I don’t usually try beauty products for the sake of trying them, unless I have a specific reason to. But this year, I have been prompted to try Australian made, organic or products that reduce empty bottles going to landfill. The reasons have varied and they don’t tick all those concerns in one hit. I thought I’d share my beauty swaps and discoveries in case they are products you might not be aware of.
The main two concerns for me this year have been to reduce my beauty and hygiene costs and make better choices with how the products are packaged.
I err on the side of caution when trying new beauty products because I don’t want to waste money on dud products. A good sign the product is working is how my skin reacts and the presence or non-presence of pimples. I can say these swaps have been great for my skin and have helped me create a clear complexion.
Beauty Swaps
Trilogy Skincare to A’kin
My favourite brand of skincare and my go to has always been Trilogy. I love anything infused with Rose. It’s my favourite scent and I always gravitate towards products with this in their products.
But recently, I haven’t been able to purchase my favourite cream cleanser at my local chemist. Gel cleansers dry my skin out and these were the only Trilogy ones available. So I discovered A’kin, which also offers a moisturizer and toner in one. This product is made in Australia and is much cheaper than Trilogy. The packaging is recyclable and it’s 100% Vegan. I’ve found it has worked really well on my skin when combined with other products.
I love hydrating mists – especially in summer when the air conditioning can really dry my skin.
When Oils for Life Australia shared their new product, Organic Rose Water, I was eager to try it as I had run out of my Trilogy Facial Mist. While the scent is faint, the cost is less, much better on the budget. I decant the rose water into a smaller spray bottle and top up when needed. It can be used as a toner or when your skin needs a pick-me-up.
Makeup wipes have always been my preferred way to remove makeup. I would use one a day, which adds quite a bit to landfill, let alone the cost of buying a new pack every month or so.
Beauty Mover makeup pads are so easy to use. They are reusable and offer an economical and sustainable option to remove makeup.
I’ve always loved using shower gel in a pump bottle, but the empty bottles would be thrown in the bin and I’d question if there was a better alternative. While some can be recycled, I don’t always have the time to get the bottles to where they need to be.
So I went on the hunt for a luxurious soap in paper packaging and I discovered Freshwater Farm soaps, made in Australia, and at my local Woolies! I love the scent and it’s made all the difference to my skin. For $6 per bar, it takes longer to use than shower gel and I have less bottles in the shower. It’s made from a family farm on the mid-north coast of NSW. I’ve purchased some more bars of soap to give as gifts this Christmas. The scent of this soap makes your bathroom smell delicious.
New Beauty Discoveries
I’ve had a bit of a hard time finding a shampoo and conditioner I love.
I have thick, coloured hair that likes to go wavy and sometimes a little frizzy.
After visiting a hair salon to get my hair done for an event, I loved the smell and way my hair felt after using Eleven Australia hair products.
Adore Beauty has great value shampoo and conditioner gift packs. I don’t know if this is just a seasonal special for Christmas, or available all year round, but I bought the Anti-Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner set for less than $50. There are other boxed sets to suit your hair preference, but the value is awesome as you get shampoo, conditioner and another free product. I got a Miracle Hair Treatment in my pack and it’s been fantastic to give my ends a bit of a moisture boost.
The Ordinary Facial Products
I’ve used quite a few oils on my face and have some faves which include Trilogy and Bettyquette.
But when I had a weekend with work colleauges for our Christmas party, we talked about beauty products… and various other products, and my friend Sarah shared with me what skincare she uses. She was recommended to use The Ordinary and it’s available at Adore Beauty. I got to use some of her The Ordinary 100% Cold Pressed Virgin Marula Oil, she also snuck a bottle into my toiletry bag and I haven’t stopped using it since.
A little goes a long way and this oil has no scent. After using it for 10 days, it’s made a difference to my complexion and it’s a winner for me. It’s certainly hydrating and the price of $18.30 per bottle, which could last you for 6 months, is great value for money.
Australis Eyeshadow Palette
When it comes to adding eyeshadow, I often get confused on which colour should go where and what tones I should use to open up my eye. I’ve always been a one colour over the lid type of girl. Or I don’t add any eye colour at all.
At the recent Black Friday Sales, I headed into Priceline to get some Christmas gifts, and discovered these Australis eye palettes, with helpful instructions on the back.
I bought these for half price – around $12.50 each (usually $25) and I’ve been using them ever since. I’ve found the eyeshadow has stayed on, and I’ve now replaced using an eyeliner pencil, by lining my eyes with a darker eyeshadow using an eyeliner brush. It allows room for error and a smokey eye look. And it’s stayed put.
The range of colours in the palette are great for me. My girls especially love the glitter, which is fun and heck, why not for a fun and festive Christmas look.
So they are my current beauty swaps or discoveries that I’ve made in the last couple of months this year. They are better on my wallet, and I haven’t compromised on the condition of my skin.
Keen to share some of your beauty swaps or discoveries with me? What have you discovered lately?
Disclosure: There are affiliate links on this post. Should you choose to purchase an item, I will receive a small commission. I was also sent Beauty Mover to review on The Plumbette. I love them so much, I’m sharing about them on here too.
