If you haven’t heard of @emilydoherty_, let me introduce you to her… Emily is a pilates instructor, speech pathologist, spf enthusiast, gluten-free foodie, endo champion and golden retriever lover. As you can seee, she is such a boss lady, with many attributes to her name… I thought I would also let her IG bio introduce her to you all so you can follow along her adventures š
I originally graduated from university with a Bachelor of Business Management majoring in Marketing and International Business. At the time, I found this career path too broad and I wanted a ātitleā. I decided to study speech pathology as I have always had an interest in health and I love talking to people.’
Would you say youāre an English or a Maths person? How did this help/hinder your speech pathology studies?
I am definitely more of an English person. There was a lot of assignments, presentations, exams and practical components throughout my speech pathology degree, so it was very beneficial to like reading, writing and public speaking.
What subject did you enjoy the most?
My favourite course was the āClinical Management of Dysphagia and Laryngectomyā. DysphagiaĀ is the medical term used to describe having difficulty swallowing.Ā Not many people know that the profession of speech pathology is focussed on the management of communication AND swallowing difficulties.
What sort of placements did you experience?
I had a variety of placements across paediatric and adult caseloads, including outpatient rehabilitation, acute hospital inpatient, fluency clinic, school aged children and children with special needs.
What was your first job in speech pathology?
I worked at a hospital as an acute inpatient speech pathologist.
You mentioned that you imagined working with kids, but by the end of the degree you loved working with adultsā¦ can you tell us a bit more about this?
I thought I would like to work with children, but I actually found it more rewarding working with adults. I also loved the hospital setting and working with other health professionals.
What does your dream allied health role look like?
Iām not sure if I will ever go back to working as a speech pathologist, but in the future I would like to work in a role that allows me to combine my allied health degree and business management knowledge.
Any other things youād like to share about your university / speech pathology experience?
Upon graduation, donāt be disheartened if you donāt score your dream job straight away. Any experience as a speech pathologist is invaluable and will be viewed favourably by future employers.Ā
Thank you, Emily, for being so generous with your time and knowledge.
If you haven’t heard of @emilydoherty_, let me introduce you to her… Emily is a pilates instructor, speech pathologist, spf enthusiast, gluten-free foodie, endo champion and golden retriever lover. As you can seee, she is such a boss lady, with many attributes to her name… I thought I would also let her IG bio introduce her to you all so you can follow along her adventures š
Tell us how you started your Instagram page. You also run @glutenfreebucketlist and @endogirlgang ā what inspired you to start these pages? I have Coeliac Disease and Endometriosis. I decided to start both of these pages to raise awareness for the conditions, share information and to also connect with others.
Did you actively try to grow your following or did it happen organically? My following has grown organically. Coeliac Disease and Endometriosis are very niche areas, so this has allowed my following to grow more quickly.
Have you ever reached out to a brand to work with you? Or do the brands contact you? Yes, I have reached out to a brand if I think that I would be a good fit. I have also had brands reach out to me too.
What was the first item you were ever āhashtag giftedā? I competed in Miss Universe Australia a couple of years ago and we were gifted products as part of the program. The first item I was gifted was a dress from Esther & Co Boutique.
Have you had a āpinch meā Instagram/modelling moment? Absolutely! Last year I spent six months modelling in Milan, Athens and Istanbul. Who is your dream brand to collaborate with? I have too many to list! I have dream brands for me personally, but I also have dreams brands that I would like to work with for Gluten Free Bucket List and Endo Girl Gang.
Thank you SO much for your time Emily! Be sure to follow along on all of Emily’s adventures – links are at the top of this post x
This month I finally bit the bullet and got Spotify premium. It’s a big moment! I am loving it, perfect timing because I have had Driver’s License on repeat.
Did
I feel like I did a bit this month, but notably I had a becah getaway and a city stay-cay.
Both were incredible recharging for my mind, body and spirit!
The city stay-cay was jam-packed:
TK Maxx and Savers shopping
Matcha Mylkbar late lunch: good food but the vibe doesn’t match the aesthetic. I was shocked. It wasn’t very ‘cool’ in terms if temperature or vibes haha.
