Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes...Tahiti + New Zealand

So we've cut Tonga (too hard to get to the other South Pacific islands) and added Auckland and surrounding bits of New Zealand, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Maupiti, Huahine and Moorea to the trip instead. Not a bad tradeoff, I'd say. We've been scouting camper vans for the Kiwi leg of the trip and we're all settled in a lagoon-side bungalow on Bora Bora in the Nui Resort and Spa (thank you, Hotel points system) before camping our way through the rest of the Society and Leeward Islands that we've listed above. In summary, we're still heading to the same regions but just changed up the countries a bit. Personally, I'd love to visit the Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea as well but, alas, that's for the next loop around the world's waist.

Image courtesy of HighTower on Flickr.

First port of call? The South Pacific

Ever wonder what beauty secrets lay in the South Pacific? Me too. I've started my research into the best in beauty this region of the world has to offer... for now, my finds are all virtual (and will remain so until we actually get there) but that doesn't make them any less exotic. First on my wiki search? Noni...

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First beauty port of call: The South Pacific

The internet does not divulge many secrets about beauty in Tonga. Monoi (made from the tiara flower and, congrats to the Monoi Institute, now has the French Appelation d'Origine Controlle (like Champagne), Coconut, Noni and Coffee are big beauty ingredients from the South Pacific and I am giddy with anticipation to get my hands on local oils and coffee. My hair and skin will be glistening for weeks and I'll make a homemade version of the NUXE/Nars/Carita Monoi Oils! When I searched for Tahitian, Fijian, etc. brands, all that came up were South Pacific-inspired (and many French-owned) brands like Hei Poa, Monyette Paris, Elemis, Pacifica, Amore Pacific et al. Great brands, many of those, but where are the local Fijian, Tahitian, Samoan and Tongan brands?

One of my favourite brands about 10 years ago was the Tahitian-inspired fragrance brand Comptoir Sud Pacifique. The range is super sweet but strangely wearable and (I know this sounds sort of odd)... guys seem to really like them. This must be what they believe the scent of a woman to be when growing up, huh? Sugar and spice and everything nice and all that... Aloha Tiare is the original scent in the range and still one of the best. It was created in Tahiti in 1978 and the main notes are Monoi (yum) and Coconut. Vanille Coco and Amour de Cacao were my scents of choice back in the day.

[Editor's note: Two Polynesian brands I've JUST found in my web searches are Clé des Champs and Terrake.]

Do you know any South Pacific brands or brands inspired by the region? Email me with brand names if you do!

Update on 05.15.2009 by Jessica Teas (née Gearhart)

New South Pacific brands found! I came across this website for Pacific Cosmetics just the other day and it lists a few local brands... so cool. Pacific Cosmetics.