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.

Cooling beauty recipe from Vanda Da Silva Serrador

Facialist Vanda Da Silva Serrador has shared an excellent homemade recipe with us for a cooling summer facial spritz. It's cheap as chips, especially if you're a green tea drinker:

Green Tea Skin Toner

Packed with antioxidants as well as vitamins C and E, green tea is an excellent skin toner and anti-irritant. Known as one of the most popular non-alcoholic beverages in the world, green tea has wonderful properties to soothe aggravated skin or treat sunburn.

INGREDIENTS

1. 1/2 cup filtered water
2. 2 tsp organic green tea leaves
3. 5 drops of lavender oil (anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, has a healing effect, while preventing scarring and balancing the skin)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Bring the water to a boil.
2. Place the tea leaves in a glass or ceramic bowl and add 5 drops of lavender in a clean glass then pour in the boiling water, leave for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Strain the tea leaves and allow to cool; you can refrigerate.
4. Pour the tea into a mister bottle and spritz onto the face. Do not rinse off.

Et voila. A facial spritz that's as good as anything in the shops and you can use it on the trot (fill up some Muji bottles with the stuff and store it in the fridge. Pop it in your purse as you head out).

Cactus juice at Crussh is muy sabroso

You've seen the press on the latest health fad to hit the capital (it's cactus if you haven't heard) but we couldn't find a review of the newly available sabor de Mexico so we decided to try it out ourselves. Cult Beauty sent Rose Beer to the local Crussh to find out if cactus is as good in the UK as it is in Guerrero:

"Crussh juice bars have recently added an organic cactus juice Smoothie to their menu. It's the first time La Nopalea organic cactus juice has been available in the UK. This may sound like an odd concept, but believe it or not, cactus has been farmed and celebrated for its health promoting benefits in the Mexican mountains for generations, er, make that centuries. The national flag even sports an image of this sun-baked succulent (dating all the way back to the origin myth of the Aztecs) and it's a favourite roadside snack, peeled and packed in plastic bags by abuelitas.

The prickly plant and its fruit (called tuna in Spanish) is known to provide high levels of antioxidants and is a rich source of fibre and water. Apparently, it has the power to cleanse the liver and colon! The smoothie combines cactus juice with pineapple, lime, banana and 98 per cent fat-free yoghurt. Mine was super tasty and very refreshing, while its pretty shade of green pleased me muchly and looked lovely with my outfit." – Rose Beer

Smoothies are £3.00, traditional juice (mixed with freshly squeezed orange juice) is £2.80 . Go to www.crussh.com to find your nearest store.