INTERVIEW

INTERNATIONAL AWARD-WINNING LOCAL BUSINESS SHOWS THE WAY – naturally

When a Mellons Bay career woman picks up a hobby making soap and candles, and then natural skincare, it segues into a flourishing business which scoops a coveted international award. JES MAGILL follows the story. The philosophy behind Scenturie is based on its founder Tania Cibulskis’ respect for the things she believes matter the most – respect for ourselves, for others, for nature and for our planet. www.scenturie.co.nz

If long-time Mellons Bay resident Tania Cibulskis needed confirmation that scaling back her successful career as a health professional to create a natural skincare range was a wise thing to do then winning an international award for her efforts must certainly be it.

Just six months after taking the plunge and transforming her homebased venture into a bona fide business called Scenturie, Tania’s day cream won a prestigious, trusted Editor’s Choice Award in the independent 2021 Beauty Shortlist Awards held in the USA earlier this year.

Renowned for transparency and focus on natural, ethical, sustainable brands, the Beauty Short List Awards this year attracted entries from 39 countries. For Tania’s start-up, the win was manna from heaven and a recognition that her hard work and focus were right on the mark.

After a solid career of more than 20 years as a physiotherapist, Tania was searching for a creative outlet. To her bemused and somewhat surprised family, she discovered soap making and, determined to produce it properly, enrolled in a course at Uxbridge.

“Then I made soap every spare moment I had”, she confesses, remembering the hundreds of cold pressed soap bars she shaped in her home ‘lab’ with the aim of achieving perfection.

Tania’s hobby then went next level. After soaps, it was candles, then it was skincare. Over the following year she conducted extensive research and taught herself all about formulating cosmetics.

With a former degree in science, her chemistry knowledge came in very handy. Over many months she developed a skincare range which aligned with her ethics and newly-formed goals: to produce handcrafted, small batches using 100% pure, sustainable, plantderived ingredients sourced only from approved local suppliers.

For years Tania has had a healthy obsession, wanting to know everything about the products she applies to her skin.

“I always read ingredient labels. It’s my mission to understand what ingredients are used for, where they’re from, plus the effect they have on my body and the environment.”

She strongly encourages others to read their skincare labels too and understand what they’re applying to their own skin. creating had broader application than simply being exquisite gifts for friends and family.

She’d created a business opportunity offering consumers a range of natural skincare which was not only healthy for their skin but good for the planet too.

While initially on a steep learning curve on the production side of things, Tania has always been firm on Scenturie’s purpose – to make effective, natural skincare products using ethical, synthetic-free ingredients.

Sustainability is a key driver in everything Scenturie produces, forming the basis behind all packaging, distribution, pricing and purchasing processes. As a fiercely gentle advocate for reducing plastic wherever possible, Tania also walks her talk.

“On a personal level I switched to soap, shampoo and conditioner bars over two years ago to reduce plastic bottle use in our home and I always try to buy items which aren’t packaged in plastic,’ she says.

“I order my produce online from Clevedon Herbs & Produce, a wonderful, sustainable, local company which sends my freshly picked produce in a cardboard box with compostable packaging – no plastic!” The natural skincare range is a popular space these days and Tania believes she makes a difference through her professional strengths and passions; that of gaining and sharing knowledge which empowers others in their buying decisions.

“When consumers have trusted knowledge they can then make informed decisions about what they buy,” she says.

“Most people want to use products that don’t harm their health or the environment but ingredient lists can be technical and confusing. Having a basic understanding of what to avoid in your skincare is a good start.”

Scenturie is going from strength to strength. A new skincare product, the nutrient, collagen-rich super boost bakuchiol serum is just out on the market; a men’s range is soon to launch and Tania plans to take on staff to help her grow the business.

Behind her nutritious, natural skin elixirs business, her personal skincare philosophy is simple: “Skincare should be easy.”

Tania understands that too much choice can be overwhelming and by focusing on a simple range of quality natural skincare, makes it easier for people to choose what suits them – “Less is always more!,” she proclaims.

WHAT TO ASK ABOUT SKINCARE PRODUCTS:

— What is this ingredient in my product? — Does this company conduct or support cruel animal testing on their products or export to countries that require it? — Does this company use palm oil or derivatives despite ongoing mass destruction from unsustainable palm oil production? — Does this company have sustainable packaging oris it contributing to the worldwide pollution crisis?

COMMON NASTIES & IRRITANTS IN SKINCARE:

• Palm oil • Synthetic chemicals • Synthetic fragrances • Parabens • Sulfates • Glycols • Silicones • Mineral oils • Phenoxyethanol • Phthalates