on the blog

Calm your nightly routine

This is your reminder that a restful night often begins well before your head touches the pillow. Sleep is one of the most nurturing things we can offer our bodies and minds, and good sleep hygiene can support wellbeing through every life stage.

From the deep rest that supports growing children to the steady night-time routines that help busy adults feel more balanced, quality sleep plays a meaningful role at every age. While sleep needs and patterns naturally change over time, creating a consistent, calming night-time routine can help signal to the body that it is time to slow down, soften the pace and prepare for rest.

Sleep hygiene tips: my tips for quality sleep

• Keep a regular bedtime where possible
• Reduce screen time before bed
• Limit caffeine later in the day
• Make the bedroom cool, quiet and comfortable

Gentle rituals such as stretching, deep breathing, reading or enjoying calming aromas can also help create a sense of transition between the busyness of the day and the quiet of night, and make a natural sleep routine feel easier to stick to.

When paired with healthy sleep habits, soothing essential oils for relaxation can assist with relaxation and help to create a more peaceful environment for rest.

How essential oils can assist with sleep and relaxation

Aromatherapy for sleep is often used as a gentle, botanical way to help support relaxation. Research into aromatherapy and sleep quality suggests essential oils, particularly lavender, may assist with improving perceived sleep quality in adults.

Lavender has been especially well studied and is commonly associated with calm and restfulness. Personally, I find lavender essential oil for sleep to be a lovely addition to a wind-down ritual. Explore the full Natio Wellbeing range to find a lavender oil or blend that suits you.

Best Natio essential oils for sleep and relaxation

Natio Wellbeing Sleepy Blend Mist

For an easy final step before bed, Natio Wellbeing Sleepy Blend Mist can be used to help create a calming atmosphere around your sleep space. A light mist over your pillow, sheets or bedroom can assist with turning your room into a more restful retreat. Prefer a different scent? Browse our room sprays.

Natio Wellbeing Sleep Blend Pure Essential Oil Roll On

Natio Wellbeing Sleep Blend Pure Essential Oil Roll On is a fantastic option for those who prefer a ready-to-use topical ritual. Applied as directed to pulse points, this essential oil roll on for sleep can assist with creating a quiet moment of calm before bed or while travelling. Its convenient format makes it easy to keep close by as part of a gentle evening routine, helping you pause, breathe and ease into rest. See more essential oil roll-on blends.

Natio Wellbeing Relax Pure Essential Oil Blend

A beautifully soft place to begin is Natio Wellbeing Relax Pure Essential Oil Blend. With aromatic notes including bergamot, lavender, mandarin, cedarwood and chamomile, this blend can assist with creating a peaceful atmosphere at the end of the day. Add 3 to 4 drops to water in a Natio Essential Oil Diffuser and allow the aroma to gently fill the room as you settle into your evening routine. Discover more calming pure essential oil blends.

Natio Essential Oil Diffuser

An essential oil diffuser for sleep can be a simple way to make scent part of an evening ritual. Rather than relying on aroma alone, try pairing your diffuser with other wind-down cues: lower the lights, put your phone away, make a warming drink and take a few slow breaths. Over time, these repeated cues can help make bedtime feel more familiar, comforting and consistent.

How to use essential oils in a calming night-time routine

1. Set the tone early. Begin winding down 30 to 60 minutes before bed by dimming bright lights and moving away from screens where possible.
2. Choose your calming aroma. Add a few drops of your preferred Natio essential oil or blend to a diffuser, following product directions.
3. Keep things simple. Try a short stretch, a warm shower, a few pages of a book or a few minutes of slow breathing.
4. Repeat consistently. A familiar routine can help your body and mind recognise that the day is coming to a close.

A note on wellbeing

This sleep and relaxation advice is general in nature and is not intended to diagnose, treat or replace personalised guidance from a healthcare professional. If sleep concerns are ongoing, disruptive or accompanied by other symptoms, it is always best to speak with a qualified health professional. Essential oils should be used as directed and kept out of reach of children and pets, always following the directions for use. Essential oils should not be ingested. If irritation is experienced, please discontinue use.

Winning a Natio luxury getaway means swapping your usual routine for a holiday for two, and our last winners Alice & Glen from Tasmania, spent theirs on a private island in Fiji at Royal Davui Island Resort - and you could be our next winner, headed to Lord Howe Island.

