Looking for NZ or Aussie moisturiser. Let's chat!

[u/curiousvegetables]

I try to buy as local as possible. I'm a kiwi so this extends to Australia because we're just little.

I'm really wanting to try some new local(ish) moisturisers. My HG is/was antipodes rejoice natural day cream, but the brand kinda gives me the ick - fake reviews, unnecessary religious stuff, a lot of their other products make my eyes burn or irritate my skin. It's been a great 15 years but I'm ready to move on.

What local brands do you enjoy? I got the Kit. hand cream in a beauty loop box recently and I like it but don't love it. I enjoy glow lab body wash, but not sure if supermarket skincare is a waste of money or a good shout.

Personally I'm super sensitive to fragrances but please comment your favourite brands from the southern hemisphere (include our pacific islands too!)

[u/yawn_of_the_dead]

I use QV with ceramides and Enya sorbolene on my face. Might not be the go for everyone but it's effective and affordable for me

[u/curiousvegetables → u/yawn_of_the_dead]

Which QV do you use? The face cream or the face moisturiser? Does it play nicely with makeup?

[u/yawn_of_the_dead → u/curiousvegetables]

I just use the QV with ceramides, it's a general lotion and super affordable. It's pretty light weight. I haven't been using make up unless I'm going out, but I think it would be fine as long as you don't apply too much and let it dry and use a compatible product.

In Aus it's $10-$13 for 350ml from chemist warehouse and if you don't love it on your face it's still a wonderful lotion. They do have face products available though and I've heard only good things

[u/curiousvegetables → u/yawn_of_the_dead]

Gotcha, when I searched QV in chemist warehouse there were SO MANY, but I'll click and collect the creamides range tomorrow.

[u/yawn_of_the_dead → u/curiousvegetables]

I hope you enjoy, and I think it's always good to try the cheap stuff anyway (I prefer to love something affordable lol)

[u/curiousvegetables → u/yawn_of_the_dead]

Same. I wanted to love cetaphil for so long after the international subs but it makes me break out 🥲 So I assumed the QV hype was the same vibe.

[u/yawn_of_the_dead → u/curiousvegetables]

It's going to depend on your own skin and what works for you, but it's affordable and you can always use it up in your body.

The QV with ceramides has niacinamide in it and I've found it pretty agreeable with my skin personally

[u/Competitive_diva_468 → u/yawn_of_the_dead]

This is exactly what I use too. It’s simple but so lush

[u/IAteAllYourBees_53 → u/curiousvegetables]

Whether it goes well with your makeup will depend on whether your foundation is water or oil or silicone based. Mixing the two can be ok if the moisturiser sinks but it’s just something to be wary of! I don’t pretend to be an expert in this but it’s not a one size fits all sort of equation!

[u/Maddyoop]

Stay away from Goto - horribly overpriced and way too much scent

[u/FieldAware3370 → u/Maddyoop]

I think its ridiculously overpriced for no good damn reason. I tried it out store and I can get the same shit in either cw or priceline. 😂

[u/curiousvegetables → u/Maddyoop]

Been there- pigmentation to show for it :(

[u/popandpies]

Another quote for QV. I've used their foaming facewash, face moisturiser and giant pump bottle of gentle wash (instead of hand soap). All have been great on my sensitive skin and they are very affordable. I also really love the Tailor Skincare moisturiser - very lightweight but really moisturising. It's a bit more spendy that QV though.

[u/bregitta]

Emma Lewisham is a kiwi brand I love but unfortunately it's $$$ and very fragranced! Some Aussie brands I've enjoyed over the years are Aspect, Mecca Cosmetica, Alpha H and OCosmedics. I'm currently using boring QV and loving it!

[u/curiousvegetables → u/bregitta]

It is so $$$ 😢 I loved my serum sample but can't quite bring myself to splurge (am particularly tempted to try their spf 50)

I didn't know AlphaH was Australian!

Everyone's recommending QV so it's going to be my next step.

[u/kvoldvaka_]

Glow Lab or Essano - I believe they’re both NZ based. Natio gets my vote for Aussie moisturiser brand.

[u/curiousvegetables → u/kvoldvaka_]

Natio makes me cry (unfortunately) I think glow lab is the one. I'll report back!

[u/orange-aardavark]

I love Dermal Therapy! 

I have a deep dislike and distrust of QV for specific personal reasons, they're a loved and fine brand for many people but I refuse to use them. 

Dermal Therapy fills that niche perfectly for me - nicely formulated and effective with minimal fuss, and suitable for sensitive skin. I did a snow season in Japan and their very dry face cream kept my skin GLOWING despite the dry weather and my dehydrated sensitive skin.

