Plant-Powered Beauty

You will find herbs and spices in many of our beauty recipes: oils, cleansers, masks, scrubs, and gels. They can make up the bulk of a plant-based beauty recipe and offer a wide range of dynamic healing properties.

In our recipes, we use both fresh and dried herbs and spices, and we select them specifically with their therapeutic properties in mind. In some recipes, such as cleansers, scrubs, or masks, we use these materials directly, while in other recipes we use their infusions or extracts. Either way, we incorporate their therapeutic components into the recipe to support and enhance the effectiveness of the product.

For example, we may choose to use dried and ground calendula flowers in a facial mask to reduce inflammation and soothe irritation, while we may decide to use calendula-infused olive oil in a recipe for a facial serum for the same purpose: reducing inflammation and soothing irritation.

Herbs and spices can add great dimension to a recipe’s aroma and texture, as well as offer nutrients, minerals, and healing properties.

HERBS AND SPICES

CALENDULA /CALENDULA OFFICINALIS
	WHERE IT IS SOURCED	METHOD OF EXTRACTION
ALL SKIN TYPES PARTS USED: flowers COLOR: light yellow SHELF LIFE: 2 years SAFETY CONCERNS: none	grows well in warm, temperate climates	fresh flowers are picked and air dried on screens

HOW IT IS PROCESSED	HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES	THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
dried flowers are finely ground into a powder	rich in flavonoids	anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, wound healing, skin soothing

CHAMOMILE, GERMAN /MATRICARIA RECUTITA
	WHERE IT IS SOURCED	METHOD OF EXTRACTION
ALL SKIN TYPES PARTS USED: flowers COLOR: pale yellow SHELF LIFE: 2 years SAFETY CONCERNS: none	native to Eastern Europe; now grows abundantly in the US	fresh flowers are picked and air dried on screens

HOW IT IS PROCESSED	HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES	THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
dried flowers are finely ground into a powder	highly anti-inflammatory	anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antibacterial, soothing, calming

COMFREY /SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE
	WHERE IT IS SOURCED	METHOD OF EXTRACTION
ALL SKIN TYPES PARTS USED: leaves COLOR: green SHELF LIFE: 2 years SAFETY CONCERNS: avoid using on open wounds	hardy plant that is an annual and is able to grow anywhere; native to Europe	fresh leaves are harvested and air-dried on screens

HOW IT IS PROCESSED	HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES	THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
dried leaves are finely ground into a powder	rich in allantoin	wound healing, muscle relaxing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, astringent

FENNEL /FOENICULUM VULGARE
	WHERE IT IS SOURCED	METHOD OF EXTRACTION
ALL SKIN TYPES PARTS USED: seeds COLOR: gray SHELF LIFE: 2 years SAFETY CONCERNS: avoid during first trimester of pregnancy or while undergoing any estrogenic cancer treatment	hardy in mild climates and some cold climates, drought tolerant, able to grow in a variety of locations, native to southern Europe	flowers are collected as seeds become visible and dried until seeds shake away

HOW IT IS PROCESSED	HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES	THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
dried seeds are finely ground into a powder	rich in amino acids that strengthen blood and soothe digestive problems	anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, wound healing, skin soothing

GINGER /ZINGZIBER OFFICINALE
	WHERE IT IS SOURCED	METHOD OF EXTRACTION
ALL SKIN TYPES PARTS USED: roots COLOR: light gold SHELF LIFE: 2 years SAFETY CONCERNS: none	native to East Asia, now grown in warm subtropical areas	fresh roots are harvested and smaller root shoots are scraped away; roots are chopped into small pieces and dried on screens or dehydrated

HOW IT IS PROCESSED	HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES	THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
dried roots are chopped and finely ground into a powder	rich in antimicrobials and supports circulation	warming, cleansing, detoxifying, energizing, improves circulation, brightening

HERBS AND SPICES (CONTINUED)

LAVENDER /LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA
	WHERE IT IS SOURCED	METHOD OF EXTRACTION
ALL SKIN TYPES PARTS USED: flowers COLOR: pale lavender SHELF LIFE: 2 years SAFETY CONCERNS: none	native to the south of France; now grows in a variety of areas that can withstand heat and drought; some of our favorites are from Oregon, Canada, India, and the UK	fresh flower clusters are picked and air-dried on screens

HOW IT IS PROCESSED	HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES	THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
dried flowers are finely ground into a powder	anti-inflammatory and wound healing	anti-inflammatory, skin soothing, antibacterial, antiseptic, sedative

MATCHA /CAMELLIA SINENSIS
	WHERE IT IS SOURCED	METHOD OF EXTRACTION
ALL SKIN TYPES PARTS USED: leaves COLOR: bright green SHELF LIFE: 1 year (keep cool or refrigerated) SAFETY CONCERNS: none	Japan	Processing matcha has many steps: First the plant must be shaded for about 3 weeks before the new tender leaves can be picked, then once picked they are lightly steamed, and then sent through an air-drying machine, and the veins of the leaves are separated out. What remains then is ground into match powder.

HOW IT IS PROCESSED	HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES	THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
dried and ground	contains chlorophyll, antioxidants that combat free radical damage and oxidative stress to the skin, anti-inflammatory, cell regenerative	antioxidant, rejuvenating, brightening, energizing, balancing to skin’s own oil content, detoxifying, cleansing, excellent for sensitive and mature skin

MUSTARD /BRASSICA ALBA OR BRASSICA JUNCEA
	WHERE IT IS SOURCED	METHOD OF EXTRACTION
ALL SKIN TYPES PARTS USED: seeds COLOR: yellow or brown SHELF LIFE: 2 years SAFETY CONCERNS: none	native to the Himalayas; now grows in the US, the UK, Canada, and Denmark	flowers are collected as seeds become visible and dried until the seeds shake away

HOW IT IS PROCESSED	HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES	THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
dried seeds are finely ground into a powder	rich in antioxidants, brightening, boosts circulation, warming	wound healing, anti-inflammatory, cleansing, pain relieving, yellow mustard powders are more heating

TURMERIC /CURCUMA LONGA
	WHERE IT IS SOURCED	METHOD OF EXTRACTION
ALL SKIN TYPES PARTS USED: roots COLOR: bright orange SHELF LIFE: 2 years SAFETY CONCERNS: none	native to East Asia; now grown in warm subtropical areas	fresh roots are harvested and smaller root shoots are scraped away; roots are chopped into small pieces and dried on screens or dehydrated

HOW IT IS PROCESSED	HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES	THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
dried roots are chopped and finely ground into a powder	rich in curcumin, an antioxidant; anti-inflammatory and regenerative	anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, wound healing, balances oils in skin, brightening, evens out skin tone