebum production to genetics.
Yes, it’s that broad.
There are four factors that have a direct effect on the appearance of acne, and it’s these that your skincare regime can address head-on. These nefarious players are:
With the right approach and some power-packed organic ingredients, your skincare regime can effectively tackle each of these issues.
The problem is, many of us are doing it wrong.
Honestly, your skincare regime could be failing you in a few key areas. This is mainly because, when you consider what’s causing the acne, they seem like the right thing to do.
The obvious place to start is with cleansing. It’s very tempting, logical even, to simply try and wash away the extra oil and bacteria. But using strong, foaming cleansers can strip away your skins’ protective barrier (otherwise known as the microbiome) and upset your natural sebum balance.
In response, your skin will start producing even more oil in order to right the balance. And then we are back at square one.
There is a similar problem with very astringent toners. They, too, strip the skin of its natural protective oils and healthy bacteria, leaving it irritated and open to overgrowth of harmful bacteria.
Thirdly, check your face cream. Keeping your skin soothed and nourished with a good moisturiser is imperative for skin health. If you are prone to, or already suffering acne, look for a non-comedogenic moisturiser that will adequately nourish your skin without blocking your pores.
We recommend a few key products when it comes to fighting adult acne.
Our Refining Cleanser is a natural cream cleanser that will give your skin a deep clean without stripping it or upsetting the protective barrier. If you’ve been over-cleansing with a foaming cleanser it will take a week or so for your skin to adjust and slow down the extra oil and sebum production.
Our two toners will help to balance your skins’ pH levels and reduce any inflammation. Our Tone + Hydrate Spritz will gently astringe the skin, rehydrate and soothe redness. Its’ antiseptic properties will also assist your skin heal and prevent further infection.
The Ultimate Biome Spritz contains the beautiful Kakadu Plum and Green Tea to protect your skin against environmental pollutants. Probiotics improve the microbiome of the skin and strengthen your natural protective barrier.
Repair Face Serum is a non-comedogenic face oil that soothes the skin and assists repair. Two of its star ingredients are Rosehip Oil, to deeply nourish and increase skin elasticity, and Calendula, to soothe inflammation and promote wound healing.
Diet and lifestyle play a critical part in addressing adult acne. These two factors have a huge effect on contributing factors to acne such as hormonal fluctuations, stress, and even underlying systemic illness.
A healthy diet and regular exercise will start to combat the indirect causes of adult acne. Download our Naturopathic Treatment Plan for Acne for our top tips to get started on a healthy, acne-defying way of life.
Bridget x
The Clémence Organics skincare range is super adaptable and should be made to suit your skin, your climate and your age. Here are our top tips to make it work best for you.
1. You don’t always need to cleanse morning and night.
Excessively washing the skin can add to skin problems and so it’s best to limit to once a day where possible.
Choose the time of day that suits you best – morning might be your thing if you get out and exercise, evening might be your time if you wear make-up.
2. When you’re not cleansing, you can simply splash your face with cool or warm water.
Follow this with a spritz of either of our toners. If you have both Clémence Organics toners we recommend the Ultimate Biome Spritz in the morning to protect against the day and the Tone + Hydrate Spritz for nourishing your skin in the evenings.
After toning, moisturise with our Repair Face Serum, Protect + Clarify Daily Face Lotion or Ultimate Face Crème.
3. Don’t over nourish.
Our Repair Face Serum, Protect + Clarify Daily Face Lotion and Ultimate Face Crème are all potent moisturisers.
So if your skin isn’t dry or its 40 degrees outside, don’t apply more than 1 product.
You might like to switch them around and use them alternative days or use 1 morning and the other of an evening.
4. Our products are potent – less is most definitely more.
You might think that slathering your skin in our beauties is best but don’t overdo it.
We don’t use water or other fillers to ‘pad’ our products so you really just need a little at a time.
(See image below for example amounts of our Refining Cleanser, 2 in 1 Face Exfoliant + Mask, Repair Face Serum and Ultimate Face Crème – clockwise from top).
