From hair care to skincare, Australia is leading the charge with unisex beauty brands. And there’s a lot to get excited about. Especially if you aren’t a fan of sweet-smelling scents.
Beauty has long been about embracing individuality. So, it makes sense women are exploring outside of their mainstream feminine favourites.
Whether that be with fragrances, haircare, or skincare. Of course, it goes both ways, as many men also favour the sweet-smelling scents normally worn by women.
I know plenty of men who prefer the scent of florals to woody scents. And there are plenty of male fragrances such as Acqua Di Parma Colonia Futura Eau de Cologne, Shiseido Zen for Men or Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne, that do adopt a soft sweet note in their fragrances, like vanilla and peony, to soften the scent.
Generally speaking, it’s those deep woody, cinnamon-infused, bergamot and sandalwood fragrances, many women can’t resist on a man.
Then there are women like me who love those scents on a man, as they imbue masculinity, but I also obsess over these fragrances in perfumes and candles, as I find sweet-smelling products too much.
So, when brands started creating unisex beauty products, I was onboard.
But what does it take to make a unisex beauty product?
Founder of Australian made and owned hair brand Mr. Smith, David Justin, says fragrances can be difficult to create in products. So, adopting a very natural based fragrance, such as neutral based botanical scent made from natural essential oils, like frankincense, rose geranium infused into macadamia oil, help create a scent anyone can love.
“Essentially I created products for everyone. They target specific hair needs, no matter what sex you are. Although not marketed as a unisex product, the products are designed to help you have nourished hair, volumise hair, maintain colour, repair and make hair shine. So anyone can use them.
Most beauty products are demographically targeted to specific sexes through the use of fragrances. I aimed to just create a product which worked, so adding in a subtle fragrance meant, anyone of any sex could use it,” He explains.
By working out what the hair audience needed to how it worked for different hair concerns, David was able to take away the stigma often associated with products.
“Through my experience, I found most women preferred men’s haircare products, not because of the smell, but because of the performance of the product. This meant developing a product to help treat all hair types took precedent over fragrance.”
Personally I favour men’s fragrances and hair care products of female products, not just because they work, but because they do smell fantastic also.
I love the scent of deep woody notes, infused with rich cinnamon and ginger and other earthy spices. Especially with my candles and skincare. And I have only just recently started using men’s haircare too, as I felt the sweet floral scents of many women hair products a little too sickly to smell.
Check out some of my favourite Aussie owned and made unisex beauty brands below:
Mr. Smith Luxury Masque Treatment for Hair RRP $60
PETA certified vegan, sulphate and paragon free, this hair masque has become my go-to hair treatment, with my hair feeling softer and less tangled since using it.
The texture is smooth to use with a heartwarming scent of mountain pepper, caviar lime and aniseed myrtle, perfect for summer, as it’s crisp and vibrant to smell.
My hair is super soft with a major reduction in frizz. I recommend keeping in the hair for at least 3o-minutes if possible for a deep hydration boost to the locks.
Botany Mineral Rich Exfoliant RRP $50
This is a revitalising facial exfoliant made from green coffee beans, pomegranate, cranberry, Kakadu plum, bamboo and organ oil.
The scent does have a soft sweet smell from the pomegranate, though it’s super subtle, so not overpowering at all.
My skin feels very hydrated after using this exfoliant, as the coffee works to remove dead skin cells and activate fresh blood and oxygen through the skin cells.
Mukti Botanique Parfum No.1 RRP $99.95
Though not marketed as a unisex beauty brand, the scents of Mukti are made from some of the best botanical and essential oils, with soft earthy scents perfect for any sex.
I am really digging botanical fragrances made from essential oils over perfumes, as they are less potent than perfumes.
This fragrance is made from fragrant Jasmine, the sultry notes of Tuberose and the earthy, woody notes of Sandalwood. It has a grounding affect, and is easy to carry in your handbag throughout the day, with it’s roll on applicator.
Erno Laszlo The Famous Black Bar RRP $38
Perfect for clogged pores and congested skin, for any skin types, no matter the sex. Especially as it’s scent-free.
The bar is detoxifying and combines Dead Sea mud and charcoal to cleanse, draw out impurities, and visibly reduce pore size for a smooth look.
It suits oily skin, combination skin, sensitive skin and dry skin, and will help with dull and uneven texture, pores, and dryness.
The Beauty Chef Inner Beauty Boost RRP $45
Collagen isn’t just for women, it’s great for men too. It keep skin soft, smooth and youthful and reduces the signs of ageing both inside and outside of the body.
This is a vegan elixir to help plump the skin from the inside out. Fragrance isn’t really a factor with this product, but it’s still worth a mention, as a lot of men don’t think they need collagen.
It’s made from bio-fermented papaya, grapeseed extracts, omegranate peel extract, gotu kola, organic goji, acai and maqui berries, plus more vitamin C to support collagen production and zinc to support skin structure and healthy hair and nails.