Ever wondered what it's like to win a luxury getaway? Well, I don't know about you, but I enter competitions the same way I buy a home lottery ticket… There’s lots of manifesting and zero expectation of ever hearing back. So, when our last winners got the news (and then hopped on a plane to touch down on the tranquil beaches in Fiji), I wanted to know just how magical it was and whether a private island is as good as it looks on Instagram.

Here's their story, plus a look at where our next lucky winner is heading.

Who Were Our Last Winners & Where Did They Go?

Our last luxury getaway winners Alice and Glen, were lucky enough to jet off to the beautiful Royal Davui Island Resort, an adults only private island resort in Fiji's Beqa Lagoon.

If you haven't heard of Royal Davui, picture a tiny island where the resort is the only thing on it. Each villa comes with its own plunge pool and views out over the lagoon, which I imagine made it quite hard for Alice and Glen when it came to heading back home. 

What's It Like To Win A Natio Luxury Getaway?

As our last winners, winning a Natio luxury getaway started with an exciting email from yours truly (one of my FAVOURITE parts of the job here at Natio) and from there I initiated “travel agent mode" to take care of all the little details so our winners could focus on the important part - deciding which pairs of bathers to pack!

Alice's reaction to winning warmed our hearts:

“I'm pinching myself, thinking this can't be real. I NEVER win anything! (insert screaming here).”

But I hear you ask, how did she and Glen actually feel about the trip? While she can tell you, I think the pictures also speak for themselves.

“When we arrived home, we felt very refreshed. It was absolutely amazing. A home away from home, and it honestly felt like a dream. Thank you so much for this opportunity. It was the best holiday I've ever had! We want to go back one day, as it was truly amazing.”

I'm still a little bit jealous (okay, a lot), but it's proof these prizes go to everyday Natio customers who took a minute to fill in our form. The most exciting part is that the next one could go to you!

Where Is The Next Natio Luxury Getaway?

Our next Natio luxury getaway is five nights for two at Pinetrees Lodge on Lord Howe Island, a UNESCO World Heritage listed island in the Tasman Sea.

If Royal Davui was all about having an island to yourself, Lord Howe is the closest you'll get without having to leave Australia. The island only allows 400 tourists at any one time, a cap that's been in place for more than 40 years and is managed by limiting how many tourist beds the island can have. For you, that means empty beaches and the kind of quiet that's hard to find on the mainland.

It's also home to the world's southernmost coral reef, so the bonus coral viewing cruise included in the prize is a pretty big deal (and a great excuse to pack plenty of SPF). Bird lovers are in for a treat too, with hundreds of thousands of seabirds breeding on the island between November and June. 

As for where you'll stay, Pinetrees Lodge sits right on the beachfront and is known for its food, which is why the prize includes a Chef's Culinary Experience on top of all your meals. You'll find the full prize details on the competition page.

I can’t say that Lord Howe Island was on my travel radar, but now having seen the pictures, it’s moved swiftly to the top of my travel bucketlist!

Ready To Be Our Next Winner?

Entries for our Pinetrees Lord Howe Island getaway close Monday 1 March 2027, and all it takes is filling in our short form. You have to be in it to win it - so enter the competition here.

Take it from someone who enters a lot of competitions - once you've entered, pop the draw date (Friday 5 March 2027) in your calendar and keep an eye on your junk folder that week. The last thing you want is your island holiday sitting unread underneath a parcel tracking update in that inbox.

Wishing you all the best of luck, and I hope to be contacting you soon to organise your luxury trip away just like Alice!

*Natio sunscreens contain very high broad spectrum protection sunscreen. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Sunscreens are only one component of sun protection. Prolonged high-risk sun exposure should be avoided. Frequent use and re-application in accordance with directions is required for effective sun protection.

Before joining the Natio marketing team, I spent years applying makeup and skincare on clients as a makeup artist, and I can tell you the number one thing that separates a base that lasts from one that slides around by lunchtime has nothing to do with the products themselves. It all comes down to the application and what products you're pairing together. When I first started out (even with a genuinely good primer) my makeup application would still get patchy and only deliver a flawless application for a couple of hours, purely because of how I applied it or what kind of skincare and foundation I was layering underneath and over the top.

