For every budget: Clay masks

Clay masks are great for oily, combination and acne-prone skin.

Low-cost: Natio Spa with Organics Detoxifying Clay Face and Body Mask 210ml $23

Mid-range: Living Nature Deep Cleansing Mask 50ml (10 5ml sachets) $42

High-end: Ren Multi-Mineral Detox Facial Mask 50ml $74

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

MORE new products!

Yes, it’s another post about lots of new products from fantastic Australian and New Zealand brands!

After ink 50ml $19.30 – This is a salve made in New Zealand, designed to soothe tattooed skin. I am pretty keen to get a tattoo at some point. I won’t rush into it, but if/when I do get one, I’ll try this stuff to soothe my skin afterwards.

Also made in New Zealand are: Pot of Gold Skin Balm and Pot of Gold Baby Balm, each $12.10 for 15g, $22.60 for 50g, and $40.10 for 100g. Both have multiple uses – the Skin Balm is good for Psoriasis, Eczema, burns, Dermatitis, cold sores, bruises, cuts, wounds, and dry cracked skin. The Baby Balm is good for nappy rash, dry cracked nipples, prevention and reduction of stretch marks, and chapping or chafing. I have these listed as new products, but actually the Skin Balm has been used in the company’s family for five generations! Bonus: the palm oil used in the products (and also in After Ink, which I believe is made by the same people) is guilt free (comes from a sustainable source).

Australian brand Sukin has a new product – Antioxidant Eye Serum, $23.99 for 35ml. This looks good. It contains some great ingredients including aloe vera, vitamin E, rosehip oil, and cucumber extract. I am a big fan of Sukin products, so I may try this.

Adding to their mineral makeup range, Australian brand Bloom has a new range of Lip Butters, $31. Minerals Plus Lip Butter contains natural mineral pigments, moisturising ingredients including beeswax, shea butter, and rosehip, and also contain pomegranate oil to act as anti-oxidant. They come with a built-in mirror, and are available in eight shades. They look nice; I’m keen to try them!

New from New Zealand brand Evolu is the Rehydrating Facial Masque 50ml $44.50 - I think this replaces the Quenching Hydramask which doesn’t seem to be available on the Evolu website anymore. It’s a moisturising treatment for any skin type.

Ingredient spotlight: rosehip oil

Over the last few years rosehip oil has become an increasingly popular ingredient in many skincare products. Rosehip oil comes from the seeds of a rose bush that grows wild in South Africa and Chile. It contains 77% of fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic).

NZ brand Trilogy uses rosehip oil as its signature ingredient, as do Aussie brands Kosmea and Renew. Many other brands include pure rosehip oil as part of the ranges. Rosehip oil is excellent for moisturising the skin, preventing premature aging, and for fading scars.

Try these:

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil $22.90 for 20ml, and $38.90 for 45ml
Evolu Certified Organic Rosehip Oil 30ml $21
A’kin Pure Radiance Rosehip Oil 23ml $21.50
Egg Essential Care Organic Rosehip Oil 20ml $21.90
Kosmea Skin Clinic Certified Organic Rosehip Oil 15ml $26
Renew Certified 100% Organic Rosehip Oil 15ml $18.50 (also available in 25ml, not sure of the price)
Natio Certified Organic Rosehip Oil 15ml $23

New skincare range for guys

Trilogy has a new range of skincare, Natural Actives for Men, containing pure plant oils, and zinc, copper and magnesium. The products in the range are:

Face Wash + Scrub 150ml $27 (comes with a free golf tee!)
Smooth Shave Cream 150ml $21.90
After Shave Balm 100ml $32.90
Moisturiser with SPF15 150ml $36.90

Super hydrators for winter

The cold weather can really dry out your skin and hair. To add some extra moisture, try these super-hydrating products.

- For face: A’kin Rose & Geranium Pure Creamy Cleanser & Toner in One 225ml $26.90, Living Nature Rich Day Cream 100ml $59, Comvita Huni Intensive Hydrating Mask 75g $45

- For eyes: Antipodes Kiwi Seed Eye Cream 30ml $48, Comvita Huni Every Day Eye Cream 15g $39, Pacifica Organics Eye Cream 20ml $34.99

- For lips: Weleda Everon Lip Balm 4.8g $11, Blue Earth Lip Balm 15ml $11 (available in Lime and Sweet Fennell), Pacifica Organics Lip Balm $11.99

- For body: Living Nature Nourishing Body Wash 200ml $27.50, Sukin Body Lotion, $15.50 for 250ml, and $23.99 for 500ml, Antipodes Jubilation Ultra Nourishing Body Cream 200ml $48

- For hands: Sukin Cleansing Hand Wash, $10.99 for 250ml, and $26.99 for 1L, A'kin Lavender, Geranium & Jojoba Hand, Nail & Cuticle Creme 75ml $15.50, Evolu Nourishing Hand and Cuticle Cream 125ml $23

- For feet: Lush Running to the Embassy Body Butter (it’s a foot scrub bar thing) 95g $16, The Body Collection Plane Sense Foot Lotion 100ml $8.50, Weleda Heel Balm 36ml $25

- For hair: Living Nature Nourishing Shampoo 200ml $27.50, Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner for damaged hair 250ml $19.95, Trilogy Botanical Moisture Masque for Dry Hair 95ml $29.95