Chronic Illness Chic 2. Self Care
- Lisa
- Oct 19
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 1
Welcome to Chronic Illness Chic, the place I refined my concept for Simplify Simplify-ing. These articles were originally published in HerCanberra. I'm delighted to share my experience with lifelong chronic illness, and Canberra's healthier, low fragrance, accessible and beautifully designed, products, businesses, places and allies.
In monthly articles I'm sharing chronic illness inclusive Sensitive Canberra across health, self care, fitness, food, style, home, building, garden, work, gifts, events & love. It's about beautiful design and businesses making inclusive choices easy.
Sensitive Canberra Self Care
One of the silver linings of chronic illness is that it’s daily a reminder to slow down, breathe, simplify, and appreciate the small things. And many of us Type A, perfectionists aren’t naturally drawn to the softer side of life. So, we’re exploring sensitive self-care, from simple practices to include in your routine like breathing to naturally healthier products and Canberra’s chronic illness-inclusive practitioners.
If you don’t already have a great GP or medical team, start with last month’s article on integrative health. Having a diagnosis, treatment plan, and expert guidance on nutrition and lifestyle is the ultimate form of self-care.
Chronic Illness Challenges
Living in a sensitive body can be an uncomfortable daily challenge, with layers of additional mental load. Chronic conditions can leave you with less capacity to be your best at work or with loved ones. So, the more self-care you can sprinkle throughout your day to nourish yourself on every level, the more you have to give. To minimise mental load, keep self-care simple. No sixteen-step skincare routines or long meditations here.
Healthier friends might be able to sleep four hours, smash the gym, survive on coffee, say yes to everything, and follow up with a big night. But our systems are less resilient, and benefit from boundaries, clear communication, regular sleep, meals, water, gentler exercise, and keeping the to-do list on the manageable side.
Self-care is also a path to confidence. Chronic illness, whether visible or invisible, can take a toll. Whether you are rocking a rash, in pain, experiencing symptoms or just managing day-to-day life, it can be more difficult to feel like the beautiful bombshell you are and feel confident in your skin.
Sensitive Products
Let’s start with chronic illness inclusive products that are effective and help you feel beautiful while being affordable and widely available at supermarkets or chemists. As a sensitive girl with Ehlers Danhoe Syndrome, I’ve tried most fragrance-free or naturally fragranced, hypo-allergenic and clean products. I’m sensitive to many ingredients and fragrances and keep my lineup minimalist.
I’m touched when loved ones and colleagues choose healthier products. It’s my love language. We share our air, and the products and scents we use affect others at home, work, events and other spaces.
Yours Only is number one. An Australian small business, owned by chronic illness champion Ashli Templer. The care poured into their allergy, intolerance, skin condition and auto-immune disease inclusive cleansers, moisturiser, hair care and content makes me feel so seen. I’m delighted they are now stocked in Priceline.
For body wash, hand soap and dental I love Ecostore. Their fragrance-free Ultra Sensitive range is verified by the Sensitive Choice program. Other favourites include social enterprise Thank You, Koala Eco available at Harris Farm, Little Urchin sunscreen, No Pong deodorant, Scoop Wholefoods in Kingston, Natio, Nude By Nature and Think on Top, a sustainable Canberra haircare business launching soon.
For a more luxurious option, you can’t go past Canberra-born business RATIONALE, which offers a range perfect for the most sensitive of skin, along with expert care and treatments in their Canberra city store.
Sometimes you need to indulge and truly take some time to be cared for, whether it’s a massage or hair or skin treatment. With chronic illness, you may need to call ahead and ensure your practitioners are able to accommodate your needs, including accessibility, treatment options, products used, fragrances, and the environment. Canberra has a range of beautiful places committed to creating rituals with natural and organic products.
Self-care should feel safe, comfortable, and tailored to the individual. Melody welcomes clients with allergies and sensitivities, adapting each session to individual needs. This could mean avoiding fragrances, choosing hypoallergenic options, or using client-provided linens and oils. Communication is key, and advance notice allows her to plan effectively and ensure a safe experience.
If specific products are required, Melody encourages clients to bring their own to guarantee suitability. This one-on-one approach creates a supportive, judgment-free space where clients can fully relax, knowing their needs are prioritised. Because everyone deserves the benefits of massage, their way.
The Pura Holistic Studio team is deeply passionate about creating a sanctuary where everyone feels safe, seen, and cared for – especially those with sensitive skin, allergies, or health challenges. Their hair salon, scalp and hairapy spa journeys, education, and events are designed around this passion.
This allergy-conscious approach ensures every product and service is gentle yet effective and free from common irritants. They believe holistic beauty should be accessible to all, and are passionate about empowering sensitive clients with nurturing, personalised care that prioritises wellness without compromise.
Kim’s passion for skin health comes from overcoming extreme acne, a debilitating spinal condition, and a gut imbalance that led to chronic spontaneous urticaria, where she relied on medication daily just to leave the house. This experience deepened her understanding of how internal imbalances trigger skin conditions and the sensitivities that arise with chronic illness.
The Skin Wellness Academy team integrate science, holistic skincare, nutrition, and overall wellbeing to customise treatments for sensitive, reactive, and compromised skin. Their clinic is designed as a calm, restorative space, engaging all five senses to create a nurturing environment that supports nervous system regulation and deep healing. With 22 years of expertise, they provide clean, natural, yet effective treatments to restore and protect the skin barrier for lasting health.
As a Dermal Clinician, Sally views the person in front of her holistically. When recommending at-home skincare routines and performing in-clinic rituals, she combines scientifically proven techniques with tried and tested clinical applications to bring gentle and long-lasting results to her clients. She wants to help her clients understand that what is happening in their environment can impact their overall health and how their skin functions.
Sally asks questions about overall health, underlying conditions, and allergies, and then builds appropriate routines. She believes it is possible to soothe and heal reactive skin and bring comfort and confidence to an individual with gentle education and lifestyle changes She believes that being aware of a person’s needs due to chronic illness, sensitivities, and allergies enhances patient outcomes and satisfaction in their process.
Steph is a wonderful resource for simple self-care practices and believes self-care is more than Netflix ‘n’ chill. It’s simple moments of stillness, a few breaths after a long day, or a long shower with your favourite clean products – dedicating time for you and following through by prioritising self-care, over the washing up and school lunches.
As a mum of two, Steph says “Without self-care, I’d drown at times. It’s one of the most underrated things we can do for ourselves, and while we know it’s what we need, we often don’t commit enough time”.
This is a breathing practice she says that you can do anytime (but it’s even better if you are in the fresh air with your feet on the ground). Inhale through your nose for a count of five. Exhale through your nose for a count of five. Continue for 5 to 10 rounds
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