As is oft mentioned, Kiwi entrepreneurs often punch above their weight, leading the charge into new areas, even if their founders have little to no experience in the field.
The same rings true in the beauty arena, where every year new brands are launched and grown, their reach often extending well beyond our shores.
Skincare in particular is a huge focus and New Zealand’s skincare brands are up there with the world’s best. While each brand fosters their own identity and focus, the common denominator is that they combine the best of nature – and often locally grown native ingredients – and science in clever modern formulations designed to get the best from your skin.
The Facialist Super Serum and Perfect Cream
Expert facialist Ashleigh Scott, founder of Auckland CBD skin clinic ‘The Facialist,’ has used her knowledge of skin issues and prior experience in skincare creation to develop a line of simple, nourishing skincare. She had previously released a cleasing oil and nourishing face oil, and now adds to the line with a serum and moisturiser. The minimalist aesthetic is appealing but what’s inside is even more convincing. The serum has prebiotics, niacinamide, and kakadu plum for a radiant and resilient complexion, while the pleasingly rich but light moisuriser also includes bakuchiol that works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Velettà Bioactive Illuminating Serum and Revitalise Eye Cream
Former lawyer, Wellingtonian Sarah Bacon created her skincare range Velleta back in 2018, highlighting plant oils rich in natural actives. Velettà is Italian for veil, which hints at the brand’s approach, a silky light protective layer over skin. The range recently expanded to include an illuminating Serum and Eye Cream. The Serum ia saviour for dull, dehydrated skin with jojoba oil, avocado oil, and squalene work to soften and nourish and bakuchiol to tackle those lines.
Emma Lewisham Supernatural Vitale Elixir
Emma Lewisham’s latest, Supernatural Vitale Elixir comes with some big claims about helping to relax and smooth fine lines and wrinkles by targeting muscle movement, but as usual, the burgeoning science-led Kiwi skincare brand has the studies to back it up. The silky new serum is intended to enhance skin density and improve fine lines. The hero ingredient is a Neuropeptide Relaxant Complex said to work to relax the muscle and inhibit the messages stimulating contraction, addressing skin creasing and reducing expression lines. The brand says it is scientifically proven to reduce muscle contractions responsible for wrinkles by 91% after 24 hours, so you can imagine it will be a hot seller.
Xcell Medical Skincare
‘Chirally correct’ correct skincare refers to formulations that contain ingredients that have been tested to ensure that they only contain the active molecules that the human body can use, and the inactive molecules are filtered out. Xcell Medical Skincare is an emerging player in Aotearoa, created by Kiwi skincare aesthetician Jody Burke. It’s extensive line of highly active products offers everything from anti-oxidant cleansers to advanced Vitamin A serums. The latest is Eternal, with a potent concentration of 2% bakuchiol as well as grapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil and more to nourish and renew skin.
Milou skincare
Milou is the newest skincare name on the scene. Created by Libby Boxall, the Kiwi naturopath and nutritionist behind successful collagen brand Dose & Co, and Bailee Wilson-Pledger the new range offers three concise products. Plump Me Up Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Bright & Tight Vitamin C Serum and Give Me The Gloss Beauty Oil include a variety of nutrietn rich actives including native Manuka Black Fern and red algae extract from New Zealand seaweed.
Antipodes Maya Hyaluronic Serum
Antipodes, the Kiwi brand long known for blending nature with science – and unique New Zealand ingredients – in innovative skincare products, has just released its Maya hydrating serum. It contains hyaluronic acid and marine compound Pheohydrane – a blend of green algae, marine sugars, and mineral-rich sea water – to rejuvenate and refresh thirsty skin.
