We use caffeine for its powerful natural anti-inflammatory properties, to help reduce puffiness and improve circulation . Chock full of antioxidants caffeine also helps prevent free radical damage, reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

A heady, resinous flower from the marigold family. Calendula is, in our opinion, the most powerful of all the skin-repairing herbs or flowers. It is used to promote fast-healing of wounds, scars or burns, including those produced by laser surgery. We use Calendula oil as a base for most of our skin creams, oils, salves and lotions. We find this bright golden flower to be nature’s number one herb for restoring and restructuring damaged, aging or loose skin.

Derived from the fruit of an evergreen tree and known for its value in treating colds, chills, and inflammatory complaints, as well as for relieving skin irritations. In cases of nervous excitement, it has a soothing and quieting result. In the case of insect bites, camphor cools and numbs the area, relieving itch.

Carrot Seed Oil contains over 600 identified carotenoids, making this a powerful source of antioxidants with extraordinary benefits to help restore tone and elasticity to skin as it ages.

Recognized as safe and effective by the FDA, this medicinal oil is derived from the castor bean (although not in the bean family) and has been chronicled in ancient texts as the “oil that heals”. In skincare Castor Oil is used to “break up” pockets of congestion, allowing for increased circulation, while the oil penetrates tissue, evening skin tone and deeply nourishing the skin. Castor oil is also known in herbal traditions for encouraging healthy growth of eyelashes and eyebrows.

Used in skincare and soap making for its its mild astringent and antiseptic qualities, cedarwood oil has an enlivening, stimulating effect on the system.

A soothing, calming herb with anti-inflammatory properties. High in azulene, it is known to be an anti-allergenic agent and is therefore excellent for reducing puffiness on delicate or sensitive tissue.

This moisturizing oil contains natural antioxidants, alpha, delta and gamma tocopherols plus vitamins A + E that deeply nourish the complexion. It also contains a fatty linolenic acid that helps protect tissue from UV absorption by forming a barrier on the surface of the skin, offering protection from environmental damage.

Known as liquid sunshine, liquid Chlorophyll is nontoxic and soothing to tissue. A natural oxygenator, drawing and holding oxygen to the skin, this settling natural agent of purification is also a natural deodorizer when used on the body.

The oil in cinnamon is a type of phenol, which is an antifungal and antibacterial. It also contains properties that serve as stimulants, helping to produce heat and increase circulation when the herb is applied externally in massage. A powerfully fragrant spice used to invigorate the senses and circulation.

With a light citrus scent, Citronella is pleasant to humans but unbearable to insects, making it THE insect repelling oil. When combined in a light organic carrier oil with other essential oils like eucalyptus and rosemary, citronella can be applied safely to skin to provide a protective shield, acting as a powerful deterrent to insect bites.

Viewed by aromatherapists as an antidepressant, nervine, sedative tonic, Clary Sage is thought to provide a mild euphoric action, encouraging deep sleep and prophetic dreaming.

Long used to treat fungal infections—the kind that impact nail beds, cuticles and feet—clove is an antibacterial as well. It has powerful local antiseptic and mild anesthetic actions, and recently scientific researchers have discovered what traditionalists have known for centuries, that like many spices, clove contains antioxidants to help prevent cell damage.

Coconut oil is full of fatty acids and used in skincare and soap making for its cleansing strength, while offering protective barrier to moisture loss.

Precisely that: meal made from corn, and used traditionally as a gentle exfoliate. This age old method of removing dry, flaky surface skin is highly effective. Each grain of cornmeal is a soft, round granule, unlike salt crystals with their jagged edge that can be irritating to the skin. The rolling of each grain on the skin during external application not only exfoliates and stimulates circulation, it feels wonderfully invigorating to the entire system.

A fine grade powder derived from corn. It is moisture absorbing, yet emollient, and not at all drying to the skin. A perfect replacement in clean products for the toxic ingredient talc.

Full of inflammation-fighting vitamin C and caffeic acid, cucumber is a skin nutrient known to help rejuvenate the complexion. Soothing and cooling to skin, cucumber helps reduce swelling, and alleviates puffiness.

The natural alpha hydroxy action in dried powdered milk’s lactic acid is known for its revitalizing effects on the complexion. Gentle yet thoroughly exfoliating while infusing tissue with healthy carbs and fats that help with elasticity.

Known for treating minor aches and pains, soreness, stiff joints and sunburn, Epsom salts are magnesium sulfate flakes that when absorbed through the skin in bath soaks, helps reduce skin irritations, inflammation and stress.

Best known as a decongestant and inhalation oil for colds. Less known, Eucalyptus is highly valued for its bactericidal action. It also relieves nasal congestion and has an analgesic effect when applied topically to treat muscle aches.

