The Beauty Diary by Rebekah Scanlan: Best Aussie beauty items

Nigella Lawson is best know as a chef, but she recently shared the “secret” ingredient she puts on her face and not in her cooking.

We’ve heard of J-Beauty and the world is obsessed with K-Beauty — but now there’s a new skincare trend in town and it’s putting Australia on the map.

A-Beauty (Australian beauty just in case you haven’t figured it out yet) is having a major moment right now with people across the globe loving the products being made in our own backyard.

This gel face mask from Aceology looks terrifying, but it’s one of my fave A-Beauty products. Picture: Supplied

Far from the 10-step skincare routine Korean beauty is know for, A-Beauty takes a less-is-more approach to our beauty regimes and I’m totally here for it. Especially as so many are filled with natural and native ingredients, bringing a unique sprinkling of Australian magic to routines around the world.

Here are my five hot and happening A-Beauty products.

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INDAGARE NATURAL BEAUTY ILLUMINO YOUTH SERUM

Nigella sent people crazy over a face oil containing a cactus oil. Picture: Supplied

Available at indagarebeauty.com

Price: $88

Recently, British celebrity chef Nigella Lawson revealed the “magic” trick behind her flawless, age-defying skin — a prickly pear seed oil that she smothers all over her face and hands.

“Put it on at night and you’ll wake up looking as if you’ve been to a spa by the sea, slept 10 hours a night and been off Twitter for a month,” she wrote of the unusual beauty ingredient in her Sunday Times column.

Since then, demand for the product has skyrocketed, with a Australian organic skincare brand, Indagare reaping the rewards and selling sold out of stock in a matter of days.

“Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like this. I never would have thought two paragraphs from Nigella, printed in a newspaper across the other side of the world, could have this impact on the humble little cactus oil,” Indagare founder Tanya Joslin tells The Beauty Diary, explaining the Nigella effect meant her “shelves were ripped bare”.

“It was insane. Prickly pear seed oil is relatively unknown still — particularly outside of green beauty circles — but it has remarkable powers,” Tanya said, adding it has “exceptional hydrating abilities” that make it ideal for mature skin, but also brightens skin and gives it a gives a healthy, radiant glow.

While that all sounds pretty tempting, I have to be honest, this serum is really more of an oil and that’s one beauty item I tend to avoid as I already have enough of my own. But Tanya assured me this absorbs immediately — and boy, she wasn’t wrong.

It has a distinct spiciness to it and it almost feels as if my face is tingling. My skin soaked this stunning product up instantly, leaving me super moisturised without being shiny. It was also a really great base under make-up. I’m loving it and can’t wait to use it in summer as it’s so light on the skin.

BANGN BODY FIRMING LOTION

This smells so scrummy you’ll want to eat it. Picture: Supplied

Available at bangnbody.com

Price: $48

If you like pina coladas, you’ll love this body lotion. It’s made from all-natural ingredients including pineapple fruit extract, known for being rich in antioxidants and having great anti-ageing properties — but does it tone and firm the skin as it claims? Well, I’ve not seen any results on my bumpy bits just yet.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not loving it. The light, creamy formula is super moisturising and a pleasure to apply and I look forward to it in my nightly routine, applying it before bed. It leaves my skin nice and soft and smelling great — but I might need more time to see results on my cellulite.

On Instagram, other users of this lotion have been raving about how great it is on red and inflamed acne-prone skin — so if you suffer it could be something you’d want to try.

JURLIQUE SWEET VIOLET AND GRAPEFRUIT MIST

Give your face an instant dewy finish with this spritz. Picture: Supplied

Available at adorebeauty.com.au, Myer, David Jones and Jurlique stores

Price: $49

It’s not summer just yet, but you can fake it with this juicy mist. Jurlique is one of Australia’s best known beauty brands hailing from a farm in South Australia, and it takes inspiration from its nature-filled home in the hills.

The brand’s rosewater facial mist is its bestseller, but I’m loving this one right now as its zesty scent is really refreshing and invigorating. It’s like having a cold shower on a hot day but with far less effort. I quite enjoy a little spritz when I’m feeling a bit tired as it’s like a delicious slap in the face that instantly wakes you up. It’s also really great for giving a dewy finish to your make-up and adds an instant hit of moisture. Love.

ACEOLOGY FROSE INFUSION GEL MASK

This is A-Beauty that’s actually K-Beauty and it’s all very confusing but I love it so don’t really care. Picture: Supplied

Available at aceology.com.au

Price: $64

If you’ve not seen this mask on your Instagram feed — where have you been? Martha from MAFS — aka The Kween of the Face Masks — shared a selfie wearing the green tea version of this and everyone went nuts. The masks sold out instantly and a wait list was formed as the Aussie owned brand rushed to get more in stock.

RELATED: Martha Kalifatidis’ selfie made this sheet mask sell out

Thankfully, Aceology has now fully restocked from its suppliers in Korea and I am delighted as these babies are unreal. They gel, which tarnsforms into a rubber mask as it dries, went on super easily. This surprised me as I thought they’d be really slippery — and the result is amazing. My skin felt softer, plumper and clearer — this definitely isn’t an ordinary face mask. Oh, and it’s super fun pink colour means when you’re wearing it, you’ll definitely want to take a selfie.

EDIBLE BEAUTY & PURE ENCHANTRESS MAKEUP REMOVER OIL

We all want our cleansers to be next-level but this one actually is. Picture: Supplied

Available at ediblebeautyaustralia.com

Price: $44

This cleanser is seriously next-level. I take a reusable face pad (side note: Edible Beauty do a great make-up remover puff, with a pack of three costing just $14)  doused with the oil and some water, wipe it over my face and watch everything just glide off — even waterproof mascara.

It’s made with jojoba and cherry kernel oils so has a beautiful citrus smell but are super nourishing for the skin too, leaving it feeling really moist — and I hate using that word. But it really is very hydrating. You won’t regret giving this a whirl.

This column is not advertorial content. Every review is independent, honest and ad free.

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