Bust those winter blues by treating yourself to some mood-boosting beauty products from brands known for their passion for making the world, and your skin, a better place.
Stuff that Matters Face Sunscreen SPF 50+
We love this green tea-infused sunscreen from Stuff That Matters. This Australian skincare brand has BCorp certification, and its products are all vegan-friendly, but that’s not all. For every purchase, Stuff that Matters donates to its charity partner Man Cave, founded to bust the stigma surrounding male mental health issues.
$30, sephora.nz
Nutrimetics Blueberry Antioxidant Biodegradable Sheet Mask
Founded in 1968, Nutrimetics works closely with Cancer Support New Zealand, a charity that runs workshops for anyone undergoing cancer treatment. The brand has donated $100,000 of beauty products to the organisation this year alone, and their products are used at its beauty workshops for cancer patients. This gorgeous face mask uses a mood-boosting mix of blueberry extract, Vitamin B5 and green tea to brighten, soften and smooth. Plus, all products are designed in Australia and made in Aotearoa.
$8.50, nutrimetics.com
Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask
New Zealand brand Antipodes works closely with WWF New Zealand (online customers can also add additional donations at checkout) and only sources ingredients from companies that meet strict criteria. For example, the mānuka honey in the Aura Gold Mānuka Honey Radiance Mask comes from a Wellington apiary owned by a couple who rely on sustainable, small-scale practices to protect bee health, biodiversity and local ecosystems, and the grape extract used in many of their bestsellers is a byproduct of New Zealand’s wine industry. We’ll toast to that…
$52, antipodesnature.com
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Pink Ribbon Edition
Yes, at $226 we’re well into “splurge” territory, but if there’s ever a time to treat yourself to Estée Lauder’s renowned miracle serum, it’s now – the brand will donate 20% of the purchase price to this pink-hued delight to Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.
$226, esteelauder.co.nz
Neal’s Yard Remedies Goodnight Pillow Mist
Wake up refreshed with the help of this fragrant pillow mist, made with organic lavender, vetiver and mandarin essential oils. Neal’s Yard, a certified CarbonNeutral company, was the first beauty brand awarded the seal of approval from the Soil Association, which recognises companies supporting communities, animals, plants and the environment. Neal’s Yard has also never used microbeads in its products or tested on animals.
$60, freshbeautyco.co.nz
Lush Hutan Bath Bomb
It doesn’t get cuter than a monkey-shaped bath bomb. The best bit? Purchase this frankincense-scented fizzer and 75% of the cost price will go to organisations helping to save Indonesia’s Simeulue macaques – a critically endangered primate species whose numbers have been decimated by deforestation and poaching.
$11, lush.com
Chantecaille Lip Veil
Pucker up with pride with the help of Chantecaille’s Lip Veil – in this case, one which is packaged in an elephant-adorned tube. The brand works closely with Space for Giants, a charity founded to help save the African elephant, and the purchase price includes a donation to the organisation.
$109, mecca.com
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Lip Protectant Stick Sunscreen SPF 15
There are now even more reasons to ensure you’re never without this handbag essential: the growing list of charities and NGOs Elizabeth Arden collaborates with. One of our favourites is the Sparrow Society, a South Africa-based organisation set up to promote gender advocacy and support victims of gender-based violence.
$47, elizabetharden.co.nz
Ethique Everyday Shine Shampoo Bar with Vitamin C
Just a mere sniff of Ethique’s fantastic shampoo and conditioner bars will bring a smile to your face. These colourful chunks of loveliness don’t just work wonders on your hair – you’ll be helping the environment by embracing their plastic-free philosophy, too. We’re also huge fans of Ethique’s approach to ingredients, all of which come from cooperatives, whether it’s the coconut oil from Samoa, the babassu oil from South America or the moringa oil from Rwanda.
$14, ethique.com
Weleda Happiness Shower Gel
If this Weleda shower gel says what it does on the bottle, expect a little more happiness in your life. In this case, the feel-good factor is boosted by the fact that this grapefruit and lime-infused delight is made by Weleda, which sources three-quarters of its ingredients from organic or biodynamic farms and prioritises working with several organisations that give back socially and environmentally. A case in point: the brand donates free samples to midwives registered with Te Tatau o te Whare Kahu (or Midwifery Council) so that new mothers can enjoy a Weleda-related skincare fix.
$21.90, weleda.co.nz
Lush Watermelon Soap
Fundraising soap? Yep, you read that right. Lush’s popular “fundraising product” is a vitamin-enriched soap that doesn’t just offer a delicious-smelling, rich lather but does some serious good in the world. Of every bar sold, 75% of the purchase price, minus tax, goes to several medical charities and NGOs working in Gaza, including ones that provide prosthetic limbs to injured adults and children.
$14, lush.com/nz