Aussie Beauty Has Never Been Hotter — & This Natural Skin Care Line Is The One To Try

Developing a skin care routine that gives you noticeable results can be a challenge — and that challenge intensifies if you’re trying to treat skin conditions like acne or hyperpigmentation. Saya Skincare founder Saya McDermott understands that frustration all too well, which is precisely why she created her own line of products over 20 years ago. The Australia native turned to the botanical ingredients she was surrounded by in her hometown of Noosa, and has paired these antioxidant-rich ingredients with science-backed actives to formulate uncomplicated skin care that promises real results.

Not just reserved for skin care, Saya’s 20-product lineup also includes body and hair care — providing you with a full beauty routine without overwhelming you with products. Ahead, we’re exploring some of the brand’s best-selling and highest rated products to try first.

Saya Cleansing Balm

• Key benefits: removes makeup, nourishes skin
• Key ingredients: sunflower seed oil, macadamia seed oil, shea butter, cocoa seed butter, kakadu plum seed oil

This cleansing balm was designed to be massaged onto dry skin, where it transforms into a milky emulsion that breaks down makeup, sunscreen, and impurities with a combination of oils and emollients like macadamia seed oil, shea butter, and cocoa seed butter. Those same ingredients also help to moisturize skin and leave it feeling soft (instead of dry or stripped like more traditional foam and gel cleansers can sometimes do). Kakadu plum seed oil, which is derived from the kakadu plum fruit native to Australia, is included in the cleanser for its high levels of vitamin C that help to enhance radiance by brightening and evening out the skin tone. And finally, whereas most cleansing balms are housed in a jar that requires scooping the product out, Saya’s formula comes in a tube that lets you squeeze out what you need without introducing germy fingers into the mix.

Saya Brightening Peel

• Key benefits: exfoliates, brightens, hydrates
• Key ingredients: lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, rainforest lime fruit extract, caviar lime fruit extract, desert lime fruit extract, kakadu plum fruit extract

For a more even skin tone and texture, exfoliating is key as it accelerates the skin cell renewal process by whisking away dead skin cells and unclogging pores. This toner was designed to be used once or twice each week after your evening cleansing routine to gently break down dead skin cells with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and vitamin C-rich Australian botanicals like rainforest lime, caviar lime, desert lime, and kakadu plum fruit extracts. The toner is alcohol-free to avoid irritation and dryness, and it also includes glycerin and hyaluronic acid to draw more water to the skin — plus, those exfoliating fruit extracts mentioned earlier are known for their soothing and moisturizing properties, too.

Saya Renew Serum

• Key benefits: fades hyperpigmentation, improves skin elasticity, soothes irritation
• Key ingredients: bakuchiol, grapeseed oil, argan oil, avocado oil, kakadu plum seed oil

As any derm will tell you, retinol is essential for helping with everything from increasing collagen production and skin elasticity to fading hyperpigmentation and even improving acne. But it also comes with a list of side effects, like dryness, redness, and flaking, which may be too much for those with sensitive skin. If you’ve found that to be the case, but you don’t want to totally give up on the benefits of retinol, bakuchiol may be the answer instead. The plant-based ingredient may not be as powerful as a retinol or prescription retinoid, but it has been shown to have similar effects. Even better, bakuchiol has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, so it’s especially helpful for those with sensitive skin. Saya’s serum combines the active ingredient with a blend of nourishing oils and more than a dozen other botanical ingredients to further help with brightening the skin. Because the serum is so gentle, you can use it morning and night without the risk of irritation (as opposed to a retinol product, which can only be used a few times a week).

Saya Balance Moisture

• Key benefits: moisturizes, brightens, soothes
• Key ingredients: aloe vera, argan oil, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, ceramide NP, kakadu plum fruit extract, illawarra plum fruit extract, burdekin plum fruit extract

For a moisturizer that can be used at any time of the day, Saya’s Balance Moisture works to immediately smooth skin while still being lightweight and fast-absorbing. A combination of hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, shea butter, and argan oil work to draw moisture to the skin and help prevent water loss, while aloe vera and ceramides offer soothing and strengthening benefits. Like many of Saya’s other products, the moisturizer includes a host of vitamin C-rich botanicals to help brighten the skin, increase collagen production, and protect against environmental stressors.

Saya Argan Body Oil

• Key benefits: moisturizes and softens skin
• Key ingredients: sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, argan oil, jojoba seed oil, macadamia seed oil, sweet almond oil

While there are several body washes and lotions to choose from, this Argan Body Oil is a customer favorite (and an Australian beauty award-winner). You can use the oil on its own or mix it with your favorite lotion to immediately leave your skin feeling softer by smoothing away dryness and improving elasticity. Fatty acid-rich oils like argan, jojoba seed, sweet almond, and macadamia seed are behind the nourishing formula, which is also lightly scented with essential oils like ylang ylang, patchouli, and mandarin peel. Saya notes that you can even use the oil on your hair, too, by applying a few drops of the oil to damp hair and allowing it to sit anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight before thoroughly washing it out.