Our story
Made for my family. Now made for yours.
Hi, I'm Kendal: a mum, a maker, and the person behind every jar, bar and balm that leaves our workshop in Renwick, Marlborough.
The one rule
If I wouldn’t put it on my own kids, it doesn’t go in the jar.
Kendal
at home in Renwick
How it started
It started in our kitchen, with my kids' dry skin.
A few years ago I was looking for skincare that worked for my kids. Everything I tried was full of ingredients I couldn't pronounce, or didn't live up to its promises. I wanted a label I could read and understand, every word.
That search led me to tallow, rendered the traditional way. I made my first batch in the kitchen, and we haven't looked back.
And the name? I grew up in South Africa, where geckos were everywhere. We moved to New Zealand when I was ten, and geckos stayed my little reminder of home. Gecko Creationz holds both places.
From our butcher to your bathroom
How every jar is made
No factory and no shortcuts. Just good tallow, time and care.
Our local butcher
Every product starts with grass-fed beef tallow from our local Marlborough butcher. I know where it comes from, every batch.
Rendered by hand, more than once
I render the tallow myself in small batches, straining it several times until it's clean and pure.
Blended with botanicals
Then I blend it with plant oils, beeswax and essential oils, sourced from New Zealand wherever I can.
A label you can read in ten seconds
Short ingredient lists, and every one is printed on the product page. Soaps cure for at least four weeks before they're ready.
the whole crew
A family business, literally
When you email us, you're talking to us.
There's no marketing department here. It's me, my family and our workshop. The kids have grown up around the rendering pots and pouring trays, and my partner keeps everything running behind the scenes.
We're in Renwick, in Marlborough wine country. If you've driven through on the way to Picton, you've been through our neighbourhood.
Not sure where to start?
Tell me what you need, and I'll pick for you.
Three quick questions and I'll point you to the right jar.