The 15 Aussie Skincare and Makeup Brands Every Beauty Lover Should Know About

We couldn’t talk about Australian beauty brands without mentioning Aesop. Established in 1987 with headquarters in Melbourne, this brand brings together sustainable design and high-quality products across the categories of skin, hair and body care. While all of Aesop’s products are worth the hype, there is one that we always come back to and that’s the Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque ($50). This clay-based formula is gentle on the skin but provides a deep cleanse thanks to the inclusion of aloe vera, evening primrose and rosehip seed.

Created by five friends, Frank Body is known for its beloved coffee scrub. Since the initial launch, Frank has also branched out into skincare products including an oil cleanser, a charcoal face cleanser and a face scrub. But we can’t go past the Original Coffee Scrub ($16.95). This baby is vegan, cruelty-free and works wonders on stretch marks, scars and cellulite — leaving skin looking and feeling silky and smooth.

Brothers Keston and Jeremy Muijs founded Grown Alchemist with the intention to create scientifically innovative formulas that are capable of influencing the way the body repairs and the skin regenerates. A standout product of the brand is the Intensive Hand Cream ($30) that is formulated with active botanicals that soothe, soften and hydrate dry hands. And, with all of the pandemic-induced handwashing and hand sanitiser use, a deeply hydrating hand cream is a must.

Founded in Perth in 2001, BECCA Cosmetics has become one of the most well-known makeup brands around the world thanks to its glow-giving products. Dedicated to inclusivity, BECCA produces products that suit a variety of skin tones. If you’re yet to try BECCA’s best-selling Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter ($57), you’re truly missing out. This highlighter has an ultra-creamy formula that melts into your skin, leaving a luminous glow.

The brainchild of former beauty editor and author, Zoë Foster Blake, Go-To is an Australian brand that creates effective, high-quality skincare that is easy to incorporate into your everyday life — no hard-to-decipher labels here. Every product created by the Go-To team is a winner but we particularly love the Fancy Face Nourishing Oil Cleanser ($45). Formulated with botanical plant oils, antioxidants and essential fatty acids, this cleanser melts away makeup, sunscreen and excess dirt and sebum while also replenishing your skin.

Created with a philosophy of self-care, self-love and beauty that is simple but effective, Bangn Body was launched in 2019 by founder Priscilla Hajiantoni and has gone from strength to strength ever since. The brand is currently stocked in MECCA and the iconic yellow tube can be seen gracing the Instagram accounts of local beauty editors and influencers. 

The original Firming Lotion ($48) was the first product to launch in the range and is one we continually come back to. Filled with ingredients like pineapple fruit extract, shea butter, jojoba seed oil and aloe vera leaf oil, this deeply nourishing but lightweight cream helps to reduce the appearance of redness, bumps and breakouts while also brightening and hydrating the skin. Use on your face as a moisturiser, primer and highlighter, on your body as a nourishing lotion or as a hand cream.

The mission behind Alpha-H is to provide results-driven corrective skincare products that build resilience in your skin. With a 25-year heritage, this Gold Coast-based company offers solutions for a number of skin concerns including breakouts, dullness, pigmentation and ageing. One of Alpha-H’s most popular products is Liquid Gold ($59.95), a chemical exfoliant that uses a blend of AHAs to deliver an overnight facial. This product diminishes pigmentation, acne and sun damage while also boosting moisture levels, with results noticeable in 20 minutes. It has a loyal following for a reason and we’re massive fans of this product and brand.

If you haven’t yet found an SPF product that works for you, Ultra Violette is here to help. Created by two veterans of the beauty industry, Ava Matthews and Bec Jefferd, the pair wanted to formulate products that layered under makeup and slotted easily into your skincare regime. And, you’ll never have to deal with products that pill, ball or shine thanks to the superior formulations. Ultra Violette offers a number of sunscreen products that suit a number of skin types. Our favourite is the Supreme Screen SPF 50+ Hydrating Facial Sunscreen ($45) as it’s the perfect all-rounder sunscreen. It has a clean scent, works for normal to dry skin and never leaves a white cast. The best.

Ulrike Klein, a horticulturalist and botanist, and Jurgen Klein, a biochemist and naturopath, created Jurlique in the hills of South Australia. Harnessing the healing powers of nature, Jurlique is one of Australia’s most loved skincare brands and for good reason. You can’t go wrong with any of the Jurlique’s offerings but we particularly love the Rosewater Balancing Mist ($52) as it provides instant hydration, restores skin’s radiance and supports the moisture balance. Use as part of your skincare routine or spritz your face throughout the day for a burst of moisture. This product is also an easy way to refresh makeup, making it a must-have in your handbag.

Founded by cosmetic chemist Ross Macdougald in 2017, Biologi is the first brand in the world to provide consumers with Clean Cosmeceuticals in the form of stable, 100% active plant phyto-nutrients. Biologi’s range of products is undiluted, free from fragrance and aims to transform the look and feel of your skin. A particular favourite is the Bf – Restore Face & Body Serum ($34), a multipurpose product that uses phyto-actives like vitamin C to protect from environmental damage and brighten skin, as well as ferulic acid for protection against UV radiation and tryptophan to strengthen the skin and lock in moisture. 

Based in Sydney and created by Kirsten Carriol, the idea for LANO harks back to her childhood, where her grandfather’s calloused hands magically became soft after a day of shearing sheep. Carriol later found out from her molecular scientist father that the reason for this was the lanolin within the wool, which mimics the hydrating oils of human skin. All of LANO’s products are made with lanolin that naturally occurs in sheep wool and is sourced from local farmers in Australia and New Zealand. 

The intensely hydrating Golden Dry Skin Miracle Salve ($17.95) by LANO is a real winner and is formulated with lanolin, anti-bacterial and healing Manuka Honey as well as vitamin E. This ointment can be used all over the body – on rough feet, itchy legs, scaly hands and also works wonders on dry lips.

One of Australia’s most loved brands, Kester Black creates lipstick and nail polish products that are clean, vegan and long-lasting. But style is as important as substance, so you’ll find a plethora of on-trend and classic colours that suit every taste. The brand is also certified carbon neutral and donates 2% of all revenue to social causes, so it’s a win-win. Kester Black’s Nail Polish ($26) is one of our favourites and worth picking up a bottle.

With an emphasis on raw beauty, MAAEMO was created by Hilary Wilcox, a naturopath who’s passion for health and wellness collided with her appreciation for skincare. MAAEMO’s products are free of harmful chemicals, certified organic and vegan and cruelty-free, while the packaging is made from glass bottles and recyclable eco tubes making it a win for the environment. If you’re on the hunt for a new exfoliating product, look no further than the Fruit Enzyme Refiner ($54.95), which uses AHA fruit enzymes to break down dead skin cells while also boosting cell renewal.

After running a successful model and talent agency in Sydney, Shelley Sullivan founded ModelCo and launched the cult brand in 2002 with the first-to-market heated lash curler. Nearly 20 years later, ModelCo is an internationally recognised brand that creates affordable and high-quality beauty products. A particular favourite is ModelCo’s LashXtend Tubing Mascara ($28), which coats your lashes from root to tip while providing maximise length, volume and definition without clumping, smudging or flaking.

Using jojoba beans harvested from a family farm in Australia’s Riverina region, the process of creating The Jojoba Company was a lengthy one. The team planted their first crop 20 years ago and received their first harvest in 2008. Since then, The Jojoba Company has created a loyal following thanks to its high-quality products that are natural, cruelty-free and vegan friendly. You can’t go past the cult product Australian Jojoba ($19.95), which can be used across face and body to treat dryness, redness and irritation. A must-have for your skincare kit!