Sanctum Organic Skin Care: Organically made by the Milham family for all families

In 1989 Greg and Jicky Milham moved to the pristine and unspoilt coastline of the Byron Shire in search of a cleaner, more peaceful lifestyle to raise a family. It was in Byron that they found the inspiration to start researching, developing and creating their own naturally derived skincare range, Sanctum Organic Skin Care.

Having witnessed first-hand the ‘chemical’ side of the industry while running a ‘manufacture and fill’ business in Sydney, Greg was determined to produce a natural range of products that carried meaningful levels of active ingredients and, most importantly, worked.

Today, Sanctum remains a family owned and run, with Greg and Jicky’s daughter Katrina Main at the helm of the business.

Katrina said, “Sanctum, meaning inner sanctuary or inner peace, is what the lifestyle of the Byron Shire was able to give to my parents. They escaped the hustle of the big city in search of a more balanced and connected life for my brothers and me.

Sanctum’s General Manager, Katrina Main

Passionate about local manufacturing, Sanctum is still based in Billinudgel, NSW. The facility is home to Sanctum’s head office, warehouse, manufacturing facility, laboratories and the famous Sanctum retail outlet, which attracts thousands of local and international visitors each year.

“There was never any doubt about where we would manufacture – being local is an important part of what we do. Greg - a biochemist, our founder and my father - started manufacturing cosmetic products for others here in Australia in the early 1980s. As he refined his focus to natural and organic cosmetic manufacturing, he’s always looked first in our own backyard for native ingredients and actives to benefit the skin,” said Katrina.

“Australia is the inspiration for products. The land bears fruit for many of our natural and organic ingredients, and we are proud of our heritage. We have never considered manufacturing anywhere else. Australia is literally and figuratively in our DNA and our skincare. Furthermore, we have always been proud of our contribution to Australian industry and economy.”

Sanctum’s manufacturing facility in Billinudgel, NSW

Sanctum has been a proud member of the Australian Made Campaign since 2006. Its entire skin and hair care range are certified to use the Australian Made green and gold kangaroo.

“At Sanctum, we recognise the value the Australian Made logo offers. It helps our brand to tell its ‘country of origin’ story and shows we manufacture locally,” explained Katrina.

“Our heritage, along with integrity and traceability, is core to our brand’s beliefs, so our Australian Made accreditation sits with pride on our packaging. It, along with our Certified Organic accreditation, Vegan and Not Tested on Animals badges, helps to communicate and reinforce our core values with customers. These symbols are a quick reference guide for customers to aid their purchase decisions and align with brands that share what’s important to them.”

Sanctum’s new Everyday Shampoo and Conditioner

From humble beginnings selling products in a handful of local health food stores, Sanctum has grown to an international brand exporting across Asia and Europe.

“The Australian Made logo has given us cut through, presence and favourability in international markets. It ‘speaks’ through language barriers and conveys qualities synonymous with Australian products - quality, natural and safe,” explained Katrina.

“Domestically, we’ve found consumers have become increasingly aware of the broader benefits of buying Australian and supporting brands that carry the Australian Made logo. Perhaps, in many ways, COVID has helped reinforce that."

 
Sanctum Body Care and Baby Care

“Australian Made brands support a local community from the courier driver who drops it off to the mechanic who fixes our forklift, to the thirty staff whose families they feed.

We’ve recently faced several challenges - operating through the environmental impact of the Northern Rivers floods, battling a compromised supply chain and all the issues the pandemic has brought. But, when customers know they are buying from a genuine Australian family business, they know that by supporting us, they are contributing to our local economy and helping keep the quality products they love on the shelf, despite the challenges of our time.”

To learn more about Sanctum Organic Skin Care or purchase one of its great Aussie Made products, please visit https://www.sanctumaustralia.com/.

You can also keep up to date with them on social media - make sure you follow @sanctumskincare on Facebook and Instagram.