Coles Local – the macaron pick and mix was outstanding and luckily so because otherwise it wouldn’t have lived up to the hype for me
Checked in at Ovolo Laneways- such a great experience, would definitely recommend! Lots of freebies in terms of food and drink.
Dinner at Duke’s cherry blossom roof top bar
Shakespeare in the Park (more about this in ‘Watch’)
St Kilda beach!
Read
I am trying to get back into reading (as always) and I’ve made some moves towards that by borrowing a HEAP of books from my local library. So far, I’ve read one…
Watch
What did I watch this month? Only two of my new fave series shows ever!
First up was Bridgerton on Netflix… utterly obsessed. Adored the setting, the costumes, the music, the way it handled particular topics. It was just magic! Left me feeling grateful I don’t live in the 1800s lol. Note** I wrote this before Bridgerton really blew up and there was a lot of discourse around it. Don’t get me wrong, the show has it’s flaws, but I still enjoyed it for something light-hearted.
And the other series I watched, was magic but in a different way. Bump on Stan. I loved that the episodes were 30 minutes each. They worked with this format incredibly well. It was honest and raw and heartwarming all at the same time. It was really beautiful, made me proud to be Aussie.
On my city stay-cay I went to ‘Shakespeare in the Park’ to see A Midsummer’s Night Dream. It was absolutely spectacular and I highly recommend going to see any of their productions. Something os magic about being outdoors.
Ate
I wrote about my thoughts for a few restaurant in ‘Did’, but here’s some more!
Chin Chin: amazing atmosphere and vibe but tbh my local Thai restaurant does a better pad thai. Still, it was a fun experience and i would go again!
Daniel’s Donuts: a beach getaway tradition. Tried snickers and was impressed.
Okami: again… it’s just so easy!
Calia: This was my second visit but this time I had the salmon and it was SO yum.
This Week Latte post has been in the works since November… oops. Never mind, here we are with our first for 2021- woohoo!
I watched this Tik Tok and oh my gosh it struck a cord with me! The comments suggested to google ‘you don’t have to monetize your joy’ and it showed me two articles – this one from Life Hacker and this one from (now extinct) (Man) Repeller. This is exactly how I feel with my blog/Instagram. I have turned down paid opportunities and affiliate programs because I feel like the second I attach money to my blog -particularly as a RESULT- I will see it not as a hobby but as a stress. So I loved having my thoughts validated and put in much nicer terms than I could ever describe.
In saying that, most of my buying comes form seeing something pretty and wanting to own it. Instead, I’m trying to appreciate it’s prettiness without needing to own it. To do that, I’m making a wish list and the new Mellow Cosmetics quads are right on top! Interesting caption too!
One of my new fave podcasts in Single Minded. This episode about the Budget Bachelorette is so amazing, and omg I am living for the private story updates by Em.
Absolutely in love with Britt’s eye look here. All my fave colours!
I have a post in drafts about why it’s so important to share ‘negative reviews’ – or why products didn’t work for you. Every one is different! No one can expect one product to work the exact same way for them as another person, there are so many variables! Which is why I LOVEDDDD Lily’s post about products she found disappointing in 2020.
Mco Beauty have launched a new foundation and concealer and i hate to say it but I love the sound of them. Although, they totally ripped off Tarte Shape Tape, my biggest gripe is the fact they think they can sell a foundation for $28 RRP at WOOLWORTHS????? Chill Mco, lol.
I got a new phone recently and finally connected it to my bluetooth. Itās so fun listening to podcasts when I drive now. However, Iām not driving far right now so one episode of Shameless takes me about three round trips to work to finish.
December:
I donāt have Spotify, believe it or not. But I plan on getting it *soon*. So whilst I didnāt get to share my Sportify Wrapped, I assume my artists of the year include LANY, Julia Michaels, Lauv, Olivia OāBrien, HSMTMTS and Julie and the Phantoms. No regrets!
DID
November:
I got a new job this month. A casual job in a supermarket. Nothing crazy. But my best friend works there and we had imagined how fun it would be to work together. Ah, fun probably isnāt the word I would use to describe lol. But at the moment Iām managing it alongside my part time job at the school, another retail position and tutoring. I think once I have uni back in the mix this juggle wonāt be so achievable.
