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New Zealand is now home to some great natural beauty care ranges and Christmas is the perfect time to share them around. Now is the time to start shopping, with economy mail to the northern hemisphere closing in 10 days (November 15) and to Australia on November 22. Post later and you'll pay more for airmail, but some of these selections are light enough for laggards.
1 Clear as Mud face mud treatment $25.80
Perhaps the name could serve as a coded message to the recipient, or perhaps just a reminder that clay has been used to treat skin dating back to ancient times. It helps draw forth impurities and also has a light exfoliating action. This box contains seven sachets and is said to be particularly good for oily or clogged pores. The Bentonite clay is from volcanic deposits near Gisborne.
2 Snowberry Intensive Renewal Face Serum and Smoothing Eye Serum $232 and $111
Don't let the price of this beautifully presented range put you off. The other travel-sized skincare items are less costly (from $25) than the serums, which come with some real research clout behind them. With peptides chosen for their collagen and elastin-boosting properties, the eye serum has herbal extracts to combat puffiness and wrinkles and the face serum works on stressed skin. Germany is the big market for this innovative top-end Auckland company.
3 Tebe Hand Hydrating Liquid Soap $15.80
Tebe is a skincare, body and haircare range made from olives grown at the Bracu estate in the Bombay Hills south of Auckland. This hand-hydrating soap is a generous 280ml. A sister range, Olive, is even better value, but the addition of antioxidant rich olive leaf extract to the core ingredient of olive oil makes the texture of the Tebe range finer and lighter. The hand cream is first-rate ($25.80) and the lip-balm packs well.
4 The Aromatherapy Co Lip Balm $12
This pawpaw and mango balm is one of several balms in handy little tins, including healing and sleep versions. Look out also for the new cocoa and vanilla balancing and harmonising bodycare range, and other fragrances to relax and revitalise, all in the same smart new white and black packaging. A travel-sized hand sanitiser ($7.95), mini-diffusion sets ($14.95), room sprays and goods for gardeners, men and children are other aromatherapy options.
5 Antipodes Deliverance Kowhai Flower Hand Cream $50
You can't go wrong with giving hand cream, nearly everyone uses it and this is a luxury natural example. Made with pure avocado oil rich in Vitamin E, this has a delicate de-stressing scent of sweet orange, tonka bean and sandalwood. Absorbs well for a non-greasy finish and comes in a smart new aluminium tube. Antipodes packaging is a suitably Aotearoan green box with fern decoration and its Rejoice Light Facial Day Cream is worth checking out also.
6 Living Nature Firming Flax Cream $49
This fluid cream with hydrating harakeke gel has a gentle scent and is designed to soften lines, with only a small amount needed for under the eye application. It feels light and nourishing and can also be applied round the lip contours and on the neck. The Kerikeri-based company makes other skincare and some good moisturising lip-glosses, but we picked this because it's tiny and flax oils are getting good press lately.
7 Trilogy travel pack $29.90
In a star-decorated cardboard box, three little tubes of cleanser, moisturiser and exfoliant and a small vial of organic rosehip oil give a taste of Trilogy. This brand already sells well in the UK and there's plenty of bigger items to choose from for the woman who likes refined, but natural products that are delicate and effective.
* Most items readily available from bigger pharmacies, department stores and some health stores, with the exception of Snowberry which is exclusive to Smith & Caughey and the store's website.