Have any skincare queries? We’re here to help! Please email us sales@clemenceorganics.com and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
Share your Clémence skincare moment for your chance to WIN monthly prizes, either on Facebook, Instagram or email us direct sales@clemenceorganics.com
Short on sleep this silly season? One too many late nights or even a bit too much broken sleep, will familiarise you with dark circles, puffy eyes and bags. Luckily for us, there are plenty of ways to restore our eyes to their former beauty.
What Causes Dark Circles & Puffy Eyes?
Though several things can cause dark circles and puffy eyes to arise, they’re most often associated with fatigue. A lack of sleep reduces circulation to the eyes which can cause your skin to become dull and pale, allowing for dark tissues and blood vessels beneath your skin to show. Reduced circulation can also cause fluid to accumulate under your eyes, making them appear puffy.
Natural aging is another common cause of dark circles. As you get older, your skin thins and you lose the fat and collagen needed to maintain the skin’s integrity. This leads to the dark blood vessels beneath your skin becoming more visible and the area below your eyes darken.
Aside from sleep deprivation and aging, some other causes of dark circles include allergies, dehydration, medical conditions and UV rays.
That being said, there are plenty of natural ways to treat this sensitive area – ranging from cucumber to a quality eye cream. If you’re wondering how to get rid of eye issues, here’s a list of simple remedies that are worth trying out.
Cucumber
Have you ever seen someone wearing cucumber slices on their eyes and wondered, why? Well, dark circles are why. Since cucumber has some minor bleaching and anti-inflammatory abilities, it works well for lightening up the skin and reducing the appearance of dark circles. Simply apply chilled cucumber slices to the area for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Cold Tea Bags
This one may sound slightly odd, but cold tea bags can also be a valuable way to get rid of dark circles. Since dark circles typically arise as the blood vessels of the area dilute, causing puffiness, the cold tea bags works to counter this effect. They do this by constricting blood flow to lessen swelling and the appearance of dark circles. Whether it’s green or black tea, the bags can be applied to the area for about 10 to 15 minutes.
A Good Night’s Sleep
As they say: never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep, especially when considering dark circles. After all, a lack of sleep is usually what causes them to appear in the first place.
That being said, getting a quality 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night is a task easier said than done for some of us – though some simple strategies can help to promote a quality slumber. Try minimalising caffeine in the evening, saying no to naps, trying natural sleep supplements, or investing in a quality pillow and mattress.
Eye Cream
If none of these suggestions quite fit the bill and sleep is a little hard to come by at present (given that it’s the silly season, that probably means most of us) then you may need to use a quality eye cream. We are very excited to announce that we have formulated a potent eye crème to combat dark circles and puffy eyes, using Australian native Finger Lime Caviar.
Lime Caviar Eye Crème contains high potency Vitamin C which gently tightens skin and strengthens capillaries, reducing dark circles and puffiness under the eye. Combined with biofermented hyaluronic acid, collagen synthesis is supported, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Arnica and Calendula oils work to quickly calm inflammation and redness, whilst rosehip oil delivers potent rejuvenative properties, increasing skin elasticity, balancing skin tone and providing a richly moisturised eye area.
Persistent flushing, acne-like rashes, and swollen blood vessels are the bread-and-butter of rosacea - an inflammatory skin condition affecting a wide assortment of people. Though the condition is typically treated with medicated creams and oral antibiotics, there are plenty of natural lifestyle habits one could adopt to help prevent the condition from flaring up, ranging from foods to avoid, to a handful of stress management tactics.
Before we dive into these natural tips, here’s a quick insight into the various symptoms and triggers of rosacea.
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is typically described as an inflammatory skin condition, causing persistent flushing and acne-like rashes to suddenly appear on the skin - typically on the face. Though the condition is well-known for facial redness and flushing, people may also experience other symptoms like oily skin, swollen blood vessels, itching, and more.
Triggers for rosacea are very diverse and can range between stress, sun exposure, certain foods, heat, alcohol, and more. Medications are available to treat the condition and prevent it from getting worse over time, though there are a handful of natural lifestyle adjustments people can use to prevent flare-ups. Are you on the hunt for natural ways to fix your rosacea? Here are our recommendations to help manage this skin condition.
