ABOUT

At P H O E F I, we are a small business with a deep passion for skincare. My journey with challenging skin began early—one of my earliest memories is as a four-year-old, struggling with cradle cap, dry red patches on my face, and eczema on the insides of my arms. While I can barely recall much else from my early childhood, I vividly remember my mother’s care: applying olive oil to my scalp and a topical cortisone cream, to soothe the redness, swelling, dryness, and itching on my arms and face.

With no other solutions available, we continued using cortisone cream for the next five years. Unfortunately, like many who develop topical steroid addiction, my skin became dependent on the cream, requiring increasingly higher doses to achieve the same effect. Each time we stopped using the cortisone cream, the skin issues would return with a vengeance.

Growing up in a small town of just 9,000 people, we were fortunate that a wise, elderly chemist suggested an alternative. He recommended discontinuing the cortisone cream and offered to create a special formula for me. While it wasn’t an overnight fix, after a few months, my skin began to improve. The dry, rough patches on my face were the first to clear, and eventually, the rash on the inside of my arms disappeared. Fearing that the old chemist might not always be there, my mother asked for the recipe.

For many years, from age 14 to 45, I didn't need the cream and completely forgot about it. But then I developed autoimmune urticaria, leading to unpredictable hives and welts on my face triggered by certain foods. These raised, red, itchy spots would linger for at least seven days. After much research, I found that an increase in demodex mites, exacerbated by my autoimmune condition, might be to blame. The most effective solution I discovered was tea tree oil, which led to the creation of our Spot Gel.

However, after addressing the mites, my skin was left with dry, scaly patches and pockets of redness that no cream seemed to alleviate. Remembering my childhood remedy, my mother suggested I have the cream recreated by a compounding chemist, as she still had the recipe. A month later, my skin was restored, which inspired the creation of our Unisex Day and Night Moisture Lotion, an adjusted version of the original cream with a few improved ingredients, Paraben-free, Sulphate-free, Artificial colour-free and unscented.

Our mission at P H O E F I is to share the products that have helped me manage my own skin challenges. We've carefully expanded our range to include skincare products that my family and I personally rely on, ensuring each one is effective, gentle, and safe. We are committed to selecting ingredients, whenever possible, that are free from harmful chemicals and irritants and Made in Australia. Our packaging is designed for ease of use and to complement any bathroom vanity.

Your skin deserves the best, and we’re here to help. If you have any questions or need guidance, please don't hesitate to reach out. Thank you for taking the time to learn about my story. I hope that P H O E F I products become a cherished part of your skincare routine.