REBECCA VARCOE, SKINCARE ENTHUSIAST In the ’90s my mum sold skincare door-to-door. She’d bring home giant bags of products and I’d spend hours slathering myself in various creams while the four family members I shared a bathroom with pounded on the door. In the 20 years since, I’m proud to announce I’ve graduated to a functional skincare routine I’m happy enough with that I can nonchalantly (yet smugly) recommend products to friends.

Previously my skincare priorities had been treating acne with acid-heavy products, but now that I’m ancient (33), all of a sudden I feel the urge to 'nourish' and 'magically reverse' my ageing face suit. While I still am using what us in the biz (read: those who once got a goodie bag of lipsticks at fashion week) call ‘actives’ (ingredients that address a specific skincare concern), I’ve been searching for a serum that’s brightening while still soothing. When I first tried the Radiance Boost Serum by endota I liked the way it worked and felt SO much that I used double the recommended dose. Dropping my use back to a few times a week, I’ve noticed more plumpness and brightness – likely thanks to the serum’s soothing vitamin E and super-duper hydrating hyaluronic acid. 

The other product on my haggard crone (again, 33) quest has been finding an eye cream that makes me look like I had an actual good night’s sleep but doesn’t make my sensitive eyes itch and burn. endota’s Advanced Eye Cream is formulated with collagen-boosting amla berry, antioxidant-packed chamomile and our mate, soothing vitamin E. Since using the eye cream, I’ve not once woken up with itchy eyes, but I HAVE noticed brighter, smoother ’lids. 

The best part of my new routine, though, is finishing up with the Deep Hydration Moisturiser that feels – and smells – literally like you’re at endota getting a facial. It’s like the grown-up version of my ’90s routine – this time sans the shared bathroom, and with actual results.

CARO COOPER, SKINCARE CYNIC Calm is not something my skin is, ever. I’m a red, rashy person. I have rosacea and react to everything. My fellow sensitive people know the feeling: you lather on a ‘sensitive’ product and within seconds your face is burning and stinging, like invisible bees are attacking you for being bad in a past life. That’s why it happens, right?

I’m so tired of reacting to products that I just use avocado oil and sunscreen now. At my age, this is insufficient. I need big girl products. I’m also just bad at this stuff – I don’t know what my skin needs apart from a paper bag and I have little interest in finding out. I’m just going to move to the Metaverse and have a hot avatar.

Knowing how reactive I am, I chose some endota products that seemed hydrating but not aggressive. On unpacking the pretty bottles in various shades of green, I wished I had a bathroom worthy of them. Also, they smell like hot people – you know, those healthy, naturally glowing people? Like that.

I expected a reaction to these new products. True to form, I got a bit of redness on night two but that was it. I stopped the products for a day and then started back up again and haven’t had any issues since.

The Vitamin Treatment Oil was easy to apply and sunk right into my parched skin. I followed that by dotting the eye cream on and doing that mum move of using the ring finger to gently tap it into my skin. Felt fully profesh.

I’m confused when products recommend using a pea-sized amount across your face and décolletage. My face is so big! A pea is so small! So I rolled my saggy eyes when I read that on the Deep Hydration Moisturiser. But, this stuff is thick! If you dot it around and then rub it in, a pea is actually enough for sweet-smelling hydration. Witchcraft, for sure.

This road test was put together in partnership with endota and its simple, everyday skincare range endota Organics. Take a peek at the results-driven Australian-made range on the endota website.