For every budget: Cream cleansers

Cream cleansers are good for drier skin types, because they add some moisture.

Low-cost: Sukin Cream Cleanser 125ml $12.99








Mid-range: Trilogy Cream Cleanser 200ml $39.90









High-end: This Works Clean Skin 150ml $60

Products for new mums

I know a lot of women who have recently given birth, or are just about to, and it’s all very exciting! I don’t speak from personal experience here (I don’t have kids), but having a baby has a major effect on your body (obviously). Luckily, there are a number of great products specifically designed to help with the after effects of childbirth.

Earth Mama Angel Baby has a number of products to soothe post-birth soreness. Try Earth Mama Bottom Balm, $25.50 for 60ml, Earth Mama New Mama Bottom Spray, $24.50 for 120ml, and Earth Mama Postpartum Bath Herbs, $16.50 for 112g. If you have had a Caesarean birth, try the Earth Mama C-Mama Healing Salve, $55 for 30ml.

If you want to use more eco-friendly maternity pads, try Natracare New Mother Maternity Pads, $14.60 for a box of 10. They are free from chlorine, plastic, latex, and perfume, and are biodegradable.

For tired legs, rub on some Living Nature ‘Kekemama Soothing Leg Gel, $30 for 100ml. To soothe tired feet, try Egg Essential Care Cooling Foot Rub, $23.90 for 175ml. Or use a foot soak like Earth Mama Angel Baby Earth Mama Happy Feet, $13.50 for 140gm. For aching muscles, get someone to give you a massage with Egg Essential Care Bath & Body Oil, $27.90 for 175ml, or add it to a warm bath.

To help fade stretch marks, try an anti-stretch mark product like: This Works Stretch Mark Oil, $108 for 120ml; Egg Essential Care Belly Butter, $19.90 for 100gm, or Earth Mama Angel Baby Earth Mama Stretch Oil, $41 for 129ml. There are some more suggestions for anti-stretch mark products on the post about products for pregnant women.

To help reduce the swelling associated with breastfeeding, try Earth Mama Angel Baby Earth Mama Booby Tubes, $39.50. Booby Tubes are a gel-free breast pack made with a 100% organic cotton shell and filled with all-natural flaxseed. They can be used warm or cold, heated or frozen. To support healthy milk production, drink Earth Mama Angel Baby Earth Mama Milkmaid Tea, $22.95 for 112g of loose tea leaves, or Weleda Nursing Tea, $18.50 for 40g (20 teabags).

For sore, cracked nipples, use a nipple cream like Earth Mama Angel Baby Earth Mama Nipple Butter, $24.50 for 60ml, Living Nature ‘Kekemama Nipple Ease Balm, $17.50 for 12ml, Weleda Nipple Care Cream, $11 for 10ml, or Mahu Nipple Cream, $8.95 for 50ml, and $16.95 for 100ml.

I know I’ve mentioned Earth Mama Angel Baby a lot in this post – they have such a great range of products! They also have a range of products for women who have lost a baby through miscarriage or stillbirth. I’m not sure if this range is available in New Zealand, but check it out here.

Facial oils

It may sound odd to put oils on your face, especially if you have oily or combination skin, but there are a lot of oil blends that are specifically designed for the face, like The Herb Farm Intensive Facial Oil, $31.80 for 15ml. It contains calendula, rosehip and tamanu oils and lavender essential oil.

To balance oily skin, try Dr Hauschka’s Normalising Day Oil, $57 for 30ml. It contains healing ingredients such as Carrot, Anthyllis, St.John's Wort and Wheat Germ oil. For a night treatment, try Nude Night Replenishing Oil, $132 for 15ml, which is a blend of omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9.

Some other options:

$30 and under: Bod Organic Morroccan Rose Face Oil 20ml $29.90

$40 and under: Antipodes Certified Organic Divine Face Oil 25ml $36.90

$80 and under: This Works Active Oil 30ml $85, Living Nature Radiance Night Oil 10ml $90

$95 and under: Hema Millennium Face and Body Oil 125ml $95