So, here's what I'd actually tell you to use (and do) if I was doing your makeup:

How Do I Use Primer?

Apply primer only after your skincare has fully absorbed and before foundation, concealer or tinted moisturiser (this tip is really important). Use a pea sized amount for the whole face and pat it in rather than rubbing, working outward from the centre of the face. Give it a few minutes before you start on base makeup so it has time to grip, and choose a foundation formula that matches your primer's base so they work with each other rather than against each other.

The part most people skip is pairing compatible products and the patience, which is where most of the "my primer doesn't work" complaints actually come from. Trust me, I've trialled and tested this over many years.

Where Primer Sits In Your Routine (And Why Timing Matters)

1. Cleanse: Whatever cleanser you're using, ensure to properly remove any excess oil and sebum build up on the face before beginning your makeup application.
2. Moisturise: Give it a proper few minutes to settle (not just feel dry to touch) before going in with your primer. This is the key!
3. Prime: Once your skincare has fully absorbed into the skin, apply your primer and let it sit for a few minutes before going in with your base application.
4. Base makeup: Put this on last either applied with a sponge or a makeup brush using light stippling or dabbing motions rather than swiping. Swiping motions will simply cause your makeup to slip and slide about, no matter how good your primer is.

Most slippage or pilling I've seen on clients traces back to skipping the wait time somewhere in their routine. Every layer needs a moment to settle before the next one goes on, or nothing has anything stable to grip onto.

Why Your Foundation Needs To Match Your Primer

This is the step almost nobody tells you and it's the one that makes the biggest difference!

Primers and foundations are generally built on either a silicone base or a water base, and mixing the two is one of the most common reasons your makeup pills, separates or slides around no matter how well it was applied.

Silicone based formulas glide over each other beautifully. A silicone-based primer under a water based foundation, or the other way around tends to fight instead, because the two textures don't grip.

The easiest fix is checking the first few ingredients on both products before you buy. If your primer lists a silicone (anything ending in "-cone" or "-siloxane") near the top, reach for a foundation with the same. Our Dream Skin CC Cream is a silicone based formula, which makes it a safe pairing with a silicone primer if that's what you're using underneath.

Worth noting, this matching rule only really applies between your primer and foundation, because that's where two products need to grip each other all day. Your skincare underneath doesn't need to match your primer's base. It just needs to be lightweight and fully absorbed before primer goes on.

Can You Use Too Much Primer?

Yes, and it's one of the fastest ways to undo an otherwise good application. More primer doesn't mean more staying power. Once you go past that pea sized amount, the excess has nowhere to go and sits on the surface of the skin, which is exactly what causes foundation to slip, slide and separate later in the day rather than wear evenly. Less is more here, you can always build coverage with foundation afterwards, but you can't undo an overprimed base (and yes, there is such a thing).

What's The Best Primer For Oily Skin?

Oily and combination skin needs a primer that will work on oil control, not just a smoothing formula. Our new Quick Stick Priming Balm is built specifically for this, with a charcoal core that absorbs oil and mattifies without the stiff, over-primed feel some oil control formulas leave behind. Niacinamide and tea tree work on congestion underneath while it blurs pores and fine lines on contact.

The stick format is also the more professional choice for touch ups. A quick swipe over the T-zone mid-day doesn't disturb the base underneath the way patting on a cream for reapplication can. It's the perfect 2-in-1!

What About Texture Or Fine Lines?

If pores, unevenness or fine lines showing through your base are the actual issue rather than oil, our Silk Screen Smoothing Primer is the better call. It's a 4-in-1 formula using silica's light scattering microspheres to blur imperfections immediately, while Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Squalane work on the skin itself over time.

Do You Need A Separate Primer For Under Eyes?

If fine lines or creasing under the eyes are your main frustration, then I would highly recommend it. The under eye area is thinner and moves more than the rest of the face, so a regular face primer often isn't built for that job. Our Line Erase Undereye Jelly is formulated specifically for this area, with a translucent jelly texture that blurs fine lines while Hyaluronate hydrates and plumps and Centaurea Cyanus helps calm the skin. Pat a small amount on with your ring finger before concealer, or wear it on its own on a no makeup day.

Should You Set Primer Afterwards?