Don’t Forget The Sunscreen
Sun exposure is a common trigger for rosacea, meaning that one of the best ways to avoid this trigger is by simply using sunscreen. Before heading outside, be sure to apply sunscreen, choosing a natural one where possible. Everyday moisturisers that contain SPF are ideal, especially since they can provide a hydrating element to further protect the skin. We highly recommend our Protect + Clarify Daily Face Lotion. Also consider a wide brim hat when spending longer periods of time in the sun.
Control Stress
More often than not rosacea and stress go hand in hand, with anxiety commonly causing the condition to run rampant. So, by controlling our emotions in these stressful situations, we may be able to prevent rosacea from flaring up. There are plenty of simple ways to manage stress in our day to day lives - whether it’s by avoiding stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol, managing time more effectively, or simply trying to get more sleep each night. Daily meditation is also worth a try, with many different studies showing how it can effectively control stress and anxiety. Before implementing any stress control strategies, figure out what’s largely causing the anxiety and make a plan.
Opt For Natural Skincare
With the cocktail of chemicals often found in various commercial skincare ranges, it’s no wonder some of these ingredients (such as alcohol and fragrance) can trigger rosacea flare-ups in some individuals. If you find that some elements of your skincare regime are causing your rosacea to worsen, making the switch to a natural skincare range may be the way to go - with products usually containing a blend of organic ingredients to nourish and support a healthy complexion.
The Clémence Organics range contains specially formulated organic botanical products, many of which have been shown to be beneficial in rosacea sufferers. We have seen particular success with our Refining Cleanser, Tone + Hydrate Spritz and Repair Face Serum. (Hint: these products can be purchased together in the money-saving Correction Trio)
Switch Up The Diet
Just as the sun’s rays can suddenly cause rosacea to flare up, so can the foods we eat - especially spicy foods, dairy products, and alcohol. Being aware of the effects these items bring about can allow us to understand the underlying causes of the condition and help to cut these dishes from the diet while replacing them with a handful of foods to boost skin health.
In Summary
Ranging from sun exposure to stress, rosacea can suddenly appear for a variety of diverse reasons, leaving behind persistent flushing and acne-like rashes in its wake. The condition is typically treated with topical creams and medication, though there are plenty of natural lifestyle options to help reduce the frequency of flare-ups. The key is knowing what your triggers are and adjusting your lifestyle accordingly. Making the switch to a nourishing and organic skincare range may just be the best place to start.
With the masses of skin care products out there, accompanied by the desire to try them all, our skin care routine can become very cluttered, very quickly! Multiple serums, cleansers, and a mask for every occasion can not only clutter your cupboards, but also drain your bank account. Have you ever wondered whether a ‘less is more’ approach is the best way to go? If you invest your time and money in a handful of natural, high-quality products, you may well yield the best result for your skin.
The minimalist skin care movement is ever-growing in popularity, with more and more people taking a step back to the basics. But what are the advantages to this approach? And how can someone transition into a minimalistic skincare mind-set? Here’s a simple skin care regime comprised of the bare essentials to leave you with a glowing, supple complexion.
5-Step Minimalist Skin Care Routine
1. Remove Makeup & Cleanse
Up first on the minimalist skin care line-up is a multi-purpose cleanser that washes away built-up oil, dirt, and makeup. The Clémence Organics Refining Cleanser is a gentle cleanser that both effortlessly cleans skin and acts as a make-up remover. Hint: to avoid your skin’s pores clogging up and blackheads forming, strive to cleanse the skin before bed. In the morning, all you’ll need is a splash of water and you’ll be ready to go.
2. Exfoliate/Mask
This next step is only added in every 3rd or 4th day, and should not be a daily part of your skin care routine. When choosing an exfoliant, find one which doubles as a mask to save time and cupboard space. The Clémence Organics 2 in 1 Face Scrub + Mask performs both these tasks beautifully! Hint: pop it on in the shower after conditioning your hair, leave on for 3 minutes and rinse off before you hop out. My bi-weekly routine!
