Smooth News

Welcome to Smooth News

Lindsay here, with Mike close by as always.

We're writing this as the last of winter loosens its grip and the first hints of spring start to creep in. There's something about this in-between stretch of the year that always makes us pause. The mornings are still cool, but the light is shifting, and it feels like a natural moment to take a breath and reset.

That word, reset, has been on our minds a lot lately. So in this edition we're getting a little raw and talking about burnout, as well as a women's health conversation we're really glad is finally happening, and about what the change of season means for your skin.

As always, this is simply an honest glimpse behind the scenes, shared just with you. Thank you for being here.

Lindsay & Mike xo

Your routine, doing good in the world

Earlier this week I caught up with a member of the team from Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, and there are some big, exciting changes on the way. Here's the tea.

The hospital is already one of the busiest wildlife hospitals in the world, treating thousands of sick and injured native animals every year. And now it's growing. Construction has officially started on the Currumbin Wildlife Institute, a world-class research and education campus being built right behind the existing hospital.

The thinking behind it is what got me. Rather than only treating animals once they're hurt, the Institute is designed to get ahead of the problem, with research and training aimed at protecting native species before harm happens. As their Head of Veterinary Sciences, Dr Michael Pyne, put it, every animal they save is a step forward, but the real game changer is preventing harm in the first place. That work will help some of our most vulnerable species, including our beloved and endangered koalas.

It's being built thoughtfully too. The design includes rooftop solar, rainwater harvesting and energy-efficient lighting to keep the footprint of the facility as light as possible.

The hospital stays fully open and operational throughout the build, and the Institute is expected to open its doors in late 2027.

While we're on the subject of koalas, there's another story worth celebrating, and it's a big one.

Meet Bamse, a young female koala who has just made history. For the first time ever, a chlamydia vaccine implant has been given to a wild koala, and Bamse is the trailblazer. In case you're wondering why that matters, chlamydia is brutal for koalas and one of the biggest threats to the species, so this really is a huge moment.

The breakthrough is part of a vaccine project led by Currumbin Wildlife Hospital and Queensland University of Technology. Here's the clever part. This is the only koala chlamydia vaccine that needs two doses, which until now meant two separate examinations. The new implant delivers the first dose on the spot and is designed to break down after 30 days to release the second, all from a single visit.

Bamse, which is Norwegian for "teddy bear" (how perfect is that), is just 18 months old and came from Burleigh. She was treated at the hospital and released back to her bushland home the very same day, now wearing a rather fetching GPS collar so the team can track how well the implant works over at least the next six months.

If the trial goes well, there are already calls to roll the vaccine out across South East Queensland. We'll be watching this one closely.

And here's the bit that involves you. Every order you place helps fund the rehabilitation and release of Australian wildlife through Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, right here on the Gold Coast. Getting to support a project like this, simply by choosing a smoother shave, is one of the parts of this job we're proudest of. Thank you for making it possible.

A national conversation, finally

There are some things that affect millions of women, yet somehow we still don't talk about them enough. Perimenopause and menopause have long been two of them.

That's starting to change.

This year, for the first time, the Australian Government launched a national campaign dedicated to perimenopause and menopause. The campaign asks “Could This Be Perimenopause?” and aims to help women better understand what's happening in their bodies, reduce the stigma, and point people towards reliable information and support. It's running across TV, cinema, digital, social and more through to the end of the year.

Whether it's something you're experiencing yourself, something that may be relevant later in life, or something affecting a woman you love, we think it's a conversation worth having.

There's also more support available than there used to be. Menopausal hormone therapies have been added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), making some treatments more affordable, and Medicare now covers a dedicated menopause and perimenopause health assessment for eligible patients. If you've been wondering whether what you're feeling is "just life" or something worth raising, that assessment can be a good place to start a conversation with your GP.

Find out more at https://www.health.gov.au/perimenopause

And a small note from our world, because skin is our thing. Hormonal shifts through peri and menopause can genuinely change how your skin behaves. Many women notice it gets drier, more reactive, or loses a little of its bounce.

That's not a flaw to fix. It's just information.

If your usual routine suddenly feels like it isn't quite working, your skin may simply be asking for a bit more moisture and a gentler touch.

Which, funnily enough, brings us neatly to the change of season.

An important side note: We're a beauty brand, not a medical one, so please take anything health related here as encouragement to seek proper advice, not a substitute for it.

Coming out of winter: what it means for your skin

Winter is quietly hard on skin. Cold air outside, dry heating inside, hot showers we all secretly love. By the time we reach the tail end of it, a lot of us are carrying a build-up of dull, dry, tired-looking skin without really noticing how it crept up.

The good news is that the shift into spring is the perfect moment to hit refresh. Here's where we'd start.

Clear the winter layer first. Weeks of dryness leave a film of dead, flaky skin sitting on the surface, which is exactly what makes everything look a bit lacklustre. This is dermaplaning's moment to shine. Gently removing that dead skin and peach fuzz instantly brightens things and gives your skincare a clean surface to actually sink into.

If it's been a while, ease back in with light pressure on clean, dry skin, every 2 to 4 weeks is the sweet spot. A little facial oil underneath adds glide if you like extra slip.