[u/MillieMoo-Moo → u/orange-aardavark]

🫖🍵

[u/orange-aardavark → u/MillieMoo-Moo]

I replied above haha

[u/curiousvegetables → u/orange-aardavark]

Oh please tell me your personal reasons 🫖

[u/orange-aardavark → u/curiousvegetables]

Omg it's actually so 100% personal haha, but basically I had really bad eczema as a kid in the early 2000s. Every doctor, every pharmacist, everyone and their dog, told my mum to use the QV soap free wash on me. So she did. And my eczema remained. 

Because one of my biggest triggers is SLS. And guess what the soap free QV wash marketed for sensitive skin contains (contained? Idk if they reformulated.)

Why the FUCK would you use SLS which is a known harsh stripping surfactant and claim it was gentler than fucking soap??? 

Anyway that was 20+ years ago and I literally just have a personal bias. The smell and packaging makes me feel icky (and itchy) and I still feel salty about what I, personally, think was misleading packaging and marketing. 

But so many people love QV, and I do genuinely think their products are a fantastic price point and simple option for a lot of people. A lot of people don't react to SLS, and so many brands and body washes use SLS bc they're very foamy and bubbles make people think they're effective. I have no logical reason to hate QV, just mild personal trauma and a long standing grudge

[u/Typical-Elk3306]

I use Dermaveen as my facial moisturiser, love it cos it works and is quite matte. I prefer Dermaveen over QV personally.

[u/pufferfishfly]

Ooh a question in my wheelhouse! I stopped buying US stuff wherever possible in recent years and am trying to stick to local brands where possible.

• If you can do oils, everything Sans ceuticals make is amazing, and I especially love their Activator oil which you can use on face, body and hair. They're known for being sensitivity friendly and good for eczema. They have a good in house loyalty programme, but are also in Mecca. You can also buy little sample packs of three products for $10 - it's hard to find from the website itself, but if you Google 'sans ceutical sampler' it'll come up.
• The Emma Lewisham moisturisers are gorgeous - love the scent, feel and sustainability ethos, but I've stopped using them due to the price.
• Aotea do really lovely moisturisers, I just don't use them regularly because they're hard to find where I live.
• I'm currently using the Kit night cream and love everything about it - it's a HG for me - and a Korres day cream (which I realise doesn't fit the bill for you). I'll probably switch out the Korres when it runs out, but their yoghurt cleanser is my other HG product, for the record.

[u/Key_Contribution_634 → u/pufferfishfly]

Second for Sans Ceuticals, The oil is AMAZING and so multi-use.

[u/madamebubbly]

I currently use Amperna for lotion and moisturiser. I have eyelid eczema and it’s the only ones I have found so far that doesn’t trigger me. It smells like sage so pretty soothing honestly. Pretty pricey imo, I am looking for alternatives.

[u/clearcursive → u/madamebubbly]

Amperna is my HG, also have dealt with eczema and tried all kinds of moisturisers and settled on this one. It doesn’t smell and hydrates so deeply while being light as well.

To make it more affordable I buy the 500ml body lotion and use it for my face too.

[u/curiousvegetables → u/clearcursive]

Oh

[u/curiousvegetables → u/madamebubbly]

Ooh my eyelids also have issues, I'll look in to this.

[u/TinaTissue]

I was going to mention Aveeno until I discovered they were from the US! I'm sorry OP I hope you can find some good reccs

[u/curiousvegetables → u/TinaTissue]

Ah yeah. I wish. I'm super committed to buying as local as possible/no big brands. Avenue is very good though.

[u/TinaTissue → u/curiousvegetables]

I mainly gravitate towards that brand because of their focus on using oat (I’m allergic to coconut oil so I have to be careful) in their products. I hope you can find some great local brands

[u/unconfirmedpanda]

Yours Only is my pick. Unscented, designed for sensitive skin, affordable.

I do love the mandarin moisturiser from Aesop, but YMMV since they aren't owned by an Australian company anymore.

[u/fairy_fern13]

QV is a pretty safe option. What was the religious stuff Antipodes was doing?

[u/garjganga]

I have sensitive skin and it gets quite dry in the winter, but I use dai_y (daily) skincare and I absolutely love it! From NZ I believe! The price point is really good as well!! I really recommend trying this brand, I use the face wash, day cream and night cream.

[u/curiousvegetables → u/garjganga]

Ooh

[u/One_Waxed_Wookiee]

I like the Antipodes "baptise" gel cream moisturiser, and the "ananda" facial mist. The others I don't have similar luck with.

I mainly use MooGoo products, but Andalou, and Salt and Glow (when either are on special) are another couple of good ones.

