Pretty patriotic

Jennifer Hawkins, Aussie beauty ambassador

Pretty patriotic

30 Nov 2007 13:25 PM | Posted by Editor

I guess it was just a case of the grass looking greener. Since spending yesterday bemoaning the international beauty brands not at my fingertips, I've had some time to reflect upon the little Aussie beauties that girls from London to New York are queuing at counters for. Plus I remembered that we Australian girls have voted ourselves the most gorgeous in the globe.

So, what do you know, I'm feeling much better…

Everyone from New York to the Middle East loves ModelCo, Napoleon Perdis is launching a suitably Napoleonic takeover of counters across the sea, Al'chemy natural haircare won a UK New Woman Beauty Award this year, and UK design bible Wallpaper* named Megan Gale's Invisible Zinc the World's Best New Beauty Product in 2006. Indeed, Austrade, the Australian government trade commission, says beauty exports have exploded from $23 million to $282 million in the past 20 years and that the boom shows no signs of slowing.

The rest of the world wants what we've got, girls. But what is that exactly?

Austrade chalks some of the allure up to Australia's unique native environment. But while that might explain the attraction to Al'chemy, brands like Jurlique, which trades on hand-harvested botanicals from biodynamic farms in South Australia, or Li'Tya, which brings Indigenous ingredients and Dreamtime stories to beauty, what of the tearaway success of ModelCo and Napoleon?

Maybe it's just that our brands are plain good. Local skincare line Alpha-H is in the hallowed halls of Harrods, has clinics in the celebrity-spotting territory of Primrose Hill and sells 65 per cent of its AHA-soaked skincare in the UK. The brand's director, Michelle Doherty, says, "People in London will spend hundreds of pounds on the latest buzz products, but we've got a loyal following because the results are real and you don't have to wait months and months to see them."

Results always speak for themselves, but I can't help but wonder if the eternal images of the bronzed beach babe and natural Aussie beauty have something to do with it. In a global Truth in Beauty survey conducted by Clinique earlier this year, Australian women voted women from our own country the most beautiful in the world. And in a recent Bh poll, 63 per cent of readers said they prefer Australian-made products. If we believe it, why wouldn't everyone else?

Do you think we're the prettiest people on the planet?

Member Comments (32)

Posted by: samanthasmythe (Member since 2007, Australia)

i prefer to but Australian made but i also like to buy bargains. If home made aren't so expensive i would buy them all the time

Posted on: November 30, 2007 (Nov 30, 2007 2:18pm)

Posted by: Beauty Obsession (Member since 2007, Australia)

I do prefer to buy Australian products and I think the Australian products are up there with some fantastic brands and products. The most important factors I go for when buying a product is it's ingredients, how effective it is and the cost.

Posted on: November 30, 2007 (Nov 30, 2007 2:28pm)

Posted by: girl_with_a_gloss (Australia)

I think we've come to trust our industry more and see ourselves as leaders in beauty technology and trends, rather than just followers of other countries. And I do think Aussies are thought of as natural beauties - that's our reputation and that's okay with me!

Posted on: November 30, 2007 (Nov 30, 2007 2:32pm)

Posted by: sharna2 (Member since 2007, Australia)

I love meagan gale, now she is stunning! that girl has got amazing features and looks like a true aussie

Posted on: November 30, 2007 (Nov 30, 2007 2:50pm)

Posted by: ilovemarcus (Member since 2007, Australia)

Of coarse Aussies are the hottest people in the world!

Posted on: November 30, 2007 (Nov 30, 2007 3:22pm)

Posted by: Gem xxx (Member since 2007, Australia)

I'm Australian born and bred, I would not live anywhere else.
We are the lucky country by far,
I do think we have some great brands of products, and HOT women, actors, models ect

Posted on: November 30, 2007 (Nov 30, 2007 3:39pm)

Posted by: nic_wein (Member since 2007, Australia)

beauty isnt on the outside but within

Posted on: November 30, 2007 (Nov 30, 2007 4:03pm)

Posted by: glamourcat (Member since 2007, Australia)

External beauty is so superfluous, real beauty radiates from within, from the heart and soul... There are stunning beauties from every corner of the world, so I'm not sure if we are the prettiest on the planet, but I know we have some of the harshest UV exposure so we have to work a little harder to maintain our looks - so who better to cater for this than the Aussie brands... ;)

Posted on: November 30, 2007 (Nov 30, 2007 7:24pm)

Posted by: ZoutLiquorice (Member since 2007, Australia)

I'm more than happy to pay that little extra for an Australian made product, at least I know its keeping jobs in Oz and the employees are getting a fair wage (unlike most Chinese made products)
I don't think Australians believe hype so the we won't buy something just for the sake of it - it really needs to work and be fabulous and most Aussie brands deliver that.
Aussie Aussie Aussie - Oi Oi Oi!
ps of course we are the prettiest on the planet - just look how hot we are!

