The New Zealand woman’s guide to clean beauty- Skin care and Makeup that actually works

If you've been down the rabbit hole of trying to find genuinely clean, effective beauty products in New Zealand ….same here , for many many years .

The good news? You don't need to purchase everything from overseas or spend a fortune to have a proper routine or visit large cosmetic stores that can feel completely overwhelming.

Here's what we think a great clean beauty shelf looks like, from skincare first thing in the morning through to your makeup bag.

Start with skin: The Prepy 5-Step Korean Ritual

Korean skincare has a reputation for being complicated, but Prepy was designed to make it simple.

It's a New Zealand brand built around a 5-step ritual that actually makes sense:

1. Cleansing Balm ~ melts away the day (or night) without stripping your skin

2. Glow Swipe ~ a gentle exfoliant that does the work while you sleep

3. Bakuchiol Face Milk ~the natural retinol alternative that's kind to sensitive skin

4. Exosome Essence ~ the hero ingredient, sourced from the tangerine bulb, known for its skin-renewing properties

5. Ayem Peyem ~ your AM/PM moisturiser to lock everything in.

The whole ritual is designed for New Zealand women who want results without a 12-step overwhelme .

Whether you're dealing with dull skin, uneven texture, or just want to glow , this is the routine.

Then comes makeup: Max & Louie

Once your skin is sorted, Max & Louie takes over. It's a New Zealand vegan makeup brand built for women who want to look put-together without living in front of a mirror.

The range is cream-based, which means it blends beautifully and actually works with your skin instead of sitting on top of it.

Think blush that looks like you (but better), brow products that last, and foundations that don't feel like a mask by 3pm.

Not sure on your shade? There's an online shade-matching service so you can get it right the first time ~ no guessing, no returns drama.

Why clean beauty matters (especially in NZ)

New Zealanders are increasingly looking for beauty products that are vegan, cruelty-free, and free from unnecessary nasties and for good reason.

What goes on your skin gets absorbed into your body, so it makes sense to care about the ingredient list.

Both Max & Louie and Prepy are built with this in mind. Clean formulas, thoughtful ingredients, and products that are actually designed to perform.

Shop the full range

Both brands are available online at maxandlouie.co.nz with shipping across New Zealand. Whether you're starting fresh with a skincare ritual or finally building a makeup bag you love this is a great place to start.