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When it comes to 'loving the skin you're in', sometimes its nice to hear how others embrace their beauty and what skincare routines they just can't go without. 

So, we sat down with Natio Head Office team members and asked them what they most love about their skin and how their view of 'beauty' has changed over recent times. Here's a snapshot of what three of our star staff had to say.

Lisa Ding - Product Developer Nature lover, doting mother to 2 beautiful teens, sweet tooth

Lisa, how has your perception of beauty changed over the years? Beauty has definitely evolved over the years and often gets defined by what's trending or what people within a culture group deem as popular, current and sought after. I think beauty has become more inclusive over the past few years as people are more aware and accepting of beauty within a broader age group, skin tones, colour and gender.  There is no longer the need conform to be celebrated .

What is something that you may have struggled with over the years that you have now come to love or embrace? My oily skin! Now that I'm in my 40s, I do appreciate that I do not really have wrinkle issues to deal with and this has helped to slow down the aging process quite a bit!

What makes you feel beautiful? When I am fit and healthy and my skin looks radiant as a result of that. 

What does beauty mean to you? To be confident in your own skin (and self) and to own your best features and strengths inside out!

Lisa Loves

"The Hydrating Face Fluid SPF50+. It is sun protection at its best with all the added benefits. I really like the lightweight texture and how it keeps my skin protected and hydrated throughout the day."

Allison Harvey - Head of Marketing and Product Foodie, knowledge seeker, mum to two cheeky children

What advice you would give your younger self? Wear sunscreen everyday. Never stop learning and always adapt your skincare routine to changes in the season and your life.

What makes you feel beautiful? I don’t have time in my day for an extensive skincare routine throughout the week, I do have a Sunday night skincare ritual where I double cleanse, exfoliate, and apply a mask. My skin always feels so refreshed and I feel relaxed and ready for a busy week of being a working Mum.

How do you embrace beauty or self care daily?  I’m trying to be more intentional in my every day, whether that means enjoying time with special people or reducing my social scrolling! As you grow more experienced at life you come to realise that time is the only thing you cannot get more of.

How do you show yourself love and kindness? I like to prioritise my thoughts. I think a healthy and positive mindset is very important to enjoying what life is all about.

Ali Loves

"I absolutely love the Ageless Antioxidant Rosehip Oil, it’s chock full of goodness, helps to protect and hydrate my dry skin, evens out skin tone and fight free radical damage."

Melissa Stancati – Digital Marketing Executive Pilates gal, documentary buff, secret Nutella lover

What does beauty mean to you? The idea of beauty for me is to feel confident in my own skin, not in the way I look but in who I am as a person. To face the world knowing I can be gracious in defeat, I have compassion, I take pride in what I do, I can laugh at myself, and I always treat my body with respect and love.

What makes you feel beautiful? Practicing yoga and pilates reconnects me with the present moment and my body. It gives me focus and confidence to see what my body can do after a class and that makes me feel beautiful.

What advice would you give your younger self? Not to over pluck my eyebrows in year 9! Gwen Stefani and Christina Aguilera's thin eyebrows of the early 2000s were not a vibe for me.

 Melissa loves

"I suffer from hormonal breakouts around my chin so I'm always looking for brightening serums that can lighten those post-pimple marks. I found the Ageless Luminous Perfecting Serum does that for me, as it contains Niacinamide (Vitamin B3). Skin is brightened and its moisture barrier is enhanced by Niacinamide – perfect for my skin needs."

We hope you liked getting to know some of the Natio team members, keep an eye out for part 2, where we continue to explore the secrets to embracing the skin you have and love being you.

One of our much-loved skincare ranges has recently undergone a refresh. Natio Ageless has been reformulated to empower women to actively maintain, improve and love the skin they have.  

The new Natio Ageless range has been designed and developed to restore comfort to the complexion, promote luminosity and actively nourish skin to look and feel smooth, plump and radiant. By combining key natural and active ingredients the range offers products that harnesses the multiple benefits of Rosehip Oil. Rich in Antioxidant Vitamin C and A, Rosehip supports skin cell regeneration and helps to repair and moisturise the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This wonder cold pressed oil has been partnered with Peptides, broad spectrum sun protection SPF 50+, and Vitamin C, to aid in protecting the skin from free radical damage. Plant Collagen, Hyaluronate and Ceramides combine to help improve overall vital elasticity.  

