Wonders Down Under: The Best of Aussie Beauty Brands

With Australia’s harsh climate, it’s no wonder the Australian beauty industry turn to natural ingredients to combat the extreme effects of the weather. Science is cleverly melded together with nature to produce top-notch beauty products using only the best quality ingredients

The Australian beauty industry is indeed booming, with many of its forerunners being privately owned boutique brands carving a niche for themselves in the beauty world. These companies have successfully grabbed the attention of beauty lovers across America and Europe, just as how Australian actors and actresses are taking over Hollywood (think Simon Baker, Cate Blanchett, Sam Worthington, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman – the list goes on!)

As we are getting ready to launch BellaBox in Australia, we could not think of a better way to get you excited about our first box than to bring you some of the best in Australian beauty brands!

JURLIQUE

This South Australian-based company takes its eco-conscious practices seriously. Jurlique aims to provide the purest, most effective skincare products by combining nature, science and innovation. They pioneered high performance skincare that was based on all-natural ingredients – they were green way before being green was trendy!  Jurlique products are also efficacious; their products have been clinically tested to prove that they effectively combat signs of aging.

Some of their best sellers include the Jasmine Hand Cream. This hand cream helps provide long-lasting hydration and natural anti-oxidant protection, leaving hands feeling soft and supple. Another of Jurlique’s best sellers include its Rosewater Balancing Mist, with DDGDaily.com calling this rose-scented hydrating mist a “heaven-sent” in the humid weather. Jurlique’s Sun Lotion with SPF 30 is also good for the hot, scorching weather as it offers broad-spectrum protection against harm UVA/UVB rays.

AESOP

Aesop is another Australian skincare brand with a worldwide clientele that is committed to providing the highest quality botanical skincare. Their philosophy is to marry botanical ingredients with advanced technology, with all the ingredients carefully chosen for the benefits they bring to the skin.

Aesop Rose By Any Other Name Body Oil; Aesop Resurrection Aromathique Hand Balm

Online magazine Luxos.com strongly recommends Aesop’s Rose By Any Other Name Body Oil. The botanical extracts in this body oil serves to hydrate and soften the skin while providing intensive anti-oxidant protection. Other products from Aesop worth checking out are their Resurrection Aromathique Hand Balm and the B Triple C Facial Cleansing Gel.

A'KIN & AL'CHEMY

The two brands under The Purist Company group also develops products using the finest quality botanical ingredients as the main players in its natural skincare and hair care range. Their formulations are free from parabens, mineral oils, silicones, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, artificial colours, propylene glycol, phthalates and petrochemicals.

Al'chemy and A'kin range

For the eco-conscious, green beauties amongst us, you’ll be glad to know that The Purist Company is committed to reducing carbon footprint in the production of its products and everyday business. They are also against animal testing, and its products are made free from animal ingredients or animal by-products. All products are ceritified vegan and accredited by Choose Cruelty Free, an independent non-profit organization which seeks to promote cruelty-free lifestyle.

LILY LOVES PEARL

Nature nurtures best. That’s what Aussie’s most advanced certified organic skincare brand, Lily Loves Pearl believes in. Troubled by how over-the-counter ‘organic’ products included petrochemicals, Lily Loves Pearl founder, Samantha Molineux strived to provide ethical, effective and pure skincare solutions. The brand provides the highest quality certified organic skincare that is endorsed by beauty editors, health practitioners and is used in spas worldwide.

The Lily Loves Pearl brand uses the ‘anti-ageing’ ingredient, Rosehip Oil that is known to promote cellular repair. The essential fatty acids in Rosehip Oil help prevent signs of premature ageing and also help to even out skin tone whilst protecting the skin against free radicals.

MOR Cosmetics

MOR Cosmetics Lip Balm

MOR Cosmetics is an up-and-coming Australian brand, embodying the inspired expression between Australian designers Dianna Burmas and Deon St. Mor. The two designers combine their passion for travel, fashion, food and the arts, developing highly desired products in perfumery, aromatherapy and cosmetics. With over 150 exquisitely-packaged and highly sought-after bath, body and lifestyle products, the MOR collections include Marshmallow, Emporium, Little Luxuries, Classic Collection, Lip Macaroon and MOR Essentials.

GROWN

Grown is yet another organic line of skincare that came about when a close friend of brothers and creators Jeremy and Keston Muijs fought cancer and couldn’t use most of the commercially-available skincare products. The result? A luxurious range of organic skincare that really impresses. The pure range is packed with anti-oxidants, 100% organic essential oils and plants to ensure the best results possible. The Grown range of skincare is formulated free of Lauryl Sulphate, Glycols, Petrochemicals, artificial fragrance, animal derivatives, silicons and parabens; so you know you can use it even if you have the most sensitive of skins!

NATIO

Natio is another one of the up-and-comers in the Aussie beauty world, having evolved from a family business into an international brand providing some of the best skincare and cosmetics. Natio aims to deliver effective plant-based beauty treatments that are simple and gentle, fitting in perfectly within today’s diverse lifestyles.

Marie Claire UK recommends one of Natio’s best-sellers, their Spa with Organics Pep-up Body Cleanser, filled with natural and organic plant extracts, to give you a burst of energy when you need it most. Vogue Australia also included Natio’s Pure Mineral Foundation as one of their Top 10 Foundations, calling it “mineral makeup magic”. This talc-free foundation contains pure light-reflecting minerals, vitamins and jojoba oils that help to boost the skin’s natural radiance.

