Eleven years on, her family-run business has quietly transformed the confidence of thousands with problem skin.
Combining the wisdom of experience and the certainty of science, Crystal co-founded Ecology Skincare with her husband, Andrew, in 2014. Today, Ecology moisturisers are made by hand in small batches in a custom-built clean room in Somerville, a long way from their humble beginnings in the couple’s home kitchen.
“After a lot of research plus a lot of personal experimentation, I found that traditional fats like tallow and emu oil were ingredients my super-sensitive skin could tolerate,” Crystal said. Grass-fed tallow has become the ‘hero’ ingredient of the moisturisers, containing the same kinds of fatty acids and protective cholesterol found naturally in healthy skin.
It was a relief to discover something that finally worked. With “crazy sensitive, reactive skin and a history of adult acne and dermatitis”, Crystal is the poster girl for her own brand. Her skin was so sensitive that it reacted to natural products she’d previously pinned her hopes on – products containing beautiful cold-pressed oils and even simple ingredients like coconut oil.
Committing to a year of research before launching her range, she undertook training in product safety, label compliance, claims, and skin physiology. “We had our grass-fed tallow independently tested so we knew exactly what was in it and what we could and couldn’t claim about it.”
Crystal’s approach to skin care is as honest and uncomplicated as the Ecology products themselves, most of which contain only a handful of ingredients, and her advice to young people concerned about skin care is to keep it simple: “Don’t get caught up in the hype of a nine-step skin care regimen or the latest K-beauty routine. Your skin really doesn’t need that many products or ingredients to be happy, healthy and beautiful. If you can gently cleanse and moisturise your skin daily, that’s all it really needs.”
Ecology moisturisers do the job. They’re water-free and contain 100 per cent skin-nourishing ingredients – compared with just 20-50 per cent in a major brand formulation – leaving skin looking and feeling soft, smooth and well hydrated.
She urged those with mature skin to see skin care as self-care rather than a “battle against ageing”. Again, she recommends keeping skin care simple, focusing on supporting the skin’s barrier function.
Crystal is justifiably proud of the thousands of 5-star reviews from 14,000 returning customers of all ages, knowing firsthand the difference skin confidence makes. Her biggest champions, though, have been her family and business team. “Andrew’s mum still comes in to help make batches once a week. Andrew’s dad used to help me pack all of the orders when we first moved into our factory space in Somerville.” There are five employees, managed by naturopath Bridgit whose own mum regularly volunteers as a willing “human tester” before products go to launch.
To support local and supplement your own journey towards healthy skin, check out the Ecology range at www.ecologyskincare.com
For advice or to purchase on site, visit the team at their Somerville office.
