As CF celebrates the inherent connection between beauty brands and their countries of origin in our Around the World In Beauty series, take a trip ‘down under’ to discover Australasia beauty – one of the world’s growing beauty markets.
Despite being currently dominated by the Australians, brands from New Zealand and even Fiji are also entering the global marketplace from Australasia, leading to category-transforming innovations in skincare, haircare and bodycare. You can expect a focus on natural ingredients, but with proven efficacious results; mineral-based makeup solutions specifically designed to be gentle to your complexion; and even a rising number of fragrance brands making them mark using local ingredients.
Read on to discover the best Australasia beauty brands to enrich your routine…
Skincare
There’s two things you should know about Australian and, increasingly, New Zealand-based skincare brands. Firstly, many of the most exciting ones are founded and headed up by seriously inspiring female founders – from models and tech entrepreneurs to beauty insiders – who you’d definitely want to swap beauty routines with. Secondly, and perhaps unsurprisingly, you’ll also find them tearing up the rulebook when it comes to transforming your complexion, with natural and eco-friendly formulas to soothe and protect.
Alpha H, founded by skincare trailblazer Michelle Doherty, was 'doing' exfoliating acids before they became a trend on social media, and despite all the other brands crowding into the market, Liquid Gold is still firmly in the running for first place. It uses one of the most powerful AHAs, 5% glycolic acid, to exfoliate away dead skin cells, so you can quickly see a brighter-looking complexion and the reduced appearance of enlarged pores and dark spots over time.
When the international model Miranda Kerr couldn't find skincare that was both natural and results-driven, she took action – launching her now award-winning certified organic and natural brand with natural alternatives to the beauty industry's biggest and best actives. This serum for example is a natural alternative to retinol, which uses bakuchiol and alfalfa extract, to tackle fine lines and uneven tone.
Jurlique makes all its products on the only biodynamic+ farm in Australia, meaning even the most planet-conscious customers can track the quality of the natural ingredients that are grown, harvested and extracted there. This cleansing oil is a leading example of the brand's 25 years experience in organic beauty, with its rich combination of botanicals, such as birch, calendula and rosemary, making light work of even stubborn makeup and SPF.
Grown Alchemist, as the name suggests, is the perfect example of how Australian innovation is increasingly combining the power of nature with the power of science. The 100% natural formulas make use of some super exciting ingredients, such as peptides that can trigger your skin's natural renewal process, leading to better moisture retention, less irritation and a healthier-looking complexion. The unisex moisturiser is so good, your partner is likely to steal it.
A standout brand among the region's leading approach to sustainable skincare, every Antipodes product is like a caring hug for the skin. With calming, soothing creams that are certified vegan and organic, with traceability quite literally from 'face to face', the packaging also keeps the environment in mind, The glass jars are recyclable – saving 10 million plastic jars from entering landfill so far – and the labels are printed with biodegradable eco-inks too.
We couldn't take a digital trip to Australasia without discussing sunscreen and Ultra Violette. Founded by Ava Matthews and Bec Jefferd, this brand has redefined what you thought you knew about sun protection. Far from sticky, heavy and clogging formulas, the brand focuses on creating 'skinscreens', which are as good for your skin as they are for protecting you from the sun. You really have no excuse not to wear it every day.
If you don't know about New Zealand-born skincare brand Emma Lewisham yet – you soon will. The former tech executive only launched her brand in 2019, but the founder can already count Margot Robbie and Naomi Watts as firm fans. With its carbon-positive beauty model, B Corp sustainability certification and instantly recognisable purple refillable bottles filled with natural, skin nourishing formulas, there's lots to get excited about. Try the travel-sized set for your next inflight routine.
Makeup
The overall phrase to define Australasian makeup is ‘caring for your complexion’. While there’s plenty of focus on longevity and wide-ranging, flattering shades, the true standout is how the formulas are designed to be gentle to your skin. It’s an opportunity to discover mineral-based, lightweight textures combined with natural ingredients, for makeup looks that provide a healthy radiance and subtle definition for all ages and skin tones.
Born from demand from conscious beauty consumers in Sydney, Nude by Nature helped raise the profile and celebrate both the benefits of mineral makeup and Australian ingredients such as radiance-boosting kakadu plum. This lightweight powder foundation is a trustworthy holiday companion, as the coverage blurs away imperfections, redness and controls oiliness without drying out your skin.
If you were to ask a group of beauty editors to tip out their handbags, its likely a tube of Lanolips would fall out – such is the global influence of this lipcare essential. The key ingredient, lanolin, mimics your skin's natural oils for deep nourishment that can be used not just on your pout, but on dry patches of skin and your cuticles.
