Mum of two uses chemotherapy side effect as inspiration for business idea

Mum of two Jess Armstrong was given news every young parent dreads in April 2023.

She had breast cancer, and immediately quality time with five-year-old daughter Daisy and three-year-old son Jock was replaced with six months of aggressive chemotherapy treatment.

Armstrong expected it would be tough on her physically and emotionally, but she did not expect one part of her daily routine to change so drastically.

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"Chemotherapy has a wide range of side effects...It came out in my skin as I had deeply sensitised skin - to the point where I couldn't even touch it," she said.

"It was flakey, red, very, very dry.

"Everything that I used to use, I couldn't use anymore. It would burn, it would sting."

Armstrong learned she needed to avoid what she calls the "dirty dozen" ingredients, including fragrances, synthetic dyes, parabens and sulphates.

So she started FUCA, a skincare and beauty brand for people with highly sensitised skin, including those fighting cancer.

"FUCA stands for F U Cancer," she said.

She may be still packing orders in a little room at home, but her business is about to soar.

Beauty retailer Mecca is getting behind her brand and stocking FUCA products from March 2025, with a percentage of Armstrong's profits going to Breast Cancer Network Australia.

"To one day walk in there and see it on the shelves, it's something out of my wildest dreams really," she said.

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