Trade heavy for hydrating. The rich creams that carried you through winter can start to feel like too much as the air warms up. You don't necessarily need less moisture, you often just need it to feel lighter. A hydrating serum layered under a lighter moisturiser is a lovely spring swap.

Don't quietly drop the SPF. Softer weather has a way of making us forget, but the UV doesn't take the season off. If you've dermaplaned, freshly smooth skin especially appreciates the protection.

Show your body the same care. Legs that have been under trousers all winter tend to be drier and a little neglected. Exfoliate gently before you shave, use light strokes, and follow with moisturiser while skin is still damp. A fresh blade makes all the difference here, dull blades drag and irritate.

Think of it less as an overhaul and more as clearing space. Off with winter, on with the glow.

Let’s talk about burnout, personally

Lately there's been a lot happening, and not just here at Make My Shave, but in life generally. We've noticed it in ourselves, and we've noticed it in the people around us too. Our friends, our family, and especially fellow small business owners all seem to be feeling it. That quiet sense of burnout that can be so hard to put into words.

For us, it's shown up in small ways that build over time. Waking up already tired. Struggling to switch off at night because there's always one more thing to do. Pouring everything into the work and still feeling like you haven't done enough. That feeling of wanting to deliver, wanting to be seen, wanting to create something really special, and never being quite sure you've arrived where you're trying to get to. If you've ever felt that way, you're absolutely not alone.

It's actually part of why your reviews and messages mean so much to us. Even though we're not face to face with you, they remind us that you're there, that you're listening, and that what we're building matters. We hear you, and that's really special to us.

Behind the scenes, Mike and I have been trying to look after ourselves a little better too. We recently escaped to Mount Tamborine for a beautiful weekend, soaking up the countryside, slowing down a little and, of course, wandering through (and sampling) a few vineyards.

We’ve been making more time for date days too, hitting the driving range and even listening to country music, which has somehow become my new thing. We went line dancing last week, just to try something completely different. I absolutely loved it. Mike, however, is still deciding whether he’ll be hanging up his dancing boots after their first outing. 🤠

Being present, slowing down, and appreciating how beautiful this world is has genuinely helped. It's given us renewed enthusiasm for our little wild child, Make My Shave, and reminded us why we started in the first place.

If any of this feels familiar, maybe take this as a quiet moment to check in with yourself. How are you, really? There's no right answer and nothing you need to do with it. Sometimes just noticing how we're feeling is enough of a place to start.

You asked, we answered

We're sharing a real question from the inbox and this time it's about breakouts.

"I've heard you should never dermaplane over active breakouts. Is that true?"

Great question, and yes, that one's worth listening to.

Dermaplaning is brilliant for smoothing dull, dry skin and whisking away peach fuzz, but it's best to work around any active, angry breakouts rather than straight over them. Dragging a blade across inflamed or broken skin can aggravate it and potentially spread bacteria across the surface. Not what anyone wants.

The simple approach: gently dermaplane the clear areas of your face and skip the spots that are currently flaring. Come back to those zones once they've calmed. And keep your blade clean, a wipe with isopropyl alcohol before and after each use keeps things hygienic and your blade performing at its best.

As always, light pressure, clean skin, and no rush. You're in control the whole time.

Got a question you'd love us to answer next time? Just hit reply. We read every one.

Still officially, proudly vegan

Mike and I are also proud to share that we’ve just renewed our certification with Vegan Australia, meaning Make My Shave remains the only women’s razor in the country to carry their tick of approval.

Why does that matter? Because "vegan" gets thrown around a lot these days, and a certification means someone independent has actually checked. Vegan Australia verifies that our certified products meet its strict vegan standard, including no animal-derived ingredients and no animal testing.

It's a small badge, but it stands for something we care about. Thank you for backing a brand that does things the considered way.

A little reminder for our subscribers

Before we go, one quick reminder, especially for our Razor Refill subscribers.

Some changes are on the way from 18 August. There's an adjustment to subscription pricing coming, and alongside it some genuinely good news on the shipping side think: tracked delivery, faster dispatch and more control over where your blades land.

We've sent the full details to our subscribers by email, so if that's you, it's worth a look in your inbox. If you didn’t receive our email, which can happen as the result of spam filters and email preferences, please reach out to us at hello@makemyshave.com.au and we’ll answer any questions you may have.

We're also making a small change to our blade recycling service, but don't worry, it's not going anywhere. The only change is that we’re retiring our pink return mailer. From now on, you can simply pop your used blades into any suitable, sturdy packaging you have on hand and send them back to us. Same great result, with a little less packaging for us to produce. We’ll have all the details on how to send your blades back on our website soon.

Say hey anytime

If you've ever dropped us an email or a DM, you'll know how much we love hearing from you.

The lovely messages absolutely make our day. And honestly, the ones about things that didn't go smoothly matter just as much, because they let us jump in and put things right. We're a small Australian business in a world of big brands, and everything we do comes back to the same goal: products you love, service you trust, and a little more good done for the planet along the way.

So whether it's a question, a bit of feedback, or a story you feel like sharing, we're always here at hello@makemyshave.com.au.

Thank you for being part of this. Truly.

Here's to shaking off winter and stepping into the light.

Stay smooth, Lindsay & Mike xo

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