Now for the fun stuff, I had my style consultation with Style with Fae which I won on Instagram. It was fun and I certainly learnt a few things. I think if youāre new to fashion or need a wardrobe reinvigoration a style consult like that is a great idea. I am lucky though that I have very fashionable friends such as Daisy who I turn to for advice very often.
At the end of the month, I shopped at the Black Friday sales. It was overwhelming but as the packages have started to arrive, I am happy with my purchases and think theyāre decently considered. And will last me a long time ha!
I also managed to get away for one night at my friendās beach house which was SO lovely. Itās like time doesnāt move down there. It was the perfect way to end the month, and rejuvenate before the craziness of December began.
December:
I thought November was busy, but I aināt seen nothing!
With uni being over and both retail jobs busier thanks to the easing of restrictions and Christmas time, I picked up quite a few extra shifts this month in my retail jobs.
The easing of restrictions meant I was also able to socialise again!
I kicked off my social calendar by seeing Daisy in the city, My first time both being in the city and seeing her since March! Far too long. I made a reel about our fun day out.
I also caught up with some high school friends, went to Imaginaria, had two work Christmas parties, reunited with Amy, met Doreethy and Azra for the first time and celebrated Christmas with my high school friends.
Suffice to say, good food and good times were had.
I truly donāt think Iāve socialised that much in my life lol. It was fun, and Iāve tried so many new restaurants and met some fab people, so I really want to challenge myself to keep up a healthy social life in 2021.
I also have to document here that I bought my first designer bag! Impulsively! I saw @ms_hannah_e share her Marc Jacobs Snapshot Bag in Blush Multi but couldn’t find it online anywhereā¦ a week later I had a little browse at Facebook MarketPlace and lo and behold found it! I did a little negotiating, and within four days this baby was mine. I am so obsessed with the design and colourway. I am calling it a ācongrats on surviving your first year of uniā present to myself! But like, I canāt believe that little old me owns a MARC JACOBS BAG!!!!!!!!
I also celebrated Christmas with two work Christmas parties, my friendmas and NYE with my friends. Again, lots of socialising for this introvert haha.
READ
November:
I finally picked up ‘Again Again’ by E Lockhart, that I’ve had on my shelf for a while.
I love Lockhart’s book ‘We were liars’, and ‘Again Again’ definitely had a similar vibe. You could tell they were written by the same person.
It was SO relatable in many ways, however, I don’t know how I feel about it overall.
Basically, there are multiple scenarios in which a scene could play out. You don’t know which one is true. Or which one follows the last, or comes next for that matter.
It sounds woo woo and confusing but it was actually nice to read.
December:
I am still struggling to get into a better routine with reading, agh. I managed to pick up Zoe Suggās new book, The Magpie Society. I got it from Kmart which was a bargain at just $14!Ā I’m struggling to really get into it though… It felt like it was aimed at a older YA audience but the writing style felt so young. After half way where one major plot is resolved, the story is confusing. What are we reading for? Major loose ends left by the conclusion… disappointing.
Shawn Mendes released a documentary (?) on Netflix called In Wonder, and I watched it via Netflix Party with a friend. Umā¦ look, ever since Shawnās concert in 2019 when the support act Dan and Shay were the highlight of the show, Iāve kinda felt a bit āmehā about Shawn. This doco did nothing to improve that opinion. I think he is genuine and caring, and I was almost crying myself when I saw him crying, but thatās kinda all I have to say about that.
I also watched quite a few declutter videos on Youtube, inspiring me for my 2021 no buy!
ATE
November:
My visit to the beach included an obligatory trip to Danielās Donuts in Portarlington. SO GOOD! However, I tried Ferrero and it was disappointing. I think Mars is my fave.
December:
With socialising, I have eaten out a lot, which is my favorite pastime lol. Iced chais are my new obsession. YUM!
Also, so much pavlova because of Christmas. Not complaining at all.
I went and stayed with a friend at the beach for three days, and I forgot all my skincare. All of it!!! All I had packed was my toothbrush, deodorant and body sunscreen. She isn’t big into skincare, but she had a few items I borrowed that saved me.
Funny thing is though, using so few products and swimming in salty water seems to have done wonders for my skin. It has cleared up and looks brighter, blemishes look less angry, and texture has reduced. How is that? I spend all this money on skincare for nothing it would seem lol.
