New Zealand Treasures // Antipodes & Kio Kio



Despite being but a hop, skip and jump away from the beauty that is New Zealand, I have yet to travel there. I know of quite a few people who holiday there and love the extreme sports they offer, such as skydiving and bungy jumping. I have a fear of heights and all things extreme, and have to admit that if I were to travel over the water to NZ I would spend my time perusing the local cosmetic and skincare offerings. I recently came across two new (to me) New Zealand brands, and am so impressed with the things I’ve tried.

Antipodes is a brand that I’d heard about in the bloggersphere for quite a while, and though it is sold nationally in Myer I had never taken the plunge and tried something for myself. While in Sydney, Myer had a discount on the brand, and my ever-growing interest in skincare was piqued and two products made it into my basket.

The Grapeseed Butter Cleanser ($46 AUD) was my substitute for the Alpha-H Age Delay Cleansing Oil (which I really like) and I am pleased to say that it is working nicely for me. The thick formula removes all of my makeup well, and my skin has relished the hit of moisture that it brings to my skin without adding any shine or grease.  I remove this with a flannel (and have just bought some muslin cloths to try with it next) and it makes a big difference, I don’t feel the need to exfoliate anywhere near as often as in the past. It comes with a small plastic spatula which I use to scoop it out, keeping it clean and I remove it in the shower so it really cleans out my pores.

The Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream ($49 AUD) has been such a treat to use, the spicy scent is moreish and I make time to really massage this into my skin to reap the most benefits from it. It has helped with my dry patches and overall skin condition immensely, and for that reason alone it comes highly recommended from me. I use a cotton tip to remove a small amount to prevent bacteria from my hands entering the jar, and the packaging is such an attractive addition to my skin care compartment.

 

Kio Kio is a brand that I had never heard of before, and a few weeks ago I was sorting through my beauty samples and came across two body lotion sachets from the brand. I decided to give them a go (and make a move with my empties mission!) and promptly fell in love.  The brands focus is on getting back to nature, and they draw inspiration from the beauty of New Zealand for their products. They have a range of 4 ‘Pacific-inspired’ scents, one of which is Frangipani & Puriri which takes me back to family holidays in Bali and days spent by the pool, mocktail in hand. I found this scent pretty, but not something special enough to purchase for myself once my nose caught a hold of the other scent from Kio Kio…

 

Pacific Tiare and Ti Kauka are ingredients that I have not heard of previously, but am now a fan of! The scent of these lotions really lasts on the skin, and the formula is light enough for summer but still hydrates and softens the skin with ease. According to the brands website, the scent is a mix of gardenia, white flowers and citrus in a Pacific ocean inspired base, and I have already popped this onto my Christmas wish list (and will probably end up buying it for myself  ($39.00) and sneaking it under the tree!)

Antipodes is available from Myer, David Jones and AdoreBeauty, Wholefoods in the UK and all around New Zealand. See more stockists here! Kio Kio is available online here and a stockist list is here. I am really loving all of these products, and my skin is thanking me for it.

Have you been travelling to New Zealand before?

What country of origin does most of your skincare come from?

 

*Paid for these products myself, am not affiliated with either company though I wouldn’t mind that. Honesty, always.