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How One Of Australia's Leading Natural Beauty Brands Began With A Cancer Battle

Bridget Carmady's career journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring - by Grace Back
  • 06 Aug 2019
How One Of Australia's Leading Natural Beauty Brands Began With A Cancer Battle

It's not often that one's experiences with cancer leads to the creation of one's passion - but that's exactly how Bridget Carmady's journey starts. Bridget, who is a qualified naturopath, lost both her dad and sister to cancer and has been on a mission to empower others to make smart skincare choices for their wellbeing (and the planet's) ever since. 

It all began in 2008 when Bridget became unhappy when her father's oncologist prescribed a petroleum-based barrier cream to "help" his radiation burn. At home, Bridget began to develop a natural cream for his burns instead - and much to everyone's surprise, her father's burns improved dramatically - more so than other patients in the ward. This is where Bridget would have her lightbulb moment. 

“It was the cream I made for my dad's radiation burn that really lit a spark in me,” Bridget says. “I saw first-hand how natural products could alleviate pain and help reduce burns. This made me eager to learn more about natural remedies and conduct research to test their effectiveness for a whole host of health issues.” 

clemenceorganics View Profile
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I love being a Mum. There is nothing like the embrace of your child or hearing the words 'I love you' coming from their tiny mouths. But it is also one of the hardest jobs in the world. Not a day goes by when I don't question my actions or words, or wonder if I'm setting them up for years of therapy 😂. I look at my Mum and marvel at the job she did raising us in the bush. I have no doubt it was hard but she did it with so much love and gusto (thanks Mum - love you 💞). I figure as long as love is at the heart of everything you do, you can't really go too wrong. So to all the Mums today I say "You Rock" and Happy Mother's Day ❤️ x Bridget

As a qualified naturopath, Bridget started working in complementary medicine research at the National Institute of Complementary Medicine before opening her own private practice. At her clinic, Bridget saw clients who presented with a whole host of skin issues, and at the time felt as if her clients were faced with a real lack of skincare products that were gentle and made from organic ingredients - that still delivered powerful results. Bridget decided to develop her own, spending years making products at home before turning them into a professional range in 2016, now known as Clemence Organics. 

Losing two loved ones to cancer has made Bridget all the more passionate about eliminating toxins from her life - and she wants to encourage others to do the same, starting with skincare. It wasn't always an easy journey, though, with Bridget realising first-hand what it takes to get a brand noticed. "Getting my products noticed on a mass-market scale has probably been the biggest challenge," Bridget says. 

clemenceorganics View Profile
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Did you know your skin absorbs 80% of the products you put on it directly into the blood stream? Sadly, if you are using products with cheap, harmful chemicals then your body will begin to notice. You wouldn't want to eat something with petrochemicals, nanoparticles or parabens so why put them on your skin? 🙅🏼‍♀️ Making the switch to organic skincare can have a BIG impact on your skin health and overall health. Clémence Organics range of products have been formulated by a naturopath to enhance beauty and health without compromise. All of our products are 100% natural and of course #nontoxic ❤️ Have you entered our winter wellness giveaway yet? You could be the winner of an Clémence Organics Ultimate Face Cream and Repair Face Serum (shown here) as well as a whole load of other goodies! See our previous post to enter!

"A more recent challenge I had was going through the process of getting my skincare range certified organic," she adds. "The amount of paperwork, emails, phone calls and detail required was phenomenal but so worth it in the end. I know more about each and every ingredient in my products more than ever."

The challenges have been far outweighed by the powerful results Bridget gets to see first-hand. "Over the years I’ve been told on several occasions how my skincare products have literally changed people’s lives. These are people who have spent thousands of dollars trying to resolve a tricky skin issue to have it almost instantly resolved. They are finally able to walk out of their house make-up free, feeling confident and beautiful." 

As for Bridget's advice when it comes to getting a business off the ground? "If you’re passionate, be persistent. Not many businesses make it overnight. Sometimes it takes years before you start seeing real results. If your heart is in it, then eventually your hard work will come to fruition."

"I also highly recommend finding like-minded businesswomen to bounce ideas off and ask advice of. I’ve been very lucky to have a close network of women in my life who are my great resources of knowledge and inspiration." 

See the full range of products here. 

Grace Back
Grace Back
Grace Back is a journalist and was formerly the Digital Culture Editor across ELLE and marie claire Australia. When not stuck in a seemingly endless Instagram scroll, you'll find Grace with her head in a good book.

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