Indah

Indah is a natural body care range founded in 2009 in Bali, Indonesia, by Australian Teisha Lowry. The word Indah means ‘beautiful’ in Balinese. The products are handmade in Bali, using ingredients such as honey, coconut oil, fennel, seaweed, cloves, and patchouli. Teisha travels to Bali to farm ingredients for the products, which are extracted from natural, organic flowers, fruits, and plants, which are sustainably grown and harvested. Most of the ingredients are cold-pressed, which means that they are extracted without the use of chemicals and heat. Indah products are free from artificial colours, artificial fragrances, fillers, parabens, sulphates, phlatates and petrochemicals.

The products are free from palm oil, and Teisha supports the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. The packaging is recyclable, made from aluminium, recycled paper, and soy-based inks. A Balinese artist was commissioned to do the designs on the Indah packaging. Indah products are not tested on animals, and the company is an advocate of IDEP (Indonesian Development of Education and Permaculture). They encourage and support Fair Trade, and Mitra Bali, a non-profit, non-government organisation, which helps to improve conditions for Balinese farmers and their families.

The range is primarily targeted towards surfers, snow bunnies, and sun seekers, although is not only for those who enjoy the outdoors, but also who enjoy natural therapies. Indah adheres to the traditional Balinese cultural concept of Tri Hita Karana. This means that the company is committed to working harmoniously with, and respecting, the environment, humanity, and the divine.

The products are:

Surfer’s Body Balm AUD$19.95 in Fresh Soul
Lip Balm AUD$12.95 in Sweet Spice, Wellkiss, and Coco Love
Traditional Body Butter AUD$32.95 in Lovina Beach, Coco Love, and Dreamland
Body Bar AUD$9.95 in Uluwatu, Medewi, and Sanur Reef

Indah products can be bought on Indah’s website, www.indah.com.au, a variety of stores around Australia, and a number of Australian websites. Stockists are listed on the Indah website. There is also a link on the website to the Indah blog.

It’s great to see such a natural, ethical, eco-friendly, affordable brand. The products look amazing. If you live in Australia, then during July, if you spend $30 on the Indah website, you get free shipping and handling.

Fair Trade beauty

We are coming to the end of Fair Trade Fortnight. There are a number of brands which make natural beauty products using Fair Trade ingredients. Trade Aid has a range of Fair Trade soaps, made in the Palam Rural Centre in southern India using sustainably sourced palm oil. They cost $3, and are available in ten scents (Cinnamon, Clove, Coconut, Cucumber, Green Apple, Honey, Jasmine, Neem, Rose, and Sandalwood).

Lush uses Fair Trade cocoa butter from Northern Ghana and Fair Trade shea butter from the Ivory Coast. Dr Bronner’s products are certified Fair Trade by IMO, and use the following fair trade organic ingredients: olive oil from Palestine, coconut oil from Sri Lanka, sustainable palm oil from Ghana, and hemp oil from North America. The Body Shop uses a number of community trade ingredients: organic virgin coconut oil from Samoa, marula oil from Namibia, cocoa butter from Ghana, and aloe vera from Guatemala. They also use hand crafted accessories from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Note: I know that some of the ingredients used in products from Lush and The Body Shop are not all that natural. However, there are some of their products that do contain all or mostly all natural ingredients, such as Lush’s Les Cacas Henna Hair Dyes and Therapy Massage Bar, and The Body Shop’s Natures Minerals makeup range and Sugaring Hair Removal Wax, and it is products such as these that I mention on this blog.

Five cult natural beauty products

There are some beauty products, including natural/organic ones, that are so popular that they have achieved ‘cult’ status. Here are five of them.

Weleda Skinfood 75g $21.90 – This is great for dry, rough skin. I like to use it on my feet.



Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm $12.95 – Super popular, and now available at Farmers as well as Kirkaldies.




Trilogy 100% Pure Certified Organic Rosehip Oil 20ml $22.90 and 45ml $38.90 – I find this great to use on dry skin and scars.





Dr Bronner’s Magic Soap 236ml $14.90 and 944ml $34.9 – This has 18 different uses. I’m not quite sure what they all are, but apparently this soap is quite the multi-tasker. Available in Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Almond, Rose, Baby Mild, Citrus, Lavender, and Tea Tree. Also, the writing on the bottles is quite interesting.


Dr Hauschka Rose Day Cream 30ml $60 – An extremely popular biodynamic moisturiser.

Five products for $10 and under

Some cool products which won’t leave you skint.

Ecostore Conditioner, $9.95 for 220ml – Available in Normal, Fine and Fragile, Dry and Damaged, and Anti-Dandruff

Viola Organics Liquid Soap, $6.50 for 250ml - Available in Lavender, Summer Fresh, and Unscented Mild/Baby

Alba Botanica Terra Tints with SPF 8, $8.99 for 4.2g – Available in six shades

Primal Earth Shave Gel, $8.49 for 175ml – Available in Menthol Cool, Aloe Hydrate, and Extra Sensitive

Blue Earth soap block large $9 – Available in 18 different scents (including Lemongrass, Orange & Lime Swirl, and Rhapsody of Roses), and also a shampoo bar – see http://www.blueearth.co.nz/ for details

Five products for $5 and under

Yeah, you read that right! Cool products for small change.

Phyto Shield Botanical Toothpaste, $5 for 100g – Available in Herbal, Lemon Myrtle, and Propolis.