It’s definitely made me realise that less is more and I hope to remember this when it comes to my skincare back home.
Let’s talk through the products…
Face sunscreen
I took my Bondi Sands Fragrance Free lotion to use on my body, but it is much too greasy IMO to use on your face. So luckily we had the Cancer Council SPF 50+ Day Wear Face Matte Invisible 4hr Water Resistant to use instead. It is slightly runnier than the pink version of this, but definitely has the same matte finish. There was no eye sting either. It was a really great option for swimming at the beach but I also think it is something I’ll pick up to use under makeup (when I get through my current face spf stash).
Cleanser
I have tried the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser in the past and wasn’t wowed by it. However, after two nights of use, I totally get why this has such a cult status. It is very gentle, but also extremely effective at removing daily build up of dirt, sand, pollution and sunscreen on the skin. I felt clean but not stripped. I think I need to be more mindful of my sensitive skin and I think this is a great option to do just that.
Moisturiser
The first skincare brand I ever used was Sukin, but I haven’t used their Restoring Night Cream before. It was the perfect way to replenish my skin after long days spent outside. It’s nothing special but it did the job.
Treatment
I was so grateful to discover the Dermaveen eczema ointment on this trip. I used it on my eyelids, which are still quite sensitised after I burnt them off with CeraVe’s SA cleanser on NYE- oops. It worked really well as a barrier cream and also restored the skin. I would love to purchase this myself but it comes in such a big tub, I would never use it all!
Body moisturiser
After our first day, my skin was feeling dry and rough. It was absolute heaven to lather myself in thick and cream Coconut Body Butter from The Body Shop. It was soothing and nourishing and made me realise I really should treat my skin – that isn’t on my face – more often. It’s a step I skip out of laziness
Often in my IG posts I say, āIāll keep you updatedā but somehow, I forget to. Iām hoping this post will help clear up some of that. There isnāt a whole lot to talk about, but Iām hoping to do these posts little and often.
Medik8 Cream Cleanser (PR SAMPLE): When I first started using this, I thought yeah itās nice but itās not wow. However, I had my bought of really sore and dry skin a few weeks ago and this stuff has helped me repair my skin. Itās so gentle, and feels lovely to use. It is very pricey for a cleanser, and usually I canāt justify buying spending money on a product that literally goes down the drainā¦ however this one is a serious consideration to purchase myself. (PR SAMPLE)
HOLA Essence (PR SAMPLE): I was excited to use an essence for the first time, but again, I had my horribly dry skin episode and @beautybyhiuy suggested that the essence- because of its gel like consistency ā might be stopping everything else I put on top from absorbing. So Iāve stopped using it sadly. I did enjoy it but I just donāt want to take the risk. (PR SAMPLE)
ESK Hydroxy Overnight Mask (PR SAMPLE): I have written about this mask here, but just feel the need to express my love once again. I had a particularly angry bout of āmaskneā and was at a loss for what do do about it. I popped this on the area, followed by my hydrating Lanolips overnight mask (Not my fave because of the soapy scent but works well). In the morning, the pimples had visibly reduced in size, were less red and just generally looked clearer. Using this as a spot treatment is definitely my favourite and most effective way to use this mask. (PR SAMPLE)
Bangn Body Firming Lotion: I reviewed these on IG and honestly, was disappointed. Despite the EXTREMELY high praise these products get, I wasn’t sold. The scent was very intense, and it just felt like a regular body cream. I also have a problem with the term ‘firming’ because nothing topical is going to dramatically ‘firm’ your skin. However! I have been using this on my body, as opposed to my face, and find that I prefer the scent that way. It does work very well on my eczema too. I would be keen to repurchase this because I am enjoying it as a body cream… however, it would be a bloody expensive yet small body cream. So I’m not sure if I’ll repurchase in a rush.
I’ve also reviewed this on the gram and found it was pilling when in combination with my other skincare. I was so disappointed, and so I put it to the side. But I gave it a try one night on top of my Avene Thermal Water and hyaluronic acid by Mesoestetic. And it worked really nicely! So I think the trick with this one is to make sure you apply the Cerave onto wet skin.
