In this blog post I am sharing a few thoughts on ST. Cred, a new brand launched earlier this year. ST. Cred products are owned and made in Australia. If you are keen to support a small local business, here's an option to look into.
ST. Cred Shea Facial Light Virgin Oil & Raw Butter Blend, Shea Tassie - Raw & Organic Balm (All-purpose) and Tassie Toning Spritz
Who is ST. Cred?
ST. Cred was launched in March this year, by its Tassie founder Kelly Sims. All products are handcrafted using natural, vegan, locally and ethically sourced raw ingredients. I had the opportunity to chat directly with Kelly on a few occasions regarding the products, the ingredients she chose and feedback on usage. Skincare aside, she is very passionate about sustainability.
Overall impression
My overall impression of ST.Cred is quite positive. Looking at the simple ingredient lists of all the products I received, there is not one thing that I would be reluctant to use on my skin (perhaps with the exception of alcohol, further explained below). Despite its "raw" and "unrefined" brand image, the products are exceptionally pleasing to use. I particularly like the woody aromatic scent and overall the products feel nice to use.
Tassie Toning Spritz - Nourishing Face Tonic
Ingredients: Aqua (Tasmanian Mountain Spring Water), Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Himalayan Pink Salt, Alcohol (derived from Sugar Cane), Carrot Extract, Matcha Leaf Extract, Moringa Leaf Extract, Rooibos Extract, Arrowroot Extract, White Peony Extract, Rose Extract, Jasmine Extract, Liquorice Extract, Tea Tree Oil, Natural Blue Lotus Extract, Rosemary Extract & Lemongrass Extract.
I received a sample size in a small bottle, but the full size comes in green glass bottle and looks much more appealing. This toner smells gorgeous and is refreshing to use. It has a slight cooling effect which comes from alcohol. It is fully absorbed into the skin within seconds with no sticky feeling.
The toner is my favourite item out of the whole trial pack, although towards the end of the one-week trial my skin became slightly dry and tight. I wasn't sure whether it was the alcohol in the toner, or because I did not use a moisturiser in addition to the trial pack.
Why alcohol? Alcohol (also known as alcohol denat. and ethanol) is widely used in skincare products as a solvent and a consistency regulator. There are two schools of thought about using alcohol in skincare - one says that it is downright evil, and another says that it can enhance product penetration and absorption. My skin used to be able to tolerate a fairly high percentage of alcohol; unfortunately, over time (aka with aging), my skin is becoming less tolerant.
If there is an alcohol-free version of this toner I would buy it in a heartbeat.
Shea Facial Light Virgin Oil & Raw Butter Blend
Ingredients: Grape Seed Oil, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Raw Shea Butter, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Jojoba Seed Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Organic Rosehip Oil, Organic Avocado Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Frankincense Oil, Natural Blue Lotus Extract & Rosemary Oil
The product names of some ST. Cred products are a bit clunky, but this essentially means a facial oil with shea butter. My skin loves shea butter, rosehip oil and avocado oil so there are a few boxes ticked. If your skin is prone to acne, extra caution is needed as coconut oil (with a high comedogenic index) is the second ingredient.
The oil is light-weight and smells botanically pleasant. Following the instructions, I applied the oil after spritzing my skin with toner. The oil did not leave my skin looking shiny. However, one layer of oil was not quite enough for my skin (my skin type is predominantly normal) but the second layer would not absorb as well as the first layer (leaving an oily residue). In the trial period I did not use a moisturiser. In hindsight, moisturiser was something that I really needed to use in conjunction with the oil (unfortunately ST. Cred does not currently make a light facial moisturser). For normal to dry skin I would recommend incorporating this as a supplement oil into a skincare routine, rather than as the sole moisturiser.
Shea Tassie - Raw & Organic Balm (All-purpose)
Ingredients: Organic Raw Shea Butter, Grape Seed Oil, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Coco Butter, Natural Candelilla Wax Extract, Organic Jojoba Seed Oil, Tea Tree Extract, Rosemary Extract & Frankincense Oil
The Raw & Organic Balm is a very thick balm which is very nourishing. It works best on dry patches - e.g. elbows and knees - works particularly well when applied after exfoliation and on moist skin. A tiny bit goes a long way, and I like that it does not feel excessively oily. Overall, it is a great product but not one that I need.
I came across an online review which suggests that it can be used as a lip balm - I tried but it tastes disgusting so I can't recommend that.
Product samples were provided by ST. Cred. My opinion is honest.
About me
Makeup artist and hair stylist based in Sydney. Founder of the well-known award-winning bridal specialist team Faces Makeup & Hair. Beauty junkie with an obsession for skincare.