Australian skincare brand Ultraceuticals has been around for years doing incredibly well across the Tasman, but is not as well-known here in New Zealand, until now…
Australian skincare brand Ultraceuticals has been around for years doing incredibly well across the Tasman, but is not as well-known here in New Zealand – but that is all about to change. The brand is becoming well-loved by increasing amounts of New Zealand women, recommended it by their doctors and skin clinics.
I had the chance to meet some of the Ultraceuticals team over from Australia at an afternoon at Euro on Auckland’s waterfront this month.
I learned some of the history of the brand, how it was started by cosmetic physician Dr Geoffrey Heber and he is actually living proof of its efficacy; his photos seemed to have stopped ageing about twenty years ago and his skin improved! It is still entirely Australian made and owned, and is stocked at David Jones and leading skin clinics.
There are a few lines within the Ultraceuticals brand, including: brightening, sun care, and cosmetics.
First up, cosmeceutical grade makeup: in liquid and a powder CC makeups.
Ultraceuticals CC complete Correction Pure Mineral Powder Foundation is free of many of the "nasties" we want to avoid in powder foundations – there’s no talc, bismuth, synthetic dyes, or fragrances. It’s a pure mineral powder with active anti-ageing ingredients Microelastin – a peptide to stimulate skin renewal, Atrocarpus to brighten skin, Niacinamide to improve fine lines, redness and blotchiness. It uses Vitamin C and Vitamin E for antioxidant protection and calms skin with Bisabolol. There are 5 shades; pictured below is Shade 4, a light yellow undertone nude. I liked the compact – which clicked shut, then turned left, to seal properly which is helpful in your handbag – and the brush, which didn’t drop any hairs unlike many compacts! Foundation $69 and kabuki brush $59. They also do a CC cream Mineral Tint SPF30 also free of parabens, dyes and fragrances, for $59.
Below: Ultraceuticals SunActive SPF50+ range gives optimal sun protection that’s free of synthetic fragrances, parabens, mineral oils, and benzophenone. It’s a UVA/UVB broad spectrum sunscreen with 4 hours water resistance and antioxidants for environmental protection. Compared to other sunscreens on the market, it has a low chemical sunscreen load whilst still giving high 50+ protection and remaining photostable. The Face Cream 60ml (which also has Pro-Vitamin C) retails for $45 and a there’s also a SPF50+ body lotion 130ml size for $49, and a large 250ml size at $79.
The SunActive face cream absorbs into skin leaves a nice sheen.
The next two products are for people with hyperpigmentation and dark spots, without the use of the traditionally used but harsh lightener, hydroquinone.
Below: Ultraceuticals Foaming Cleanser is a gentle makeup remover ideal for sensitive skins with uneven skin tone. It contains Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), Provitamin B5 (Panthenol) and brightening ingredient Gigawhite, with cucumber extract to soothe skin. It is paraben-free and fragrance-free, and retails for $55.
Below: Ultraceuticals Ultra Brightening Moisturising Cream $105 has been created under their new ingredients policy: no animal testing, no genetically modified ingredients and it is environmentally sustainable. As with their other products, it is free of parabens, mineral oils, SLS, synthetic dyes and fragrances. It combines Vitamin B3, B5, Gigawhite, ceramides, Hyaluronic acid, salicin and lineoleic acids.
Ultraceuticals is available at selected department stores and skin clinics nationwide. See www.ultraceuticals.com for more info, and here for New Zealand Ultraceuticals stockists.
Megan Robinson
30 November 2013
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