FOUNDER’S STORY

Skincare has never been just skincare for me.

My name is Candice and I’m the founder of Luminous Empire.

I was born with a port wine stain birthmark on my face. After years of bullying, my mum took me to my first laser treatment when I was 15. Over the next eight years, I endured painful and expensive laser sessions — but slowly, it was working. My birthmark was fading, and for the first time, I felt excited about the idea of feeling confident without makeup.

At 25, my doctor decided it was time to move to a more powerful laser. That single session changed my life. I was left with deep facial burns, followed by infection after poor advice. What followed were years of painful cortisone injections, permanent keloid scarring, and nerve damage that left me with sharp, shooting pain across my face multiple times a day. The dream of feeling confident makeup-free was gone.

For years after, makeup became a shield. I wore it every day. I didn’t always remove it properly, didn’t cleanse, didn’t care for my skin the way it needed — and yes, I slept in my makeup more times than I should have. I was young, overwhelmed, and just trying to get through.

Life brought more challenges. I became a single mum and while working full time faced ongoing financial stress, and eventually entered personal bankruptcy arrangements. At the same time, I watched my daughters begin their own skincare journeys, one with extremely sensitive skin. I realised I didn’t want them to feel like they had to wear makeup every day the way I once did. I wanted them to feel confident, comfortable, and beautiful in their own skin.

That realisation pushed me to learn. After extensive research, I discovered Korean PDRN skincare, science-led formulas focused on repair, regeneration, and barrier health. For the first time, skincare made sense to me. I wanted to tell everyone.

Luminous Empire was born from that discovery, combined with lived experience, motherhood, and the determination to create something meaningful during one of the most financially and emotionally difficult periods of my life.

Today, Luminous Empire is a small, independently run Australian business built with care, honesty, and intention. Every product is chosen with sensitive, compromised, and ageing skin in mind, because I know firsthand how deeply personal the skin journey can be.

Laser treatments have advanced significantly over the past 20 years, and much has changed. My story is not shared to discourage treatment, but to encourage research, informed decisions, and asking questions. Your skin deserves patience, understanding, and respect.

If you’re here because you want to feel more confident in your skin, you’re exactly where you’re meant to be, and I’m so glad you’re here!