A Lake Macquarie mother has turned a deeply personal connection into a thriving beauty brand, creating products specifically for the time-poor, real-life woman juggling career, family, and everything in between.
A Number That Became a Legacy
For Skye Langowski, the number sequence 11:11 is more than just a coincidence; it's a thread connecting her to her late mother, Karyn 'Kaz' Pringle. Her mother first noticed the recurring number, and after she passed away from a rare disease in 2020, Skye began seeing it everywhere.
"After my mum passed, I knew I wanted to stay in beauty, but I didn't necessarily want to be full-time on the floor anymore," Skye told the Newcastle Herald. A month after her mother's death, while the family was in Byron Bay, they stayed opposite a huge mural spray-painted with '11:11'. For Skye, it felt like a sign.
Drawing on 15 years of industry experience, she and her husband, Gab Langowski, launched their cosmetics business from their home, naming it 11:11 Beauty Pro, initially as a professional-only range for salons.
Beauty Without the BS for Real Women
The brand, now known as The 11:11 Club, quickly evolved to serve a broader audience: busy, working parents. Skye identified a gap for straightforward, effective beauty solutions that fit into chaotic schedules.
"We built this brand to fit into real people's lives," she explained. "We want to show the women who are juggling work, uni, kids, shift work, everything in between, that we are the brand for women doing real life."
She contrasts this with the often-unattainable, multi-step routines promoted by influencers, aiming instead for authenticity. "We might not be thriving, but we are surviving," the mum-of-two laughed.
Social Media Boost and Hunter Heartland
This relatable approach has won a significant following on TikTok, where Skye has amassed 1.4 million likes by showcasing her life and products like express tan, eyebrow kits, and glow drops.
A major boost came when she gifted a tanning set to Faith Ward, one of only four Australians selected for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Ward's unboxing video to her 206,000+ followers sent sales soaring. "That was absolutely wild," Skye recalled.
Despite such viral moments, Skye believes the core of her growth is local. "I actually really think the heart of our growth is right here in the Hunter," she said.
This aligns with broader trends. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Newcastle and Maitland were among the areas with the largest increase in small businesses outside of Sydney. Australian Small Business Ombudsman Bruce Billson noted a "real tailwind" for small business growth and transformation, with strong interest from both men and women.
Skye's advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: "You just have to stop waiting to feel ready because I don't think you'll ever feel ready. Just take that first step."
Other Hunter Business News
Luxury Hotel Development: Work has begun on the first new ultra-luxury hotel in the Hunter Valley in almost 20 years. The $120 million project by Hunter Valley Luxury Hotels group is on a consolidated 164-acre site at Pokolbin, following a $25 million purchase of two landmark wineries.
Law Firm Merger: Newcastle's Braye Cragg Solicitors is merging with Chamberlains Law Firm on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. The criminal law practice will remain independent under a new firm, Kate Maher Criminal & Traffic Law.
Record Banking Transaction: The customer-owned NGM Group, behind Newcastle Permanent and Greater Bank, has secured a record-breaking $500 million wholesale deposit raise to support lending in the Hunter Region, attracting $1.14 billion in investor orders.
