Big Blue Cosmetica - All Natural SkincareHaircare

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Big Blue Cosmetica - All Natural Skincare/Haircare


ABOUT TINA
Meet Tina of Big Blue Cosmetica . Her demeanour is that of a Quiet Achiever. Get to know her and you'll find the raging Environmental Warrior deep within. Tina is the founder, formulator, administrator, general manager and maker behind Big Blue Cosmetica . She hand makes every item she sells. She's a one woman band who is passionate about making pure, all-natural skincare and haircare products. She's constantly evolving and all her products are crafted from 100% Australian ingredients, certified organic and cruelty-free.

Her business was born out of a real passion for environmental issues and reducing waste, specifically plastic waste. Realising how huge a problem it was, one day, many years ago, she decided to save a shampoo bottle to perhaps reuse it by refilling it. But that was a time when refilling shampoo bottles wasn't a thing. Inspired, Tina went looking for recipes to make her own non-toxic products, but was disappointed with the lack of information on the ingredients themselves. Some of the recipes were natural, some were synthetic with surfactants and preservatives, which only ignited her curiosity to understand the ingredients better.


Having a love for chemistry, Tina subscribed to cosmetic chemistry journals and fell down this whole other rabbit hole, researching cosmetic ingredients, essential oils and carrier oils. Along the way she learnt just how our skin works and how different lipids behave with one another. Once you're down that rabbit hole, the tunnels go in all directions and Tina covered a plethora of topics and got super nerdy to use her own words, about understanding cosmetic chemistry and found a real burning passion for it. She started developing her own formulas which were steep learning curves and a lot of research has developed her formulas to what they are today. This was one happy bunny who got really excited when an experiment didn't work out. It meant she had a problem to solve and would pour herself into it, trying to understand why it didn't work out, and how she could improve it. To this day, it's what really lights her fire! Understanding how things work and solving formulating issues.

In making her own products she discovered a real passion for chemistry and started studies in a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Physics. But it's not purely because she wants to become a better cosmetic chemist. She's realised she loves chemistry and feels she has a brain for it and wants to use that brain to try and help solve meatier issues, whatever that may be, and wherever that may take her. While she does think it's important that there are options on the market for what we put on our bodies and what we clean our homes with that are safe, non toxic and sustainably sourced, Tina believes it's not her full potential in terms of being an environmental warrior of sorts. There's more to come from this quiet achiever.


Big Blue Cosmetica is a brand name that holds a lot of Tina's brand ethos encapsulated in its title. She wanted it to represent so many things she had to say and went through a lot of soul searching to come up with it. She wanted it to speak of the fact that this was a genuinely environmentally minded business; that it wasn't just another green washed natural skin care business of which she felt there was a lot of. She also wanted it to sound like it was unisex as she's passionately against gender marketing of any kind. Particular for items that are useable for and by everyone. Tina also wanted it to be obvious that this was a local brand, that her products were sustainable, and were locally sourced as much as possible.

In the end she narrowed it down to what was really worth protecting. Words like 'true blue, true blue Australian' came to mind. Then there were thoughts of the planet, in the context of the universe. This tiny little blue dot, spinning through space, though seemingly inconsequential, yet so full of the most amazingly precious wonders. She thought about other species our wastes were jeopardising, which was a real motivator for her to do the work that she does, not just in her business but in her studies as well. There's a lot to be solved not just in the longevity of our own species but that of the wonderful complex landscapes we are destroying. The phrase big blue beautiful planet came to mind, and she knew she liked the word cosmetica. It had a certain ring to it for Tina and made her think of cosmos, the Greek word for world. Thus she settled on Big Blue Cosmetica, as her true passion lies in protecting this beautiful planet that we live on, that happens to be the colour blue.


THE PRODUCTS
A deeply thoughtful person who has brought us thoughtfully created products, I dare say, I'm a fan and personally buy and use (a few years now) Tina's products like her Kakadu Plum Clarifying Oil . My favourite go-to oil moisturiser, it's a lightweight blend of jojoba, apricot and sunflowers oils infused with Vitamin C-rich gubinge (Kakadu plum), hand picked organic calendula and calming Australian native kunzea. It's pure magic for my skin. I also use it to remove eye makeup, but I also know it has many other uses. When you see Tina, ask about the many ways her products can be used or read it on the website via the links given. If you're not used to an oil moisturiser, give it a go. You only need a little, and a little goes a long way. Best of all, knowing it's all natural and consciously sourced, makes for happy thoughts about happy planets as we tread with a lighter environmental footprint.

The Dry Skin Dream Balm is my next personal favourite and great for heavy duty skincare repair. Sometimes I dollop a little on my lips on the run, as a lip balm. It also doubles as a moisturiser you can use on your face as well. It has a highly nourishing blend of organic olive, macadamia and sunflower oils infused with Aussie native, antioxidant-rich quandong, skin-soothing calendula and a deliciously refreshing blend of mandarin, kunzea and lavender essential oils. A little goes a long way with this multi-use, rich, buttery (don't you love that word; makes everything sound delicious) balm that is hands down the best for keeping skin moisturised.


Speaking of lip balm, Tina's All Aussie Lipbalm has made lipstick obsolete for me as they come in beautiful tinted colours. It means my lips look moist without the harshness of a commercial lipstick highlighting every crease in my mature skin (you'll understand if you're of mature age), with a dash of colour that spells sunshine and a natural look. For planet-friendly, petrolatum-free, luscious lips, you can choose from a peachy coral pink, a light gold tangerine shimmer, an earthy brown tint, a deep blood plum or a sweetly seductive cool-toned rose with blackberry powder and mica. They're made from Australian macadamia oil and beeswax and a 100% compostable push-up tube. Do note though that tinted lip balms are not heavily pigmented like lipsticks but more of an everyday subtle lip tint glam for lovers of natural looks.

Tina's Antiperspirant Balm smells delicious with its super moisture-absorbent clays and powders to help keep you dry, including tapioca, detoxifying bentonite clay (which gives it the grey/green colour), magnesium hydroxide and a little bicarb soda limited to less than 10% of the total formula to keep it skin safe as too much can cause a skin reaction. It's filled with Kaizi's Coconut Oil made sustainably in far north Queensland from wild-growing coconut trees and a little Fair Trade organic Peruvian cocoa butter. It's scented with an uplifting, unisex blend of natural Australian essential oils including mandarin, rosalina and lemon myrtle - kept to a maximum of 1% so as to not irritate sensitive or freshly shaven pits.


THINK GIFTING - THINK CHRISTMAS
Do follow Big Blue Cosmetica on Instagram and show this amazing small Australian business some love and support because her products are amazing and kind to the environment. You can purchase online , but personally, I love the updates on Instagram as to where Tina is going to be next at a market near you. Generally, you'll find Tina at regular Market places she frequents like The Rose St. Artists Market and the St Kilda Esplanade Market , and also further afield like the St Andrews Market where it's always vibing amongst the greenery at the foothills of the Yarra Ranges.

Do say hello to Tina and get to know all of her other environmentally friendly, all-natural range of products. It's no surprise that this environmental warrior accepts returns of the tins her products come in, to recycle, and will even pay you a refund for it. Think festive season, Christmas, special occasion, birthdays and you can pick up some plastic free perfection in gift packs from Tina . She will wrap your gift for that someone special without a shred of plastic, using completely compostable paper, wood shavings, dried botanicals and of course, beautiful handmade skincare goodies. Speak to Tina to make up a package for a loved one to suit your budget.

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