Welcome to Our Favourite Products, a monthly feature of the products keeping our skin glowing, mood lifted and health high. It's a combination of the new things we've tried over the previous month and historic repeat purchases that we think you might love too. And at a time when the whole planet is stressed, a self-care regimen can be more essential than ever. And as part of our editorial policy, every product we write about is vegan, cruelty-free and 100% natural and where possible organic. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of incorporating clean beauty and wellness products into your daily routine or even finding them, we hope you find the following helpful. And as a reminder, a constant favourite of mine — clean filtered water. Drink it frequently, daily. Here's what I'm loving this month:
Coola Mineral Face Organic Matte Tint Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
Protecting your face is for both short and long-term gain; living in New Zealand, the relationship between skin and sun is pretty straightforward: protect or face the consequences, from early ageing to hyperpigmentation. So I integrated an SPF protection into my skincare routine. I picked the mineral face sunscreen SPF 30 from Coola after Trace shared this brand with me a couple of years ago; it became my soulmate. The formula is organic, which I love because it won’t damage my skin with harmful chemicals. I have the tinted version, for lighter coverage, mattifying finish so I don’t need to use foundation daily. My skin looks effortlessly fresh, feels smooth and is protected, and that’s all that matters.
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm
This beautiful hand cream from Aesop is a gift from Trace on my birthday. I am for sure not the kind who would buy hand cream by herself; I am too lazy for this. Yet I can’t thank Trace enough. I adore this balm; it created a whole new daily ritual in my life. The packaging is a wonder with a minimum amount of plastic, the tube is in metal, colours are cool, and the size is perfect to carry on and last a while. And most importantly, my hands, fingers, cuticles love it, particularly with the cold slowly settling in here, making the derm dryer. The balm sinks fast into the skin, leaving a light, smoothing veil on the hands; a warm and citrusy fragrance embalming the atmosphere. The overall experience reminds me of this poem “Invitation to the Voyage” from Baudelaire “There all is order and beauty—Luxury, peace, and voluptuousness”. At home.
Salt by Hendrix Body Glow Golden Hour
Another homely transcendental experience I would say is using this exquisite oil from SALT by Hendrix. Here again, a thoughtful gift from Trace, from Christmas this time. I applied Glow all summer long, especially during festivals and camping. Right after a day soaked in the sun, when the golden light is rising, and you wish you will keep that glow on your skin forever. Well, you can, I could, thanks to this delightful golden liquid. This oil is crafted with natural and organic high-quality ingredients, delivering restorative, anti-inflammatory properties to rejuvenate dry and damaged skin. Glowing and repairing. And now the warm season is way behind us; I love applying this for my tan to last, to feel and smell summer, a little bit longer.
Thorne Vitamin D
I mix two drops of this bottle in my morning oats daily. This Vitamin D liquid was part of our Covid-19 immunity strategy, as per GP recommendation. Besides, winter is coming in New Zealand and with it, those grey, wet days, so a boost on Vitamin D didn’t seem like a bad idea. And apparently, Vitamin D is also linked to bone health and would be important for skin's health. Always be mindful when taking supplements, according to the Healthline, a sufficient amount of VItamin D is 20–30 ng/ml, or 50–75 nmol/L, keep track.
Everything we create is an effort to participate in a culture shift. All products featured are independently selected and curated by the authors, and we only feature items we use or would use ourselves that align with our values. As part of our business model, we do work with affiliates such as Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases if you decide to purchase through our links. The price would be the same to you either way, but if you find value in our work, then these affiliate links are a way to support it. We only recommend brands, makers and products we use — that we support. Transparency is important to us, so if you have any questions, please reach out to us.