By 
Summer is here! I’m amazed at how good my skin has been since the beginning of the year. Self-care is one of the most rewarding things, not only physically but also mentally. Also, I don’t want to toot my own horn, but my eyeliner game is getting stronger and stronger. After recently trying out these two brands, I felt compelled to write a comprehensive post about these two Aussie skincare companies that have become a staple on my medicine cabinet.
Frank Body
First of all, have I been living under a rock for the last 4 years? I guess so! I only got into skincare and beauty in late 2017. That’s also when I discovered Glossier, so yeah, I’m still a novice at skincare. I found Frank Body on Instagram through skincare-related accounts.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the history of Frank Body:
It’s an Australian-based company, which launched in 2013. The brand started out with just one product: their coffee body scrub, which was a huge success and gained international presence. The concept of Frank Body emerged while the founders were running their own coffee shop and female customers kept asking Rowley (one of the owners) if they could have the leftover coffee grounds as an exfoliator. Boom! The idea was born. Since then, the brand has only grown and gained more global popularity.
Moreover, Frank Body prides themselves on being 100% vegan and “frank” about all their ingredients.
Who is Frank?
Okay, at first I was a little bit creeped out by Frank because I thought it was the founder. It’s a personification of the company! If you go to Frank body Instagram or official website, the company playfully communicates with the public as if he was an actual person. Here’s an example of the funny and engaging way that they showcase the company’s personality with witty quotes like this:
the captions
As a graduate in marketing and PR, I can say this is such a nice way to create rapport and build an emotional connection with the brand. The millenial aesthetic and cheeky approach to social media with naughty and sultry captions strongly sets them apart from the crowd. Thanks to this, Frank Body has garnered a cult-like following that keeps growing every day.
Their Instagram feed is everything!!
Their aesthetic is also on point. Frank Body just opened their first store in Melbourne and it was a complete success. It was so funny seeing the Instagram stories where everybody congratulated Frank, who is merely a voice, like Charlie from Charlie’s Angels.
If Glossier and Frank Body were in high school, Glossier would be the cool, valedictorian and Frank Body would be the rebel.
Below you’ll see my review on the body scrub and the lip balm. I have to say I was shockingly impressed that a brand which has been on the market only 5 years could be this good, and most importantly, affordable.
Lip Balm
If you’re on the lookout for a better lip hydration product, you must get their original lip balm. It is probably the most hydrating lip balm I’ve ever tried. It’s thick without being too glossy, making it perfect for conditioning your lips pre-makeup. It contains Arabic Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Coconut and Grapeseed oil. It’s also petroleum-free, so your lips will be protected from any weird ingredients and harmful chemicals!
Lip Scrub
Wooow!!. This is lip scrubbing to a different level. It’s been over 20 minutes since I applied this and I can still feel the intense sugar scrub. My lips were in dire need of a good exfoliator. The ingredients are sugar, coffee and nuts. My lips have never looked so velvety smooth, soft and moisturized. I wish I could have snapped a before and after photo. For me to praise a product like this, I’d have to have used it a certain number of times to reach a final verdict, but this lip scrub has surpassed my expectations. Now I understand why the lip scrub was sold out at Bloomingdale’s, and there were only 2 left at Ulta… $14 for instant effective results? A steal! There’s also a cherry lip scrub! 🍒
Experience with Lush
Last year around January/February, I only used Lush’s cleanser and moisturizer as part of my nighttime routine (cringe). Although I love their bath bombs and moisturizers, I was not entirely satisfied with their body scrubs and lip exfoliators. The Ocean Salt scrub formula, which is their most famous body exfoliator, was very liquidy and left me with a red bumpy rash.
Then, on a whim, I bought their lip scrub earlier this year. I wish I could say this improved my lips but it didn’t. The product was tightly sealed which made it super hard to get out of the jar. The application was also super messy and led to a lot of product falling off my lips. The sugar in the scrub, which is supposed to be slightly rough, didn’t work any magic. Again, I have really dry lips that are prone to cracking, to the point where I feared wearing lipstick for a while. Lush lip scrub also has different flavors like bubblegum, honey, chocolate and honey, which felt more like I was putting on a kid’s product.
