Why We Are Changing Everything:
The Story Behind Our New Barrier Balm
Less clutter, more potency. Why we turned our four favourite recipes into one “Super Balm.”
If you’ve been following Eckco® for a while, you know that this business isn’t run by a board of directors in a glass office. It’s run from the workshop. It’s the smell of Kawakawa leaves steeping in oil, the sound of tins being stacked, and the dedication to labeling batches by hand.
Being a small-batch producer is a journey of constant learning. We start with an idea, we craft it, and then we listen to the people who use it.
Over the last year, as we have been pouring tins of our Botanical Balm, Mānuka Balm, Flaxseed Balm, and Wonder Balm, we started to notice a pattern. We realized that by offering four different balms, we were actually asking you to make a difficult choice.
Customers would ask us:
“My hands are dry, but I also have eczema, should I get the Mānuka or the Botanical?”
Or:
“I want the healing of Calendula, but I also want the protection of Kawakawa. Which one do I pick?”
We realised that you shouldn’t have to pick. You shouldn’t have to buy three different tins to get the benefits of our best ingredients. You deserve one tin that does it all.
So, the Eckco team went back to the formulation table with a simple goal: Stop making four “good” balms, and start making one “perfect” one.
The result is the new Triple-Infused Kawakawa Barrier Balm.
Small Batch, Big Difference
In the world of “Big Skincare,” consistency is usually achieved by adding fillers and stabilizers. In the Eckco® workshop, consistency comes from patience.
This change to a single Barrier Balm allows us to focus purely on potency. Instead of spreading our time across multiple different infusions, we can now dedicate everything to perfecting one “Master Blend.”
We aren’t just mixing ingredients together; we are crafting a slow-infusion. This is the heart of small-batch skincare. We take the raw, heart-shaped Kawakawa leaves, the fragrant, Mānuka leaves, and the bright orange Calendula petals, and we steep them. We don’t rush this part. We let the oils sit until they turn a deep, rich green gold. That color isn’t a dye, it’s the plants themselves, transferring their energy into the oil.
By consolidating the range, we can ensure that every single batch of Kawakawa Barrier Balm that leaves our workshop is the strongest, freshest, and most effective product we have ever made.
The “Triple Infusion”: What’s Actually Inside?
When you open a tin of the new Barrier Balm, you’ll notice it looks and smells familiar, but it feels… more capable. That’s because we’ve combined our three heaviest hitters into one pot.
Here is why we chose these three specifically, and why they work better together than they ever did apart.
1. Kawakawa (The Native Soother) – Double Infused
This is our signature. If you’re a New Zealander, you know Kawakawa. It’s the plant we reach for when we’ve been stung, bitten, or scratched. We use a specific extraction method to pull out the active compounds (Myristicin and Diayangambin) which are famous for taking the “fire” out of angry skin. In the old range, this was the star of the Botanical Balm or Wonder Balm. Now, it’s the foundation of the Barrier Balm.
2. Mānuka Leaf (The Defender)
We have always loved Mānuka. While the bees love the flowers, we know the real power lies in the leaves. We infuse the leaves directly to capture their potent properties. Mānuka is a powerhouse against bacteria and fungi, far stronger than Tea Tree oil, but gentler on the skin. For people with broken skin or dermatitis, Mānuka is the invisible shield that keeps the area clean so it can heal. In the old range, you had to buy the separate “Mānuka Balm” to get this. Now, it’s standard in every tin.
3. Calendula (The Healer)
Calendula is the gentle giant of herbalism. It’s unmatched for repairing tissue and softening rough, “alligator” skin. It creates a beautiful synergy with Kawakawa, while the Kawakawa numbs the itch, the Calendula gets to work on repairing the barrier. Previously, this was split across different products. Now, it’s right there alongside the others.
Why “Barrier Balm”?
We decided to change the name to Kawakawa Barrier Balm because we wanted to be totally honest about what this product is.
It’s not a lotion. It’s not a watery cream that vanishes in five seconds. It is a shield.
When you have sensitive skin, your natural skin barrier is like a leaky roof. It lets moisture out, and it lets irritants in. This balm is the repair crew. Because we don’t use water (which requires preservatives and can actually dry skin out as it evaporates), this balm creates a semi-occlusive layer on your skin.
It locks the good stuff in, and keeps the bad stuff (wind, cold, detergents) out.
A Note from the Workshop: How to Use It
Because this is a “Concentrate”, meaning there is no water, just 100% active ingredients, using it is a little different to a store-bought cream.
We often see people scooping out a huge chunk and trying to rub it in. Stop! You don’t need that much!
Here is our top tip for getting the most out of your tin:
- Water is your friend: The best time to apply this balm is straight after a shower or washing your hands, while your skin is still a little bit damp.
- Melt it first: Scrape out a tiny amount (size of a pea) and rub it between your fingers. You’ll feel the butters melt into a warm oil.
- Press, don’t rub: Gently press that warm oil into your skin.
Because you are applying it to damp skin, the balm traps that water, giving you hydration and protection without feeling greasy. It makes one small tin last a very long time.
To Our Loyal Customers
We know it can be scary when your favourite product changes.
If you loved the Mānuka Balm, please don’t worry, the new Barrier Balm has that same Mānuka strength, just with extra support. If you loved the Wonder Balm, you’ll find this new formula is even more versatile.
This isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about raising the bar. We pour these tins by hand, and we wouldn’t put the Eckco label on them if we didn’t believe they were better than what came before.
We are so excited for you to try this new Triple Infusion. It’s the same Eckco you trust, simple, native, honest, just a little bit stronger.
The Eckco Team