3. Tone
To prep your skin for further hydration, it's best to balance your skin’s pH first with a toner. Applying the toner will also give your skin a light layer of moisturise to ensure your serum and face cream glide on smoothly. Clémence Organics Tone + Hydrate Spritz and Ultimate Biome Spritz can be used directly after cleansing, neutralising the skin’s pH while simultaneously combating dryness. Hint: carry these with you throughout the day to freshen and hydrate your skin, and give it a dewy glow.
4. Serum
Serums are packed with a variety of skin-loving ingredients, helping to feed the skin with the nutrients it requires to thrive. Serum travels deep into our skin, working to target specific skincare issues including breakouts, dry skin, and ageing. Repair Face Serum works to rejuvenate, soothe, and moisturise the skin, with the help of rosehip oil, jojoba oil, calendula oil, and more. Hint: add a couple of drops to your foundation for a lighter coverage and glowing skin.
5. Moisturise
The next step of this minimalist skin care routine is focused around hydration. Particularly if you suffer from dry skin, using a moisturiser every day helps to create soft and supple skin. Not to mention, moisturisers help to seal the skin, locking in all those lovely nutrients from the serum. Try our best-selling Ultimate Face Cream. Hint: you only need to apply a little face cream after following all these steps. Too much will suffocate the skin. Try smoothing a small amount between your palms and gently pressing onto skin. Rub the excess into the back of your hands as they often deserve some extra attention too. Ready to start your minimalist skin care routine? We've made it simple for you by popping all of these products into a simple, money-saving pack: the Ageless Beauty Collection. Hint: take a look at the 'Reviews' section to read what other happy customers say about this simple routine.
Natural skincare is an ever-growing movement, free of toxic ingredients that poorly influence our skin and general health. Luckily, consumers are gifted with plenty of healthier alternatives, containing organic ingredients with anti-inflammatory, rejuvenation, and hydration effects – and this only scratches the surface. Ranging from bearberry to camellia oil, here are 10 natural ingredients to boost the health and glow of your skin.
Bearberry
Though the bearberry plant may be easily recognised by its bright, red berries, the leaves of the plant actually hold the skin-promoting nutrients – most notably the compound Arbutin. This key component is often integrated into skincare products to help brighten the skin by lessening the appearance of age and dark spots. You can find bearberry in our Refining Cleanser and the Men’s After Shave + Moisturiser.
Jojoba
Jojoba can fight against chapping and chaffing while helping to repair the skin. This makes it an ideal component of lips balms, such as Clémence’s Ultimate Lips and Rose Tinted Lips. However, it doesn’t stop there. Jojoba oil can assist and support many other aspects of skin health, mainly due to its anti-inflammatory effects. This includes the easing of conditions such as eczema and rosacea. Another reason why we use it in all of our face care products.
Beeswax
Beeswax offers a trinity of natural skin benefits to admire. Wielding anti-inflammation, anti-microbial, and skin-protecting properties, the popular ingredient is often added to skin care products to create a barrier between the skin and a surrounding environment, while simultaneously retaining moisture – a winning combination!
Lavender
Lavender is well-known for its relaxing, soothing properties, though the essential oil packs a much bigger punch. Lavender oil is integrated into many skin care products for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. As a result, lavender can commonly be found in after-sun spray and soothing gel. In the Clémence Organics range, you can find it in our Ultimate Hand + Body Lotion and Ultimate SOS Balm.
Sunflower Oil
Just as sunflower seeds are rich with nutrients to enhance our diet and well being, the oil extracted can also benefit our skin in many ways. Vitamin A, C, and D, as well as fatty acids, found in the oil can help fight off bacteria that cause acne. Plus, the abundance of vitamin E can also repair and hydrate the skin.
Camellia Oil
Camellia oil is a popular beauty ingredient in Japan, otherwise called Tsubaki oil. The compound is very versatile, particularly due to the array of nutrients found within it, including vitamin A, D, and E alongside many forms of fatty acids. Camellia oil helps by boosting skin elasticity and reducing the appearance of scars. You will find camellia oil in the Clémence Organics Refining Cleanser.
Calendula
Calendula oil is taken from the marigold flower for its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal effects. It’s actively added to all of our baby products to help with eczema, diaper rash, and other skin irritations. The oil is also praised as a beneficial ingredient for encouraging hair and general health.
