Move over K-Beauty...
Kangaroos and cork string hats aside, the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Australia is a nation with an outdoor-based lifestyle complete with glowy complexions. Granted, having a daily dose of vitamin D helps but there's only so much dew the outdoors can do. That is where A-Beauty comes in.
Indigenous ingredients, eco-friendly packaging and production and a vast vegan majority are what Australian beauty brands are made off. They are here to treat our malnourished skin, feed our ever-growing awareness of what we're actually putting on our faces, all while ensuring we make the correct sustainable choice.
Following the trends of K-Beauty and J-Beauty, Australian beauty brands have been aptly named A-Beauty. According to WGSN, the global vegan beauty market will be worth roughly $20.8 billion in by the year 2025 meaning A-Beauty is set to rapidly grow in popularity.
The products take a 'less is more' in the ingredients department thanks to Australian botanicals which provide homegrown rich antioxidants. Kakadu Plum, Caviar Lime and Quandong are three ingredients you should specifically check the label for. These are hardworking active ingredients that do anything and everything from fight free radicals, prevent fine lines and boost pigmentation.
The A-beauty brands also commit to no water wastage schemes and carbon neutral production lines using biodegradable packaging and refillable jars. The eco-friendly approach not only speaks to millennials' woke souls but the packaging is ready to take centre stage on their bathroom self and Insta stories.
So without further *ahem* a-dew, here are 7 of the best Australian beauty brands and the products you need from each.
Brand: Dr Roebuck
Product: Down Under Collagen Boosting Eye Treatment, €41, Dr Roebuck available on Cult Beauty
Why we love it: Coconut oil is not a common ingredient you find in eye creams as it's believed to be far too rich. However, this eye cream by Dr Roebuck shows how the fatty acids in coconut oil hydrate and calm swelling which together, banish the appearance of tired eyes.
Brand: Glow Dry Australia
Product: Starter Kit, €30, Glow Dry Australia
Why we love it: Inspired by Australian beaches, GlowDry is an illuminated drying powder for sunless tanning. With natural and organic highly absorbing powders, shimmering minerals and a fresh fragrance the product is designed to eliminate each and every struggle associated with fake tan.
Brand: Aésop
Product: Gentle Facial Cleansing Milk, €50, Aésop
Why we love it: The packaging alone is enough to sing this product's praises. However, thanks to a mix of soothing lavender and grape seed oil, the formula cleanses the skin without foam leaving your skin so hydrated, it'll feel like silk.
Brand: Sand & Sky
Product: Australian Pink Clay Porefining Face Mask, €47, Sand & Sky available at Debenhams
Why we love it: This masks uses Australian pink clay, native macadamia seed and finger lime to detoxify skin leaving it smooth in ten minutes flat. But if you won't take our word for it, take the 60,000 people who purchased this product in the first eight weeks of its launch.
Brand: Inika Organic
Product: Curvy Lash Mascara, €30, Inika Organic
Why we love it: Finding a the perfect mascara is hard as it is but when you want said mascara to also be vegan, impossible. That was until our discovery of Inika Organic. Most mascaras use beeswax as their core ingredient for longer, fuller lashes. However, this mascara contains Carnauba Wax and Vitamin E which allow you to lengthen your lashes and keep them in place.
Brand: Bali Bodi
Product: BB Cream, €28.95, Bali Bodi
Why we love it: While we like to think of ourselves as shepherds - not sheep, this is a brand that sells a product every 45 seconds and we want in. Their BB Cream contains SPF15 which makes for an excellent primer or if you were blessed with good skin, it provides a slight tint that'll give you just enough coverage.
Brand: Kora Organic
Product: 3 Step System, €99.95, Kora Organic available @ Space NK
Why we love it: Award-winning certified organic and natural beauty range created by Miranda Kerr commits to replenishing the skin using highly concentrates actives such as noni extract, rosehip oil, sea buckthorn oil and green tea. Designed to be used twice a day, Kora 3 Step System features three easy-to-use products including a cream cleanser, a balancing mist and moisturiser.
Now if we could only just have their weather too...
For the full article, check out this month's Irish Tatler. On shelves now.
Main image supplied by Dr Roebuck
