2020 has opened our eyes to a lot of new things – one of them is the ongoing and systematic racism experienced by our Indigenous peoples.
When coming across stories about racial profiling and police brutality, it’s hard to know how to help.
There are tonnes of petitions and charities to donate to, but another great way to show support is by buying from Indigenous-owned businesses.
Here is a list of our favourite Indigenous-owned beauty that work with native Australian botanicals.
Plus, with Christmas coming up, these high-quality beauty products will make the perfect gift.
Bush Medijina is a beauty brand born from hardship.
It was created so that Warningakalina elders could preserve their ancient knowledge of the Australian bush in the face of extreme poverty and eradication of culture.
Bush Medijina focuses specifically on empowering Warningakalina women.
They have established the Strong Women’s Team which provides educational programmes such as healthy cooking, exercise, physiotherapy and literacy for the community.
The tribe’s elders have channelled their extensive knowledge of the medicinal and healing properties of Australia’s native flora into their products.
The result is an array of balms, body butters, hair oils, soaps and shower gels which are as good for the face as they are for the soul.
A standout product is the Bush Blossom Body Butter, made with the key ingredient, Merrika.
Indigiearth is an entirely Indigenous-owned business, founded and led by Ngemba Weilwan woman, Sharon Winsor.
After experiencing loss and abuse, single mother Sharon Winsor created her own brand, Indigiearth, from ground up.
Now, Indigiearth boasts an extensive array of products – not just skin care, but bush foods, botanicals, essential oil blends and candles, too.
Sharon’s most recent addition to Indigiearth is the Warakirri Café and Dining in Mudgee, where Sharon and her team use her own bush foods, spices and botanicals to create Aboriginal bush tucker dishes with a unique and modern twist.
The café also features an adjoining Retail Shop where people visiting Mudgee can splurge on beauty products such as clay face masks, moisturisers, serums and cleansers.
If not, Indigiearth’s website offers a range of products that ship Australia-wide.
The Slockee family, descendants of the Bundjalung tribe, have always felt a deep attachment to the Australian bush.
Together, the family founded Juddarnje, a skin-care company which utilises Indigenous Australians’ unique understanding of the healing properties of native botanicals to create safe and natural products which nourish the skin.
The Slockee family’s goal is to show everyone what the First Nation peoples have always known –natural is best.
Juddarnja’s products are totally free from chemical and synthetic “nasties” like sodium lauryl sulfates, propylene glycols and parabens.
Their Soap Free Cleansing Milk looks absolutely luxurious – plus, they have a range of Gift Packs for the perfect Christmas present.
Dilkara’s founder and “brain child,” Julie, describes herself as a proud Kamilaroi woman and mum of two.
After years in the Hairdressing industry, buying her first salon aged only 19, Julie decided to combine her Aboriginal heritage with her immense passion for the beauty industry – creating Dilkara.
Starting out as the first ever hair care range to incorporate native Australian ingredients, Dilkara has expanded into the skin care world, offering luxurious products such as their Enzyme Gel Cleanser, Pink Clay Mask and Botanical Cream Cleanser.
Julie works closely with local Indigenous communities to create an authentic brand that ensures the native flora used in her products are harvested responsibly.
Dilkara products often include remedial Australian botanicals such as Lilly Pilly Berry, Lemon Myrtle and Eucalyptus Blue Gum Oil.
Not to mention that Dilkara products are completely free of sulphates, parabens, petrolatum and Palm Oil, and are Vegan Friendly, Cruelty Free and 100% Australian made.
Native Secrets sell skin care products, candles and essential oils that do more than just heal the skin – they help heal our fragile ecosystem, too.
Owned by Indigenous couple, Phil and Cherie Thompson, Native Secrets uses the native botanicals surviving on their property just outside of Dubbo.
Drawing on the knowledge of the local Wiradjuri tribe, Phil and Cherie began harvesting and cultivating native white cypress trees.
In doing so, they have actually begun to restore the ecosystem in their drought-stricken property.
The oil they harvest from the native white cypress trees have a range of medicinal properties.
They are anti-inflammatory, and a great natural alternative for treating eczema and psoriasis.
Native Secrets have a range of exquisite products, such as their Revitalising Hand and Body Lotion which contains all-natural ingredients such as grapeseed oil, almond oil and the indigenous white cypress tree oil to leave the skin feels soft and luscious.