I’ve had this in my collection for quite a while but I’ve just picked it up again recently. I like that the formula is so light weight, but will not purchase myself, with the $80 price tag. Even on my fair skin, it needs a lot rubbing in to not leave a white cast. However, it does feel nice on the skin and plays well with makeup. But I just can’t justify the price unfortunately. I’ll be on the lookout for a dupe in terms of consistency.
Makeup
Revlon Lustrous Shine Lipsticks: Admittedly I havenāt worn these much at all. I havenāt worn makeup much at all. But the few times I have worn these, just around the house, theyāre been deliciously juicy, nicely pigmented and comfortable. Big fan.
Glam by Manicare Brushes: I have been able to try the powder and eyeshadow brush from this range, as some powder foundation and eyeshadow is all Iām wearing these days. . They have shed a few hairs but nothing too upsetting. I love the size and shape of the brushes, and they have a nice weighty (But not heavy) feel when you hold them. Plus they are an absolute bargain when theyāre on sale.
Loreal Clear Brow Gel (PR SAMPLE): Iām always on the lookout for a clear brow gel and this one ticks all the boxes. Not sticky, actually clear in colour (as in it dries clear), small and easy to use bristles. Tick tick tick! Iām loving it. I received this in a Bella Box (PR SAMPLE)
I had been saving up to go BIG at this Black Friday, and I think I went bigger than I imagined!
I plan on picking up a few more beauty bits at Boxing Day (hopefully just Colourpop and Hourglass… ) and then I will be on a STRICT low buy. Iām thinking of making a monthly budget for beauty products? Iām not really sure how best to do it but you will for sure come along for the ride!
I wanted to document all the purchases in one spot… so here we goš
Beauty Bay
Milani Luminoso
This seems near impossible to get your hands on through Aussie sites like Priceline and Glam Raider, so I said enough is enough! Serious FOMO influenced this purchase.
The cool girl moisturiser, also hard to get your hands on in Aus. I got a mini because I am hashtag responsible and figured I have so many others, getting a smaller size is a good way for me to try it out
Sephora
Round one! This was during the 15-20% sitewide. I was super impressed, I order this on Thursday and it arrived on Monday!
Laneige Cream Skin
I love the mist SO much that I got the OG to pour into the mist bottle eventually.
Laneige Day and Night Skincare Kit
Heard great things about both of these, and it was good value.
This brush is always sold out, maybe because @elizabeth.makeup.artist made it famous. It was 30% off so I snapped it up real quick!
Nudestix Set Daydreamer Face Palette
This was the first set my Nudestix I ever really looked into. The price just scared me off. Until it was 50% in this sale. I could not believe it. I was on my 10 minute break at work when I made this purchase and let me tell you I moved quickly!
Basics by B
I got the new Face Palette 2.0 and brush bundle. I should never have to buy brushes again! lol. I already have the first palette, but wanted to try these cooler tones. This arrived super quickly too, on the Monday after I purchased.
Cipher Skincare
I picked up the limited edition mini stack pack. Iāve already tried C Shield and BLAH, so happy to have restocks and newbies to try.
Etymology
@amandascuteface and @harpersglow have both shared their love for this foundation, and Iām excited to try it. Iām also excited to support a small Aussie business, who are working on expanding their shade range.
TBH Skincare
@minniesmakeup and @beautybyhiuy made me do it! I ended up getting the OG bundle, even though the new cleanser probably appeals to me more. I did it from a value POV but am happy to try the gel cleanser in the future if these work for me.
Mac
@byamygee made me do it! Although sheāll probably tell you I was the bad influenceā¦ why, me? Never! š
I got another shade in the Glow Play blushes, this time Grand (to add to my Thatās Peachy and Blush, Please collection.)
I also got Face and Body in N1 to try because C1 (which I got from Amuse) is a bit too yellow undertone for me. However, they only had the mega 120ml bottles left in stock so hereās praying I do like it lol.
Shot of Colour Lip Oil in Punch-Drunk Love – okay Amy canāt even deny this one, she influenced this purchase fair and square!
And their BF GWP was a Bronzing Powder in Matte Bronze. Intrigued! Strobe Cream in Pinklite was the complementary sample too.
Betty
I love the face oils but decided to try the new candle in the Tennis Party scent this sale.
