What to consider before you click “add to cart”
We are sometimes asked whether our products are real, why they are different from other makers, and why they cost less than some comparable products.
They are fair questions.
Especially online, it is not always easy to know who made a product, what is in it, where it came from or why it is priced the way it is.
Eckco has been making plant-based skincare for years. The range has changed over time. We have made products that stayed, products that changed, and products that did not make sense to keep producing.
This is why the range looks the way it does now.
Less range. More intention.
At one point, Eckco had more than 24 products.
That meant a lot of different oils, waxes, butters, containers, labels, scents and product variations to keep in stock. Some products did well. Some did not. Some were too close to another product in the range. Some created more inventory than made sense for a small operation.
We decided to bring the range back to a more considered core.
The aim was not to remove choice for the sake of it. It was to make each product easier to understand. Each one should have a clear place in the range, a clear formula and a reason to exist.
We do not want a shelf full of nearly identical products with different names.
A balm should not just be an oil in a tin. A body oil does not need a long list of ingredients simply to make the formula look more complicated. A product does not need three fragrance options just to make the range look bigger.
Some formulas include additional ingredients where needed. Others are deliberately kept minimal.
How the range changed
Two existing oils stayed in the range with updated names.
The original unisex, unscented U.F.O. face oil is now called Ultimate Face Oil.
The former U.F.O. with absolutes is now called Ultimate Face Oil (or U.F.O.) LUXE.
The Kawakawa Bath Soak has also returned. It was an earlier Eckco product that we chose to bring back in its current three-ingredient form: Kawakawa, Colloidal Oatmeal and Calendula.
The newer core range includes:
- Skin Barrier Balm
- Skin Support Balm
- Skin Barrier Body Oil
- Skin Support Body Oil
- Tame + Soothe Conditioning Oil
- Ultimate Face Oil
- Ultimate Face Oil | LUXE
- Kawakawa Bath Soak
Each product has its own formula and use. Some are richer. Some are lighter. Some have a few additional ingredients. Others are deliberately stripped back.
The goal is a smaller range that makes sense.
Why our prices are different
Our lower prices come from how we operate, rather than from mystery ingredients or elaborate packaging.
We make in small batches. We buy what we need. A tighter range means we hold fewer raw materials, fewer containers and fewer labels at one time. It also means less excess stock and less waste.
We print our labels in-house. They are not covered in gold foil. We do not use custom cartons, tissue paper, branded tape or expensive packaging extras.
That is deliberate.
We would rather put the focus on the formula and keep the packaging useful. A label needs to tell you what the product is, what is in it and how to use it. It does not need to pretend to be something it is not.
We also sell directly through our own website. There are no wholesale margins or retail markups added by stockists.
We have tried other paths over the years. Direct is the one that fits Eckco best.
Why low prices can make people cautious
We understand why people are cautious about very cheap products online.
Platforms such as Shein and Temu sell huge numbers of low-cost items through large supplier networks. That does not mean every item sold through those platforms is unsafe. It does mean there are good reasons to look closely at what you are buying, who made it and what information is available before you purchase.
Government and consumer safety testing has identified concerning findings in some products sold through these platforms. Seoul authorities found Shein nail polishes containing dioxane at more than 3.6 times the legal limit and methanol at 1.4 times the permitted level. The same inspections found a pair of Shein shoes with phthalates at 229 times the legal limit, and Temu sandals with lead in the insoles at more than 11 times the permitted level.
A Nordic Council of Ministers enforcement project found that 71% of the 210 products it inspected in e‑commerce violated chemical legislation. The products were bought through online marketplaces including Temu and Shein. The figure relates to the products in that study, not every product sold through those platforms, but it shows why clear ingredients, safety information and traceable suppliers matter.
Other investigations have reported children’s toys and USB chargers with mechanical, electrical and labelling failures. In one European consumer testing project, around 70% of 162 products from Temu and Shein did not meet EU safety requirements, with toys and chargers among the worst-performing categories.
This is not a comparison with Eckco products. It is a reminder that a very low price, polished product photo or long list of reviews does not tell you everything about a product.
You should be able to see what it contains, who made it and what it is for before it arrives at your door.
What is on the label is in the product
That is how we work at Eckco.
The ingredients listed on the product page and label are the ingredients used in that formula. If an ingredient is not listed, it is not part of the formula.
We also note the details that may matter before you buy.
For example, the current Skin Barrier Balm batch contains a trace amount of vanilla extract, 0.1%, as part of the formula. That information is stated clearly rather than hidden behind vague wording. Once this batch has sold through, the updated vanilla-free formula will be the version available.
Each product page explains:
- What the product is
- Whether it is a balm, body oil, face oil, beard oil or bath soak
- The full ingredient list
- Whether it contains added fragrance, essential oils or vanilla
- How it feels and how to use it
- The difference between products in the range
You should have the information you need to decide whether a product fits your own routine before placing an order.
A small business, not a brand machine
Eckco is not a corporation. It is not a purchased business built around a marketing story.
It has evolved over time. The Eckco® name is a registered trademark. We do not pay to have products reviewed or judged in order to earn an award or badge. We do not run competitions simply to collect reviews. Instead, we have a small number of reviews from real customers who choose to leave a comment about the items they have used.
There are no separate product-development, packaging, brand-strategy and marketing departments creating layers around the product.
It is a small operation.
From making the products to packing orders and keeping the website up to date, it all happens here.
That does not mean every product will stay forever. It means we can make changes when something no longer makes sense. It also means we can be direct about what each product is.
What we do not claim
You will not see us say that our products reduce inflammation, treat eczema, clear rashes or heal skin.
Those are claims we do not make.
Instead, we focus on minimal formulas, no added fragrance where stated, and full ingredient information.
We explain what is in the product. We explain what is not in it. We describe the scent, feel and product format as accurately as we can.
Then you can decide what feels right for your own routine.
No miracle claims. No inflated story. No unnecessary extras.
Just minimal plant-based products, made in New Zealand.
For more on the testing mentioned above, see the Seoul authorities’ testing reported by VOA/AFP, the Nordic Council of Ministers’ report on e‑commerce and chemical compliance and Consumer NZ’s testing of toys, USB chargers and necklaces from Temu and Shein.