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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you would’ve heard about the deleterious effects of city life on your skin. But if you’re like me and often leave minimal time for the TikTok-plugged 10-step routine, and are sensitive to most things found in skincare, then you’re in good company. But as I’ve found out, there’s actually an easy way to support your skin health, using the power of nature, of course…
Recently, I was lucky enough to head to Hobart, Tasmania, with the beauty gods at MECCA to test-run Kit’s new No.4 concentrate. As a big fan of the brand’s humble ethos of efficacious skincare tailored to urban living that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg—or the Earth, for that matter, I was keen to see what they had in store for us next.
From the moment we touched down in Hobart, the crisp air was already working its magic, which makes sense given one of the city’s claims to fame is boasting some of the cleanest air on the planet. It had been a stressful week with post-Afterpay Australian Fashion Week fatigue, a growing pile of work I was falling behind on, and the chaos of a house move. By the time I got on the plane, I was ready for a poolside vacay, but that’s not quite what I got…
After an evening spent with sleep expert Olivia Arezzolo, who shared her tips for a great night’s sleep, I was ridiculously well-rested. More than I had been in a very long time. And yet, I was still a little nervous about the day’s plans.
On the itinerary, we had nature walks, breathwork meditation in the winter chill, and an icy river plunge—did I mention it was peak winter? For a city slicker like myself that has a hot water bottle strapped to my person on 15-degree days, these are not everyday activities I indulge in. And to say I was hesitant to slip into swimmers for a two-degree dip in a natural rockpool would be an understatement.
But there is nothing more humbling than being in a space of such unencumbered natural beauty. As a group of us were guided through the walking paths of Kunyanyi (Mt Wellington), the foliage found in every inch of the sprawling national park was truly a sight to behold. Going through the history of the area and hearing about Charles Darwin’s poetic accounts of his time exploring was a moment that urged a much-needed pause.
As we hopped natural boulders, I was still unsure about my participation in the rest of the day, but all this lead-up led to the ultimate wind-down. Guided by Piet of @StayKoel, a man trained by Wim Hoff himself, we sat perched along the babbling river in the winter sun. Frankly, we were freezing our little butts off, but that quickly changed.
Generally wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of city life, I’ve never been one for meditation. I hear good things, but switching off can feel counterintuitive to ticking things off the neverending to-do lists. And yet, as we were coached through a breathwork cycle, I found myself slowly switching off that part of my brain, tapping into a state of zen very unfamiliar but very welcomed—and all through breathing…. who’d a thought it.
Although, I can’t deny a little anxiety crept back in when it was time for the plunge. But in the end, I channelled this newly developed off-switch to shut down any thoughts of chickening out and—to everyone who knows me’s shock—just did it.
The dip was a jolt to the system. It’s incredible how the cold can make you feel like you’re on fire, but it was fine because I very quickly lost all feeling in my body. For two whole minutes, we were submerged in the icy water. For the first 30 seconds, every fibre of my being screamed at me to get out, but the group mentality (and a very healthy fear of missing out) helped me gather my bearings and push through.
Feelings of liberation barely suffice to describe the post-plunge feeling. Sure, I couldn’t feel my toes, but I had also never forgotten about work, train delays, or the price of an oat latte for so long.
We then walked back, spaced out between fellow troopers to wholly take in the environment before we dabbled in some mindful journaling by a roaring fire. A very nice treat.
By the time were treated to a luxurious facial, I was sure my skin would be a wreck—too much clean air? But MECCA’s skin specialists are no joke, and they personalised a treatment of Kit products that would help soothe any concerns triggered by urban environmental stressors.
As I took a moment in my hotel room to catch up on work, the bath called to me. And whether it was the transformative experience of grounding ourselves in nature, the relaxing facial or the views of Hobart’s immaculate coastline, but I decided to put my laptop away.
Adopting the sleeping techniques generously dished out by Arezzolo and the necessary reminders from our nature walk; I left Hobart with a commitment to stop and take time to pause going forward—whether it’s to relish in some of the country’s most bewildering landscapes or just treat myself to an effective skincare routine.
While it might sound a shade of cheesy, stepping back from the business of everyday living to take care of your skin is an underrated life hack. Maybe not underrated to the dozens of people who have told me this before, but, hey, maybe I needed the whiplash of an ice plunge to really get the message to sink in.
Though we were treated to a few of the brand’s best-sellers, Kit’s No.4 concentrate was the product I was really keen to take home with me to Sydney. As someone who has always been sensitive to skin products, I had long thought that retinol wasn’t for me. Of course, the clever team at MECCA are no strangers to the power of natural ingredients and has developed a plant-based alternative to rival the potent wonder product.
Retinol gets a lot of attention, but it simply isn’t suited to everyone. Enter bakuchiol: the natural hero ingredient of the newly launched Kit: No. 4 Concentrate. Naturally derived from the babchi plant, bakuchiol works to support skin cell turnover and collagen production—something we can lose to free radials when faced with urban pollution.
As alarming as it sounds, city air has a way of wreaking havoc on our skin. But of course, nature is always there to support us and bring some balance back into our lives. With less risk of irritation, bakuchiol is a great smoothing solution for skin experiencing sensitivity from urban environments while helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The serum also contains doses of bladderwrack, a seaweed extract with moisturising, antioxidant and soothing properties, aloe vera to repair, and Tasmanian pepperberries and blueberries for even more antioxidants.
Gliding onto the skin and absorbing quickly, it took me about three days to realise that it wasn’t just a holiday fling—this was the serum for me. It’s perfect for my hyperpigmentation-prone sensitive baby skin, and incorporating a little something extra into my usual quick-fix regimen helps me feel a little more grounded.
All in all, the last few weeks have been eye-opening, to say the least. Work is still work, the city is still bustling, and I’m still unpacking, but I don’t think I’m mindful of the learnings I was lucky enough to pick up in Hobart. A new lease on life and finally finding a retinol that suits me? Much better than a poolside vacay, if you ask me.
