It took only three days for her skin to surrender. When a friend first visited Perth from overseas, I watched her skin transform. Her normally balanced, healthy skin started flaking and feeling tight within just three days. “I brought all my usual products,” she said, bewildered.“Why isn’t anything working?” Truth is, my wife had the exact same experience. Within a week of moving to Australia, her skin completely changed. The moisturiser she’d always used became ineffective by midday, and by evening, her skin would start flaking.Welcome to Australia. Where the sun doesn’t just shine—it scorches. Where humidity is a rare luxury. And where your skin quickly learns that what worked elsewhere simply won’t cut it here.A Japanese tourist once told me: “I’ve travelled to 30 countries, but my skin has never reacted like this.”She’s not alone. My wife, visiting friends—everyone tells the same story. The Harsh Truth About Australian Climate Imagine a typical Australian summer day:7 AM – UV index already climbing past 10Midday – Air so dry your lips crack within minutes of stepping outside3 PM – That “cool” ocean breeze is actually stripping moisture from your skinEvening – Finally indoors, but air conditioning dries you out even moreThis isn’t occasional stress. This is every single day for months.The numbers tell the story: Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world UV levels 15% higher than similar latitudes Humidity often below 30% for months Summer temps can exceed 50°C If you live in Australia, you already know this. But visitors are often unprepared. Within days, their “normal” skin becomes dry and sensitive, and even “oily” skin starts to flake.Research shows approximately 60-70% of women and 50-60% of men report having sensitive skin. Australia’s harsh conditions only intensify these challenges. Why “Normal” Skincare Fails Here Most global skincare brands formulate for temperate climates. They’re designed for London drizzle, Seoul humidity, New York seasons.They’re not designed for Perth’s 40°C summer days or Melbourne’s unpredictable spring winds.When facing constant environmental stress, your skin barrier—the protective outer layer that keeps moisture in and irritants out—works overtime.Australian skin needs: Barrier-strengthening ingredients that actually rebuild, not just moisturise High-performance formulas that can withstand UV exposure, air conditioning, and coastal conditions Soothing actives to calm the constant inflammation from UV and environmental stress I’ve watched friends cycle through dozens of products, chasing the promise of “24-hour hydration” only to find their skin tight and uncomfortable by midday. The frustration is real. And expensive. What Travellers Taught Us Over the years, conversations with visitors revealed a pattern:   Week 1: “I thought I’d be fine with my regular routine.” Week 2: “Everything is either drying out or reacting.” Week 3: “I bought five new products at the chemist.” Week 4: “My skin still isn’t right, and now I have products I can’t take home.” A German backpacker once showed me seven different moisturisers. All partially used, none quite working. “What do I do with all this when I leave?” she asked. She can’t take them home—too heavy, and she won’t need them there anyway. She can’t leave them in Australia. They end up in the bin. This is the hidden cost of climate-mismatched skincare. It’s not just wasted money. Globally, the beauty industry produces more than 120 billion units of packaging every year, most of which isn’t recyclable. Every half-used product that gets discarded because it didn’t work becomes plastic waste. In climates as specific as Australia’s, this problem intensifies—people try more, fail more, and discard more.My wife experienced the same thing. As she kept buying and discarding products that didn’t work, she said: “This isn’t just bad for my skin—it’s bad for the environment.” Why CURFIG Is Different This is why we created CURFIG. Not because the market needed another skincare brand, but because Australian skin deserves products that actually understand what it’s up against.And because we believe we need to protect the environment we love in the process. For Australia, From Australia We combine Australian botanical extracts—evolved to survive our harsh conditions—with proven barrier-supporting actives (ceramides, niacinamide).Inspired by the Curtain Fig Tree that thrives in Queensland’s rainforest, we believe in adaptation and resilience. Sensitive Skin First 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and formulated for the most reactive skin. If it works for sensitive skin in Australian conditions, it’ll work for everyone. A Real Promise to the Planet We don’t ignore the waste problem.30% PCR (post-consumer recycled) packaging—reducing new plastic production.Refillable options—changing the single-use culture.#KeepAustraliaBeautiful commitment—1% of sales donated to Australian rainforest protection. We’re not perfect. But we’re genuinely trying. Because we want to create products that travellers use completely and love—not products they have to throw in the bin when they leave Australia. A Different Kind of Beautiful Living in Australia means your skin will always face challenges. Intense sun, dry air, unpredictable weather.But it also means we need to be smarter. Choose products that understand our climate. Support brands that respect both our skin and our planet.Here’s what we believe: CURFIG is still a small brand. We started because we lived this problem ourselves—watching my wife struggle, seeing friends leave with bags full of products that didn’t work, feeling the weight of all that waste.We don’t claim to have all the answers. We’re not perfect, and we won’t solve every problem the beauty industry has created. But we’re trying. Every formulation we create, every packaging decision we make, every percentage we donate to #KeepAustraliaBeautiful—it’s our way of saying we care. About your skin. About this country. About the future we’re all building together.At CURFIG, skincare isn’t just a routine. It’s an understanding of where you live, what you value, and what you want to leave behind.Australian skin is unique. And that difference matters.Had the same experience? You’re not alone. And you don’t need a perfect solution—you just need someone who’s genuinely trying.