Meet | Tanne Snowden, Tronque

The inception of Tronque has an inspiring backstory - can you elaborate on what inspired you to begin the brand?

I first learnt about endocrine disruptors and their impacts on human health, in 2019, while recovering from surgery for endometriosis.

It was my second surgery and I started researching what most impacted endometriosis, encouraging its growth and increasing its symptoms, aside from simply genetic causes.

Endocrine disruptors were not mentioned until page 3 of my Google search, buried deep down in a scholarly article on the ‘top 10 toxic endocrine disrupting ingredients’ found in personal and beauty care. This surprised and alarmed me as I was always trying the ‘latest and greatest’ in beauty products and had shelves stocked with a range of beauty items.

After reading and digesting the article I went to my bathroom cabinet to see if there were any products I should possibly throw away. I was completely shocked to discover that everything I owned, aside from three products, contained endocrine disrupting compounds. This moment was a pivotal turning point in my life and completely changed my beauty routine and how I cared for my health.

Endocrine disruptors are compounds that can mimic hormones. Over exposure to these compounds can result in increased estrogen and testosterone levels, thyroid dysfunction, endometriosis, diseased tissue, cysts, reproductive issues, and worse.

I was also left with five significant scars on my pelvis and after trying everything available on the market targeted at removing scars, nothing worked and most of the products I was using were full of endocrine disruptors, synthetic dyes or silicones.

This lead to me recreating my beauty routine and how I cared for my health. I designed a clean, effective alternative to reduce my scars, which ended up erasing them completely.

The positive results with my own scars was the original catalyst for the creation of Tronque. I then started giving the formula to friends and family and they kept coming back to me needing more of it and for other people in their life.

My intent from the beginning has been to share what I’ve learnt and help others heal.

What is the key ethos behind Tronque?

To offer the safest products with the highest efficacy. We never want a customer to question, ‘could this be harming me’? We source the highest quality and efficacious ingredients from green chemistry and nature.

The skin of the body is 85% of your largest organ. This large surface area can absorb more harmful ingredients than your face, which is why Tronque was created as a safe haven.

It’s about applying the same principle from the face, to the body and giving yourself a body ritual every day, because we usually neglect it.

Tell us about some of the key ingredients used and why they are important in our body care routine.

Tronque’s mission is ‘against neck down neglect’. We apply the same principles from the face, to the body.

All our products are face grade and use face worthy actives such as Vitamins A, B, C and E, ceramides, biotech Lipids, red seaweed, plant stem cells, squalene, AHAs and BHA, pineapple enzymes, hyaluronic acid and so much more.

We source ingredients locally and globally. We use New Zealand bioactives such as marine extracts, rare red seaweed, Pinot Noir grapes, Sauvignon Blanc grapes, Mamaku extract, Kiwifruit oil, seed and skin and Mānuka extract.

Our unique green chemistry has so much data, science and consumer studies behind it, we are so happy of offer these incredible ingredients.

Vitamin C THD – 50x More effective than L-Ascorbic Acid, our oil-soluble Vitamin C protects against collagen breakdown, brightens, reduces pigmentation and evens skin tone while inhibiting the formation of new pigment by up to 80%.

Biotech Lipids – Engineered from botanically-sourced lipids and comprises of a variety of lipid types combined in the same ratio as those found on young, healthy skin.

Patented Ceramides – Are based on an environmentally friendly, bio-technology-based production process, improving epidermal moisturisation.

Atlantic Ocean Kelp – Is a skin protector made up of a web of elastic fibres that reverses age effects, preserves tissue integrity and ensures firmness of the cell architecture, a similar role that proteic fibres and elastin play in the skin.

Red Maple Bark – protects the skin against oxidative ageing, while improving skin firmness and elasticity.

As with our skincare, do you have a routine you follow for your body?

I do! In the morning’s I don’t have as much time and at night is when I really put the effort in.

In the morning’s I usually do a scoop of the Firming Butter, mixed with a couple of drops of our new Vitamin C Body Oil. A little goes a long way and both products make your skin dramatically softer, smoother and nourished.

Our new Vitamin C Body Oil is packed with 22 high-performing ingredients such as Vitamin C, patented ceramides and biotech lipids. It brightens, repairs, deeply moisturises, boosts elasticity and plumps the skin.

At night, I use the Exfoliating Refining Serum on my arms to prevent my keratosis pilaris coming back and also on my knees or any parts of my skin that need extra attention.

Exfoliating Refining Serum is just like your nightly exfoliating serum for the face, but for the body. It’s a very unique product and contains 7 natural AHA’s and BHA, nature’s retinol, pineapple enzymes and aloe vera. It dissolves all your dead skin and it tingles a little when you first use it, as you can really feel all your dead skin being removed.

It’s an alternative to a physical scrub and also brightens, increases cell renewal, unclogs pores, dissolves ingrown hairs, evens texture and deeply replenishes. I then cover myself in the Firming Butter to lock in all the moisture and actives.

Our Firming Butter sold out this year, as it became a cult hit! It’s a souffle of butters mixed with actives such as rare red seaweed, Atlantic Ocean kelp, red maple bark, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and so much more. It’s extremely nourishing and your skin becomes unbelievably soft after just one use. It’s life-changing.

I use Scar Concentrate on my face as a nightly face oil. It’s packed with 26 bioactive, 4 forms of Vitamin C, plant stem cells and bakuchiol. It’s powerful, yet, very nourishing and calming for sensitive and reactive skin.

I say, if it can get rid of scars, it can get rid of wrinkles!

As we head into the summer months, what are some of the important steps we need to be taking to ensure were looking after our skin and how does Tronque fit in with this?

In the summer we’re exposed to more elements and we need to keep our skin as nourished, hydrated and protected as possible.

By protecting the skin barrier we stop the vulnerability of permanent skin damage. Using ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerine, essential fatty acids and niacinamide can stop trans-epidermal water loss, which can result in dull, dry skin prone to breakouts, eczema and premature aging. All found in Firming Butter.

Increase your topical antioxidants such as Vitamin’s A, B and C, nourishing oils, Omega’s and coenzyme Q10 to repair and protect against UV damage and pollution. All found in our Vitamin C Body Oil.

By deeply nourishing your skin with Vitamins, nutrients and repairing actives, you’ll experience your best skin yet for the summer months.

We hear the most beautiful stories everyday from our community, who have regained their confidence to show their skin, which is truly humbling.

From skin grafts, life-saving tractotomies, mothers on behalf on their children’s scars, breast cancer survivors, to models accidently cutting their faces who use our Scar Concentrate. Every scar tells a human story of bravery.

Last summer we had a beautiful story from a male customer who was able to wear shorts for the first time in 15years! He never knew how to get rid of his keratosis pilaris and after a month of using Exfoliating Refining Serum, it was completely gone.

It is not only hearing how we have helped the healing and self-esteem of customers, which is the most rewarding part of the business, it’s knowing we have created products that can change people’s lives and feel good about showing their skin.

Quickfire questions. Tell us about your favourite...

Long Lunch Venue: Prego or Andiamo. I’ve been going to Prego since my mum was pregnant with me and Andiamo for breakfast, when it was a café back in the 90s.

Weekend Escape: A staycation in the city or Queenstown.

Mid-week Cocktail: I’ve always loved a silver patron margarita.

Morning Coffee Spot: I’m not a coffee drinker but, Rosie in Parnell do delicious juices.

Sunday Ritual: It’s been a while since I’ve had a full day off, but when I relax it’s usually with a book and a pile of magazines. I love non-fiction and am currently reading a great book about the importance of breathing.