Review: 3 women try a $398 “Happy Birthday” skincare set

The certified social and youth etiquette consultant founded A – The Etiquette Consultancy, with a goal to prepare children and adults for success by instilling a deep sense of etiquette, which teaches self-awareness, respect and kindness for others.

A – The Etiquette Consultancy holds seminars and courses for businesses, families, individuals and international schools. The mother of three also works for her family business.

Her life is a dizzying stream of activity and a typical day for her starts at 5.30 am. “I meditate before the kids are up. I’ll take the kids to school by 7.15 am. If I have time, I love to go to the Botanic Gardens before my morning meetings and I try to be home by 4 pm when the kids are back from school unless I have meetings or workshops. We usually have early dinners during the weekdays and I’m in bed by 10 pm. I do some journaling and reading, then it’s lights out by 11 pm.”

On her skin concerns:

“I’m grateful that I’ve never had major issues with my skin. My mother taught me the importance of cleansing my skin at night at a young age and I can’t go to sleep without doing it. [That said] I’m over the age of 40 and my skin tends to get dry and is not as supple.”

Her Time Machine review:

“I was intrigued by the name [of the device]. I’ve been using it before I go to bed. It’s such a great addition to my bedtime ritual and it relaxes me after a long day.

My pores are noticeably smaller and my skin feels tighter. The essence that comes with Time Machine is lightweight and sinks instantly into the skin. I would suggest reapplying [every few hours] if your skin if on the drier side. I was impressed by its ability to plump skin and combat dehydration. Overall, it’s easy to use and very therapeutic.”

Cheryl’s first social venture was The Nail Social, a nail salon that trains and employs marginalised women who lack a support network, and in 2018 she also founded The Social Space, which comprises a nail salon, cafe and fair trade retail area–the latter helps to remind the public to be socially conscious when going about their day-to-day activities, such as getting a coffee or manicure.

She balances entrepreneurship and self-care by adhering to a schedule that includes time for herself, whether that’s going on walks or spending time with her dog. “I usually start my day at about 8 am by walking my dog – this gives me a chance to get some fresh air and ‘me time’ before starting work proper.

My workday is quite irregular. I’m usually running between the outlets and basically going where I’m needed, so my schedule changes from day to day. I’ll leave my workplace around 8 pm, have a simple dinner and go on another long walk with my dog. During the day I’m managing operations so I try to catch up on admin work and my emails after dinner and only head to bed past midnight.”

On her skin concerns:

“I’ve admittedly been very lazy and haven’t been doing the best job at taking care of my skin. I love the outdoors but I am not in the habit of applying sunblock. I still get the occasional breakouts and tend to pick on them when I’m stressed. My skincare routine hasn’t changed since I was a teen – just a simple face wash and moisturiser.

I’ve noticed that my complexion has become dull, uneven and prone to breakouts. My under-eye circles and fine lines due to a lack of sleep have also been more prominent.”

Her Time Machine review:

“I’ve never been one to follow beauty trends and so I was quite sceptical about LED light therapy. At the start, I used it every day before bed but that actually caused me to break out. Instead, I started using it once every two to three days.

The device can be paired with any skincare of your choice [in addition to the Time Essence it comes with], so I alternate it [Time Essence] with my own argan oil. Because of its thicker consistency [compared to other essences], a little goes a long way. Those with parched skin will benefit from this essence that will erase signs of dehydration.

Happy Birthday’s device and essence are quick and easy additions to your skincare routine, perfect for time-strapped individuals like me. But I would suggest experimenting with different serums and oils and how often to use it to find the best combination that works for your skin.”

Mary started #thebodywithin movement on Instagram to promote body positivity and self-care. The movement encourages people who’re struggling to feel good about themselves, to share their stories and photos.

Besides leading the charge on body positivity, Mary is also a highly skilled makeup artist that can make anyone look poreless and red carpet ready. But through it all, she makes sure to take time out for self-care.

“[My day starts with] morning walks with my dog and breakfast. Right after that, I’ll start getting ready for work. It’s typically a half-day or full day shoot. After work, I’ll come home and do lots of marketing for my brand as well as respond to client emails. While I’m doing that, I’ll also grab lunch.

My evenings are spent with my dog, watching my favourite shows, having dinner and doing my skincare [routine]. And recently, I’ve been looking forward to using the Happy Birthday’s device [paired with its essence] because it’s so relaxing and really elevates my skincare ritual.”

On her skin concerns:

“I used to deal with very bad hormonal acne and when I reached my late teens, my skin became super sensitive, oily and I also struggled with hyperpigmentation.

My skin gets red occasionally and sometimes I break out in itchy rashes.”

Her Time Machine review:

“The LED lights are strong but not harsh and when the device touched my face I was surprised to learn that it vibrates in contact with the skin. I was thoroughly impressed. I felt like I was transported to a spa. It’s also extremely user-friendly and intuitive.

Think a jade roller but 100,000 times more effective. When paired with the brand’s essence, the device glided on my face effortlessly.

Besides prepping my skin for the device, the essence is super gentle on my sensitive skin. The best part? How smooth it made my skin.

After consistent use, I’ve seen an improvement in my skin. I just love the post-workout glow it imparts on my skin.

I actually look forward to doing my skincare routine [because of the device] and I love waking up to happy, healthier skin. My skin feels more calm, pores are less noticeable and I see more definition in my jawline.

I focus the red light on my fine lines, green for my hyperpigmentation and blue on my T-zone since that’s where I get oily the most.

As a beauty lover, this product piqued my curiosity and you actually see results. You’ll notice a slight improvement in your skin every two days and if you can’t afford to go for weekly facials, this product is definitely worth the investment. Your skin will thank you for it. I have never seen anything like this before and I’m obsessed. 100% worth it.”

The Happy Birthday Time Essence + Time Machine set is available at happybirthdayskincare.com