Originally, mineral makeup brands had a reputation for having pigments that didn't quite live up to expectations, and then Inika came along. The range is certified organic, vegan and cruelty free, with lightweight essentials ranging from eyeshadows to mascaras to foundation. If you want to make your makeup routine a little more sustainable, give this blendable, buildable palette a try.
Suva Beauty is proof that if more Fijian brands enter the beauty market, they are likely to make a real impact in changing how we apply makeup. The range of 'just add water' pigments allows you to create creative eyeshadow and eyeliner looks, without being limited by the flex of a pencil or pen. There's a rainbow of colours to choose from, but the jet black is a trusted classic.
Haircare
From haircare solutions that help tackle hair damage to brands at the forefront of the sustainability revolution, Australasian beauty is at the heart of the movement to shake up how we look after our hair. Plus, whether you have poker-straight type 1 hair or tight coily type 4, there’s something to delight everyone, whether you are searching for a deep-cleaning shampoo or a product that holds your style all day.
One of the original shampoo bars, Ethique was founded as a family business (Brianne West set it up in New Zealand with her mum in 2012). From there, it helped power the global movement to minimise excessive waste in the haircare industry. The range of vegan, 100% plastic free products now also includes conditioning sticks, solid cleansers and bodycare bars – all of which are a top CF team recommendation for travelling hand luggage-only.
ELEVEN Australia arrived on the haircare scene with a bang in 2011 with its Miracle Hair Treatment coming to the rescue of our sorry-looking strands. Now with shampoos, conditioners and styling products to offer too, the brand uses nourishing Australian ingredients, such as desert lime and antioxidant-rich quandong fruit, alongside deliberately straightforward product names and instructions to make the quest for good hair days everyday a lot easier.
Nowadays, if you ask a hair stylist for a simple way to reduce hair damage at night, they'll almost certainly suggest you invest in a silk pillowcase. Yet, the beauty world was hardly taking about them before Slip came on the scene, bringing with it the most glamorous and covetable pillows, sleep masks and hair scrutchies to end your 'bed head' nightmares. This brand is still the darling of beauty editors across the globe.
Australian hairstylist Kevin Murphy created his namesake brand after noticing on shoots how even models' hair became dull and lifeless as the day dragged on – so what hope was there for the rest of us. That's why within each bottle of shampoo, conditioning or styling cream you'll find volume, shine and nourishment in droves, with formulas, of course, for all hair types.
Bodycare and Fragrance
You can certainly trust your body to the care of the Australasians, not least because its the birthplace of one of the most famous faux tanning brands on the market. In fact, there’s a product for all your summer bodycare needs, from effective scrubs and lotions that take the chore out of prepping your skin, to the very latest summer scents that are made extra special by their use of local ingredients.
Considering the country is seeing first-hand the effects of a depleting ozone layer, Australians really know that the only safe tan is a fake tan. Luckily, its home to one of the world's best-known tanning brands, Bondi Sands – the go-to choice for committed tanners who don't want to ever compromise. With no-fuss formulas that provide a golden glow without the streaks, plus a holiday-inspiring coconut scent, you don't have to either.
From tackling dry elbows and lacklustre limbs to treating body breakouts, Frank Body puts some enjoyment back into the process of getting your body ready for the summer weather, in signature Aussie style. The combination of sea salt, coffee beans and sweet almond oil in this scrub makes getting a deep exfoliation from neck-to-toe easy for even the most time poor.
AESOP may no longer be directly owned by Australians (it was bought by L'Oreal in 2023), but it was founded by them and has lost none of the relaxed yet considered luxury aesthetic that sees it take centre stage in the chicest of bathrooms. So much so that the body and hand cleansers especially make for the perfect housewarming gift.
One of our beauty editor's latest fragrant finds, the magic of Goldfield and Banks fragrances is the unique scents they gather from Australia's landscape. For this uplifting summer fragrance, the company explored the otherworldly aromas of the Atherton Plateau, where ancient rainforest, sugarcane fiel and crater lakes collide, becoming the first perfume house to use Red Back Ginger within its enveloping fresh ginger accord.
Currently the only Māori owned-and-operated perfumery in the world, Curio Noir offers scents that will not only quickly become your new signature, but which are steeped in heritage. The best way to try the collection is via the Curiosity Set, and although you do currently have to pay steep delivery charges outside New Zealand, its worth it to experience the lingering, sensual fragrances come alive.
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