Trust is important to us here at Natio and whilst we have grown trust with you over close to 30 years, we acknowledge that you need to hear more from independent sources to help you make skincare decisions, particularly when trying something new.  

This has been the main catalyst for key products within the Ageless range to be clinically and dermatologically tested providing proven results. We have worked with one of the most trusted global clinical testing labs to ensure that the results we provide offer the best opportunity to make informed choices regarding the skincare option that is right for you.

Here’s a quick introduction into some of our favourite new and improved products as well as new products to complement existing favourites to build the best skincare routine to care for your skin.

 Ageless Extra Firming Night Cream 

Replenish and re-energise skin while you sleep with this restorative night cream. Antioxidant Rosehip and Vitamin C combine with vitamin, mineral and omega-rich plant oils and butters to support and maximise the complexion’s overnight skin renewal. On waking, skin feels nourished and uplifted. 94% of testers agree, skin looks younger* 

Ageless Radiance Day Lotion 

This lightweight yet deeply revitalising lotion offers skin a daily dose of vital antioxidants and plant actives to boost brightness and bounce. A powerful combination of antioxidant and vitamin-rich Rosehip, replenishing and barrier strengthening Ceramides and firming Marine Collagen help to promote plumpness and elasticity for a complexion that feels nourished, firm, and glowing. 83% of testers agree, wrinkles are less visible* 

 Ageless Hydrating Face Fluid SPF 50+

Enjoy ultra-lightweight, invisible nourishment and sun protection with this comfortable facial fluid. Formulated with very high SPF 50+ UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection plus antioxidant and omega-rich Rosehip and Ceramides, this clever formulation actively defends against skin-ageing for a complexion which looks and feels healthy and protected.  Dermatologically Tested and perfect for combination and oily skin types.

Ageless Brightening Eye Cream  

Revive and illuminate the delicate skin around your eyes with this light, nurturing moisture rich cream. Generously enriched with rejuvenating Rosehip, essential fatty acids and antioxidants help to plump fine lines, promote improved elasticity, replenish, and enliven skin.  Clinically Tested.

Ageless Replenishing Cream Cleanser  

Gently remove makeup and impurities with this creamy, replenishing cleanser. Protective and nourishing, antioxidant Rosehip and nurturing Shea Butter combine with stable Vitamin C to purify skin without depleting its moisture barrier. Gently cleansed, the complexion is left feeling comfortably soft, moist, and supple. Boosts moisture by up to 78%+.

How we treat our skin is part of living a healthy life. The skin we love is our largest body organ and now more than ever it is very important to protect  from elements that can cause harm- like the sun’s rays, and environmental factors.  

The best skincare routine is one that listens to the changing needs of our skin. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, adequate sleep, hydration, and healthy eating are all equally important to achieve your best skin. 

Natio Ageless products are made in Australia and always cruelty free. 

*Based on independent user study of 32 female subjects (aged 38-60) with self-perceived ageing skin after using the product for 42 days under dermatological control, January 2022. 

+ Tested by 16 female subjects (aged 30+) with self-perceived ageing skin. Product applied to the volar forearm and measured using the Moisture Meter SC to identify the stratum corneum mean skin moisture improvement post topical application, September 2021. 

Each year, Earth Day offers an opportunity to pause and truly reflect on our planet - to celebrate its beauty and its bounty, but also - critically - to actively consider its struggles and the support it needs from us.  

Earth Day 2022 calls on individuals to “Invest In Our Planet”, promoting the cumulative power of each individual to take actions that create a ripple effect of widespread change. 

Empowerment begins with knowing that every small change can help to make a big difference. 

At Natio, we aim to produce beauty-care products which “tread lightly, nourish gently and bring a smile to your face”. We also aim to cherish our natural world. Balancing our business objectives with our commitment to nature is a complex task, however we are proud of the inroads we have made so far and the path we are on. Our support of local forestry and wildlife rehabilitation initiatives, plus our commitment to solar-powered operations have created some meaningful change already, and we look forward to implementing ongoing improvement and expansion in environmental initiatives into the future. 

Packaging, in particular, presents significant opportunity for positive change. Natio is continuously striving to improve the sustainability of packaging and become ever more friendly to our environment.  

Already, Natio’s packaging demonstrates our commitment to sustainable forestry practices with recycled paper a priority where viable, and all virgin paper packaging materials certified for sustainable forest management.  

