This is one local brand that is ticking all the boxes right now.
And their story goes something like this…
Husband and wife duo, Kim and Andi, first discovered the concept for their skincare brand while honeymooning in the idyllic Cook Islands. The pair share diverse backgrounds spanning wine making to publishing, but it was the abundance of natural ingredients available in the South Pacific that captured their hearts. They also recognised the huge impact these special ingredients had on the health and wellbeing of the native people. Several years later and back on Australian shores, they believed a skincare line would be the finest way to bring awareness to the healing properties of these plants and oils.
Sourced from sustainable farms across the Pacific islands and Australia, their formulas combine wild harvested and Organic oils, butters, hydrosols/floral waters, waxes and potent plant extracts.
The facts: why Lewin & Reilly products fit the conscious beauty criteria?
// Made in Australia
// Sustainably sourced local ingredients
// Hand formulated and tested
// Uses Certified Organic ingredients
// Recycled and recyclable packaging, in fact, they have collected and shredded many old magazines to keep your goods safe in transit.
So what’s my personal verdict? (the juicy bit)
Macadamia and White Cypress Cleanser
Although a cream based cleanser, it is delicate and light to apply. Both the White Cypress and the Lemon Myrtle oils create a fresh aroma yet not overpowering, making it a great option for sensitive skin types.
Because the formulation includes nourishing oils like Certified Biodynamic Macadamia, Coconut and Jojoba Oils I personally didn’t have any issues with dry skin post cleansing. Instead, my skin felt nourished.
Ingredient spotlight: White Cypress – extracted from the leaf of the tree, this hardy extract has natural anti-microbial properties. It is harvested in Western NSW and contains naturally occurring catechins, a group of flavanoids which contain anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants can assist in preventing free-radical damage from exposure to pollution, sun or stress.
If you are wearing make-up or sunscreen, as with most natural cleansers I find a couple of rounds of cleansing is essential.
Pacific Blue Lavender & Kakadu Palm Women’s Face Tonic
Initially I was ok with the tonic, however after a week or so of using it I found my skin reacted. This was after spraying directly on the skin. After a few minutes my skin would go back to normal.
At this time, my immune system compromised due to allergies and as a direct result my skin became very sensitive. After contacting Lewin & Reilly directly, I discovered that I may have a slight sensitivity to the natural preservative – gluconolactone and sodium benzoate, which could have been heightened by a compromised immune system. After my immune system was strengthened again the sensitivity reduced.
Ingredient spotlight: kakadu plum extract contains exceptionally high levels of vitamin C, which acts as an anti oxidant to prevent sun damage and stress from pollution. As noted by Kim Reilly “Ours is also the only kakadu plum extract on the market which contains a more stable amount of vitamin C over a longer period of time. This has been proven by the Southern Cross University. The stability of Vitamin C is crucial to the effectiveness of the end product. It basically means the anti oxidant capabilities are more prevalent for longer and therefore more effective for your complexion”
Because I frequently sample tonics and toners, I also got the scoop from Kim on why they should form an integral part of your natural beauty routine:
[blockquote text='”…the water and other water-based ingredients work to hydrate your skin. This is especially good if you have dry skin, sensitive skin plus during summer time to combat dehydration from the heat and sun. Applying your moisturiser while the tonic is still moist on your skin helps to seal in the water/hydration. Tonics can also help to remove excess residue from your make up and cleanser”‘ text_color=’#bd1bb8′ title_tag=’h6′ width=’90’ line_height=’undefined’ background_color=” border_color=” show_quote_icon=’no’ quote_icon_color=” quote_icon_size=”]
Frangipani & Kukui Women’s Face Moisturiser
This moisturiser is divine, and best applied direct to the skin following a spritz of the toner. It goes on smooth as silk yet dries with a matt finish – a quality that is often hard to find with a natural moisturiser. If your skin tends towards oily, then this moisturiser would be great for you.
And the best bit – smelling like Frangipani is the most divine way to transport you to the tropics. Sold!
Ingredient spotlight: Kukui oil – grown and harvested in Hawaii, Kukui (candlenut) oil is a rich botanical source of oleic and alpha-linoleic acid which can help in reducing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) therefore promoting healthy looking, moisturised feeling skin. Lewin & Reilly kukui oil is expeller pressed from the seeds of the aleurites moluccana (kukui) trees.
Would I indulge again?
What impressed me most about this range is the care and research taken by Kim and Andi to create a unique product that utilises ingredients found in their back yard. This is one of the key things that sets them apart from a number of other Australian brands. Secondly, as they are still small, I was able to connect with the creators directly – something you wont find with a large corporation.
With this in mind, my only hesitation would be to look at eliminating or doing a patch test with the tonic if you have sensitive skin. The moisturiser was a definite stand out of the trio.
Their products are priced in the mid range, and with the typical size at 100ml, you will get at least 3 months worth of goodness. Alternatively, you can sample the trio by purchasing their mini’s for under $60. Winning!
Though they are still boutique, they have created a beautiful range of products – specifically for the man in your life.
Lewin & Reilly can be purchased from their online store or The Organic Project.
