I started dabbling in making my own herbal oils and salves way back in 2012 after I learned that pretty much everything you apply to your skin is eventually absorbed into your bloodstream. I did NOT want petroleum (the precursor to gasoline) in my blood.
Your skin has three major layers. The outer layer is basically the protective barrier, which is why it’s harder to cut into and takes more effort to rub moisture into. The second layer is the one that contains blood vessels and sweat glands, and the third layer holds fat cells and cushions your organs.
Your skin is thick enough that it repels water, so you’re not going to absorb the scum from that pond you went swimming in over summer. But a percentage of everything that goes in your skin is absorbed into it.
Parabens, Phthalates, and sometimes other chemical compounds are added to a formula mainly as preservatives. But these chemicals have been shown to disrupt the functioning of your body’s endocrine system, which is the system that creates hormones.
I didn’t want my children being exposed to these chemicals and having their tiny developing bodies compromised. SO many of our body’s daily functions (waking sleeping, hunger, growing, menstruation, sexual desire, and more) are controlled by our endocrine system.
Most store-bought lotions, creams, and soaps are water-based. The company likes to market this as “pH balanced,” but literally all that means is “we added water to this.”
While you may think this is good, because water is safe, the problem here is that these cosmetics companies also add “penetration enhancers.”
Enter penetration enhancers, which are ingredients like certain alcohols or fatty acids (such as linoleic and oleic acid) that enhance the chances of another ingredient’s penetrability. Think of it like bringing a friend to a party where they’re not invited. “These ingredients penetrate the skin and decrease the skin’s innate barrier resistance. In doing so, they allow other ingredients to enter along with them.” [source]
What I want you to do is think about ANYTHING that you put on your skin. Soap, lotion, lip balm, ointment, perfume, makeup. Even the soaps that you wash your clothes and your dishes in (because yes, those get into your skin too!)
How much of what you use daily contains petroleum-based chemicals or synthetic preservatives?
I’m not great at making my own lotions and when I try, I don’t like to put preservatives in it so it only really lasts two or three weeks. Lotion is basically made by combining and whipping water with oils and in order to keep it from getting moldy you need to add something to prevent that.
I will admit that I buy hand lotion in the winter time. I do my best to buy handmade lotions from small crafters, but I have also bought Everyone brand and it’s probably the cleanest one I have bought from a store.
My favorite thing to apply to my skin, though, is an infused oil. I make my own herbal infused oils using high quality olive oil and herbs that I grow here on my small farm or forage in the woods nearby. Olive oil contains antioxidants and can also help reduce scar tissue. It is an excellent natural moisturizer and accepts the medicinal constituents of many herbs very easily.
If I want an oil for my face, though, I look for something non-comedogenic like Argan oil or Hemp Seed oil. My Aging Face Oil is what I use on my face every morning is made with Argan oil and several specific essential oils with anti-aging effects.
Now, when you combine infused herbal oils (like calendula, plantain, or comfrey) with beeswax in a double boiler, you create an herbal salve. Not only is beeswax a natural byproduct from the beekeeping industry, it has actually been proven to support your natural skin barrier, which protects the inner layers of your skin from the chemicals that are being absorbed from other places.
Here’s one of the first oil-based products I ever sold, way back from 2015:
This wasn’t even an infused oil but it worked great on my own dry, cracked feet so I started making it and selling it at craft fairs.
It honestly took me a solid seven years of studying before I finally unlocked the secret to crafting super-strong infused oils. SO many people online were over-simplifying it and leaving critical pieces out! That’s what I make now and what I teach you how to make in my Remedies From Nature online herbalism class, which is part of my Become a Bio-Regional Herbalist course bundle.
Nowadays I craft powerful herbal infused oils like my Comfrey oil or Birch oil and blend them into healing salves and other remedies in my Online Shop. I worked hard to get my Cosmetics Manufacturing License so I can now sell these products in stores across the country.
Now you understand why I do what I do and why I want to help you escape the toxins in your everyday products. And even if you don’t ever buy anything from me, the fact that you’re on your own journey creating non-toxic products sets you apart from the millions of people who never even think to do so.
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