Rosehip
Rosehip has earned the reputation as a beneficial ingredient in many skin reviving products, such as the Ultimate Face Cream by Clémence. Organic rosehip is overflowing with an impressive collection of nutrients, including vitamin A, C, and E as well as a combination of fatty acids, helping to even the skin tone and boost elasticity.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil nourishes and supports the skin in more ways than one, offering rapid hydration, anti-inflammation, assistance with wound healing, and anti-microbial capabilities to help with acne. The oil is packed with fatty acids, is easily absorbed by the skin, and can be found in many moisturising products.
Evening Primrose Oil
With anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties, evening primrose oil is ideal for assisting with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. The compound is extracted from the evening primrose plant and is packed with essential fatty acids.
In Summary, with the ability to moisturise, hydrate, heal, rejuvenate, and soothe the skin, minus the harmful effects of chemical ingredients, it’s no wonder organic skincare is on the rise.
Though finding a range that incorporates all of these natural ingredients may seem like a daunting task, the process is rather simple. Clémence Organics integrate all of these components into many of their skincare products, ranging from lip balm and moisturisers to cleansers and toners. You’re welcome!
When Founding Editor of The Grace Tales, Georgie Abay, agreed to be a part of our “On Beauty” interview series I was chuffed. I’m a huge fan of Georgie’s writing and her passion for storytelling shines through in the numerous features that fill the website’s pages. Georgie regularly interviews women from around the globe, sharing their journeys through motherhood and recently published her first book, Grace Mothers.
Once deputy editor of Vogue, Georgie left to find balance in her life, raise her daughters and pursue a career outside of print media. Launching The Grace Tales seemed like a bit of risk at the time but Georgie’s hard work and passion ensured its success.
In this interview, we talk to Georgie about her career, her take on beauty and how hard it is to make time for yourself as a working mum.
Q. Could you tell us how you got into journalism?
I knew I always wanted to work in magazines, but I never thought it was going to be as a journalist. I dreamt of being a photographer or a stylist. I wasn’t the top of my English class at school – quite the opposite. We were taught to write in a very formal way. You’d never begin a sentence with ‘and’ or ‘but’. Somewhere along the way, I discovered that writing for magazines was far more colloquial than the writing I had been taught at school. I also discovered I was quite good at it. It was like writing to a friend – the style is very chatty. I ended up doing media and communications at university and started writing on the side – I’d regularly pitch my stories to various magazines. My first ever published story was in Country Style magazine. I was working as an assistant at the publishing house that published Country Style and I still remember nervously walking into the editor’s office and pitching her a story. She said yes. And that was that. Many more stories in various publications followed. You’ll hear “no” time and again throughout your career, but it’s what makes hearing “yes” so powerful. One “yes” and off I went.
Q. You gave up your job as Deputy Editor of Vogue Australia to focus full time on The Grace Tales. Was this a hard decision to make at the time?
Not at all – I’m a big believer in not having to do the same thing your entire life. Wouldn’t that be utterly boring? I think so. I had a fantastic career in magazines and at VOGUE and am so grateful for the experiences I had. But motherhood pushed me in a different direction and I’m grateful for that. I left print at the right time and forged a new path in digital media.
Q. What do you love most about your job as Editor of The Grace Tales?
I love that for the most part, it doesn’t feel like work. I spend a lot of time working and have made a lot of sacrifices for this business, which I wouldn’t have made if I wasn’t so passionate about what I do. I love connecting with other women, sharing their stories, learning from them. Most of all, I love story-telling. I love that our platform inspires and connects women all over the world.
Q. You’re a business owner, wife, daughter, friend and mum of two gorgeous girls. When do you make time for yourself?
After the birth of my first daughter I didn’t exercise for two years. When I finally started again, I wondered why I hadn’t done it earlier (probably because I was so sleep deprived!). I need exercise to function. Some weeks are easier that others – we’re wrapping up an intense eight-week book launch so my trips to the gym haven’t been as frequent as I’d like. Now our girls are a little older, it’s easier to get time to myself. Often, an entire Sunday morning will go by and they’ll happily play in their room together. That said, they’ll also happily fight with each other all morning!