NAPOLEAN PERDIS

This brand believes that glamour comes from within, from the physical manifestation of confidence, strength and allure that is brought to life with the use of sophisticated makeup and professional grade tools. Napolean Perdis aims to channel the celebrity in every woman. Now, which beauty-obsessed girl doesn’t like the sound of that?

Napolean Perdis Boudoir Mist Spray Foundation; Napolean Perdis Mesmer'eyes Mascara

Included in Vogue Australia’s list of Top 10 Foundations is the Napolean Perdis Boudoir Mist Spray Foundation. This fuss-free aerosol foundation is perfect for when you need a light coverage, scoring top points as a fast face-topper for touch-ups on the go.  Again, Vogue Australia recommends the new Napolean Perdis Mesmer-Eyes waterproof mascara, as the double-sided wand loaded with black pigment adds volume and separates the lashes for maximum effect and high definition. Other products to look out for include the Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer and the Light Patrol Luminizer.

BECCA COSMETICS

Rebecca Williams, founder of BECCA cosmetics wants to enable ALL women, regardless of age or ethnicity, to achieve a natural looking, flawless complexion. To achieve this, the brand has developed a three-step Skin Perfecting Make-up system that corrects, perfects and enhances any complexion, offering over 20 different concealer and foundation colours.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal

The BECCA line has evolved to satisfy the most demanding makeup artists globally, excite the most respected beauty editors and met the needs of the busiest modern women around the world. Top international makeup artist Lisa Eldridge, who has worked on practically every magazine including Vogue UK and Japan, loves the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector as she feels that this highlighter perfects the ‘summer goddess’ look.

BLOOM

The Bloom journey began in 1993 when founder Natalie Bloom started out by selling greeting cards and gift ideas out of her parents’ home. Years later, Bloom is now internationally recognized and offers over 300 products including colour cosmetics, skincare and a bath and body range.

Their philosophy is to create innovative products made from quality ingredients, while injecting a playful spirit into its conception to create products that are for the young at heart. Celebrity fans of Bloom include Kylie Minogue, Holly Valance, Elle Macpherson and Liv Tyler, among many others.

The designers behind Sass & Bide, Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton are also teaming up with Bloom to create two nail polishes featuring colours inspired by their Spring/Summer 2011 Collection. The pair are the newest to collaborate with the Bloom Designer Collection series where $2 from every sale will go to the Children’s Hospital Foundation. Want to indulge yourself with new nail polishes while doing good at the same time? Here’s your chance!

ADORN MINERAL COSMETICS

This up-and-coming Australian mineral and organic cosmetics brand is 100% natural and toxic-free. Products in its range are suitable for women of any age, ethnicity or skin type. Adorn Mineral Cosmetics are formulated with ingredients that are calming to the skin, thus making them ideal for women prone to skin sensitivities. It is also fragrance-free, making them particularly compatible with delicate skin, providing natural and flawless coverage. Adorn’s eco-friendly and sustainable cosmetics are of the highest quality; and its products are celebrated by make-up artists, stylists and celebrities alike.

One of Adorn’s star product include the certified-organic Hydrating Rosewater Spritz. This toxic-free, moisturizing spritzer will re-hydrate skin and correct any dry or flakey patches. This product is also a multi-tasker, as you can spritz it into your foundation brush before dipping into any loose powder Adorn foundation to get an instantly refreshing liquid foundation.

LIPSTICK QUEEN

Lipstick Queen founder, Poppy King started her own lipstick brand in Melbourne when she was fresh out of high school, purely because she couldn’t find any lipstick she liked. A lover of the 1940’s rich and opaque lipsticks, she decided to whip up her own, and the rest is history! Poppy King loves designing unusual lipsticks infused with the glamour, fun, style and cheekiness that is “inherent in being female”.

Featured in the October 2010 edition of Vogue UK, the Lipstick Queen brand touts itself as “strictly for grown-ups” boasts pigmented lip colours with luxurious feel.

MODEL CO

Model Co founder, Shelly Barrett believes that the brand is all about smart beauty – giving women unique & innovative products that are sophisticated, require minimal effort while still producing beautiful results.

The first commercially successful Model Co product is the Lash Wand Heated Eyelash Curler. Launched in 2002, Model Co now offers over 125 products. Known for being the first-to-market with a range of never-before-seen products such as the Lash Wand heated eyelash curler and its Tan Airbrush in a Can, Model Co has transcended boundaries and sparked off trends worldwide. This Sydney-based company counts celebrities such as Lily Allen and Victoria Beckham as some of its fans.

SUGARBABY

Lizie and Nicci Clifton are the dynamic duo sister team behind SugarBaby, borne out of a youthful love affair with Aussie beach culture and the desire to replicate the fun and relaxing atmosphere of a beach lifestyle. The sister team aim to provide their customers with double duty beauty products and multi-tasking mavens, encompassing the very essence of the effervescent “Aussie way of life”. SugarBaby taps into a niche market in the beauty industry as they couple their products with fashion-forward accessories to extend the brand into more lifestyle-based products.

GLAMOURFLAGE

Glamourflage Cosmetics

Glamourflage was created by English-born Imogen Day, who fantasised about infusing quality skincare and makeup with the flirty personality and class of a 1940s-1950s pin-up girl. Defined by its philosophy “Serious Fun…Serious Skincare”, Glamourflage believes in skincare made with quality natural ingredients which are not tested on animals. Each of their products comes uniquely packaged with an individual story from a glamourous 40s-50s era pin-up girl, taking you on a journey into her exciting life.

What are some of your favourite Australian skincare and beauty brands?