Celebrate Australia Day With These 10 Aussie Beauty Brands

When Megan Larsen founded Sodashi in 1999 she made a commitment: no hidden ingredients, no synthetic chemicals and absolutely no compromising. She’s kept true to her word, with Sodashi taking an almost artisanal approach to their production. They release all of their products in small batches and everything is made on-site. With Sodashi being a fixture in over 25 spas across the world, it’s clear the products are also super effective.

From the Gangsta Grip bonding resin to the Root Canal volumizing spray, you only have to read this haircare brand’s labels to fall in love. But cheeky descriptions aside, Evo is serious about the product they’re selling. Their goal is to take a stance against the truth-stretching that often goes on in the beauty industry and they don’t subscribe to false promises or gimmicks. Their choice to be real with their customers is what’s earned them a lot of support.

If you’re like 90% of the population, you probably first heard about Becca Cosmetics in 2015 after the launch of Champagne Pop, the best-selling highlighter they created with beauty guru Jaclyn Hill. Or at least that’s probably when you first started paying attention. But truth be told, Becca has been around for a while, with Aussie Rebecca Williams creating the line back in 2001 while on the hunt for the perfect foundation.

More and more we’re seeing brands try to cut back on chemicals and Original Mineral was one of the first haircare brands to pioneer that movement. Back in 2013 O&M did what many said was impossible and developed Clean Colour Technology, meaning their professional hair colour was free of ammonia, PPD and resorcinol.

No Pong is a leading the way in the land down under in natural alternatives to conventional deodorant. ‘Pong’ is actually Australian slang for an unpleasant smell, but Pong’s blend of coconut oil and beeswax claims to keep fresh all day. We also love that one of the founders is Canadian.

Coffee scrubs aren’t anything new, but when Frank Body launched their own version five years ago, they suddenly developed a kind of cult following. With cute packaging and tongue-and-cheek marketing, they’ve become a huge Aussie success story. Now they’ve expanded to sell everything from face masks to lip tints.

KORA Organics is the baby of supermodel, skincare enthusiast and native Australian, Miranda Kerr. Though the line launched in 2009, it’s really started to gain momentum in recent years, launching in over 300 Sephora stores in the US and at Sephora online in 2017 and officially in Canada in 2018. Bonus fact: Kerr uses rose quartz to energise her products.

Lük wants you to see their lab as more of a kitchen. Their entire product range is built on harnessing the power and beauty of food. With a team that takes their knowledge of food and nutrition and uses it to create natural products, they’ve developed a lineup that is both synthetic and toxin free. Expect your ingredient list to include anything from seeds to vegetables.

When you think zinc, you might first picture faces streaked white with opaque sunscreen. But this Aussie brand is determined to change that. Giving all the benefits of zinc oxide, without the embarrassing finish, its become the leading zinc sunscreen brand in Australia.

Eleven launched (fittingly) back in 2011 with just their Miracle Hair Treatment. Eight years later they’ve amassed a line-up of 27 haircare products that are all PETA approved, paraben free and use recyclable packaging. With creative directors like the four-time Australian Hairdresser of the Year, Joey Scandizzo, at the helm it’s no surprise that the products are so popular.

Famous for their powdered foundations, Nude by Nature is an Aussie brand that uses 100% natural ingredients. These include some of their home country’s best kept secrets like lilly pilly, quandong and kakadu plum.

Kosmea’s founder, Marie Kapetanakis discovered the benefits of rosehip oil back in 1993 while making an at-home face mask and today it’s her organic skincare brand’s star product.