Q. Working with the beauty industry in magazines and now online for some time now, and meeting many women along the way, I’m curious to hear your take on beauty. What does beauty mean to you?
The most beautiful people are kind, funny, generous and thoughtful. I love people who can make you laugh. You know the kind of laugh, which is so joyful, it’s infectious. A dear friend of mine, photographer Julie Adams, has the most fantastic laugh and I still remember being in a restaurant with her and a couple from another table commented on what a fantastic laugh she has. Laughter is beauty. Of course, there is physical beauty, but for me, nothing can beat wit and charm.
Q. What do you look for when choosing skincare products?
My mum has always taught me to look after my skin and I wish I listened to her advice earlier. I think the older you get, the more conscious you are of everything from skincare to what you eat. When you’re younger, you think you’re invincible. As I get older, I’m far more conscious of what I’m putting on my skin – the ingredients in my skincare.
Q. What are some of your favourite beauty products and why?
I don’t wear much make-up but I do have my brows feathered and also get eyelash extensions. If I’m putting on makeup, I love Chantecaille foundation – it makes my skin look fresh and dewy (no easy feat). Nars eyeliner (I have lash extensions so this finishes off my eyes quickly). For skincare, Clémence Organics, of course. The Clémence Organics Ultimate Biome Spritz is a great pick me up throughout the day. Clarins and Dermalogica are two skincare brands I’ve used since I was a teenager and still love.
Q. Top beauty tip?
This one is from my mum and it’s something she has drilled into me from when I was little. Protect your skin. Wear sunscreen. Wear a hat. She even wears gloves when she drives to protect the back of her hands. It might sound extreme, but she’s aged beautifully. If it’s a sunny day and I give her a call, she’ll always ask me if I’m wearing a hat!
Cancer is such a sensitive subject and I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been affected by it. For me it’s something that I talk about on an almost daily basis. Why? Because it’s part of my story and part of why I do what I do. Here’s a little bit more about my background and the natural product I found to be helpful in cancer treatment.
As you may already know my Dad was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2008. I was in the last year of my Naturopathy degree and so felt in a good position to support him with complementary therapies. I prescribed herbal tinctures, nutritional supplements and made him a balm to ease any potential radiation-induced dermatitis (otherwise known as radiation burn). I felt very fortunate that I had knowledge and some experience to help him.
It was the balm that I made for his radiation burn that helped shape what I do today. Unlike the invisible effect that the tinctures and supplements I was prescribing were having, the difference between his radiation burn and other patients on the same oncology ward was so evident. But it wasn’t just a visual reduction, it was a pain reduction. And when you’re dealing with cancer which can cause pain in so many ways, any kind of reduction is a good thing.
The balm that I made was based primarily on one ingredient, calendula. I chose calendula because in my studies I had known it to be a highly effective anti-inflammatory herb and also extremely gentle. The research that I undertook to establish its use in radiation-induced dermatitis also showed that it had been proven to be effective.
After completing my degree and going into private practice, I started to play around with the calendula balm and see what else I could add to improve it. I formulated in other anti-inflammatory herbs including chamomile, lavender and rosehip. I also wanted to make it even more nourishing and so added jojoba oil, shea butter and cocoa butter. And I wanted to increase the skin-healing benefits and so included evening primrose oil and vitamin e. This balm was eventually named Ultimate SOS Balm, so-called for its ability to calm, soothe and nourish pretty much any skin upset.
Since perfecting this product, it’s gone on to win awards and many 5 star reviews. But it wasn’t until the weekend just gone that I saw physical evidence of how it is able to help radiation burn for the first time in a long time. This was provided by a very brave woman named Lily who had been gifted the Ultimate SOS Balm by her Aunt to use whilst she undertook radiation for post-operative breast cancer. I openly wept at the memories raised and then with pride. It reminded me that this is why I do what I do. I love not only that it helped reduce the pain and redness for Lily (in fact there was no redness at all – see images below), but that there were no chemicals, preservatives or unnatural ingredients entering Lily’s body that could potentially further compromise her health.
Cancer is complicated but if you can make just a few small changes, choosing natural and organic wherever possible, you might help to ease the burden, and maybe even shorten the cancer journey.