Boost Lab
Iāve seen this brand all over my feed so I decided to give them a go. I was impressed that all their products are $29.95, and their BF sale was SO good, being ābuy one get one freeā plus free shipping. So I got the niacinamide and retinol serums.
Chemist Warehouse
I got restocks of the Flower Beauty blush and eyeshadow brushes. Also managed to track down the Flower cream blushes in both shades. Also found a new Lāoreal lippie which gave me EM Cosmetics vibes except in a matte formula. A few days later I also picked up the new Bondi Sands face spf.
Cult Beauty
Hourglass Ambient Lighting blush in Sublime Flush
I really donāt plan on supporting Hourglass much until they can show shade diversity. So this blush and hopefully their holiday palette (when I eventually buy it) will be the extent of my collection. This blush is described as a soft pink infused with lilac which is basically me as a blush shade so I am all here for it.
Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation in Fair 2
I pray this shade suits me (itās the same shade that @elizabeth.makeup.artist and Jessica Braun wear) because it sounds like the glowy foundation of my dreams. Hope I donāt like it too much though because she aināt cheap lol!
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Secrets Set
A great value mini bundle (the lipstick is full size)! Are you seeing the theme that I am justifying purchase when theyāre minis? Oops.
The Inkey List Niacinamide
In hindsight, I wish I didnāt buy this because I later got the Boost Lab one, but anyways we will give it a go! Iām loving The Ordinaryās right now.
Morphe
Technically this wasnāt a BF purchase, but it was like a week before so I feel like it deserves a place in this haul anyways.
Shine Lip Crayon in ROFL
Hoping this can be a Coloupop Just a Tint dupe because they are so hard to get your hands on right now!
Planning to compare this to the Nudestix liquid highlightā¦.
Morphe x Maddie Ziegler Peach That Pops Lip and Cheek Duo
@sensitiveskingal loves this lip oil so I of course had to try! This combo is cute too.
Priceline
Another super quick delivery, it arrived the Monday after I purchased! However, I received a second box from Priceline addressed to me and so I opened it and inside was someone elseās order and their packing slip. I called Priceline about this, and they emailed me a return slip which I had to put back on the box and return to the post office. I was happy to do this because I felt bad for the person who ordered it in the first place, but I was disappointed with Pricelineās lack of compensation for me. Like not even a $5 voucher lol?
I Heart Revolution Bronze and Glow
I bought this purely to see if it is comparable to the Charlotte Tilbury Bronzer and Glow!
I talked myself out of buying the Colourpop and Revolution Skincare lip masks, but figured I could make room for this affordable Aussie option.
Revlon Powder Blush in Just Peachy
I saw these in stores and they said ānew shadeā on the packaging but @icxbeauty has had this shade in her collection for a few months now. It looks so pretty and glowy!
Revlon Powder Blush in Hot Cheeks
This is apparently a new shade too! I ordered it because it look like it has NARS vibes, maybe Dominatrix or Orgasm X??
Maybelline Nudes Of New York Eyeshadow Palette
Ever since I saw @madelineedwards do this look, I wanted this palette. The neutral, earthy tones are unique to my collection so we will see how we go. Reading @emmiesbeautylifeās BF recommendations blog post actually reminded me to buy it haha.
Are you a last minute present shopper? Normally I have it all under control but not this year! In fact, it was with great surprise I looked at my calendar and realise the date today! Aus Post says you should order presents from within Australia by the 12th, to guarantee you have them by the 25th. Hopefully you’ll find something in this guide for any last minute presents you might have to buy!
The Being Brave Girls Books: Perfect for young girls in your life, these books foster self love and ‘personal development guide for girls with themes on self-esteem and resilience.’ They also have the Being Brave Girls Cards which come in at $39.99 and ‘can be tools designed to guide you away from negative self-talk.’ I love this as a gift idea because not only is it pretty, it is also meaningful. You wonāt be adding materialistic items to this little girlās life (donāt get me wrong, they have their place.) You will be adding something thoughtful and intentional to her life and how special, that when she chooses her Brave Girl Card, she will think of you.
Natio Gift Sets: Natio have SO MANY sets for different people in your life and at different price points. They also come packaged so nicely, which takes out the extra step for you! Winning! Natio products can be purchased at Myer, Priceline, Chemist Warehouse and selected pharmacies.
