Australian Cosmetics Brands You Should Know

‘Not all natural skincare products are created equally’ is the war cry of this iconic Australian brand. Brutally honest and free of all common nasties – parabens, phthalates, triclosan, sulfate, aluminium salts and other things we can’t spell, A’kin is 100% vegan and so pure you’ll be left feeling as fresh as a daisy. Their website has a handy tool where you can match your skin type to the products that will best nourish your skin.

Using 100% natural botanical extracts and cold-pressed essential oils, Sukin bridged the gap in the Australian market of effective, environmentally friendly and affordable natural skincare. Chock-full of antioxidants and other skin-calming remedies, these are the perfect products to keep your travelling, sun-weathered, wind-beaten skin lush and smooth. Both ubiquitous in supermarkets and pharmacies as well as easy on the purse strings, Sukin will be your best friend in Sydney.

One of Australia’s fastest-growing cosmetics brands, Australis is a glittery breath of life in the competitive makeup industry. Anything you need for your beauty bag, Australis has it, and at a cost that won’t break the bank. One hundred percent cruelty free, the brand also has its own vegan-friendly range. While they are a budget cosmetic option, they are always on top of current trends and makeup techniques – just take a look at the ‘Cult Favourites’ section of the website!

With ingredients farmed fresh from Adelaide Hills of South Australia, Jurlique controls every step of the produce development process from seed to skin, and, as the brainchild of a biochemist and a botanist, they are easy to trust. Rose is a common theme in their products, with customer favourites including Rosewater Balancing Mist and Rose Hand Cream.

This Aussie brand claims to have products so pure they are good enough to eat. Epitomising purity, luxury and quality, EBA products are packaged in special glass, designed to protect the products from the ageing and oxidising caused by light and lengthening the life of their natural ingredients. Even if you don’t buy it for the illuminating glow it promises, buy it for the chic and reusable bottles and jars.

Created by Australian royalty and former beauty editor Zoe Foster-Blake, after spending years reviewing every beauty product under the sun (and listening directly to Australian women and what they wanted in skincare). The homegrown Aussie brand boasts uncomplicated products that are all natural and cruelty-free. The products have quirky, no-nonsense names (e.g., Very Useful Facecream) and promise a 100% refund if they don’t do the trick.

A recent addition in the cosmetic market by former modelling agents, ModelCo is a collection of quick-fix beauty products designed to help us all look beautiful from prep to finish. Their simple-but-smart cosmetics and skincare are praised by beauty bloggers from around the globe, and they come in perfect travel sizes for the savvy backpacker.

A brand found backstage at fashion shows all over the world, Napolean Perdis, the company namesake, prides himself on using unusual products (like snail mucus and donkey milk) to keep his cosmetics innovative and contemporary. Bright palettes with even brighter-coloured packaging, the shining gold of Napolean Perdis is a glint of affordable Australian luxury for any traveller wanting to glam up for a night on the town.

Established by Australian international beauty icon Miranda Kerr, Kora Organics identifies each customer with their skin type before matching them with their matching organic products. Kerr maintains that a holistic approach to skincare is the driving force behind the developments of her products, believing in natural beauty inside and out. It’s always worth a try – you could end up looking just like Ms. Kerr!

‘Fake it, don’t bake it’, is a saying you’ll have to get on board with if you’re coming to Australia, a country with one of the highest rates of skin cancer per capita. Named after one of the most iconic landscapes in Australia, Bondi Sands is the beloved secret of most Aussie Girls and their golden, cancer-free tans. Derived from salon-quality formulas, they promise that, as long as you read their directions with care, you won’t end up looking like a carrot.