The standards women are looking for in their beauty products continue to rise: in addition to toning, radiance, moisturizing and anti-aging properties, women are increasingly demanding serums and balms that were produced without causing any cruelty to animals or the environment. They better also be free of harsh chemicals like parabens and sulphates, not to mention be biodegradable and do not impact the water supply. That very tall, and usually pricey, order got a little easier to satisfy in the UAE this week with the launch of Sukin, an Australian natural skincare line. The brand is much-loved the world over for its affordable prices – its anti-pollution face mask is Dh64, for example, with key ingredients being bamboo charcoal and moringa extract – as well as its use of botanicals, antioxidants and essential oils. The company also offsets its carbon emissions by investing in clean energy projects.
The brand was launched at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel JBR’s La Baie Lounge by the Lebanese Australian lawyer and TV host Jessica Kahawaty. The frequent visitor to Dubai called Sukin “an organic skincare brand that I’ve honestly used for so many years”.
Celebrities beyond Australia also love the Melbourne-based company’s products, with the Harry Potter actress Emma Watson earlier this summer praising the company’s hydrating mist with chamomile and rosewater on her Instagram page. The Hydrating Mist Toner, also endorsed by the YouTube makeup stars Maddy Lee (Australia) and Selina Ozay (Britain), is so popular the company reports that it sells a bottle every 52 seconds.
All Sukin products are made in Australia. The range also includes a dose of the paw paw ointment (Dh35) Aussies seem to obsess about. The petrochemical-free version of Vaseline uses fermented paw paw – a fruit – as well as castor seed oil, vitamin E and papaya fruit extract to moisturize and protect. Sukin will be available exclusively at LIFE Pharmacy in the UAE, at Holland & Barrett in Saudi Arabia and will soon launch at Bootiqaat in Kuwait.
