Clean + Conscious Awards 2024. Best Face Oil. Celebrating products in Australia & NZ which are Non-Toxic, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible.

Acala Stem – Face Oil (AKA Acala Stem Face & Hair Oil)

GOLD

Best Face Oil 2024

$65.99

The Acala Stem face oil contains Australian organic jojoba oil and blue lotus absolute oil. The calming benefits of the blue lotus aroma enhance the effectiveness of this clean skincare elixir, making it a relaxing part of your routine.

Clean Ingredients / Materials

Formulated with excellent clean, mostly organic ingredients.

Ethical Practices

In 2020, Acala Stem was founded by an individual who witnessed the need for change while volunteering in Cambodia. The brand aims to support children overseas by offering flexible employment opportunities to vulnerable women through seamstress work. Their best-selling product, blue lotus face oil, is used to fund and grow the ethical business while promoting the use of pure, plant-based ingredients in skincare. Acala Stem also prioritises ethical practices, such as self-funded clinical testing and partnering with female-run businesses for manufacturing. The brand has been recognised for its environmental impact and humanitarian efforts at The Women Changing the World Awards in London in 2023.

Sustainable Practices

Acala Stem's hero product is lotus silk, a luxury handcrafted textile extracted from the lotus flower. Lotus silk is the most sustainable textile in the world, requiring no water, gas, oil, electricity, or CO2 emissions for production and containing no bleaches, chemicals, or harmful dyes. The brand's blue lotus face oil is a best-seller with a high re-purchase rate, generating customer loyalty and introducing other lotus products. Acala Stem is 100% plant-based, vegan-friendly and plastic-free, using compostable shipping packaging and recycled paper. Their products are handmade in small batches to avoid overproduction and the lotus flower stems used in production provide additional income for lotus farmers. The brand aims to educate consumers about sustainable textiles and hopes to see a shift towards lotus silk in the luxury market to reduce water usage and CO2 emissions.

Social Impact

80% of children in orphanages are not actually orphans, a result of the increase in "voluntourism", leading to child trafficking and exploitation. Acala Stem's ethical supply chain in Cambodia aims to keep children at home and out of orphanages by providing parents with work opportunities. The brand has already trained over 150 spinners who can earn up to $14 a day, re-employed 60 seamstresses and increased the income of lotus farmers by utilising lotus silk production. Acala Stem also advocates for overseas workers and is focused on expanding its ethical supply chain model across SE Asia, with a goal of employing over 500 people in rural regions by 2027. The brand's founder, a sole parent balancing multiple responsibilities, is determined to create positive change and motivate others to support their cause.

Expert Reviews

Amy Starr

The scent is something so unique and beautiful, it stuck with me for a long time after using it. I want my whole house to be doused in the magic of the blue lotus, it’s so soothing and settling in the best possible way! I adore the simplicity of a two-ingredient formula – one that really lets the beautiful natural ingredients shine. The branding is fresh and cool – the box really stands out and I can see that it would have significant shelf appeal. The brand’s social responsibility efforts are not an accompanying campaign to win over a more woke consumer. They are clearly the whole reason for existing. I wish there was more of these kind of champions for people and planet in the world. Unbelievably impressive – you’ve inspired me!

Erin Norden

I love that this oil utilised blue lotus, I haven’t had a lot of experience with this ingredient so it was interesting to see how it might benefit the skin. I also love that the qualities of the blue lotus oil inspire calm and contentment which is always nice when doing your skincare regime after a long day! I love that this was lightweight and left my skin with a nice glow. The branding is quite cute too. I love the minimal ingredient philosophy here, it feels like quality over quantity which is nice! Love the glass packaging and the smaller size bottle.

Niccii Kugler

This Face & Hair Oil is a great example of when less is more. Boasting just two bioactive ingredients, this luxurious, effective, deeply moisturising oil instantly left my skin and hair feeling amazing. The fact that there are also zero fillers or nasties makes this product all the more wonderful. I have also been using it as a hand cream because it makes my winter skin feel soft and the fragrance is so exquisite that it doubles as a gorgeous, subtle perfume. I am very impressed by the commitment of Acala Stem’s founder Leanne. She is both dedicated and innovative in using her business to tackle the humanitarian plight of underprivileged women and children by harnessing the power of a sustainable plant to create a stunning range of products, the quality of which speaks for itself. Her ethos flows across all aspects of her business and determines all stakeholder partnerships from sourcing, manufacturing, packaging and beyond. As a small business owner, it is commendable what she has achieved with this business thus far.