Why I’ll Never Stop Thrifting (and How It Shaped Luminate)
I’ve been talking a lot on Instagram lately about thrifting and it’s clear so many of you get it. For me, though, thrifting is more than just a hobby or a way to save money. It’s woven into my story—into who I am and what I value.
It all started when I was 11. My mum and I moved from Australia to Lebanon and life took a big turn. Not long after we arrived, she opened a little second-hand shop in our village and called it Best for Less (yes, I know what you're thinking—but it's iconic lol).
She’d ship containers from Australia full of clothes, shoes, handbags, homewares—you name it. I’d help her go through it all, piece by piece. We’d spend hours sorting, pricing, and setting up the shop. I still remember the thrill of spotting something special. It was like a treasure hunt, every time.
We didn’t have much by Australian standards, but in Lebanon, because of that tiny shop, we lived like queens. My mum worked so hard and her store became something really valuable in the community. In Lebanon, new clothes were often overpriced and cheaply made—jackets that wouldn’t survive a full winter, shoes that split apart in the rain. But mum’s shop? It was a haven of quality. People could come in and find pure wool jumpers, sturdy boots, real denim—things that lasted years, not weeks.
It was about more than clothes. It was about dignity, pride and the simple joy of owning something well-made. Watching my mum work, seeing how much people appreciated what she offered and being part of that whole process—deeply shaped me.
Every year we’d come back to Australia for visits and we’d hit up op shops and warehouse sales together before each new shipment. I didn’t realise it at the time, but those were some of the best days of my life—laughing, sifting through racks, finding hidden gems that would bring joy to someone on the other side of the world.
That’s where my love for thrifting was born. And honestly? It hasn’t changed much since.
Today, I thrift for myself—for vintage dresses with stories in every stitch, for hand-embroidered cardigans that feel like they belong in another era, for linen, cotton and silk pieces that breathe life into my wardrobe. I thrift for quality. For charm. For the kind of beauty you can’t mass-produce.
Shopping centres just don’t do it for me anymore. The fabrics feel like plastic, the styles are uninspired and everything looks the same. Whether it’s clothes, kitchenware, or home decor—it all feels hollow. And I refuse to live like that.
I want realness. I want soul.
And honestly, that’s exactly why I created Luminate.
Luminate was never meant to be “just skincare.” It’s an extension of how I live and what I believe in. It started with a simple tallow balm I made for myself (because I could never find halal options) and I just kept refining, learning and growing—until Luminate became the collection it is today. Every product is handcrafted, using nature’s finest ingredients: Bakuchiol (nature’s retinol), Kakadu plum (highest natural source of vitamin C), cold-pressed oils, wild herbs… every formula is made with the same care and intentionality that I saw in my mum’s shop.
Because skincare, to me, is art.
And when you approach anything like art—with patience, love, and attention to detail—it transforms into something truly special.
I believe that’s exactly why we have a 75% return customer rate. In a saturated industry like skincare, that’s rare. But to me, it’s a true testament to the craftsmanship, quality and transformational results we deliver—along with the genuine care poured into every customer experience.
This is what I want for you too: to choose things that matter, to indulge in beauty that’s real and to surround yourself with craftsmanship that lasts. Whether it’s skincare, fashion, or anything else—living consciously, beautifully and ethically is a way of being and it’s one I’ll never give up.
With love,
Sarah, Founder of Luminate Beauté.