Jeymar Lavender and Tea Tree Shampoo Bar, $2.90 for medium and $4.90 for large – A nourishing solid shampoo.

Kereru Lip Salve, $4.50 for 6.4g – Available in Calendula, Teatree & Lemon, Geranium – clear, Natural Rose – pink, and Clear Strawberry.

Clear as Mud Face Mud, $4 for one 10ml sachet – Purify your skin with this bentonite clay mask.

Ecostore Boxed Soap, $2.49 for 80g – Available in Coconut, Lemongrass, Manuka Honey & Kelp, and Vanilla.

Methven Homespa range

Methven is New Zealand’s largest supplier and leading designer of faucets, showerheads and hot water valves. They now have a range of body care products, the Homespa range. The products are:

Shower Infusion 37ml $19.95
Body Bar 125g $16
Hand & Body Wash 250ml $24.95
Hand & Body Creme 250ml $29.95
Candle 255g $49.95

They are available in four different scents:

Bliss – infused with jasmine and ylang ylang
Focus – infused with rosemary and lemon
Uplift – infused with grapefruit and pomegranate
Fresh – infused with green tea and peppermint

I have a bit of a thing for citrus scents, so I particularly like the smell of the Uplift products. The shower infusions are designed to be used with the Methven Shower Infusion Pod. The pod can be purchased in a starter pack along with the Bliss and Focus Shower Infusions - $169 for Fixed Rose and $149 for Slide Shower.

The products are free from parabens, sodium laurel and laureth sulphates, synthetic colours, are not tested on animals, and are made in New Zealand. They contain New Zealand botanical ingredients such as Harakeke, Kowhai, and Kawakawa. The candles are made from beeswax and soy and are free from paraffin and lead. Nice!

Stuff that smells like orange

I really like citrus scents, particularly orange, which smells sweet and refreshing.

Akin Sandalwood and Sweet Orange Invigorating Body Scrub 200ml $24.50

Blue Earth Carrot & Orange Cake Soap, $5.50 for med and $9 for large

Organic Surge Orange Blossom Hand Lotion 250ml $20

Stuff that smells like coconut

Coconut smells yummy, and makes me think of tropical islands! Try these products for a scent of the tropics.

Trilogy Botanical Moisture Masque for Dry Hair 95ml $29.95 – A thick moisturising hair treatment with a divine coconut scent.


Ecostore Coconut Soap 80g $3.70 – A gentle soap with natural coconut fragrance.



Alba Botanica Hawaiian Coconut Cream Lip Balm 4.2g $8 – A yummy-tasting vegan lip balm.

Stuff that smells like vanilla

Vanilla smells yummy and comforting. It’s quite a popular scent for beauty products. To name just a few:

Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream 60ml $45 – Smells amazingly yummy. Contains shea butter

Tui Vanilla Lip Balme $6.50 12g – With certified organic New Zealand beeswax

Ecostore Vanilla Soap 80g $2.50 – Affordable, lasts a while, and smells good.

Soap

If you prefer bar soap to liquid hand wash and body wash, there are a lot of natural soaps to choose from. I like Dr Bronner's Bar Soap, available in Almond, Unscented Baby-Mild, Citrus Orange, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, Rose, and Tea Tree. $5.40 for 140g.

I also like Trade Aid Soap, available in Rose, Neem, Cucumber, Green Apple, Clove, Honey Scented (does not contain actual honey, as all the soaps are free from animal ingredients), Jasmine, Sandalwood, Coconut, and Cinnamon. The soaps are 80g, and are $1.95 from Trade Aid stores for a limited time.

Ecostore also a selection of soaps - Manuka Honey & Kelp, Orange & Cinnamon, Goats Milk, Lemongrass, Lavender, Vanilla, Manuka & Oatmeal, Peppermint & Honey, Sandalwood, all $3.95 for 100g. Coconut, Lemongrass, Manuka Honey & Kelp, and Vanilla soaps are also available in boxes, $3.70 for 80g.

Obviously, these are just a selection of the many natural soaps which are available on the market.

Hand washes

If you want to use a natural hand wash, there are plenty to choose from. The most affordable one I know of is Viola Organics Liquid Hand Soap, $6.50 for 250ml, and $9.95 for a 500ml refill bottle. It's available in Lavender, Summer Fresh, and Unscented Mild/Baby. I have tried it in the Unscented, and I like it, though the texture of it is very thin, about the consistency of water. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it foams up really well.

I also like Sukin Cleansing Hand Wash, $12 for 250ml, and $27 for a 1 litre refill bottle. This is a lot thicker than the Viola Organics hand wash.

Some other options:

$15 and under: Natural Instinct Hand Wash 250ml $12, Aveda Rosemary Mint Hand and Body Wash 50ml $13, Living Nature Purifying Hand Wash 250ml $14, A'kin Hand Wash 240ml $14.90, available in Eucalyptus & Tea Tree, and Lemon Myrtle

$20 and under: Blue Earth Flowing Soap 300ml $15.50, available in Oranges & Lemons, and Lavender & Rosemary, Tebe Hand Liquid Soap 280ml $15.80

$25 and under: Duchy Originals Liquid Soap 250ml $24.90, available in Rose & Mandarin, Bergamot & Lime, and Lavender

$30 and under: Natural Instinct Hand Wash Refill 1 litre $27

$35 and under: Emma Green Pohutakawa & Kanuka Hand Wash 500ml $33

$40 and under: Aveda Rosemary Mint Hand and Body Wash 250ml $40