For longevity, absolutely! Our Airbrush Effect Finishing Powder comes with its own brush and sets makeup for all day wear while keeping that same soft, blurred finish rather than flattening it out. Use the built-in brush with a light sweeping motion to dust the powder over the skin. Light motion is important here so you're not disturbing the base you've just built underneath.

Building The Full Routine

Now, if you want a completely flawless and finished base, here's how I'd build your routine with skincare that actually sets your primer up to succeed:

1. Hydrate: Use our Rosewater Hydration Antioxidant Serum, a lightweight formula that fully absorbs rather than sitting on the surface where it could interfere with your primer later.
2. Moisturise: Follow with our Rosewater Hydration Moisture Boost Day Cream-Gel, a light gel texture that sinks in quickly, and give it a few minutes to settle properly.
3. Prime: Depending on your needs, use Silk Screen Smoothing Primer or Quick Stick Priming Balm and let it sit for a few minutes.
4. Under eyes: Pat on our Line Erase Undereye Jelly to blur fine lines before any concealer goes on.
5. Base: Use a foundation that matches your primer's formula base, such as our Dream Skin CC Cream if you're working with a silicone primer, applied with a sponge or brush in stippling motions.
6. Set: Lock in your base with our Airbrush Effect Finishing Powder.

The Mistakes To Avoid

If there's anything you take from this article, remember these key tips:

• Too much product - A pea sized amount does the job. Excess just sits on the surface and causes slipping, sliding and separation.
• Not waiting long enough - Between each skincare step, and again between primer and base, rushing any of it is the most common cause of movement later.
• Mismatched formulas - Pairing a silicone primer with a water based foundation, or a water based primer with a silicone foundation, is a common cause of pilling that has nothing to do with application technique.
• Swiping instead of stippling - Dragging a brush or sponge across a primed base disturbs everything underneath. Dabbing or stippling keeps it intact.

Good primer technique is about paying attention to the order of your routine, the timing and the pairing. Let every layer settle before the next, use a light hand, match your formulas and apply your base with a stippling motion rather than a swipe, and the rest takes care of itself.

For the ultimate flawless base, you can shop the full Natio Blur range here.

I don't know about you, but if my hunt for the best father's day gifts was named after a movie, it would be "Mission: Impossible". My Dad doesn't have a lack of niche hobbies or interests to draw from (in fact, there's perhaps too many), but my dilemma is what on earth do you get a Dad who buys himself everything he needs? Well, everything except for skincare.

So here's my quick answer, because I know some of you are no doubt reading this on your hard-earned lunch break: when it comes to father's day skincare gifts, a Natio Men's bundle is the easiest win going. It's that simple!  I've personally sorted these mens skincare gift sets by the kind of Dad you've got, based on his skin type, his lifestyle, his grooming habits (or lack thereof). Plus, we're giving you a cheeky 20% off to bundle and save so you don't have to guess your way through father's day gift sets this year. 

The Low Maintenance Dad: The Everyday Men's Skincare Bundle

If his entire skincare routine currently exists of soap or a 3-in-1 shampoo, cleanser and conditioner hybrid, start with our Everyday Men's Skincare Bundle. It's the ideal "does the job and doesn't demand an excessive 5 step routine" option, and one of our most popular skincare sets for men. It includes three full sized Natio For Men skincare products: Daily Face Wash 150g, Purifying Face Scrub 100g and Oil Free Moisturiser 100g. The whole routine takes about 90 seconds and will somehow have Dad looking like he's been sleeping properly, despite the sleep apnea (sorry for calling you out Dad). It's the gift equivalent of easing someone into a habit rather than expecting them to adopt a full routine right from the get-go and watching them panic.

The Dad Who's Always Outside: The Active Men's Skincare Bundle

If he spends his weekends outdoors either renovating and sailing like my Dad, or playing golf and tending to his lawn, our Active Men's Skincare Bundle covers what most Aussie Dads tend to skip... SPF! It includes four full sized Men Plus skincare products: Men Plus Fresh Face Foam Cleanser 100ml, Men Plus Tight and Tone BHA Exfoliant 80ml, Men Plus Age Protect Face Lotion SPF 50+ 60ml and Men Plus Energising Eye Cream 20ml. Wherever his weekend takes him, chances are he will find himself outdoors and unprotected from our harsh UV conditions. Cancer Council and ABS data has found that only 27% of Australian men use sunscreen regularly, compared to nearly half of Australian women. Shocking, but unsurprising right? Protect your Dad like he's always protected you with this gentle nudge to look after skin that has no doubt copped a fair bit over the years. It's exactly this kind of practical thinking that makes for genuinely useful skincare gifts for dad.

