Frequently Asked Questions

Tallow has a fatty-acid profile rich in oleic, palmitic and stearic acids — fatty acids that are also naturally associated with the skin’s protective lipid barrier. These nourishing fats help soften the skin and reduce moisture loss, making tallow particularly beautiful in rich, simple skincare formulations. The natural tallow we use also naturally contains small amounts of fat-soluble compounds, including vitamins A and E. At Crystalló, we love tallow because it allows us to create beautifully simple, concentrated skincare using traditional ingredients.

Many people enjoy tallow-based balms as part of their facial skincare routine, but every person’s skin is different. Our balms are rich, concentrated products, so only a very small amount is needed. If your skin is particularly oily, acne-prone or sensitive, we recommend patch testing first and introducing any new skincare product gradually.

Absolutely. Crystalló Balm is designed as a versatile, concentrated balm that can be used on the face, body, hands, cuticles and areas that need a little extra moisturising. A little goes a surprisingly long way.

We deliberately keep our formulations simple and avoid synthetic fragrance, chemicals and additives.
Some Crystalló products do, however, contain aromatic ingredients or essential oils including peppermint, cinnamon, clove, rosemary and vanilla preparations.
If you have sensitive skin, allergies or known sensitivities, always check the individual product ingredient list and patch test before use.
Our unscented products are the simplest option for customers who prefer to avoid added fragrance.

For us, ‘clean’ isn’t about pretending that natural automatically means safe.
It means being thoughtful about what we put into our products.
We prefer simple formulations, recognisable ingredients and a clear purpose for everything we use.
No ingredient earns its place simply because it makes something cheaper, brighter, stronger-smelling or easier to mass-produce.
Just carefully selected ingredients and skincare made with intention.

Big bubbles aren’t the measure of a good soap. Different fats and oils produce different types of lather. Some create large, fluffy bubbles while others contribute creaminess, conditioning qualities or a dense, silky lather. Our Pure Tallow soap, for example, is deliberately about that beautifully creamy washing experience rather than producing mountains of foam. More bubbles don’t necessarily mean more cleaning.

Making the soap is only the beginning. After un-moulding and cutting, our cold-process soaps are given time to cure. During this period the bars lose excess water and become harder, milder-feeling and longer lasting in use. We don’t rush this part. Every Crystalló bar gets the time it needs before we offer it to you.

Because it’s genuinely handmade. Small variations in colour, texture, shape and finish are part of small-batch soapmaking. Even natural ingredients themselves can vary slightly from batch to batch. We think those little differences are part of what makes handmade products beautiful. Your bar isn’t supposed to look as though a machine made ten million identical copies of it — because one didn’t.

The most important thing is to let your soap dry between uses. Keep it on a well-draining soap dish rather than sitting in water or on a constantly wet surface. Allowing air to circulate around the bar helps it dry properly and will make your handmade soap last considerably longer.

That depends on how often it is used, how many people use it and — importantly — how it is stored. A handmade soap left sitting in water will disappear much faster than one allowed to dry between uses. Treat your bar well, give it somewhere dry to rest, and it will reward you.

Our tallow is sourced from Australian beef and carefully rendered and purified by us before it becomes part of a Crystalló product. We specifically seek local, quality grass-fed and finished Australian tallow and transform it into something good for you that is both useful and beautiful.

Yes, ours is. We carefully select what we need. No ingredient deserves to be labelled “good” or “bad” without considering where it came from and how it was produced. This applies to all food, products or services you use every day. The tallow we use is a by-product of animals already raised for us and the local families where we live. Crystalló products only use this local, grass-fed, farmer selected cattle. We choose not to support grain fed or feed-lot mass produced animals as these practices we do not consider good animal husbandry. We believe animals should always be treated with kindness and fed a species appropriate diet. We believe this about people too.

No. Tallow is rendered beef fat, so products containing tallow are not vegan.

No. Crystalló’s current soap and skincare range is made without palm oil. Should we begin to use it, it’s sources would be carefully considered for sustainable farming practices and least harm.

We have chosen not to build Crystalló around strong smelling synthetic perfumes. Our scented products use carefully selected aromatic ingredients, essential oils and/or botanical infusions depending on the individual formulation. That’s also why Crystalló fragrances are intentionally subtle.

Because we want you to notice the product before you notice the perfume! Crystalló was never intended to be heavily fragranced skincare. Our scents are designed to sit quietly alongside the natural character of our ingredients rather than overwhelm them. If you love products that smell beautiful without announcing themselves from across the room, you’re in the right place.

Many Crystalló products, such as our balms, are water-free formulations. Products without water have very different preservation requirements from conventional water-based lotions and creams. Whether a product requires a preservative depends on its formulation — so rather than making a blanket claim here, you’ll always find the ingredients for each individual Crystalló product clearly listed with that product. We intentionally leave out anything that is not required.

Yes you can. Please visit the full ingredients list here.

Because Crystalló is about more than making another bar of soap or jar of balm. The crystal heart is a small reminder to make an ordinary moment intentional — to slow down, look after yourself and turn something as simple as washing your hands or moisturising your skin into a little ritual of self-care. As you use your soap, balm or lotion, the heart is gradually revealed. Once it becomes loose enough to remove, remove it from the product or soap, rinse it thoroughly and keep it. It’s our little gift to you long after the soap itself is gone. Use it to remind you to slow down. Taking time to breathe, feel and rest with your own heart is something we all need to do more often.

Please do. That’s the whole idea. Your soap or skincare will eventually be used, but the crystal heart will last as long as you look after it. Keep it somewhere meaningful, carry it with you or simply let it remind you to occasionally make a little time for yourself. Please keep the crystal safe, especially from those young ones that tend to put everything in their mouths.

Always read the complete ingredient list before using a new product. Natural ingredients can cause sensitivities and allergic reactions too. If you know you react to a particular ingredient, don’t use a product containing it. If you’re uncertain, patch test first. If you have a diagnosed skin condition or significant allergy, speak with an appropriate healthcare professional about products that are suitable for you.

Some Crystalló products contain essential oils and aromatic botanical ingredients. Pregnancy, babies and young children deserve additional consideration when using essential oils, so we don’t make a blanket recommendation that every Crystalló product is appropriate for everyone. Check the ingredient list for the individual product and, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, choosing a product for a young child or have particular health concerns, seek appropriate professional advice. Our unscented products provide an option for people wishing to avoid added aromatic ingredients. Ensure you have removed the crystal heart prior to using a product with a young child.