Club Candle: Club Candle is an Aussie candle subscription that has a really great range of gift options for different budgets. You can buy a one off box, or a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription! It’s a gift that keeps on giving!
Velvet Concepts: For the makeup lover in your life, gift them the limited edition sets from Velvet Concepts. This brand is new to me, but after a few uses, I have fallen in love. I particularly love their ROUGE+GLOW PRIDE & JOY set- which is a great way to try cream products if you’re on a budget. If you’re thinking of gifting these products to yourself (good choice!) I have a full review coming very soon!
The I Shall Shop Cosmetics Case: another Aussie biz that has an abundance of products perfect for gifting. I particularly love this case because of the brush holders in the top!
Under $100
Golden Bodi Tanning Sets: If youāve got a girlfriend who loves a golden glow, consider gifting her any of Golden Bodiās Tanning kits. Depending on your budget, you could get her a variety of two or three piece sets. I have this one! A great gift in terms of value and practical, and might be the subtle nudge you need to give to your friend that the only safe tan, is a fake one š Available online only.
Bon Maxie Mighty Wallet: I would be thrilled to receive a leopard wallet for Christmas, wouldn’t you!? Super cute, practical and Aussie, we love to see it! Heaps of other cool stuff at Bon Maxie too, which is worth checking out.
4-n-Butylresorcinolā¦ I canāt pronounce it but let me tell you what it is!
ESK Enlighten was received in PR from Black Sixteen Agency. All opinions are my own.
What is it?Ā
(Description provided by brand)
Hyperpigmentation is a broad term used to describe concentrated areas of skin that become discoloured due to excess melanin production. Often harmless and limited to the face, neck, hands and chest, most common forms of hyperpigmentation include solar lentigines, also known as sun, age or liver spots; and melasma.
While treatment options can include intense pulsed light (IPL), cosmetic surgery and dermabrasion, tyrosinase inhibition is proven to be the most effective and safest treatment to date. Offering a gentle and superior alternative to hydroquinone-based formulations, Enlighten by Evidence Skincare (ESK) uses a relatively new tyrosinase-inhibitor, 4-n-Butylresorcinol (4nB), to lighten skin and reduce future melanin deposits.
Pronounced ā4-n-beautal-resorcinolā, 4nB has been proven to be the most effective depigmenting agent when compared to industry alternatives such as hydroquinone, arbutin, azelaic acid, and kojic acid, and produce faster results in as little 6 weeks with less skin irritation.
Formulated with sensitive skin types in mind, Enlighten combines 4nB with antioxidant multitasker, niacinamide (vitamin B3), to help regulate normal skin cell function, improve the skinās moisture barrier, and reduce the transfer of melanin to keratinocytes where pigment is deposited. In addition to its hyperpigmentation benefits, Enlighten is also shown to help balance sebum production, increase collagen synthesis, and reduce post-inflammatory redness.
Suitable for daily and long-term use, Enlighten can be paired with other active ingredients, such as vitamin C and alpha hydroxy acids, for enhanced depigmentation and overall skin rejuvenation. Available globally via Evidence Skincare (ESK).Ā
TL;DR
Powerful ingredient that treats hyperpigmentation
Formulated for sensitive skin types
Includes niacinamide which can be great for evening skin tone and balancing oil production \suitable for daily and long term use
Safe to use in conjunction with other ingredients
My thoughtsĀ
I was incorporating Enlighten into my nighttime skincare routine because my morning one is hit and miss – sometimes I do it, sometimes I donāt. By using the product at night, I was guaranteed to use it for a considerable length of time to test the effectiveness.
My skin loves niacinamide, and so I was confident using this product on my sensitive skin without any irritation.
I noticed that after a few days of use, my skin tone did appear more even, and my blemishes looked less red and irritated.
Note that I do not suffer from hyperpigmentation but do have an uneven skin tone.
I was very impressed with this product and felt like I saw benefits from using it.
The biggest downside for me, is the price tag.
Yes you are paying for a quality product, but I canāt afford to be spending that much money on a product I will empty quickly.
ESK did offer 30% off at Black Friday so I would definitely consider waiting for a sale to repurchase the product.Ā
