Local love: New Aussie Brands on the (Beauty) Block

With a bevy of beauty brands near and far, often the ones on our own sun-drenched shores are lost in favour of their bigger, brawnier counterparts. Hence, we decided to charge our stubby holders (or glass of Barossa Shiraz) to the locals; the new wave of Aussie’s imprinting their might and prowess on our skin, hair and body. For in our own backyard, we have been brewing beauty that is both resplendent and trailblazing, all with a truly unique Australian stamp, be it via ingredient, process or sheer ingenuity.

IMAGE: INSTAGRAM @NICOLETRUNFIO

Some fresh out of the beauty womb, others with a couple of years under their belt, we have collated a most impressive list, these warrant plaudit all round. To the youthful, brave and innovative, the new Aussie kids on the (beauty) block: Cheers!

CURTIS COLLECTION

For a boutique beauty brand, Curtis Collectionpacks a most powerful (and glamorous) punch. Owner, founder and makeup artist, Victoria Curtis, has created a luxurious and professional salon range of makeup, including a premier mineral range (for those natural-loving lasses). Available in beauty salons and spas across Australia and New Zealand, Curtis Collection has also been painting the faces of the model throng at MBFWA, a tremendous feat considering the brand only launched in 2012. Pucker up.

SKINDLES (SKIN-THINGS)

Skindles is beauty innovation at its very best. To the naked eye, it seems simply a candle, however, a myriad of multi-purpose beauty uses ensue. Behold, the magic of Skindles – a candle and body butter in one. While normal candles scent your abode, this also counts as a luxurious moisturiser and healer for body and hair, simply massage into your skin while the ‘wax’ is still warm. Combining an array of Certified Australian oils and ingredients, Skindles are designed to hydrate, soothe and kick ageing in the beauty butt (and leave you and your home smelling heavenly).

LOVE LUDIE

Hand poured in the township of Torquay, along Victoria’s coastal fringe, there is much to love about Ludie. For one, Ludie makes wonderful candles. From saccharine delights good enough to eat, like Toasted Coconut and Salted Caramel (drool), to fresher fragrances like Cucumber and Rockmelon, Love Ludie candles are 100% soy wax with lashings of creative flair. The unisex and supremely sexy ‘Alpha’ gets our wick of approval – with woody, heady notes of bamboo, cedarwood and sandalwood to tickle our noses with pungent pleasure.

FRANK BODY

Frank is a naughty boy. He has made thousands of girls (and guys) strip down to the nuddy – and get dirty with his famous coffee scrub. No need for soy lattes here. With just one intoxicating whiff, senses will awaken promptly, and when slathered on skin, cellulite, stretch marks, psoriasis, eczema and other skin conditions are targeted. The humble scrub, with an oft salacious yet amusingly tongue-in-cheek tone, is a social media star; the byword of good business and a creative knack. Frank Body now also wants to muddy your face (all with good reason of course), the new face range also contains caffeine, plus other nifty ingredients like charcoal and clay, with incredible skin-healing results testament. Time to get dirty.

ROHR REMEDY

The Australian bush is the quintessential backdrop of the folkloric fables which make up our history. The backbone of Australian cultural identity, it’s no wonder then that the bush and our bodies go hand in hand so gloriously. Rohr Remedy has crafted a skincare range using Australian bush medicines and dermatological science; tapping into the ancient natural medicine of the Indigenous Australian people and combining it with scientifically proven pharmaceutical formulas to bring an effective, versatile, ethical and naturally native range.

EDIBLE BEAUTY

Like most, we’re a sucker for pretty packaging. Luckily for Edible Beauty, they have a power product to match their equally chic branding. Developed by naturopath and nutritionist, Anna Mitsios, Edible Beauty was borne out of love of herbal and natural ingredients. The lush botanical range includes wild-crafted teas, herbal beauty elixirs and edible skincare; they are completely free of all chemicals and are earth, vegan and animal friendly. A range which is not only beautifully salubrious, but will leave you with a glow that resonates from within.

CROP SKINCARE AND COSMETICS

Crop, as its namesake suggests, comes from the land. The skincare range is made up of 95% naturally derived formulations, whilst the upcoming cosmetics range is over 80%, which yield only the finest results and beautiful makeup to boot. The Australian owned company is also a conscious beauty player, with no testing on animals, suitable for sensitive skin, dermatologically tested and nasty-free (that’s paraben, sulphate, phthalate free to the sceptics and no GMO, PEG, Petrochemicals and Lanolin – yippee!). Natural nuts rejoice; time to crop your old skincare out and crop this in.

KESTER BLACK

Kester Black is pretty much hipsterdom nail-ified. The cool cat Nail Polish is both Australian owned and made, and with a strong credence in supporting local business. Wholly vegan, CCF (Choose Cruelty Free) accredited and subscribing to sustainable production methods, the pretty polish is also high-shine, chip-resistant and follows the “Five Free Formula”, meaning it contains no Toluene, DBP, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin or Camphor. One for the ethical consumer, who also loves to sport a chic mani. Kester Black, you’ve nailed it.

MR SMITH

Mr. Smith is one stylish lad. He also makes a superbly decadent shampoo and conditioner, all in his hometown of mighty Melbourne. With style and substance in equal measure; Mr. Smith Shampoo and Conditioner boasts an impressive CV; sourcing only premium Australian botanicals and essential oils (cacao seed, lime and mandarin to name but a few) they are sulphate and paraben free and never test on our furry friends, making them PETA-Certified and Vegan. So get steamy with Mr. Smith, hair laurels will ensue.

THANK YOU

The Thank You Body Care range is a rare commodity in the beauty sphere; it gives back to the developing world. With a wholly altruistic philosophy, the Body Care range exists to fund life-changing sanitation and hygiene projects in developing nations, with every bottle aiding education, empowerment and behavioural change. It includes washes, lotions, creams, sanitisers and soap bars, all of which are chemical free and ethical (and chic for good bathtub manner). The coolest part? You can track your change. Skincare with a conscience.

ELEVEN AUSTRALIA

If anyone knows good hair, it’s Melbourne’s hair master Joey Scandizzo. The three-time Australian Hairdresser of the Year winner and cult stylist, launched the all-encompassing hair care range, Eleven Australia, following the debut of one hero product, the Miracle Hair Treatment, which boasts eleven benefits for healthy, more manageable hair – thus the name was born. It is high-performance, affordable and simple to use; a philosophy the brand strictly adheres to. For those hairy hair-days – Eleven has your back (or head).

MAISON D’AMORE

Maison D’Amore is all things luxurious and lavish. This palatial wick is cut from only a chic mould, parenting with one of the world’s most respected French perfumers (naturallment). Inspired by the designer’s late grandmothers, Mary-Ellen Maison and Dora D’Amore – the candles are a mutual creative vision which has come to fruition, and most beautifully at that. Cut ties with your old flame and get acquainted with this sophisticated, opulent and ever polished new mistress. She burns like no other, emanating only the finest fragrance, and elicits a sense of nostalgia in one wondrous whiff.