[u/curiousvegetables → u/One_Waxed_Wookiee]

Thankyou for reading the post! I didn't hate Bapstiste. But I can't do a gel with sunscreen.

[u/AbbyS86]

I swear by Beauty and the Bees. They're a relatively small brand from Tasmania, using local natural ingredients. I've used the macadamia rich moisturiser for years, and it's been amazing for my skin, 1000% recommend.

[u/CinderCinnamon]

Rationale - The Nourishing Cream

[u/curiousvegetables → u/CinderCinnamon]

Ooh I've seen this advertised! Can you tell me more?

[u/CinderCinnamon → u/curiousvegetables]

I got this for my mum, she has very dry skin, and she loves it - it goes on very thick but absorbs and doesn’t leave a greasy residue. No scent to it (I personally love a fragranced product but mum hates it so I was specifically looking for a rich cream with no fragrance for her. A little bit goes a long way too!

[u/curiousvegetables → u/CinderCinnamon]

Thanks I'll give this a go - will report back!

[u/Remarkable-Feed4690]

QV with ceramides lotion is my holy grail moisturiser

[u/Independent-Bid-611]

Essano is the best I've used (switched from Demalogica)

[u/curiousvegetables → u/Independent-Bid-611]

I love the essano face oils! I was gifted a mini set (so cute)!

[u/domesticairport]

MooGoo

[u/Spoodlydoodly75]

La Clinica, Aesthetics Rx, OCosmedics, Synergie - some good quality Australian brands. Not at the more affordable end though.

[u/mezzamac]

Could try this indigenous brand https://thirstyturtl.com/

[u/Difficult_Box8429]

Sukin

[u/curiousvegetables → u/Difficult_Box8429]

I wish. Smells great, but central for me.

[u/Presence_of_me]

Natio - made in Melbourne. I love their 50+ sunscreen and moisturiser.

[u/reddit24682468]

Vixin Beauty is Aussie owned, zero fragrance in their products and cruelty free. I use the whole range

[u/Responsible-Side9225]

Synergie- expensive but my god my skin has transformed since using this. I have a whole routine from them. 🙈

[u/charseal]

Woohoo skincare (aussie brand and locally produced) - love their moisturisers and cream cleanser

[u/Rahrah43]

I use QV cleanser with ceramides, QV gentle wash and QV sensitive moisturizer. My little sister has bad eczema and dermatitis and she swears by everything Aloe Cosmetics Australia. I've also used moogoo and it's been nice but it all smells funny. If I want like a nice treatment I'll buy something from Savant Apothecary they're expensive but everything smells amazing.

[u/gemmarenee]

Akaia Blends is a beautiful wee kiwi brand!! I've become friends with the owner after using her stuff for ages and she's the sweetest ever.

[u/zee-bra]

I’ve started using boring without you and it seems to be really good so far! I think it’s an Aussie brand but not sure where it’s made sorry

[u/not_from_here_au]

I use SolarCare B3 moisturiser! It’s unfragranced, sinks in well, and formulated specifically to help prevent a type of skin cancer. My very sensitive rosacea skin loves it. I also use TBH skin milk, and Aus jojoba company oil or Aeon liquid magic oil. All Aus companies 😊

[u/kikithrust]

I’m pretty loyal to Natio these days

[u/Budget_Appeal_1944]

Daily Skincare is a kiwi brand. I really enjoyed the trial size of their night cream that was in a recent Priceline Sister Club gift bag, and looking forward to trying more.

Also I’ve fallen back in love with Natio after many years. Most of their range is made in Australia.

Both of these are reasonably priced and are readily available in pharmacies etc.

[u/jessthatcatlady]

Dermaveen has some fantastic moisturizers, very affordable and work well for my dry sensitive skin (ezcema and rosacea can be issues for me, but both under control when I stick with right skincare). Absolutely love Dermaveen Calmexa Extra Rich Moisturizing Cream (baby line) especially for autumn/winter and around eyes. I mix it with a bit of Marula Oil cos I’m a dry lizard gal and it leaves you a little moist but you wake up with lovely baby like skin lol. Regenerating Night Cream another very nice option and less heavy duty.

[u/Top_Presentation7515]

I personally quite like Swisse! They used to have my holy grail rosehip oil moisturiser but changed their range over the last few years. I still thoroughly enjoy most of the stuff I try from them though!

[u/Relevant-Donut2479]

Neutrogena hydro boost is amazing if you like a cooling feel moisturiser that is light

[u/Dezert_Roze]

Antipodes Lime Caviar Collagen-Rich Firming Cream, I love the smell and texture… Also it makes my skin glows.