With a camphoraceous odor and a sweet, citronella scent, this oil layers well with citronella to help keep bugs at bay.

Full of natural oils rich in gamma linoleic acid and omega fatty acids, Evening Primrose helps rejuvenate the skin. An unrefined organic oil, Evening Primrose retains most all of its nutrients, making it a star delivery system in skincare to restore and sustain skin health.

Used in herbal teas and compresses for centuries to treat eyestrain, puffiness and eye redness due to fatigue, environmental irritants, allergies or overuse. As nerves in the eyes relax and are strengthened, there is less strain and, thus, less tendency to squint or rub the eyes, behaviors that both contribute to fine lines and inflammation.

French Green Clay is also called Sea Clay or Marine Clay as its quarries are often found in ancient sea/marine beds. Like all clays, it is a naturally occurring, mineral-rich element that attaches itself to oils, bacteria and impurities, making it a powerful extraction agent to help remove impurities from hair and skin. Clays are also known for their ability to increase circulation, helping the body repair damaged tissue and cells.

We use geranium in our skincare preparations for its ability to balance sebum production. It is antiseptic and astringent on both excessively dry and excessively oily skin, a balancing super-power that makes geranium uniquely effective in maintaining skin’s natural pH and overall skin health.

One of the best of the heat-producing essential oils, Ginger is a spice known to increase circulation when used in topical preparations. Ginger is an excellent aroma therapeutic herb that helps strengthen the respiratory system, helping to fight off colds as it relieves congestion, soothes sore throats, and alleviates headaches & body aches.

A gentle, natural surfactant, that adds “slip” to natural products. Derived from sugarcane and used in skincare to help remove excess oil without drying tissue. This delicate cleansing agent is used in natural formulas in place of the drying synthetic, petroleum-based surfactants most often found in conventional skincare products.

A thick syrupy substance naturally derived from non-GMO vegetable oil. Used as a humectant in skincare, glycerin attracts moisture from the air and binds it to the skin’s surface, providing a protective barrier to moisture loss while leaving a dewy, “glistening” appearance to the skin.

High in Vitamin C and known to offer valuable protection against unhealthy bacteria, Grapefruit is used to clarify and balance an oilier complexion. Grapefruit is also known for its aroma-therapeutic benefits to uplift and restore a positive outlook to a system that is run down, exhausted or stressed.

This natural seed oil is a high in vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant which helps in the maintenance of healthy skin by eliminating harmful free radicals. Deeply moisturizing and protective, Grapeseed is a perfect oil for treating tender tissue around the eyes.

Rich in omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids, Hemp has a full amino acid spectrum and a high mineral content, making it divinely nourishing to skin. Hemp Seed Oil closely matches our own skin’s lipids, which allows the essential fatty acids to be readily absorbed and quickly utilized to nourish the skin.

The last compound extracted from the hive, honey absolute is the essential oil obtained from the hive once all other compounds have been harvested (ethically). Possessing a rich, round aroma, this viscous, dark substance is used to bind scents in many “perfumes”, but it is most beloved for it contributions to hydrate, plump and condition the skin, imparting a subtle healthy glow.

A mild, fine natural exfoliate, powdered honey has all the skin benefits of honey to protect the skin from moisture loss, while offering a mechanical exfoliating action for removing dull skin cells.

Jasmine flowers are used in perfumery, skincare, sacred ceremonies, horticulture and culinary traditions all over the world. This beautiful, night-blooming flower produces an essential oil that is both exquisitely floral and grounded in a botanical earthiness. We use jasmine essential oil in our products for its ability to soften and warm the complexion while imparting a confident, sensual scent.

A natural oil, high in Vit E, and derived from the native shrub, Jojoba that grows in the southwestern US. Known as a powerful humectant, holding moisture to the skin and an antioxidant, acting as a protective barrier from bacteria. This combination of benefits makes Jojoba noncomedogenic and very useful in skincare products created for those with more troubled, acneic or oily complexions.

Considered one of the milder clays, Kaolin Clay is a naturally occurring, mineral-rich element that attaches itself to oils, bacteria and impurities, making it a powerful extraction agent to purify hair and skin. Clays are also known for their ability to increase circulation, helping the body repair damaged tissue and cells. This naturally occurring clay is a gentle purging agent that also offers mild exfoliation.

One of the more versatile essential amino acids, L-arginine is used in skincare to boost collagen, increase skin hydration and help protect skin from free radical damage. Derived from dairy and known to increase blood flow to tissue, this ingredient has many “antiaging” benefits to support sustained skin health, texture and tone.

