It is time to move over K-BEAUTY – A-BEAUTY is having a moment! In the past few years, there has been a major influx of Australian beauty brands entering Canada and making their way into consumers’ carefully curated skincare regimes.

With a focus on clean and natural ingredients, it’s safe to say that there is something in the Australian water that has many brands pulling from their own backyards for locally sourced botanical compounds. Whether you’re looking for a new product to invigorate your morning skincare ritual or interested in purifying your beauty routine, we’ve lined up some of the most effective ingredients and best products from the land down under.

What’s So Special About Australian Beauty Ingredients?

“Australian ingredients are having a moment,” says Shannon O’Brien, President of Abundance Naturally, a Canadian importer of Australian products. “Why should we be interested? Firstly, Australia is in the southern hemisphere—its warm, coastal island climate mixed with swamplands and desert is home to very unique flora and fauna. These indigenous plants are wild-crafted and harvested in their native regions of Australia, ensuring that all the beneficial and therapeutic properties are maintained from the plant source through processing as ingredients.”

“Secondly, the Australian government highly regulates ingredients, either as medicines that make therapeutic claims (e.g., tea tree oil) regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), or as cosmetics (e.g., rose hip oil, calendula, and sandalwood) regulated by the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS). These two governing bodies ensure the efficacy and quality of the ingredients that go into making finished products. It’s important that when we choose to import products into Canada, we know the ingredients and finished products have been tested for safety and efficacy.”

Top 7 Ingredients

1. Hero Ingredient: Rosehip

Hero Product: KOSMEA Rosehip Oil

The Claim: Rosehip oil is a fruit oil extracted from the hip of the rose—different from rosehip seed oil, which is exclusively extracted from the seed and disregards many of the nutrients and antioxidants within the rosehip itself. Rosehip oil can be used by any person, of any age, with any skin type. The list of benefits is LONG and includes: improving the appearance of scars, burns, wrinkles and stretchmarks; aiding in the healing of breakouts, age spots, sun damage; and more…

2. Hero Ingredient: Kakadu Plum

Hero Product: KOSMEA Reveal Your Glow Mask

The Claim: A major source of vitamin C (more than any other fruit on the earth!), Kakadu plum is one of the most talked-about beauty ingredients of the moment. Packing a huge antioxidant and phytonutrient punch, Kakadu plum is said to brighten and hydrate the skin, while increasing collagen production and reducing pigmentation.

3. Hero Ingredient: Camellia Sinensis (White Tea)

The Product: KOSMEA Eighth Natural Wonder® Revitalising Facial Serum

The Claim: A powerful antioxidant to fight free-radical damage, Camellia sinensis is said to help add moisture to dry skin, fight acne and aid with skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis due to its anti-inflammatory properties. A major source of omega fatty acids, Camellia sinensis is also said to deeply nourish skin cells—preventing deep wrinkles and sagging cheeks.

4. Hero Ingredient: Macadamia Ternifolia

Hero Product: KOSMEA Clarifying Facial Wash

The Claim: When pressed to an oil, this ingredient is said to be the closest match to naturally occurring sebum in the skin. Macadamia ternifolia (the oil derived from the nuts of the macadamia plant), has shown to slow the signs of aging and improve the appearance of scars, sunburns, and other minor skin irritations. A natural hydrator that is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, naturally occurring squalene and oleic acid in the oil also encourages cell regeneration.

5. Hero Ingredient: Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract

Hero Product: KOSMEA Nourishing Treatment Cream

The Clean: The oil from the flower of the calendula officinalis plant, calendula (otherwise known as marigold) is an enriching, anti-inflammatory and soothing ingredient. Known for its anti-fungal properties, the extracted oil can help ease symptoms of folliculitis, promotes wound healing and actually helps to naturally protect skin against UV rays.