In terms of plastic, Natio products increasingly utilise a mix of recyclable, reusable, recycled and biodegradable materials to help alleviate “plastic pollution” in the environment.  

Natio’s more sustainable packaging efforts are most evident in our newest ranges - such as Spa, Spirit, Calm and Clear - with packaging made from at least 82% recycled plastic and sustainable materials such as renewable sugarcane, and with recycling symbols designed to facilitate correct disposal after use.  

We look forward to supporting positive change and empowering our customers to make more sustainable choices through ongoing packaging innovation, as it becomes available. Every positive action creates a meaningful ripple towards supporting and preserving our precious home. 

We all know that getting older is inevitable. Which, actually, isn’t a bad thing. With the privilege of age come all sorts of rewards - wisdom and confidence being two significant gains - and done right, reaching maturity can be downright empowering.

How? Positive Ageing.

Positive Ageing is a practice which encourages maintaining a positive attitude, feeling good about yourself, keeping fit, active and healthy, and engaging fully in life as you grow older.

Or in other words, shifting focus from (impossibly) “turning back the clock” to “turning up the dial” - embracing your age, loving yourself and living life to its fullest.

Some smart, simple steps can help set you on a path to ongoing happiness, health and vitality as you march into middle age and beyond.

Physically, looking after our bodies - including consuming a fresh and nutritious diet (more plants, less processed foods), staying hydrated, taking regular exercise, achieving adequate (and good quality) sleep, limiting alcohol intake, not smoking and reducing sun exposure - has a direct impact on how fast or slow our body ages and how good we feel.

Similarly, a good skincare routine can slow the visible signs of ageing and have you feeling comfortable, confident and radiant in your gorgeous, timeless skin. Formulations like those in Natio’s Ageless skincare line gently nourish and actively support the comfort needs and goals of maturing skin with nutritive plant ingredients and potent actives which promote improved skin hydration, texture and glow for your best skin at any age.

Creating a bespoke regimen which fits your lifestyle, complexion goals and makes you feel good - whether that’s a 3 step “cleanse, tone and moisturise (with SPF!)” routine or a more comprehensive regimen including specialised serums and treatment products - can be both enjoyable and empowering, paying dividends for your emotional health and wellbeing as well.

Inextricably linked, looking good and feeling good go hand-in-hand. Self-care and investment into safeguarding and supporting your physical, mental and emotional health is incredibly important - at any age.

We thank everyone who entered our competition to win a luxury 3-night trip for two to Marramarra Lodge on the Hawkesbury River, NSW.

To enter, participants were asked to tell us what new product they would like to see in the Natio range and why? The overwhelming number of entries made it difficult to choose only one winner, but one stood out to us, and that was... 

Angela Hall, Australia. 

Congratulations, Angela! You are the winner of an Australian getaway worth more than A$7,000 and a $500 Natio gift voucher. 

Nestled among a breathtaking bush backdrop, a truly unique stay awaits you. With boat transfers, spa treatments and all-inclusive meals and drinks, including gourmet breakfast of locally sourced and house-made produce, lunch and Chef’s degustation dinner each evening.

We hope you and your guest enjoy your stay and return feeling truly revived in soul and spirit.

10 runners-up each receiving a Natio gift pack valued at A$200

1. Alison Smith, New Zealand

2. Diana Wright, Australia

3. Helen Bampton, Australia

4. Luciano Lanham, New Zealand

5. Linda Smith, Australia

6. Gus Lyon, Australia

7. Lynn Latham, Australia

8. Judi Bewster, Australia

9. Ingrid Jensen, New Zealand

10. Jessica Gray, Australia

Thanks again to everyone who participated. 

One of the decades trending lifestyle shifts has been the push to use more vegan based products. Nowadays, more and more people are making conscious decisions about what they consume and the products they use in their daily lives and of course, on their skin. 

Firstly, it’s important to recognise the difference between vegan and cruelty free. A product that is vegan does not contain any animal ingredients or animal-derived ingredients. This includes ingredients such as, beeswax, lanolin, carmine, gelatin and more.  

The term cruelty free in cosmetics and skincare refers to a company’s stance whether they or a third party test their products on animals.  

What is Natio’s position on cruelty free?  

Natio is proudly cruelty free. We have never tested on animals and we never will. In 1996 we gained accreditation with Choose Cruelty Free. We believe in the ethical development of our products, ensuring no furry friends are put in harm's way.

choosecrueltyfree.org.au

Why is it important to Natio to have vegan products in the range?  

