Inside Sun Gold: The Five Ingredients Behind Our Face Balm

Sun Gold is our golden face balm, a rich, handcrafted blend of five key ingredients: Helichrysum italicum, Persian saffron, Carbon 60, Tasmanian hemp seed oil and Australian manuka beeswax. For almost seven years it was known as Carbon 60 Balm. The formulation hasn't changed. Only the name has.

Here we look closely at each ingredient, why it's there, and how they work together as one balm.

Why Was Carbon 60 Balm Renamed Sun Gold?

Carbon 60 Balm has been part of our range for almost seven years, shared hand to hand at markets along the coast. Over that time it became the balm people reached for after long days outdoors.

The new name speaks to what's actually in the jar: the deep gold of saffron and helichrysum, and the lives of the people who use it, lived beneath the sun. Carbon 60 is still there, exactly as before. It's simply no longer the whole story.

Formerly Carbon 60 Balm. Same formulation. A new chapter.

What's in Sun Gold Face Balm?

Helichrysum italicum: the everlasting flower

Helichrysum grows on the dry, sunlit hillsides of the Mediterranean, and its golden flowers hold their colour long after picking, which is why it's called the everlasting flower. Its essential oil has a long tradition in skin care, and researchers have studied its compounds, including a molecule called arzanol, for their antioxidant activity. We chose it for skin that has weathered sun, wind and the years.

Persian saffron: one of nature's most precious botanicals

Each saffron thread is the hand-picked stigma of a crocus flower, and it takes around 150,000 flowers to gather a single kilogram. Saffron is rich in natural antioxidants, notably crocin and crocetin, which give it that deep golden colour and have drawn growing scientific interest in skin research. We slowly infuse the threads in sweet almond oil, so their colour and character carry through the whole balm.

Carbon 60: nature's geometry

Carbon 60 is a molecule of sixty carbon atoms arranged in a perfect sphere, the same pattern as a soccer ball. Its discovery earned the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. It has since attracted scientific interest for its antioxidant properties and the way it interacts with free radicals. In Sun Gold we use Carbon 60 at 99.9% purity.

Tasmanian hemp seed oil: essential nourishment

Hemp seed oil is naturally rich in the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6, in a balance that suits the skin well. It helps replenish the skin's natural lipids, supporting moisture and the skin's protective barrier. Ours is grown in Tasmania.

Australian manuka beeswax: nature's protective layer

Beeswax forms a breathable layer over the skin that helps hold moisture in, without sealing the skin off from the air. It's what gives Sun Gold its smooth, firm texture and its clean, matte finish. We use Australian manuka beeswax.

Alongside these five sit coconut and olive oils for richness and slip, and natural vitamin E.

Five ingredients.
Each chosen for what it brings to the whole.

Why Is Sun Gold a Balm, Not a Cream?

Most creams are an emulsion of water and oil, held together with emulsifiers and kept stable with preservatives. Sun Gold is anhydrous, meaning it contains no water at all. It's made only of oils, wax and botanicals, so there's nothing to emulsify.

That gives it a concentrated, long-lasting texture. It feels firm in the jar, then melts on contact with the warmth of your fingertips and settles into the skin with a soft matte finish: no greasy shine, and no waiting for it to soak in. A little goes a long way, so a 50 mL jar lasts two to three months of daily use.

It also reflects how we think about skin care. If it isn't edible, it doesn't belong on your skin.

Who Is Sun Gold For?

We made Sun Gold for people who live outdoors: surfers, gardeners, farmers, market folk, anyone whose skin meets the sun, wind and salt most days. It's just as at home in a simple daily routine for anyone who wants one rich, honest balm rather than a shelf of products.

Its rich texture suits dry and weathered skin especially well. If your skin tends to be oilier, start with a very small amount and see how it feels.

Featured in this story

Sun Gold — Face Balm

Golden botanical nourishment for skin that's lived beneath the sun. Helichrysum, Persian saffron, Carbon 60 and nourishing botanical oils, handcrafted in small batches.

Discover Sun Gold

Final Thoughts

Sun Gold is a small formulation with a lot of thought behind it. Nourishing oils to feed the skin, a breathable wax to protect it, and three golden ingredients that have fascinated people, and scientists, for a long time.

To learn how to get the most from your jar, read our companion piece, How to Use Sun Gold, which includes our three-step skin care ritual. It pairs beautifully with Sacred Serum.

Any questions about the formulation? Get in touch with us. We're always happy to talk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sun Gold the same as Carbon 60 Balm?

Yes. Sun Gold is the new name for our original Carbon 60 Balm. The formulation is unchanged.

What are the ingredients in Sun Gold?

Tasmanian hemp seed oil, coconut oil, olive oil, saffron-infused almond oil, Australian manuka beeswax, Carbon 60 fullerenes (99.9%), vitamin E and helichrysum essential oil.

What is Carbon 60?

Carbon 60, or C60, is a spherical molecule made of sixty carbon atoms. Its discovery won the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and it has attracted scientific interest for its antioxidant properties.

Why does Sun Gold have a golden colour?

The colour comes from Persian saffron, slowly infused in almond oil, along with the warm tones of hemp seed oil and helichrysum.

Does Sun Gold contain preservatives?

Sun Gold contains no water, so it doesn't need the emulsifiers that water-based creams use. Its ingredients are oils, beeswax, botanicals, Carbon 60 and vitamin E.

How long does a jar of Sun Gold last?

A 50 mL jar lasts around two to three months of daily use, because only a small amount is needed each time.

Against The Grain
Handmade on the Sunshine Coast.