An organic acid extracted from a natural fermentation process involving vegetables, this is a vegan compliant ingredient. A natural, nonabrasive acid that dissolves dead surface cells, revealing soft fresh skin optimal for moisture absorption.
Note: lactic acid is also found in whole fermented dairy products, but this extracted, isolated ingredient is derived from fermented vegetables.

Lavender is an herb that is frequently found in treatment products for the skin. Uses range from a decongestant and astringent, to a relaxant. Its versatility is due to the complexity of the herb’s chemistry and its numerous active constituents. It is an antibacterial agent, stimulates skin renewal, and assists in restoring one’s natural balance of oil production. It also relaxes sore, exhausted muscles and soothes emotional tension. Lavender is best summed up as calming, soothing and, above all, a balancing, aromatic herb.

A natural compound derived from sunflower seeds, lecithin is a natural surfactant known for its ability to lower surface tension of a liquid, allowing easy spreading (or “slip” as it is known in skincare), making a product glide over the skin when applied externally.

Known as “liquid sunshine” the aromatherapeutic properties of lemon help to relieve mental exhaustion, boost self-esteem and improve concentration. The oil of lemons are also used to help defend the body against infections, as it is a powerful natural bacteriacide. Very useful in skincare to help refresh and brighten dull skin.

Lemon Balm is in the mint family and is known for cooling and restoring a depleted, exhausted system… not the kind of exhaustion that comes from exercise, sport or physical exertion, but the kind that comes when one is overextended, anxious or unable to sleep due to prolonged periods of mental or emotional “selflessness.” This is a powerful remedy to use when mothering a newborn, dealing with a stressful emotional situation, or taking care of the sick or elderly.

A scented grass known for refreshing and deodorizing skin, and also for its antiseptic properties to help keep skin healthy and clean. Of all the lemon-scented oils, lemongrass has an uplifting sunny scent that humans love, but insects not so much, making it a great ingredient for warmer climates and for use in summertime.

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant natural root extract from the flowering licorice plant. Helps even skin tone, reduce hyper- pigmentation and discoloration of tissue.

Known as a natural astringent, lime has skin health benefits similar to lemon, but also contains additional antioxidants that enhances the antiseptic properties.

Menthol is dried Peppermint essential oil and is a soothing compound derived from the peppermint plant. If used in small amounts, menthol generates a cool heat, activated by the friction of “rubbing,” which works to soothe and release muscles tight from overexertion or inactivity. Menthol also releases a vapor, making it desirable for use in easing upper respiratory ailments, sinus infection or congestion.

The word “mica” is derived from the Latin word micare, meaning “glittering”, which is in reference to the brilliant appearance of this naturally occurring mineral. We use it to add shimmer and shine to tissue when applied externally, creating a healthy glow.

Effective ingredient when infused in massage oil to treat cases of dry scalp or eczema, cradle cap in babies. Nettle has been long used to help stimulate new hair growth on men and women experiencing thinning hair and/or balding. Great for use on beards to moisturize and condition the skin, keeping them soft and healthy.

Nigella Sativa, also known as Love-in-a-Mist, is a delicate, flowering plant from the buttercup family (Ranunculacea). The intense black seeds found in the flower have been harvested and used throughout the ages as flower symbolism and in spiritual botany. Nigella represents love, harmony and the bonds that bind people together.
Nigella is also used as a medicinal for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties.

A skin calming ingredient that inhibits irritation and the associated discomforts, as with sunburns or hormonal fluxuations, helping ease associated redness, splotchiness and inflammation. Overall this soothing, protective ingredient will settle even the most inflamed skin conditions, helping even skin tone and restoring elasticity to depleted or dehydrated tissue.

Pure, unrefined, cold-pressed, organic olive oil is rich in antioxidants, and vitamins A + E. Using olive oil in skincare serves to seal in moisture, and nourishes tissue for soft, supple skin. Much the same in haircare, Olive Oil has been used for centuries to add strength, softness and shine, while smoothing course or frizzy hair, helping restore a healthy soft look to your locks.

Orange is known for its ability to help maintain skin health and vibrancy by helping increase blood flow to brighten the skin while reducing inflammation. The antiseptic properties of Orange help restore balance to oilier complexions, while aroma- therapeutic benefits help brighten the mood, imparting a sense of jollity to the spirits.

A hauntingly beautiful flower, valued in skincare for its ability to stimulate healthy new skin cells, offering a skin rejuvenating effect for effective age management. The aroma-therapeutic properties of this gentle, precious oil help to treat anxiety and alleviate the impact of stressful situations on the mind and body.