Natio has always been conscious about the ingredients selected in the product range. The ingredients for every product are carefully curated to ensure not only performance but ingredients that are natural and kind to your skin and the environment.  Whist once a niche category, the gaining popularity and demand for vegan products has provided a great opportunity to offer more products with great performance and vegan ingredients.  

Shop our vegan products here 

Get a fresh summer skin look that's all vegan  

1. After applying your Natio suncare, apply Natio Precision Tubing Mascara to lashes.  
2. For a light flush to the cheeks, using the Natio Blusher Brush apply the blush from the Natio Blush and Bronze Palette in Sunkissed focusing on the apples of the cheeks.  
3. Finish your look by applying the Antioxidant Lip Shine in Bliss to your lips for a subtle colour.  
4. Let’s not forgot your nails, apply 1-2 coats of the Nail Colour in Peony to your nails and toes and you’re ready for an Aussie summer bbq!  

This month we released our latest limited-edition cosmetics collection, the ‘natural Australian beauty’ colour story. It’s full of must-have makeup products in earthy, floral tones that can be used to create a range of versatile and easy-to-create looks from natural smokey eyes to flattering monochromatic looks, no makeup artist required! 

Inspired by the beauty found in the Australian landscape, from dazzling sunsets to shimmering oceans and breathtaking flora, the Natio team worked with models Peggy and Hannah to bring the 8-piece collection to life. We featured beautiful native florals in the images, which picked up on some of the vibrant eyeshadow and lipstick shades, while also paying homage to the natural inspiration behind the collection.    

Each year we design a colour story collection that features a mix of brand new items, returning customer favourites or best-sellers from our cosmetics range. It’s a great opportunity for Natio shoppers to try something new or see it used in a way they hadn’t thought of before. If you’ve been a fan of our limited edition Luminous Pearl Perfecting Primer or Makeup Setting Spray in the past, you’ll be happy to see these items make a comeback in this year’s collection! And there is an added bonus with this colour story; most of the items are sold in boxed duos that offer savings of up to 30% off RRPs.  

For a guide on how to get the two feature looks of the campaign at home, check out this step-by-step guide from our makeup artist Christina Schroder, and you can take a look at some of the behind-the-scenes images our team captured on the day, and the final images below.  

We hope you love them as much as we do!  

After a very long make up hiatus, we were finally able to be back in the studio with our two gorgeous models Peggy & Hannah. We hope you love the 2022 Natural Australian Beauty Colour Collection as much as we enjoyed creating it.    

Armed with our favourite Australian natives and our cohesive make up collection designed to embrace and empower natural, individual beauty, we produced imagery reflecting the Australian spirit. Inspired by the radiance of our southern sky, the softly shimmering textures deliver depth and definition whilst celebrating some of Australia’s most beautiful flora.  

Below is a outline of the products used on each of the models, so if you feel inspired you can recreate the look or experiment with colour and create your own vision of natural Australian beauty. 

Peggy wears a warm, monochromatic look that reflects the beauty of our sunburnt country.  

1. Start by applying the Luminous Pearl Perfecting Primer on cleansed & moisturised skin. Follow on with your favourite Natio foundation & concealer – I used the Semi Matte Full Coverage Foundation in Vanilla and the Full Coverage Concealer in Light.  
   
   
2. Next apply the Southern Lights Blush and Bronze Duo, to the high points of the face to softly highlight.  
   
   
3. For cheeks & lips we used the Sunset Red Lip Duo. We lined the lips with Lip Liner in ‘Earth’ and followed on with Lip Colour in ‘Sienna’ – we also used the Sienna lipstick on the cheeks  - best applied with a brush to diffuse the colour.  
   
   
4. The Aurora Australis Mineral Eyeshadow Palette was used on the eye to give a pop of orange, colours outlined below.  
   
   
5. Follow on with 2 coats of the Super Long Lash Mascara from the Midnight Sky Mascara and Eyeliner Duo.  
   
   
6. Finally, give longevity to your look with the Makeup Setting Spray.  
   
   

Hannah highlights the beauty and romance of a pinky orange sunset with a touch of glimmering gold.  

1. Prime the skin and add a stunning glow with the Luminous Pearl Perfecting Primer. Follow on with your favourite Natio foundation & concealer – I used the Semi Matte Full Coverage Foundation in Golden and the Full Coverage Concealer in Dark Medium.  
   
