In the lead-up to Australia Day, Rescu. put Australasian organic skincare brands to the test. And not surprisingly, they came up smelling of roses (and almond oil, camellia and lavender).
I was expecting big things during my road-test as Australasians are renowned pioneers in medicine and the skincare industry. A fine example of this is Australian scientist Howard Walter Florey’s crucial role in the creation of the life-saving drug Penicillin in 1939.
Kosmea Australia:
I was first introduced to the Australian-made Kosmea four months ago and am now a slave to their Eighth Natural Wonder Serum and Moisturising Lotion with SPF 30+.
The Eighth Wonder Serum, enriched with age-defying hibiscus extract and rose hip oil, was a welcome break from the cheap, artificial lotions I’ve used in the past. I applied it both night and day and was surprised by how my skin softened. It was like having a natural face lift.
Kosmea’s Moisturising Lotion was also a godsend. It’s hard to find an organic moisturiser with SPF protection – especially one that smells so good.
None of these products have been tested on animals and are free from artificial colours, fragrances, mineral oils, petrochemicals, sodium lauryl sulphate and animal derived ingredients. A huge plus for anyone with sensitive skin, or an environmental conscious.
For more info, go to Tali Shine’s more detailed review of these products on RESCU, or visit the official website: www.kosmea.com
Trilogy:
Trilogy products are made in New Zealand by two sisters who grew up in Australia. They are completely natural and designed for maximum impact on your skin while causing minimum impact to the environment. So there’s no animal testing, they support ethical trade practices, and only use recyclable packaging. They were also the first NZ skincare brand to achieve carbon neutral certification.
I was drawn to Trilogy’s Organic Rosehip Oil ($20.00 for 20ml / $35.00 for 40ml, which has an adorable picture of a baby orangutan on the front. Just by purchasing this 20ml oil, I donated $1 to the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. The product itself is pure and certified organic so I wasn’t worried about breaking out in a rash from strong chemicals. The bottle also lasted a long time, despite my tendency to drown my face and neck in it. My conclusion? You can’t beat rose hip oil for its powerful anti-ageing results.
In the past, I’ve used exfoliants that were like sandpaper so Trilogy’s Gentle Facial Exfoliant ($36.00, 75ml) was a refreshing change. It revitalised my face without scrubbing it raw. Its delectable-sounding ingredients include rose hip oil, honey and macadamia.
I also recommend the Botanical Moisture Masque For Dry Hair ($25.00, 95ml). This masque, with its extracts of marshmallow, avocado, rosehip oil and coconut, brought my brittle hair back to life. Vogue USA also gave this product their tick of approval.
For more info, go to www.trilogyproducts.com
Griffin + Row
Australian-owned-and-made brand Griffin + Row describe their products as “naturally effective skincare”. They use pure plant extracts not scary petrochemicals. Their ‘magic ingredient’ is Centess+Complex, which includes Centipede Cunninghamii – an indigenous Australian plant extract used by Aborigines for centuries for its medicinal properties.
I was lucky enough to try their Starter Kit (RRP: $29.99) and exfoliating cloth (RRP: $16.99), as part of a 4-step anti-ageing skincare program:
The program, in a nutshell, includes:
Step 1: Cleanse – which left my skin feeling clean and smooth.
Step 2: Exfoliate – using the natural cotton exfoliating cloth to remove dead skin cells and restore radiance.
Step 3: Hydrate – an uplifting alcohol-free spray for an instant refresh and a splash of moisture.
Step 4: Nourish – a rich protective cream. As well as being effective, the Starter Kit was well-presented in a travel-friendly ziplock bag, making it a wonderful gift.
For more info, go to www.griffinandrow.com
You also might want to click here for our special on Facial Oils We Love, which explains how natural oils, like rose hip, work.