A vitamin-rich natural wax found in the rind of oranges that protects the fruit against the environment while allowing it to breathe and maintain its essential water balance. We use this intelligent ingredient for the very same reason: to benefit the skin and aid in repairing cells, rebalancing dryness and protecting against environmental pollutants that can damage delicate tissue.

Palm oil is used in artisan soap making for its unique ability to harden the bars and create soft, hydrating lather when combined with coconut oil. Our supplier is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.

We use powdered organic paprika in our handmade Rainwater Bath & Beauty Bars to enhance the sensual experience of the soap, by adding natural color to texture and scent. Paprika has been used for centuries as a fail-safe alternative to artificial dyes. Its deep, rich shade of orange visually supports a fragrant herbal bathing experience.

Cools the skin, relieves the discomforts of heat rash, reduces the itch and sting of insect bites, and overall stimulates circulation, while acting as a purifying agent to keep skin clean and healthy. The menthol in the leaf and oil provides relief and refreshment to most skin irritations, and the sinus relieving vapors ease a congested nose.

A solid circulatory agent derived from the needles of Pine trees, this is a very effective oil to help ease muscular aches and neuralgia. Its also used in herbalism for its properties as a pulmonary antiseptic, making it useful in steam inhalation, or hot soaks to release the volatile vapors that help ease upper respiratory congestion.

Iron, potassium, magnesium and calcium are just a few of the many minerals found in pink salts. Purifying, skin softening, and relaxing to tight or tense muscles.

We use whole organic poppyseeds in our handmade Rainwater Bath & Beauty Bars to up the manual exfoliation benefits to help remove dry, rough skin. By adding poppyseeds as a natural abrasive, the soap becomes a fragrant exfoliating bar to gently but thoroughly clean the skin.

Our artisanal soaps are made with frozen rain collected in early spring then melted, carefully filtered and purified. Rinsing with rainwater has been a beauty tradition for generations in most every culture. Unlike hard water that can leave deposits, rainwater acts as a buffering agent in soap, leaving skin soft, silky smooth, and squeaky clean.

Rapeseed Wax is the preferred wax of traditional French candle makers and is the wax we used to craft our Midnight Absolute Candle. Rapeseed is a yellow flowering plant with its seeds being the source of the oil that is used to make the wax. Possessing its own flowery, soft sweet scent profile, rapeseed wax mingles beautifully with essential oils. It also has a longer burning time than other waxes, and releases more and slowly and gradually, creating a calming, relaxing atmosphere.

Roses are known for providing nourishment to the skin with qualities that are entirely feminine. Its complex chemistry makes rose a cleansing, purifying, regulating tonic, excellent for treating dry, sensitive or aging skin. Rose is known to diminish redness on the face caused by enlarged capillaries, helping settle the skin and restoring texture and tone.

Helps to balance the secretion of sebum, serving imbalanced complexions (i..e. congested, troubled complexions). The antiseptic properties in this lively fragranced oil support ongoing good skin health.

Rosehips are the accessory fruit of the rose plant that forms. After pollination of roses in spring, they ripen and are harvested in late summer through fall, when they are at their peak of nutritional content. Containing 60 times as much Vitamin C as oranges, ground organic Rosehips provide a powerful natural dose of Vit C and the essential fatty acid, GLA. Both of these key antioxidants are needed to restore and protect delicate facial tissue from environmental damage that weakens and ages the skin.

After lavender, rosemary is probably the most important plant used in multiple ways as a therapeutic. It is heat-producing and improves circulation but it is also widely used in aromatherapy to “clear the head”, helping with mental clarity and improving memory and recall. Overall this is a most excellent ingredient to use in external applications to relax and reset an imbalanced system.

Fresh and delicately scented, rosewater has soothing, cooling, anti-inflammatory properties making it a gentle antiseptic and mild astringent for use in skincare. Rosewater can be used safely on even the most sensitive skin, and is one of the only ingredients recommended for use as a toner for drier complexions.

Rosewood essential oil is known as an effective, yet mild antiseptic and antibacterial with properties to help balance oily or acne prone skin that is also very sensitive. Valued for its ability to benefit the skin, it is also known in aroma-therapy to help uplift those who feel dragged down by life. Some consider this oil an aroma-therapeutic oil for the soul.

Sage, who’s name is derived from the Latin word for “salvation”, has a unique composition making it a superior healing herb with many uses and benefits. We use sage for its ability to reduce perspiration and eliminate odors, making it nature’s perfect deodorant.

Natural seawater dried into crystals and used topically in soaks to remineralize the body, and soften the skin. Often used in herbal formulation to help stabilize dry products, adding to the shelf life.