   
2. Add that lit from within radiance to the cheeks and high points of the face with the Southern Lights Blush and Bronze Duo 
   
   
3. The golden tones from the Aurora Australis Mineral Eyeshadow Palette have been used on the eyes for a burnished gold hue – colours outlined below.  
   
   
4. Apply the black liner to the lash line and 2 coats of mascara from the Midnight Sky Mascara and Eyeliner Duo. 
   
   
5. Define brows naturally with the Daybreak Brow Duo.  
   
   
6. Give the lips a pop of colour with the Rose Dawn Lip Duo - Lip Liner Rose & Lip Colour Graceful, both used.  
   
   
7. Finally set your makeup with the Makeup Setting Spray for all day hold.  

Madonna, Bella Hadid, Irina Shayk, Kai Gerber, Zoe Kravitz, Barbara Palvin, Alexa Chung … have I got your attention yet?   

International Makeup Artist Ciara O’Shea joins me for a chat about embracing your natural beauty, as well as all things make up and beauty must have’s. 

Ciara, you’re in Sweden today shooting the campaign for Acne Studios Fall/Winter 22.  You’re heading back to London tomorrow and no doubt will be jet setting again very soon.  Thank you for joining me today to talk all things trends, celebrity and make up must haves! 

Natio: You have worked on some of the most recognisable faces in the world, from literal royalty to runway royalty - who’s face would you love to work on next?  

Ciara: I saw Nicole Kidman many years ago at a movie premier in Leicester Square in London, and I had never seen star quality like that before. Nicole was mesmerising, she had movie star quality and anyone I know that has ever worked with her before has just raved about how amazing she is. I would love to work with Nicole.  

Natio: What trends are you seeing in Europe at the moment that you’re loving?  

Ciara: I’m seeing a lot of light textures in makeup and when applying these fine delicate layers, it’s like working with chiffon. It’s fun to see how far you can push these delicate layers to build up a look. Cooler tones in eyeshadows are really taking off here, greys, mauves, cold greens are big in London at the moment.  

Natio: Trends are sometimes just that - which trends do you think are ones that don’t necessarily work for everyone?  

Ciara: I find it really difficult to see women wearing thick foundation in a colour that doesn’t suit their skin tone. Finding the right colour foundation is important, looking at your bare skin in natural light, then trying the shades on your face and then checking the colours in different lighting is important. The right foundation should just blend seamlessly into your skin, it should be in harmony with your skin tone.  

Another trend I’m seeing a lot of is heavy contouring. A soft contour and highlight is more flattering than heavy contour and highlight all over the face.  

Natio: Now you have worked on a lot of big faces, who is the nicest celebrity you’ve had the pleasure to work on?  

Ciara: Zoe Kravitz was absolute heaven, so sweet! Her skin was flawless, a makeup artists dream. Bella & Gigi Hadid, Kai Gerber – they’re all lovely.  

Natio: what would you say is your most underrated beauty product & why?  

Ciara: A hydrating Essence is so underrated. It gets hydration and moisture into the skin on a level a serum and moisturiser can’t. It negates the need for a primer. If your skin is in disrepair or rough in texture, an essence will sort that out and make it silky soft. Fine lines, wrinkles are sorted out fast.  

Natio: What are your 3 must have products for every day? 

Ciara: for my personal use - a concealer, a lip & cheek product & a mascara are my essentials. For my make up kit: an essence, a concealer (which you can build up or sheer down) & a brow product are key. 

Natio: As we open back up to travel, what products would you say you absolutely can’t live without whilst traveling? 

Ciara: A hydrating mist, an eye mask, an eye cream and essential oils for the plane.   

Natio: What are your best techniques & tools to achieve sculpted brows whilst looking natural and not ‘coloured in’..?  

Ciara: I use a mixture of brow products to create texture and dimension. I start with a brow pen to paint in hairs where there are missing gaps. Then I will go in with a brow gel to soften the brows and add hold. I often use a mixture of different colours and products to make the brows look more natural and textured.   

Natio: And finally, what's does beauty mean to you?  

Ciara: beauty to me is about individuality, embracing your unique features and diversity.  

A big thank you to Ciara for her wonderful insights into the world of beauty. You can find Ciara via @ciaradoesmakeup on Instagram.  

Cover image credit: Office Magazine