All of the Triumph & Disaster products are made with natural ingredients from around the globe like clay from Australia, Jojoba extract from Mexico and Tamanu oil from Polynesia. They use local indigenous ingredients like Horopito oil and Ponga fern extract to name a few. To them, it’s important that each product is infused with bespoke Triumph & Disaster aromas, and natural blends of complex notes with the goal to evoke old fashioned values from simpler times.
Founder Dion Nash comes from a long line of boxers on his father’s side and tailors on his mother’s side. He grew up “well dressed and prepared to defend” himself, but the contradiction was something he noticed. When he was in his early teens and in a phase of rebelling against his father, he was given a poem. The poem his dad gave him, ‘IF’ by Rudyard Kipling was during the ‘son rebelling against father’ period of his life, and was thrown into a drawer. When he eventually uncovered it at the bottom of an old chest 20 years later, the poem was clear advice from a father to his son on how to be a man, focusing on “humility, honour, risk and reward.”
After reading the line, ‘if you can meet with Triumph & Disaster and treat those two imposters the same,’ it stuck with him and from here, the brand was born. Dion had the seed of the idea that would then grow to become Triumph & Disaster. He wanted to create a range of skincare products with these values and beliefs in mind. To him, these values were imperative. Focusing on the idea that the brand is capable of reminding people of the importance of rituals, preparation and healthy skin is something Dion is proud of.
This modern day apothecary and skincare foundry pride themselves on producing and delivering products built from the three main pillars: ritual, character and fate.
Their products aren’t tested on animals and for them, having a sustainable business is having a business that is rooted in integrity and honesty. Making clean, safe and efficient products that will truly make a difference, and creating a sustainable business rooted in a path of integrity and honesty is what Triumph & Disaster customers can count on. Dion believes this is the least customers deserve from the brands they support .
With a range of products from the Ritual Face Cleanser to the Gameface Moisturiser, the brand is full of personality and vibrancy. Here are a few of our favourite products:
Ponsonby Pomade
Sangre de cargo or ‘Dragon’s Blood’ is a natural tree resin and when paired with Harakeke (NZ Flax Oil), it helps to treat and balance the scalp. Another ingredient is Argan oil, which attacks split ends and promotes healthy hair growth. Ponsonby Pomade proves that a pomade can both style your hair but also protect it from any damage, using natural, active ingredients that leave the hair and scalp feeling healthy and clean. Plus, it’s water based so it can be easily washed out but is still weather resistant.
Ritual Face Cleanser
When it comes to your face, less is more. This cleanser doesn’t strip the skin of natural oils or protective qualities. Instead, the Ritual Face Cleanser has been formulated to avoid drying and irritation by using natural ingredients like Tamanu oil, Peppermint oil, Willow bark extract and Bentonite clay. The gentle natural, peppermint scented formulation is ideal for everyday use, and leaves skin feeling fresh and looking bright.
Old-Fashioned Shave Cream
The Old-Fashioned Shave Cream is a nice reminder that shaving is a skill passed down from generation to generation, like a good piece of advice. It encompasses a few things: ‘you’ time, preparation and a regular ritual, all of which are important to Triumph & Disaster. The product delivers a great shave, and evokes a sense of tradition and nostalgia.
Gameface Moisturiser
To serve and protect you from the elements, the Gameface Moisturiser is specifically made to be light on the skin and easily absorbed. With a unique formulation of Jojoba extract, Horopito oil, Ponga fern (Cuminigii) and Vitamin E, it delivers a fragrance they call ‘smoke and wood’. The result is a nutrient, hydrating cream, that leaves skin feeling toned, supple and fresh.