My go-to (basic!) natural skincare products

There's not a lot on my bathroom shelves, but what I have is goooood!

*A quick reminder that I’ll be going live on Zoom tonight at 8pm my time (AEDT). The topic for this conversation will be on: Balancing Motherhood and Identity: Navigating personal passions and self-care while raising kids. The Zoom link is in the bottom of this post. Hope to see you there! xx

My mum has always been the type to get distracted in the beauty section of a department store, lured into the latest creams, gels, lotions and potions hoping it will make all her wrinkles disappear and she’ll look twenty years younger. I have several childhood memories of standing around with my siblings while my mum sampled different products at various beauty counters. Mum’s bathroom cupboards and drawers were always stocked full of half-used jars and tubes! 

I don’t know if it’s because my mum always looked the same to me (beautiful) no matter what potion or lotion she tried, or if it’s because I was just born with a lack of interest in the stuff, but personally I can think of nothing I’d rather do less than stand around sampling different beauty products. 

Until recently, my skincare regime consisted only of a cleanser and a moisturiser. I had never used a serum or facial oil or eye cream in my life! As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started putting a bit of extra time and attention into my skin, mostly in my evening before-bed routine. I love putting face oil or an overnight lotion onto my face and climbing into bed knowing my skin will be nourished all night while I sleep.

I’m also dedicated to using only natural products on my skin. I believe they’re better for our bodies, better for our planet (and the oceans we swim/surf in!), and I just feel better supporting businesses that prioritise the environment. In the last few years I’ve discovered a few brands which tick the boxes in terms of organic and natural ingredients. Below are some favourite skincare products.

• The Hydrating Cleansing Lotion from Mukti is my favourite cleanser. It feels so soft and nourishing on my skin and never dries it out. The smell is divine too. I massage two squirts onto a dry face before adding water — a tip my sister taught me back when we were in our early twenties!

• The buttery Marigold Hydrating Crème from Mukti is a favourite face moisturiser — it’s rich and creamy and feels so good.

• If my skin is feeling dry in the winter months, I like to dab a bit of the Jurlique Activating Water Essence onto my face before applying moisturiser. I think it helps lock in an extra layer of moisture to keep my skin extra hydrated.

• The Mainstay Everyday Oil is my favourite body oil. I can’t get enough of it — it smells so good! I also love the Undaria Algae Body Oil from Osea. I lather oil onto my body after I get out of the shower in the morning and before I hop into bed. It’s like self-care in a bottle! (If you prefer a body balm instead of a body oil, the Osea Body Balm is nice too — I tried a sample when I was in LA last year!)

• The Superdose Luminosity Masque from Sans Ceuticals is a wonderful weekly treat to my skin. I usually put this masque on once a week when I take a long bath, and try to leave it on for at least 15 minutes. The new Superdose Sleep Infusion Masque is also the biggest overnight treat to the skin.

• For sun protection, I’ve been using the SPF 50+ sunscreen from Mother SPF (for my body) and the Zinc Lotion from Living Libations for the face and neck.

• My favourite perfume is the Lua natural perfume by Nadia Narain. I’ve been using this for the last six years.

• Lastly, I know it’s an extreme statement, but don’t think I could live without the Weleda Everon Lip Balm. If I could only take one skincare product with me to a deserted island, that would be it.

I’ve previously shared a video with my morning beauty routine. I walk you through the basics of my get-ready routine, including the make-up I use for a no-makeup look. I’ve also shared a video tutorial with hair tips for achieving non-frizzy curls without looking like I have product in my hair.

If you have favourite natural skincare products you love, please share in the comments.

xx