The Dad Who Deserves The Full Treatment: The Ultimate Bodycare Bundle

If he's earned a bit of spoiling this year, our Ultimate Men's Bodycare Bundle is the perfect option for Dad. Perhaps he's newly retired, very good at pretending he doesn't want anything, or simply the sort of Dad who'll actually use every single product you give him purely because it was given to him by you (shoutout to this rare and precious breed of Dads). It includes four full sized Natio for Men products: Spice Of Life Body Wash 210ml, Solar Eau De Parfum 30ml, Men Plus Dual Action Face and Beard Oil 30ml and Antiperspirant Deodorant 100ml. This bundle really is the "ultimate" gift, brimming with head-to-toe products that will feel like an extra special gift and not just something you've thrown together at the last minute.

Why Bundle Instead Of Guessing?

Our bundles have been thoughtfully created father's day gift sets that cater to all the different types of Dads out there to help take the guesswork out of buying skincare for someone who may have never touched a skincare product in his life. Plus, you'll save 20% off while you're at it! My Dad sure does love a good deal, and if yours is anything like mine, he'll love that you haven't spent an arm and a leg on spoiling him this Father's Day. Our gift sets for dad are proof that you can show him how grateful you are for his support, all without having to break the bank.

Sort your Dad out for Father's Day now and save yourself the last-minute scramble.

Start with a Primer 

Don’t skip the SPF  

Reach for cream formulas  

Warm up your eye look  

 

Prep lips the night before  

Set it with a spritz  

There's something about winter that makes us appreciate home a little more. As the evenings become cooler and the days shorter, we naturally gravitate towards spaces that feel warm, comfortable and inviting.

One of the simplest ways to transform the mood of your home is by lighting a candle.

It's a small ritual, but one that can make all the difference. The gentle flicker of candlelight softens a room, creating an atmosphere that instantly feels calmer and more relaxed.

Whether you're settling in with a book, enjoying a quiet cup of tea or sharing dinner with family and friends, a candle adds a sense of warmth that no overhead light ever could.

Then there's the fragrance.

Scent has an incredible ability to evoke memories and emotions. A familiar fragrance can remind us of walks through the bush after rain, fresh citrus picked from the garden, weekends by the coast or time spent with the people we love. It's one of the quickest ways to make a house feel like home.

Lighting a candle also gives us permission to slow down. In the middle of busy days and endless to-do lists, it becomes a simple act of mindfulness.

Bringing Warmth to Every Room

Candles aren't just for the coffee table. They can create a welcoming atmosphere throughout your home.

Place one in the entryway to greet guests with a beautiful fragrance as soon as they walk through the door. Light one in the living room while you're winding down for the evening or watching your favourite series. Add a candle to the dining table to make everyday meals feel a little more special or enjoy a candle in the bathroom while soaking in a warm bath after a long day.

Sometimes it's the smallest moments that have the biggest impact.

Crafted to Be Enjoyed

Our candle are proudly hand poured in Australia using a premium soy wax blend and a lead-free wick for a clean, even burn. Each one is infused with complex and bespoke fragrances inspired by the scents of nature, filling your home with beautiful scent for over 50 hours.

They're designed to be enjoyed every day. To become part of your daily rituals, your quiet moments and the memories made around your table or wherever you feel most at home.

Between school drop-offs, work, errands and everything in between, makeup needs to work with you, not feel like another thing on the to-do list.

If you're short on time but still like to feel fresh and a little more put together, these are the simple beauty habits and everyday products I keep coming back to. Nothing complicated or overly polished, just easy, repeatable essentials that help you feel like yourself and get out the door a little faster.

