My story
Hi, I’m Gemma
Willow & Thorn is an independent Australian blog about low-tox living: practical swaps, honest reviews and plain-language explainers, written by one real person in Sydney.
Acne is what got me into low-tox. Trying to work out what was going on with my skin had me reading ingredient lists properly for the first time, and once I started, I couldn’t stop. Skincare first, then clothing, the bathroom cupboard, the laundry and the kitchen.
It wasn’t my first run-in with what goes on my skin, either. I’ve got around thirty-five piercings, and I’ve felt the sting of the wrong metal more times than I’d like to admit: angry lobes, bumps that won’t settle, the tell-tale itch of a nickel reaction. That’s why you’ll find a whole section on nickel-free jewellery and sensitive skin here too.
So I started writing the guide I wished existed.
What you’ll find here
- Swaps from where you already shop. Lower-tox options at Woolworths, Coles, ALDI, Priceline and Chemist Warehouse, not just online boutiques.
- Clothing and fabrics. What your clothes are made of and treated with, and where to find better options without paying boutique prices.
- First-hand reviews. Products I have actually used, with my own photos and an honest verdict.
- Ingredient comparisons. A mainstream product next to a lower-tox alternative, so you can see what actually differs.
- My acne journal. What I tried and what happened. My experience, not a cure or a prescription.
How I write
Independent. No brand pays to be featured. Some links earn me a small commission, and I always say so. You can read exactly how that works on my disclosures page.
Evidence-aware. When I say something about an ingredient, I link to where it came from. I won’t call anything “toxin-free” or promise it will fix your skin, because that isn’t how any of this works.
Budget-aware. Low-tox shouldn’t mean throwing out everything you own. Most changes here are one swap at a time, when something runs out.
I’m not a doctor or a dermatologist. If something is worrying you, especially your skin, please see a GP or dermatologist.
About the name
Willow & Thorn started life as a small piercing jewellery shop I ran. The shop has closed, but the name, the botanical look and the care about what touches your skin have all stayed.
Low-tox living, grown slowly.
Gemma