I’m not bashing the brand. I like the company’s ethics and values and I still use the Charity Pot, which is deeply moisturizing for those who suffer from dryness and flakiness. This is just my earnest opinion from my experience.
I love the Fresh lip scrub and have tried it multiple times, but for some reason I don’t feel like shelling out $24 for a 0.5 OZ lip scrub. So, I looked and looked for cheaper alternatives with no success until I came across Frank Body.
Body Scrub
This scrub is their signature product and the one they’re famous for.
If there’s one thing I’ve always been hesitant to use it’s a body scrub. The only body scrub I have used was from Lush and you can see above that the situation went awry… so I shied away from them altogether and used a loofah and most recently I switched to an exfoliating cloth. Prior to buying this and seeing the amazing photos on the website, I had mixed thoughts: Will I like this? Will this actually do anything for me? All this skepticism disappeared the moment I rubbed the coffee grounds into my skin. The first thing you’ll notice when you open the waterproof eco-friendly pouch is the strong, heavenly coffee scent, without being overbearing.
After applying it all over my body, waiting for 3 minutes and rinsing it off, my skin was soft as silk and glowy. The application feels a little rough from the coffee grounds, but it still gives you a nice soft feeling on the skin.
Frank Body coffee body scrub also claims to help get rid of stretch marks and cellulite, targets dry flaky spots and can also be used as a face exfoliator! If you like coffee, this will be such a great and funny shower experience. Your shower will get pretty messy, but the company plays it up with their double entendre: “get dirty with Frank”…. Genius!!
With almost five years in the market, Frank Body has branched out into skincare, highlighters, body oils and more body scrubs including a shimmer scrub. They recently launched their new limited edition scrub called birthday cake, which, just looking at the enticing pictures, makes me want to eat it! If you’ve never tried Frank Body before, coffee is their signature ingredient that made them famous, so you can’t go wrong with the coffee body scrub. As a first-timer, the scent will be a little bit overwhelming, but you can’t go wrong with coffee.
Make sure you go to their website here
I can’t wait to try the shimmer body scrub. The packaging has sold me already. I want it!
Asarai 💛💛
This brand is an oasis for your skin, or at least that’s how they market themselves. I first found this brand through Youtuber Amy Serrano, where she did a tour of her ridiculously impressive skincare collection. Out of the seemingly never-ending sprawl of tubes, bottles and tiny pots, a super bright yellow tube that upstaged the rest of her products instantly grabbed my attention. The packaging read ASVARAI wait, ASARAI? I had to pause it! Thank God she said it! I quickly grabbed my phone and typed the word ASARAI on my Google search bar.
Asarai was founded by an Aussie naturopath and only uses the highest quality vegan ingredients, free from artificial fragrances. The aesthetic of their Instagram feed makes me feel like I’m in a peaceful luxury desert retreat listening to the pouring rain from the other side of the window. As seen on their Instagram, the brand also promotes gender-neutrality in the use of their products.
Asarai was only introduced to the states this year. I’m surprised by the fact that there are still ZERO Youtube reviews. The brand’s popularity has increased thanks to an article from Business Insider, where the writer applauds their signature face mask, Earth Tones, with its life-changing ingredients that allowed her to stop wearing makeup after only 3 uses. I can say this firsthand: your skin will feel instantly softened and truly decongested after using this red clay mask. It’s also very cost-effective. This mask retails for only $28. I mean, you’re not going to find a mask at Sephora or any other beauty retailer whose ingredients are ethically-sourced, toxin-free, cruelty-free and 100% natural for $28, are you?. A slight squeeze of the tube goes such a long way, enough to cover half of my face.
The brand emphasizes earth-friendly vibes and promotes environmental consciousness to make this planet a better place, which is why 1% of their profits go to onepercentfortheplanet.org
Get 15% off your first purchase using the code getglowing15
Earth Tones Face Mask Ingredients
- Australian Red Clay
- Australian White Kaolin Clay
- Kakadu Plum
- Rainforest Lime Fruit Extract
- Sunflower Seed Oil
- Aloe Vera Juice
The line also includes a range of serums for day and night that could easily become staples in your routine as well. I recently purchased their retinol Sleepercell serum and I’m in love!! 💛💛💛💛💛💛
What are the skincare products you’re currently obsessed with?
