australia day

Australian stars were all about showcasing their national pride when we celebrated Australia Day on Saturday. Celebrities such Ricki-Lee Coulter and Lara Bingle took the opportunity to wear their Aussie flags, while Samantha Jade, Guy Sebastian and Jesinta Campbell indulged in delicious home-grown treats: Pavlova and lamingtons. Jessica Mauboy performed on Sydney Harbour, and Stephanie Rice spent her evening there after a day at another iconic location, Bondi Beach. We’ve rounded up more snaps from Jan. 26 so check them out!

Every brand has a hero product — the one that gains cult-like status and sometimes becomes more well-known than the brand itself. Here in Australia, one of our most famous beauty exports is paw paw ointment (Lucas Paw Paw, we're looking at you), but there's countless other five-star offerings made in our very own backyard. To celebrate the end of Australia Week we're showcasing the Aussie beauty all-stars — and we've even plucked out the hero product from each brand for you, too.

Is it a coincidence that in the week we’re celebrating our Australian stars that a whole bunch of them happened to be out and about around the world? Our Week in Pictures round-up is filled with home-grown stars today, including the Aussie representation at the Sundance Film Festival — heaps of our actors have been there promoting their smaller film projects, including Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman and rising star Alice Englert. Frequent flyer Miranda Kerr flew out of LA with her husband, Orlando Bloom, and son, Flynn, while local boys Liam McIntyre and Todd Lasance celebrated their show Spartacus in the same city. Meanwhile, Jennifer Hawkins, Alex Perry and Charlotte Dawson have been flying around the country on the search for Australia’s Next Top Model. There are plenty more Aussie stars to see, including Simon Baker, Teresa Palmer and Delta Goodrem, so click through!

There must be something in the water! A new wave of home-grown jewellery labels have entered our field of vision recently, eliciting both a dangerous lust for their luscious wares and also a quiet sense of national pride from our cynical, been-there-seen-everything-before hearts. To celebrate, we're shining today's Accessory of the Week spotlight on ten up-and-coming names in the accoutrement game. From Ryan Storer's sell-out crystalised ear cuffs to Petite Grand's delicate visions in gold and silver, these creative kids are going to become very visible, very quickly. It's time for some introductions . . .

In the spirit of celebrating all things Aussie today — happy Australia Day! — we’re shifting the focus from the bright lights of Hollywood to put the spotlight on our talented home-grown stars. Aussies are so beloved around the world, from our actors and film industry, to our musicians, to our TV shows with global audiences and more. The pop culture figures featured in this gallery are all household names, recognisably Australian, and many have gone on to achieve international success — click through to check them out.

We're kicking-off Australia Day with none other than the beautiful Kate Ritchie. The ex-soapy star and radio presenter is now hard at work on a different aspect of the media and entertainment industry — writing — but she's also set to sit back in the acting chair for a new ABC drama. We spoke to the stunning brunette about her favourite products and found out what it's like to live a day in her life.

Want more? Read our other Real Beauty interviews here.

Happy Australia Day! This is the moment we've been counting down to all week, the one day of the year where we get to celebrate all things Aussie without a hint of guilt. First to get our attention? All our favourite homegrown celebs who stay active on social media — and there are lots of them! From celebrity models Lara Bingle and Miranda Kerr showing off their beautiful faces (and style), to stylists and cool It girls giving us a behind-the-scenes peek into the lives of the beautiful and rich, it's all in here! Just click through the gallery to peer into the lives of our top fashion and beauty icons in the Australia.

What's more Australian than a gorgeous girl leaving the beach with sexy, salty, textured hair? We say: nothing. With Australia Day fast approaching (um, it's tomorrow), we've got your nails covered and your fun outfit sorted out nicely, but the easiest way to amp up your Summer sex appeal and overall cool-girl beauty look is by spritzing a good quality sea salt spray through your locks. A few of us here at Sugar are big fans at the stuff, so we've tried and tested most of these. And let us tell you, they've got the goods. They don't weigh your hair down or leave it looking greasy, and they actually give you that sexy hair you've always wanted — think Lara Bingle, Sienna Miller and Jodi Gordon. Click through to see which ones we recommend, then spritz your way into your Oz Day delecbrations!

There's no denying that Australia has bred some seriously smokin' ladies. So to wrap up our Australia Week coverage (who says we can only have a day?), we're revealing the beauty secrets behind 10 home-grown hotties. So if you want to know the secret to Cate Blanchett's glow, the shampoo that Elle MacPherson swears by, the makeup brand Miranda Kerr loves or the nifty trick from Nicole Kidman for getting your red hair to be ultra rad, just keep reading!