Expert Trial Team: the Australian-made edition

Considering it’s the Australia Day long weekend, we thought we’d get into the spirit by trying and reviewing some products from our favourite Australian beauty brands.

Here’s what the bh team had to say about these homegrown goodies…

CHI CHI SUPER BB CREAM

bh’s Deb says…

“Having pale skin with a freckled face I need a base that evens out my complexion, but still matches the tone on my neck. Add to that my want of something that's lightweight, non-greasy, has an SPF, and leaves your skin looking radiant and...well...a lot of people would say I was asking for too much! I would've agreed, but then I was introduced to Chi Chi's Super BB Cream – and super it certainly is. The 'Light' shade suits my skin tone and blends perfectly from my face to my neck, and the texture is creamy yet never feels too heavy or greasy on my skin. In fact, it almost seems to give my skin an extra boost of hydration (most likely thanks to the inclusion of vitamins, minerals, anti-ageing actives and nutrients in the formulation), so my complexion feels really moisturised and comfortable all day. It applies beautifully, never flaking, cracking or settling into lines or under my eyes and it gives my face a radiant, healthy finish. I REALLY love the fact that it's SPF30 because daily sun protection is essential for me. I felt the scent – though pleasant – was a teensy bit strong at first (but then again I'm quite sensitive to fragrance) but I'm used to it now so hardly notice it at all. Overall a fantastic BB Cream that delivers everything it promises and one that I look forward to using every morning. Would and recommend it to everyone!"

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FACE OF AUSTRALIA GLITTERATI NAIL ENAMEL IN SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER

bh’s Carli says…

“Confession: I don’t wear glitter polish all that often. But I was completely drawn to this colourful combination of sparkly goodness. It’s literally looks like a party in a bottle – how could I resist?
I wanted to wear the glitter polish alone (no colour underneath), so it did require multiple coats, lots of blowing, and an incredible amount of patience (I really, realllllly wanted my nails to look just like the bottle.) Once my nails were dry, I was totally and utterly happy with the result. I couldn’t look at my nails and not be happy. I found that the polish lasted quite a few days before starting to chip, but you couldn’t really notice it because of the glitter finish.
Warning: the removal of this bad boy requires a lot of patience, too. We all know glitter polish isn’t the easiest to remove, but I find that completely soaking a cotton ball and pressing it to each nail for a good five minutes helps the process.”

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LANOLIPS LOVELY LANOLIN GOLDEN OINTMENT

bh’s Cherie says…

“Not many people know this, but I had a pet lamb when I was a youngster. Her name was Sophie Bulldozer Herrmann, and she was utterly adorable despite her rough-and-tumble nature. This has left me a) a fan of anything lamb-related, and b) a bit of a lanolin know-it-all. Because of lanolin’s outstanding hydrating abilities, I took this gem on a recent long-haul flight, and it was so bloody great, I’ll never board another flight without it. It prevented my hands from becoming scaly and tight and it left my face feeling dewy upon landing. I wouldn’t normally apply this product to my face – it’s best for dry skin on the body – but because of the dehydrating environment of an aeroplane, my skin definitely required its intensely hydrating qualities at this time. I’d suggest anyone who suffers from dry, dehydrated or irritated skin – while in the sky or on land – keeps this divine product handy at all times.”

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ELEVEN AUSTRALIA SEA SALT TEXTURE SPRAY

bh’s Liv says…

"I've always been a little afraid of sea salt sprays, as my hair is about as well behaved as a new Labrador puppy – and I didn't think I needed anything to make it kinkier and even more rebellious. When this little bottle landed on my desk I was firstly captivated by the scent. It smells like lollies, like juicy Starburst lollies in fact – and it was enough to pull me in! I spritzed this to almost-dry hair and twisted with my fingers while drying the rest of my hair with a hairdryer. It gave me incredible uniformed kinks that weren't frizzy or wiry, they were controlled and striking. They delivered that 'fresh from the ocean' look that so many bikini-clad Seafolly models sport with ease. I'm definitely a fan of this product and I think it's perfect for anyone that wants to do something a little different with their hair than standard poker straight locks or perfect curls."

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Have you tried any of these products? What's your favourite Australian-made product?