How I Use Fruits (and a Vegetable) in My Skincare Products The ingredients I use in my skincare products are all natural, and come from a variety of plant sources: bark, distilled hydrosols from flowers and plants, oils pressed from nuts and seeds, and extracts or oils from fruit itself. Nearly all of my products…
White Willow
W is for White Willow I sometimes wonder how we became convinced that artificial ingredients, fragrances, and chemicals were a good idea to put on our skin. After all, people have been turning to plants for both beauty and medicinal reasons for thousands of years with great success. I’m so happy to see the tide…
L is for Lemon Verbena (Hydrosol)
There is nothing quite like the boost from the scent of citrus. It’s a summery scent but almost more impactful in the darker winter months. Lemon verbena brings me there, as well – but did you know that it isn’t a citrus fruit, but a leafy plant often used in cooking? This super-fragrant herb has…
R is for Rosehip Seed Oil
Rosehip seed oil is my very first love in plant oils, but I didn’t quite realize the full scope of my love until I sat down to write this: you can find it in nearly all of my moisturizers, including the tinted ones. In fact, I think only frankincense beats rosehip seed oil in terms…
M is for Mango Butter
When formulating my skincare products, a lot of thought goes into the ingredients that I choose. I want to incorporate the least amount of ingredients while creating a supportive, effective product that is wonderful to use; and of course the ingredients must be ethically and organically produced. Mango butter is one of the perfect ingredients…
S is for Shea Butter
Nourishing Shea Butter I love how nature provides all of the things we need to support our body, including our skin. There’s no reason we need to use chemically altered, designed, or toxic products to have radiant, healthy skin; especially when you have shea butter. It’s chemical composition gives our skin what it needs to…
S is for Starflower (Borage)
Starflower is a common name for borage, a Mediterranean plant that grows happily almost everywhere, including on the coast of British Columbia. Bees and hummingbirds love to visit its blue star-shaped flowers, which are edible and have a delicate honey flavour. Their most unique feature, however, is that the seeds of this pretty plant contain…
A is for Avocado Oil
We eat a LOT of avocados in my household. In smoothies, on toast and I recently discovered grilling them on the BBQ – trust me, try it! However, the avocado isn’t just tasty and full of healthy fats for our insides; it’s oil is also good for us on the outside. Avocado Oil to Heal…
J is for Jojoba
J is for Jojoba (“ho-ho-ba”) Why do I use this ingredient so much? Other than simply being fun to say, jojoba mimics our own skin’s natural oils; this means it’s both supportive and restorative when it comes to skincare. What is Jojoba Oil? Jojoba oil is actually a wax ester that is produced from…
Beautiful Balancing Lavender
Beautiful, Balancing Lavender I have to admit, when I see those tiny, light purple lavender buds start to appear in my garden, I get excited. There is even more anticipation this year, as I have a good-sized plot of lavender that is destined for my still to make lavender hydrosol. The hydrosol and/or lavender essential…