Posted on: December 01, 2007 (Dec 1, 2007 8:25am)

Posted by: prittykitty (Australia)

wellllllllllll, australia DOES have some of the greatest cosmetics around......... i think it's because: we are a still young as a nation and because we are relativly new to the beauty industry we aren't afraid to experiment and test the market. maybe the older countries are too caught up with 'oh, that didn't work ten years ago' and australia's like 'so what? that was then and this is now' also, as the companies are still new, they're not afraid of too much backlash. if, say, l'oreal put out a neon bright mascara range, people would be juming up and down and screaming. but if chi chi or NP do it then it's ok coz they're younger, newer and people haven't finished judging them yet.
as for the whole 'aussies are the pretties girls in the world' thing, who are we kidding? we're not any prettier than any other girls in the world. but when we are pretty we're not afraid to admit it. just look at america's next top model: the girls there are peautiful and obviously know it, but none of them will admit it, or if they do they are immediatly slammed for being 'up themselves'. aussie women aren't afraid to admit that they are attractive, and are less likley to shoot somebody else down for it. GO AUSSIE chiks

Posted on: December 01, 2007 (Dec 1, 2007 5:34pm)

Posted by: Miss Em (Australia)

she is so pretty, lol

Posted on: December 01, 2007 (Dec 1, 2007 6:34pm)

Posted by: josie (Australia)

its great to see our product are favourites overseas yeah definetly australia has the best looking people in the world

Posted on: December 02, 2007 (Dec 2, 2007 7:04pm)

Posted by: selina (Australia)

Go Australia! Jennifer Hawkins is so beautiful!

Posted on: December 03, 2007 (Dec 3, 2007 12:23am)

Posted by: melmeko (Member since 2007, Australia)

I love Jen she is a great Australian beauty icon from the 20th century, taking over where Elle McPherson left off, we do have some of the worlds mostbeautiful women right here, so of course we too have the best products!!!! Proud Aussie!!

Posted on: December 03, 2007 (Dec 3, 2007 9:44am)

Posted by: foshizzle (Member since 2008, Australia)

I like this article

Posted on: January 27, 2008 (Jan 27, 2008 4:07pm)

Posted by: Redlox (Member since 2007, Australia)

Australia has so many beautiful people, and multiculturalism helps!

Posted on: January 27, 2008 (Jan 27, 2008 10:55pm)

Posted by: Livvie7586 (Member since 2007, Australia)

she is absolutely gorgeous

Posted on: January 29, 2008 (Jan 29, 2008 4:41pm)

Posted by: pinkkew (Australia)

jurlique is a great brand

Posted on: January 29, 2008 (Jan 29, 2008 5:47pm)

Posted by: Tazzie_Angel (Australia)

I have always tried to buy Australian but never really thought of how they stood up against bigger overseas brands untill (while still in school), an American exchange student who had borrowed our makeup spent a fortune on buying a whole new make up range for herself and also a heap of products to take home for her friends and sisters cos she loved the Australian brands! Go Aussies!

Posted on: January 29, 2008 (Jan 29, 2008 9:29pm)

Posted by: kylie77 (Australia)

I think its great that Australia has such a good range of beauty products. Sometimes I think that if it is made here in AUSTRALIA that perhaps its made with our climate in mind rather than other countries. That is important to me..

Posted on: January 31, 2008 (Jan 31, 2008 9:31am)

Posted by: vicki333333 (Australia)

Jen's a real beauty!

Posted on: February 01, 2008 (Feb 1, 2008 4:38pm)

Posted by: gogirly (Member since 2008, Australia)

well said, Viva Jen

Posted on: February 02, 2008 (Feb 2, 2008 4:09pm)

Posted by: pink sparkles (Member since 2007, Australia)

I always try to buy Australian made products but there are times i do go for cheaper alternatives.
I'm not a fan of Jennifer Hawkins but i loooooove Miranda Kerr!

Posted on: October 02, 2008 (Oct 2, 2008 4:50pm)

Posted by: Little miss sunshine (Member since 2007, Australia)

I'm a mixed bag - I have both Aussie and International products in my make up trunk!

Posted on: June 09, 2009 (Jun 9, 2009 11:39pm)

Posted by: Skitzkitty (Australia)

I think we're definitely the most laid-back nation - which is why we're all so attractive, no stress!!

Posted on: June 12, 2009 (Jun 12, 2009 12:46pm)