One might assume growing up with OG beauty and wellness influencer and entrepreneur, Liz Earle, as her mum (think of her as the Huda of the 90s), as well as working in the beauty industry and married to the love of her life, Lily seems to be the girl who has it all. However, if her life could be described as a wadi, let’s just say there have been a few major twists and turns, boulders, and rapids to navigate through.
We chatted with Lily Earle about life with several chronic illnesses, and how, at her very worst, she persevered and founded a business to help uplift people around the world.
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On her chronic illnesses…
We unashamedly stalked Lily’s IG before our chit-chat and had some serious questions. She has the phrases “living authentically with chronic illness and invisible disability” and “sorrow and joy can coexist” in her bio. Naturally, we had a lot of questions.
“At the end of 2018, my body started to deteriorate for no apparent reason. I had episodic migraines on and off and was seeing a neurologist, but up until that point they were under control. Then, my health literally just fell off a cliff. I collapsed at home and an ambulance had to break through my door. At the beginning of 2019, my GP told me I had to take three weeks off from work. That quickly turned into months, and before I knew it, I had to resign from being the head of digital for Liz Earle Wellbeing.”
On her extreme migraines (and so much more)…
Lily found herself not diagnosed with one condition, but four. In a long series of visits to doctors and specialists, Lily found out that she suffered from extreme migraines. “I also have an autoimmune disease that produces too much histamine, and my body can’t break it down. Basically, I can have severe allergic reactions to just about nothing. It also triggers irritable bowel syndrome and triggers my migraines.”
“Another disorder I have makes my connective tissue stretchier than it should be. Consequently, it makes my migraines and IBS more severe. I was also recently diagnosed with a type of Rheumatoid Arthritis which totally explains the joint pain I’ve endured for years too.”
On watching her dreams crumble…
While life in London was hustling and bustling, Lily was bedridden. “I spent the best part of 2019 and 2020 in bed. I laid there thinking my life was over and I’d never be able to achieve anything. Growing up in a very entrepreneurial family, I always dreamed of starting my own business. I just watched this dream crumble in front of me.”
While she remarks that her family were as supportive as they could possibly be, she was still riding this wave solo. “No one could understand what I was going through. I started documenting my journey on Instagram and met other people who were posting about living with chronic health problems too.”
“Instead of my Instagram being my highlight reel of life, I chose to put some authenticity in my social media presence. Both the good parts, like working with Cell Return and having my own business and being *really* honest and upfront. If today was dreadful and I’m in agony, I’ll share it. That’s where this learning of joy and sorrow can coexist has come together for me.”
On finding hope in the midst of despair…
Ngl, if we were in the same position, we could easily get lost in an ocean of FOMO. The last thing on our minds would probably be engaging in an entrepreneurial endeavour. Lily, however, is cut from a different type of cloth.
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“I was looking for near-infrared and far-infrared light for pain management. At the time, anyone will tell you that my skin was grey. After spending eighteen months in bed, my face was sunken and hollow. I was already feeling so low, and this just rubbed salt in the wound.”
“It just so happened that my friend mentioned that she saw the Cell Return Platinum LED Mask on a South Korean Netflix drama she watched during lockdown. She’s a plastic surgeon and told me that when she looked it up, it seemed promising. Not only could it be part of my pain management routine, but its skin benefits could improve my sallow complexion.”
“I ended up buying one and the second time after using it, I slept through the night for the first time in three years. I decided I needed to start distributing them because they could really help people.”
On Cell Return…
With technology pioneered by NASA, it’s no surprise that the devices are state of the art. “What makes these products stand out is they penetrate the skin 12 times deeper than LED light alone. The light reaches the fibroblasts that are responsible for the health, well-being, and look of the skin as opposed to penetrating just the upper layer of skin. The Cell Return Platinum LED Mask works with the body to continually produce new collagen. Ultimately, our skin looks younger and healthier.”
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“The device even has a fast mode if you want to give your skin a boost before heading out. The blue light on the mask is great for remedying overactive oily skin and it’s antibacterial too. It’s been proven to kill the bacteria that causes acne, and it targets hormonal breakouts. We also have a new device to improve hair growth and combat Seasonal Affective Disorder called the Hair Alpha-Ray.”
On looking forward…
Lily has come a long way since her days of being stuck in bed, in pain, and depressed that life was passing her by. Nowadays, between jetting off to the Dubai desert or skiing in the Austrian Alps, Lily’s grown in ways she never imagined possible. She’s “always in pain” but has learned to manage and live with it. As far as her future is concerned, “anything and everything is possible.”
For more info about Cell Return, click here.