Beauty: Naturally pretty

Kio Kio Tiare soap, $18.

The packaging of new natural bodycare product line Kio Kio caught our eye first. There's four colours in sea, sky, sun, and bush shades to represent each fragrance in this Pacifica-inspired collection of mists, lotions, washes and soaps. Choose from Citrus Petal and Tarata, Pacific Tiare and Ti Kuaka, Rainforest and Koromiko, and Frangipani and Puriri. The products are made with botanical ingredients and spring water and have a fresh, enticing modern look as befits the partnership between a pharmacist with an interest in natural therapies and a brand strategist with a background in design and export marketing.

Aucklanders Liz Young and Fiona Terry have come up with a range for "green goddesses" tapping into the global trend for all things natural. They've been working on Kio Kio for several years and have launched it in time for Christmas. Prices range up to $59.

Makeup maestro
Estee Lauder has named top makeup artist Tom Pecheux as its creative makeup director. The Frenchman established himself in the early 1990s, through a close creative partnership with star photographer Mario Testino and stylist and now French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld. Since then he has been involved in renowned runway and editorial collaborations with top design houses and magazines, including Marni, Ralph Lauren, Derek Lam, Givenchy and Yves Saint Laurent and Vanity Fair and Vogue. His advertising campaigns have included Burberry, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana. Estee Lauder is banking on Pecheux bringing "a new energy, style and fashion edge" to the brand's somewhat conservative makeup. It says he will "help us redefine modern colour in a bold new way." We'll see the results from early 2010.

Organic extra
Organic skincare ranges really are the product du jour. The latest out is from Nelson and has a point of difference in targeting troubled young skin. Oxygen Skincare's Teen range has six products, adding to the company's existing lines for adults. Company founder Alana Riley has been working with organics for 20 years.

Green gongs
Trilogy and Living Nature are two New Zealand firms to have won the seal of approval in the latest edition of the influential English publication The Green Beauty Bible. Trilogy is described as a "personal favourite" of authors Sarah Stacey and Josephine Fairley and three of its products are category winners after reader panel testing, being the Botanical Body Wash, the Cream Cleanser and the Eye Contour Cream. Also commended are the Aromatic Body Oil and Ultra Hydrating Cream. Living Nature picks up two winner's stickers for making the best natural mascara and the best eye makeup remover.

Well-lashed
We're loving two new mascaras that can be reapplied without feeling like you're risking dragging out your lashes. Both Lancome's Hypnose Drama and Bobbi Brown's Extreme Party Mascara (pictured) are formulated to make it easy to put on a second coat later in the day, perfect for when you don't have time to do a full makeover. The Lancome delivers lush lashes, while Bobbi Brown's is more of a defining delivery. Another mascara that is priced right to party is Maybelline's Stiletto.

Brow beaters
If you're troubled by sparse or greying brows, then Blinc brow mousse is one of the best products we've come across. It's quicker than filling in the gaps with a brow powder and brush and unlike other mascara-style brush-ons we've come across the Blinc is dryish so you're much less likely to get dye smudges. Available in five shades. From Glamourpuss, Nuffield St, Newmarket.

Save your feet
The new Ease Thai Foot Massage Spa in Ponsonby really does care for your feet. It has come up with a gift idea that requires you only to lift a finger. By logging on to www.sendamassage.co.nz you can treat someone without hitting the pavement yourself. If you do head to the spa at 49 Ponsonby Rd, there's a range of traditional Thai foot massages available from 15 to 90 minutes at $20 to $100. See www.ease-massage.com or Ph (09) 360 0198.