The thinking, research and formulation behind our award-winning Tasmanian scalp treatment.
Sometimes, the products we feel most compelled to create are the ones we believe are missing.
For me, SUBSTANTIA began with a feeling that there was room for a more considered approach to scalp care, particularly for fine, fragile and thinning-looking hair. I was especially interested in the needs of more mature hair and scalp, which I felt deserved greater consideration.
I wanted to create a purposeful pre-shampoo treatment, developed with care and made with ingredients that each had a reason to be there.
What followed was over a year of research, formulation, refinement and testing. I knew I had developed a product I believed in, but I couldn't have anticipated where that journey would lead.
In 2026, SUBSTANTIA was named a finalist in the Global Green Beauty Awards before going on to win Gold for Best Natural Scalp Product.
For a small, independent Tasmanian maker, this was a moment of genuine pride.
Developing the formulation
I wanted SUBSTANTIA to be more than a collection of appealing ingredients. The formulation needed to have a clear purpose, with each ingredient considered for its contribution and how it worked alongside the others.
I spent months researching, developing and refining the formula, making adjustments and testing along the way.
Two ingredients that became important parts of the formulation were Tasmanian bull kelp and Amaranth biopeptides.
Choosing ingredients with purpose
The kelp used in SUBSTANTIA is Durvillaea potatorum, a Tasmanian brown seaweed harvested under licence from the rugged west coast of Tasmania.
Its connection to the place I call home was meaningful to me, but I also wanted its inclusion to have a genuine purpose within the formulation. It wasn't there simply to make an appealing ingredient story.
Amaranth biopeptides were another considered choice. I was interested in their potential contribution and how they would work alongside the other ingredients.
For me, good formulation isn't about collecting impressive ingredient names. It's about understanding what each ingredient brings and considering how the complete formulation works together.
Every ingredient earns its place.
From finalist to Gold Winner
I decided to enter SUBSTANTIA in the Global Green Beauty Awards because I wanted the product to be considered independently.
When I learned it had been selected as a finalist, I was genuinely happy. It was already meaningful recognition for something that had taken so much time and care to develop.
Then came the news that SUBSTANTIA had won Gold for Best Natural Scalp Product.
I was so proud and excited.
The awards received more than 800 product entries in 2026, so to have SUBSTANTIA recognised among them was incredibly rewarding.
For an independent Tasmanian business, this was a particularly special moment. It was wonderful to see a product developed through so much research and work receive international recognition.
What this recognition means to me
'Winning Gold is something I will always be proud of. It is a wonderful milestone for SUBSTANTIA and for LUMINUS.'
But it hasn't changed the way I approach my work.
A year in the making
SUBSTANTIA took over a year to research, formulate, refine and test. It was finally launched on 28 September 2026.
As a one-person business, the research, decisions and development all happen behind the scenes. Customers may see the finished bottle, but they don't necessarily see the months of thought and work that went into creating it.
Winning Gold hasn't changed the way I approach my work. I still believe a product should have a clear purpose, ingredients should be chosen thoughtfully and the formulation process deserves time and care.
I also believe customers deserve honest information about what a product is, why it was developed and the thinking behind it.
I'm proud of what I've created, grateful to the Global Green Beauty Awards for the recognition, and determined to keep learning and improving.
Most of all, I hope you can appreciate the thought behind SUBSTANTIA, as well as the product itself.
Discover SUBSTANTIA Density Treatment
A 125 mL pre-shampoo treatment developed for fine, thinning-looking and fragile hair.