Meet Desré: The Unlikely Founder Behind Nu Allumé
Desré was never supposed to start a skincare brand.
From growing up on a farm in South Africa to becoming a world renowned extreme sports photographer and later founding Brisbane’s first social media agency, skincare was never part of the plan.
Until perimenopause changed everything.
The Least Likely Skincare Founder
Desré grew up on a farm in South Africa, spending most of her childhood outdoors, riding horses through the bush from sunrise to sunset.
Growing up, skincare barely existed in her world. The same bar of Sunlight soap she washed herself with also washed the dishes, the clothes, the dogs and pretty much everything else!
Her first business was braiding peoples hair at the local market before she went on to help her parents build a yoghurt company supplying local supermarkets.
A Life Far From Beauty
Later, armed with a camera and a love of adventure, she travelled the world with whitewater kayakers and became one of the most recognised whitewater sports photographers globally.
She also became the first female ever to win the prestigious Red Bull Illume, the world’s largest international photography contest dedicated to adventure and action sports.
After eventually putting the camera down and moving to Australia, she founded Brisbane’s first social media agency, building digital strategies at a time when social media marketing was still in its infancy.
Then Perimenopause Hit
Suddenly, for the first time in her life, skincare became impossible to ignore.
Her skin began changing in ways nobody seemed able to properly explain. It became drier, more reactive and increasingly unpredictable. Breakouts appeared. Pigmentation increased. Products that once felt fine suddenly didn’t.
Yet most of the beauty industry still framed menopausal skin through a simplistic ageing lens, focused heavily on dryness and collagen loss.
Then came the breaking point.
One day, overwhelmed and exhausted after months of searching for answers, Desré found herself crumpled on the floor of her shower in floods of tears. It was that moment, she realised if the answers didn’t exist, she would have to go and find them herself.
Discovering the Microbiome–Menopause Connection
What followed was months of research into skin biology, the skin microbiome and emerging science surrounding menopause related changes to the skin.
This developed into working with microbiome specialists and formulators on Australia’s Gold Coast. Eventually, Desré recognised something the beauty industry hadn’t:
Menopause isn’t just a change in hormones, it changes your skin’s microbiome. This is what she called the “microbiome-menopause connection”.
Why Nu Allumé Exists
That discovery became the foundation for Nu Allumé, recognising that the microbiome environment plays a key role in how menopausal skin behaves and how it should be cared for.
Because once you recognise that shift, formulation priorities change and the entire approach to menopause skincare changes with it.
Today, Nu Allumé is pioneering the Microbiome–Menopause Connection and carving a new category in beauty, creating "microbiome-focused menopause skincare" specifically formulated for women navigating perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause.
Not because Desré dreamed of starting a skincare brand, but because she had to.
Our Mission: Skincare That Gets You
Let’s be real, menopause changes everything, including your skin. Yet, the beauty industry still treats it like just another aging concern. That’s why we created the world’s first microbiome-focused skincare line designed exclusively for menopausal skin.
At Nu Allumé, we believe your skin deserves more than just hydration and "anti-aging" promises, it deserves science-backed solutions that work with your body, not against it. Our mission is to restore balance, resilience, and confidence to your skin during this transition, so you can look and feel your best at every stage.
Our Approach: Not Just Skincare, Sciencecare
Menopausal skin isn’t just aging skin, it’s evolving skin. That’s why our approach goes beyond hydration and collagen support.
We use the latest microbiome research to develop scientifically-backed formulas to help rebalance and strengthen the skin’s natural ecosystem.
We’ve carefully formulated solutions that target dryness, sensitivity, loss of elasticity, and barrier disruption, ensuring menopausal skin is not just treated, but nurtured and restored.
Every product is powered by prebiotics, postbiotics, and skin-repairing actives, creating a skincare system that works with your skin.
Our Philosophy: Working With Your Skin, Not Against It
We don’t believe in quick fixes or marketing hype, we believe in smart skincare that adapts to your changing needs.
Instead of disrupting your skin with harsh actives, we use prebiotics and postbiotics to support the good bacteria that keep your skin glowing.
Instead of fighting menopause, we embrace it, helping your skin thrive during this natural transition. Instead of chasing youth, we celebrate experience, strength, resilience, and confidence.
Your skin is evolving. We’re here to help it.
Our Commitment: More Than A Skin Brand, A Movement
We are not just creating skincare, we are redefining how menopause is addressed in beauty. Every formula we develop is backed by science and created in collaboration with microbiome scientists in Australia, ensuring our products are not only effective but also deeply rooted in the latest skin research.
Our commitment to microbiome-focused innovation means we avoid harsh chemicals and unnecessary fillers, using only high-performance, skin-loving ingredients that restore balance, hydration, and resilience.
This is skincare designed exclusively for menopausal skin, no repurposed anti-aging formulas, no one-size-fits-all solutions, just products that truly understand what your skin needs during this stage of life.
Menopause isn’t the end of great skin, it’s the beginning of a new chapter, one that deserves smarter, more sophisticated care. Welcome to skincare that finally gets it.
Shop The Range
Gentle Skincare Designed for Peri-Menopause, Menopause and Post-Menopause
Nu Allumé Postbiotic Papaya Cleansing Crème
Nu Allumé Aloe & Snow Peach Postbiotic Day Moisturiser
Nu Allumé Postbiotic Berry Night Moisturiser