A saltwater sea plant, harvested in Maine and brimming with health-enhancing minerals like iodine, calcium, zinc, copper and vitamin c. Seaweed activates with warm water in skincare products, to absorbed through the skin, mimicking the benefits of a dip in the sea.

A delicious organic nut butter known to reinforce and maintain skin’s natural moisture barrier. Filled with essential fatty acids and other natural lipid compounds, Shea Butter provides prolonged protection to moisture loss, keeping skin soft and supple.

Our ethically harvested Silk Powder contains 18 different amino acids, all from the cocoon of the silk worm, and all have a chemical composition that is very close to that of human skin and hair, making them a wonderful source of nourishment and maintenance.

A mineral that is mined and used in a number of consumer products as the trigger for a chemical reaction with beeswax; it is this reaction that binds ingredients together—natural playdough for children uses borax for this purpose which speaks to the safety of the ingredient. We use borax as a natural emulsifier in our creams and lotions to bind the formulation and prevent separation. It also gives lotion and cream a beautiful weight and “body.”

Solar salt is produced by the action of sun & wind on seawater in natural salt lakes & oceans. The water evaporates in successive ponds until salt crystallizes on the floor of the “ponds”, where it is harvested. They are known for their remineralizing, water-softening properties, yielding the perfect environment for a therapeutic salt bath.

One of the high cosmetic grade carrier oils. Especially chosen here for its softening, uncomplicated chemistry, light enough for massage, and safe for those with nut allergies. Very emollient, very soothing.

A super-light oil, high in Vit A , E, B, lecithin and carotenoids, that absorbs quickly, thoroughly moisturizing skin, without leaving an oily sheen on the skin.

The benefits never end with Almond Oil. A light, odorless, high-grade fruit kernel oil that contains anti-inflammatory, antioxidant compounds, vitamin D, E and various minerals that help protect skin from UV damage and help restore skins moisture barrier.

Using Tansy in window boxes was ancient practice, and when planted with other insect repelling herbs prevented insects from flying into the cottage. Tansy’s natural scent and pretty yellow flowers are welcome by humans, but are absolutely repugnant to bugs, who are averse to the same volatile oils that we admire, We use Tansy for the same purpose in our Tansynella, helping to create a natural, safe, nontoxic barrier between you and the insect kingdom.

Tea Tree is best known as a powerful immune stimulant, helping fight infections due to bacteria making it useful in both skin and hair treatments. We use Tea Tree for its brilliance in combatting blackheads, acne, and oily skin.

A potent antifungal, antimicrobial and disinfectant herb. Valued when used as a preventive for keeping skin irritations at bay.

Known as the oil of tranquility, Vetiver is deeply relaxing and valuable in skincare for its ability to help balance a system under stress or in times of anxiety or insomnia.

Used to stabilize all of our natural non-aqueous formulations. Vitamin e also has the added benefit of restoring skin’s elasticity, assisting in the healing of scars. Derived from non GMO soybeans.

Pumice powder is made from a kind of rock that is formed when a volcano erupts. Pumice is finely milled for use in skincare as it is an excellent manual exfoliant that both cleanses and polishes the skin, leaving complexion visibly refreshed and refined.

In skincare, watercress has been shown to boost collagen production, helping firm and tone tissue. It is also full of vitamin c and d and many other nutrients that help build strength and firmness in thin or sensitive tissue.

High content of antioxidant compounds found in willow bark have a major impact on the health of the skin, helping to increase blood flow to tissue, delivering antioxidants to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and discoloration.

Witch Hazel is one of nature’s most useful herbs. Distilled from the root, twigs and leaves, Witch Hazel is a familiar shrubby tree on the American landscape. It is used effectively as a skin tonic, making it a perfect natural astringent, excellent for toning, especially on skin beginning to slack. Use to thoroughly cleanse the skin as an antiseptic to promote healing. Note: Our Witch Hazel is distilled using grain-based alcohol vs the synthetic alcohols commonly used in ingredient distillations. This is important to ensure our products containing this ingredient are super-skin softening vs drying. In fact, natural Witch Hazel is revered in herbal skincare for its ability to soften and firm the skin.

A natural carbohydrate derived from corn and used in our preparations as the natural thickening agent. This is a food grade ingredient available in most health food stores.

Yarrow is a common plant with multiple uncommon properties. Known as a catalyst herb, it compounds the benefits of all other herbs in a formulation. But what makes this herb especially remarkable and relevant for use today, is its ability to realign the body’s energetic field. Static energy fatigue can result from hours in front of electronic screens and iPhones. Yarrow releases static energy, restoring a calm, even balance to the system- such an important part of attaining deep, restorative rest.