beauty

'I’ve been battling sensitive skin for years. These 3 products changed everything.'

ESMI
Thanks to our brand partner, ESMI

It took a long time for my skin and me to become friends.

Admittedly, I never took the best care of it and didn't put much thought into the products I was rubbing on my face. I'm easily influenced so once I grew out of applying toothpaste to pimples (don't ask) I turned to a 12-step skincare routine thinking this would be my one-way ticket to radiance.

That's when I discovered I actually had sensitive skin — with a mind of its own.

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Anything too fragranced, containing harsh ingredients or just too many pots and potions combined was making my skin very unhappy. As much as I tried to repair our problematic relationship, everything seemed to make it worse.

The joy of sensitive skin is that you never quite know what you're going to get (sigh). Some products dry out my skin like the Sahara. Others lead to pesky breakouts. I couldn't predict it.

I wanted nothing more than for my skin and me to get along. So I decided I needed to strip it all back and focus on finding a routine I could trust.

Cue: esmi's Probiotic Skin Mylck range.

A range developed specifically for people with stressed, unpredictable skin? Sign. Me. Up.

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What attracted me to the range was its probiotic ingredients that help maintain a balanced skin barrier by supporting the skin's natural microbiome. After all, our skin is its own ecosystem so why not give it a little extra TLC?

Bonus points for being 100 per cent Australian made and dermatologist-endorsed by Dr Lisa Byrom, so I could put my trust in a professional instead of my TikTok algorithm.

For the past week I've been trialling this range and living the "less-is-more" lifestyle when it comes to my skin. Here are my honest thoughts.

Step one.

My first impression of esmi's Probiotic Skin Mylck Cleanser was this: Man, that's soft.

I could tell before I applied it that the formula was made to be gentle. The cleanser is delightfully creamy and feels a lot like a moisturiser — with added benefits. What I loved most was that it wasn't fragranced. For a sensitive skin girlie, fragrances are a red flag, so I tend to steer clear of anything that has frills and instead turn to products that know it's what's on the inside that counts.

Image: Supplied.

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The cleanser is formulated with advanced probiotic lysates, which are a kind of good bacteria that help create a healthy environment for your skin to thrive (hello, glow).

It's also packed with other good stuff, like aloe vera and green tea extract, which help support skin moisture. It's basically an elixir to calm stressed skin.

My skin often feels super tight once I rinse off my cleanser, but with the Mylck Cleanser, my skin felt refreshed. Resilient for once. Perfectly primed for step number two.

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Step two.

Like most people, I've tried my fair share of skincare products over the years. But I've never tried anything like the esmi Probiotic Skin Mylck Lotion.

I definitely have some skin trust issues, so I approached it with some caution. What actually is a Mylck for your skin?

Image: Supplied.

This little bottle of magic is a lightweight moisturising lotion that feels super nourishing without being heavy. You can use it on its own, or if your skin's feeling extra dry, layer it under a richer moisturiser for added protection and to help support your skin's microbiome.

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Those probiotic lysates I mentioned earlier? They're working hard again here to keep your microbiome happy and balanced. Like the cleanser, the first thing I noticed about Skin Mylck is how light it feels — one layer and my skin felt fresh.

To apply, I massaged the Mylck into my face and neck. Where I'd usually notice dryness or redness after trying a new product, this one felt much gentler on my skin.

Plus, the glass bottle feels super premium and just looks beautiful sitting on my bathroom shelf. It also has an easy-to-apply dropper so you can rely on the product to dispense the correct amount. You and your skin can stress less. Huzzah!

Step three.

As someone who struggles with extremely dry skin in the winter, I've always thought this translated to "ADD AS MUCH MOISTURE AS POSSIBLE!". As a result, I was reaching for thick lotions that disagreed with my skin and clogged my pores.

Imagine my surprise when the answer was simple — a silky moisturiser with all the right ingredients. esmi's Sensitive Probiotic Moisturiser is a trusty solution to stress-free nourishment.

Image: Supplied.

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It's formulated with ingredients sensitive skin loves like argan oil, green tea extract and avocado oil. These work alongside vitamin E to hydrate, so you can benefit from all the glow while knowing exactly what the heck you're putting on your face.

This gorgeous little glass tub was the perfect final step in the ultimate gentle skincare routine, locking in all the goodness for my skin to soak up.

The verdict.

Before and after. Image: Supplied.

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If you know me, you'd know I've been complaining about my sensitive skin and winter breakouts for weeks. After only a few days of trialling the esmi Mylck range, my skin is back to its calm, happy self.

I love that, thanks to the trusty trio, I can finally predict how my skin will react and feel throughout the day. Goodbye to the 10-minute stress period after applying a new product.

It was also perfect for the mornings before work, adding that extra step of hydration ahead of a day in the office. I could layer my sunscreen and make-up on top and found it actually went on smoother than usual, without pilling or feeling greasy.

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So yes, it's official. I'm glowing. It's been a rocky road, but I knew my skin and I could finally get along.

For a limited time, buy two products from the Probiotic Skin Mylck range and get the third free online, or chat with esmi's Skin Service team for a free skin consultation.

T&Cs apply.

Feature Image: Supplied.

ESMI
Predictable Skin Starts Here.
We believe healthy, calm, and resilient skin starts with one thing: a supported skin microbiome. Our Probiotic Skin Mylck range is designed to nourish and rebalance your skin from the first step — no overcomplication, no harsh actives, just biome-first care that works.
Need guidance? Book your FREE, live Skin Consultation with our Skin Service team of experts and start your journey toward skin you can count on.

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