Estelita Huijer is a Filipino-Dutch model and self-taught eco-fashion designer from Sydney, Australia. As a designer, she focuses on using pre and post-consumer waste materials, creating one-of-a-kind sustainable pieces that transcend corporeal form and exist as what she describes as "wearable art".
As a model, she favours a natural, less-is-more approach. With long dark hair that skims her waist and soft honeyed skin, hers is an effortless beauty. Wearing no makeup and letting her hair fall naturally, she has a fondness for natural skincare and wellness — believing deeply in inner health and the practise of self-care and gratitude.
Through cracks of pale yellow light, Par Femme sits down with Estelita — fresh from a dip in the surf — in her eclectic beachside nook in North Bondi. Here, she expounds her love of spirituality, self-pleasure and the power rituals play in her path to self-love...
What’s in your bedside drawer? Talk us through your products and why they’re bedside essentials…
- Vida Glow Anti-G-OX-Citrus - I like to keep next to my bed to remind me to take my vitamins in the morning
- RAWW Pep Up Body Oil - I love to use this body oil most evenings after my shower, it makes your skin silky and smooth. It's blended with jojoba oil, wildberry harvest, geranium, lemongrass and peppermint.
- Antipodes Hand & Body Cream - my last step in my bedtime routine is to moisturise my hands just before I fall asleep. I love this cream it is very hydrating with marigold bloom oil and has a beautiful gardenia scent.
- Payot My Payot Sleep and Glow Masque - I love this sleep mask and try to make sure I use it at least once a week. You wake up with the softest, most radiant skin and it is made with natural organic ingredients like pomegranate, goji and acai.
- Rose Lift Collagen Patches - I actually also try to fall asleep with these patches on because I feel like the longer you leave them on the better. They are under eye patches that contain a collagen-boosting peptide.
Do you practise “self-care”? And what rituals do you believe are important in self-care?
I believe my rituals are very important to my self-care. Making sure I'm trying to live to my best ability, by taking the best care of my health, mental health, skin and spiritual growth.
What’s your nighttime / wind down routine or ritual?
I like to have a hot shower, get in my towel robe and do my skincare routine. I get into bed and read to wind down then I write my three gratefuls for the day, moisturise my hands and fall asleep.
Do you read in bed, if so what?
Yes, I always try to read, I find it helps me fall asleep. I generally only read self help, spiritual or business books. Example would be Joe Dispenza's ‘Becoming Supernatural’.
What’s the last thing you do before bed / sleep? (Has this changed regarding use of technology, etc?)
Read, I try not to have my phone in the bedroom when I sleep and no screens one hour before winding down.
What’s something you only do in bed, and nowhere else?
Self-pleasure...
What’s the last you think about before you go to sleep....
I try to think about my dreams in life and try to do a little visualisation around it.
Par Femme is all about pleasure, sensuality and empowerment. How has your relationship with these things changed over time? Why do you think these things have been taboo subjects, for women especially?
Sadly, I feel like most women have been conditioned to be the pleasers but not speak about it as it was maybe deemed unladylike. But I do think it's really cool see the world changing and people being more open and honest about pleasure, sensuality and empowerment. As I've gotten older, I feel things have changing. I'm more comfortable talking about pleasure and sensuality but I’d be lying if I said it didn't make me uncomfortable to talk about sex for a very long time.
Is self-pleasure important, and why?
Yes, I think it is important to discover yourself more intimately and explore your pleasures. Know what you like and don't like.
As a society, we talk a lot about self-love and self-care. What does they look like to you, and why do you think they’re important?
I think it's very important to always be working on your self-love and self-care. For me, it's regularly reviewing my routines; from skincare to my gratitude list to diet and exercise. Just making sure that they are always incorporating things that make me feel love and help me grow my self-love more.
What sex / love advice would you give your younger self?
Focus on yourself, explore yourself and don't be afraid to be open and honest about what you want in love and sex.
How do you stay creative? And do you find there’s a link between sexual satisfaction and heightened creativity?
To be honest, I think in the past I tended to get lazy creativity when I'm having a lot of sex. I have such highs and lows with creativity. I feel like I have much more to explore in the link between sexual satisfaction and heightened creativity as i'm progressing in life I'm becoming more aware of how these things can affect us.
Pick one:
PJs or naked? Naked in summer / Pj’s in winter
Lights on or off? Lights off
Late night snack or nothing? Sometimes
Shower before bed or no? Shower before bed
Shop Estelita's Bedside Drawer and more at Oz Hair and Beauty today.
