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beauty
Inside the Beauty Cabinet of Naturalistic Skincare Expert and Esthetician Carly Horvath
26/03/25
Author: Elizabeth Roberts
DOCUMENTED BY: RIISE
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Our spaces can offer a reflection of our internal landscapes. The RIISE team took a look inside Carly Horvath’s beauty cabinet and asked for her words of wisdom on creating a simple but effective skincare routine.
Skin says a lot. And while sometimes the focus can be pointed heavily towards trying to create a ‘perfect’ canvas on the surface, taking the time to look deeper can offer the truest answer to many concerns. For Carly Horvath, an esthetician based in NYC, there’s a strong link between what shows up on the face and what’s going on beneath the surface.
A naturalistic skincare expert, Carly is well-versed in ingredients and takes a lot of time and care with her clients to help create routines that work. Drawing on her own experience with skin conditions like eczema, acne and dermatitis, she’s able to empathise and inform along the way.
Here, Carly shares advice for putting your best skin forward, as well as what she loves most about working with clients in Sydney and abroad.
RIISE: Can you tell us about your job? What do you love most about your work?
CH: I’m an esthetician – a beauty therapist who specialises in skincare. I started my career in Sydney, working at a naturalistic skincare studio. This is where I began to learn and understand a lot about healing your skin from the inside out and how gut health can impact skin conditions like eczema, acne and dermatitis. I now live and work in New York City, as well as offering treatments to clientele in the Hamptons. But I’m lucky enough to come back to Sydney and see clients here occasionally, too.
"I love that I can help people with their skin because I’ve always struggled with my own. I’ve dealt with hormonal acne and I’ve had periods of dermatitis and eczema. It makes me so happy and fulfilled to build relationships with my clients and help them with something really personal."
RIISE: What are some favourite products you’ve been using in your skincare routine recently?
CH: I’ve been loving using the F Miller Cleansing Oil, AOTEA Mānuka Honey Mask and sunscreen from Mother SPF.
I think that cleansing oil is the best first step in a skincare routine. You can do a double cleanse with a calming gel or milk cleanser as a second step if you like. Oil cleansing helps dissolve dirt and oil from daily life and balance your own oil production. It gives a really deep cleanse without stripping anything away, versus a foaming cleanser that can sometimes leave you with that tight, dry feeling – you shouldn't feel like that. The F Miller oil is really nourishing, repairing and lightweight.
If I’m having any breakout or irritation, I’ll gravitate towards a Mānuka honey mask. Mānuka honey is really healing, repairing and hydrating. It’s an all in one situation.
Mother SPF is amazing. It’s a zinc oxide SPF and a really good choice if you’re acne prone. It’s also anti-inflammatory and doesn’t make you feel too dewy and oily. I’ve been using these products everyday while I've been in Sydney and my skin is feeling really good.
RIISE: What are some key ingredients to look for in natural skincare? And what do they do?
CH: The main ingredient to look for in these products – including the moisturizer and mist – is tremella mushroom. It’s a great alternative to hyaluronic acid and helps to pull water deeper into your skin. I love the skincare brand Lesse for this and I use the Lesse Regeneration Mist literally 10 times a day. It’s really restorative, healing and hydrating. You can use it throughout the day as a setting spray or even when you want to cool down your face, like at the beach.
RIISE: Can you talk us through a daily Gua Sha routine? What are the benefits of incorporating this ritual as part of your skincare?
CH: Gua Sha is amazing for lymphatic drainage. Before you actually start, you want to open up your lymph nodes to allow everything to drain properly. If you’re noticing breakouts, particularly along your jawline, things might be a bit ‘stuck’. Gently pump the lymph nodes under your arms, across your chest and in your neck. Then begin with a clean face before popping a facial oil on to help create the right amount of slip. You can also use an oil cleanser to streamline the ritual at the end of your day.
The Gua Sha should be flat against your face and you want to follow your bone structure, going out towards your hairline. The massage helps with texture, smoothing everything out and reducing puffiness, especially under your eye area. It can also help your products to penetrate deeper if you’re using a hydrating serum or oil.
"The practice is about helping to detoxify your body, so that your skin is clearer, brighter and more sculpted. You don’t have to just stay on your face – do your chest, neck and arms, too."
RIISE: What advice do you have for someone who is trying to update or simplify their skincare routine?
CH: I think one of the best things you can do is a face mask at least once a week. After you get out of the shower and before you start your nighttime skincare routine, throw on a mask, brush your teeth and make a cup of tea while it sinks in. The Lesse Bioactive Mask is great for this. It gives you a boost and helps to take your skin to the next level.
If you’re struggling with your skin, you might be experiencing irritation from using too many products, especially with active ingredients. To simplify things, I recommend a few key products: an oil cleanser to help with balancing, soothing and calming skin; always SPF no matter what – even in winter; and then a mist is a really great way to boost your skin without being too overpowering.
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Documented By: RIISE
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