Why healthy skin is the best base you can start with

For me, healthy makeup always starts with healthy skin. When skin is hydrated and protected, everything you apply afterwards sits and wears so much better. I tend to stick to lightweight skincare that supports the moisture barrier and always finish with SPF to help protect against everyday sun damage and visible ageing. The Ageless Hydrating Face Fluid SPF 50+ has become an easy everyday staple because it feels comfortable on the skin and layers really well under makeup.

The best foundation for busy mornings

Instead of reaching for a heavier foundation, I usually go for something lighter and more natural when I'm short on time. The Pure Mineral Dream Skin CC Cream SPF 50 is one I love for busy mornings because it helps even out skin tone while still looking like skin. Just enough coverage to feel refreshed and naturally you.

I find applying it with fingers gives the quickest and most natural finish. Press the product through the centre of the face first and blend outward to keep everything light and effortless.

The two products that make the biggest difference in the least amount of time

When I'm really short on time, I focus on lashes and brows. They instantly brighten and frame the face and honestly make the biggest difference for the least amount of effort. The Precision Tubing Mascara and Mechanical Eyebrow Duo are two I reach for constantly because they're quick, easy and hold up through busy days. A little mascara worked into the roots of the lashes gives lift without clumping, and softly brushing brows upward before filling any sparse areas keeps them looking natural.

A lip product that does the work for you

I'll usually finish with a nude lip liner and a glossy lip oil in whatever shade feels good that day. Something easy that adds a bit of colour and makes you feel a little more awake, no mirror required.

The full 4-minute routine

1. Skin prep: Ageless Hydrating Face Fluid SPF 50+
2. Base: Pure Mineral Dream Skin CC Cream SPF 50
3. Lashes: Precision Tubing Mascara
4. Brows: Mechanical Eyebrow Duo
5. Lips: Nude lip liner + Glossy Lip Oil

Less than four minutes, minimal effort and just enough to help you feel fresh, confident and ready for the day ahead. Because sometimes those small moments of self-care really do make a big difference.

Dry heat from heater vents and cold winds from the outdoors can be a recipe for dry, flakey and tight skin. Often, face washes can strip skin of their oils and moisture, leaving your skin unbalanced and in need of a tall glass of water. It’s important that we take care of skin as the cooler months approach, ensuring the first step of our skincare routine sets our skin up for success. 

Makeup removers for dry skin

Pressed from the rich kernels of radiant, sun-ripened Apricots, silky Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil is one of Mother Nature’s quietly opulent treasures - and one of Natio’s most favourite go-to ingredients. Lusciously silky, this golden elixir layers on luminously to deliver a balanced blend of nutrients to skin, helping to support the natural barrier, seal in moisture and protect against environmental stressors like pollution and UV exposure. Cumulative result? A radiant, healthy-looking glow.

The Goods on This Golden Oil:

Lovably Lightweight

Wonderfully weightless, this silky botanical absorbs quickly to leave skin soft, supple and never greasy. Ideal for anyone seeking a lightweight hydrator that brings comfort and resilience to dry or mature skin - yet gentle enough for sensitive complexions - you’ll find Apricot Oil in a suite of Natio serums, oils and moisturisers formulated to nourish skin without the wax or weight.

Luminous with Nutrients

Beyond its hydrating and smoothing benefits, Apricot Kernel Oil’s natural antioxidant profile also helps to diminish visible signs of ageing, including the appearance of fine lines and dullness. Nutrient rich, this smoothing skin saviour delivers a balanced blend of vitamins A, C and E, along with essential fatty acids such as oleic and linoleic acid that help to restore balance and elasticity to skin plus that vital, fresh-from-within luminosity. 100%, Apricot Oil is a perfect ingredient for skincare formulations directed at amping up skin’s natural, healthy glow.

A Carrier of Comfort and Care

In aromatherapy and self-care rituals, silky Apricot Kernel Oil simply shines as a beautiful carrier oil, harmonising effortlessly with essential oils to deliver both nourishment and sensory pampering. Used on its own or blended into facial oils, serums or body treatments, Apricot Oil offers a simple yet sophisticated way to bring daily comfort and softness to skin.

All Up, A Rich, Radiant Kernel of Goodness

Light, nutrient-rich and just beautifully, beautifully kind, Apricot Kernel Oil glows as a perfect example of how the simplest natural ingredients can make the most lasting difference, restoring skin’s lustre, balance and resilience - one precious, potent, gloriously golden drop at a time.