First Nations skincare brands are expanding the beauty industry in a direction infused with cultural nuance and respect for the land.
NAIDOC Week offers a celebration of the culture, history, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
This year’s theme is Heal Country, and this can be extended fully to the First Nations skincare industry which has a deep respect for the native plants they utilise.
One ingredient used for the past 150 years, according to AgriFutures, is Centipeda, a medicinal plant that First Nations people have applied as a treatment for eczema, psoriasis, and acne.
There are plenty of other natural ingredients that are used like dingadilyenjirrka leaves, lemon myrtle and nettle chamomille.
The below seven First Nations skincare brands infuse rich native ingredients, which have been used for thousands of years to create their products.
We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of the country this story is published on.
Lowanna Natural Skincare
Lowanna Natural Skincare
Lowanna’s founder Sinead is a descendent of the Yorke Peninsula region, and her products are infused with the knowledge of Narungga people who believed in the power of nature. The products are plant-based, natural and have native ingredients.
Lowana Natural skin
Blemish Spot Treatment, $58 by Lowana Natural can be found here.
Bush Medijina
Bush Medijina works from shipping containers in Angurugu, a remote island in the Northern Territory. It uses harvested botanicals that they turn into gorgeous products that have been created with knowledge passed down the generations.
Bush Medijina.
White Cloud Tree Happy Hair Oil, $35 by Bush Medijina can be found here.
Juddarnje
Juddarnje
This company is a part of the Bundjalung tribe from Northern New South Wales. Juddarnje uses nutritional and medicinal values to create their products.
Dilkara
Dilkara Australia
This skincare brand uses concentrated native Indigenous Botanicals that are organic, Australian-made, and don’t test on animals.
Bush Balm
Bush Balm
Bush Balm uses wild harvested medicinal plants that are found on Indigenous land in Central Australia. The company is inspired by traditional knowledge that has been used for generations.
Native Secrets
Native Secrets
This brand is proud of its knowledge of medicinal plants that have been passed down the generations. It seeks to share their culture and the medicinal stories about nature and animals from their ancestors.
Native Secrets
Pure Olive Oil Soap with Gidyea, $15 by Native Secrets can be found here.
Native secrets
Pure Olive Oil Soap with Quandong, $15 by Native Secrets can be found here.
Earth Jiinda
Earth Jiinda
This company is owned by a Gubaynggirr Nyami woman called Jame, who created her products to break away from skincare’s white-dominated space. Her products are made with Aromatherapy qualifications.
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