A few weeks ago, we wrote about the benefits of AHAs, aka alpha hydroxy acid, for the skin. This week we’re visiting a similar topic—beta hydroxy acids. This week’s blog post will hopefully clear up some questions you may be having. What are the differences between AHAs and BHAs? What are the different (and similar) skin care benefits? Where does BHA even come from?    Read on and we’ll answer all these questions and more.      What are Beta Hydroxy Acids - BHAs?    This you probably know already: beta- and alpha- are both forms of hydroxy acids, a natural ..read more

Vitamin C is one of the most well-known essential vitamins. This water-soluble vitamin is important for the growth and development of our bodies, is a household cure for the common cold, and it’s also amazing for your skin.      The basics of vitamin C    According to health professionals, while vitamin C (also known as L-ascorbic acid) is an essential nutrient for humans, our bodies aren’t able to synthesize it for ourselves. This means that all the vitamin C in our bodies needs to come from outside sources.    For more people, we get vitamin C through our ..read more

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are a group of commonly-used acids. This set of acids are used across skincare products. However, alpha hydroxy acids also have quite the intimidating name, and unless you’ve done research on your own, you may not know what these acids are or what they do. Today we’re going to unveil the origins and benefits of alpha hydroxy acids for you.        What are AHAs and where do they come from?    Alpha hydroxy acids are chemical exfoliators that can be either plant-based or derived from animal products. Scientifically speaking, they are a ca ..read more

Face oils are an amazing staple for your skin care routine all year round, but they’re even more amazing and beneficial in the colder months. There are face oils for every kind of skin type and improvement area, and on top of that, they can make the transition through seasons easier on your skin.      Why use face oils Don’t let the term “oil” scare you—face oils won’t break you out. Face oils are made to work with your skin's natural oils (like sebum); a clean face oil complements your skin’s natural makeup while utilizing other oils from natural sources.  Our Facial Reco ..read more

You may have seen this treatment advertised at a nearby spa, but a lymphatic massage of your face is something that’s very doable in your own home—every night! Sometimes called a “mini face-lift,” this facial massage has all kinds of benefits for your complexion.      What is the lymphatic system?    Let’s start at the basics—the lymphatic system is part of your body’s complicated internal systems, tissues, and organs. Specifically, it’s part of your body’s natural defenses in the immune system.    What your lymphatic system does, is filter your blood to det ..read more

While you may not be able to go to a spa right now, there are still ways to pamper your skin at home with a little DIY. All you need to create at-home spa is a little creativity. Cooling compresses, face steaming, and even massages can all be made using common household ingredients.    Set the tone with aromatherapy  One of the best things about spas is how good they smell. Spas often use essential oil diffusers, incense, or other means to create a relaxing, soothing atmosphere through aromatherapy. This is a holistic healing practice that has deep historical roots across the wo ..read more

Sandalwood essential oil may be a favorite scent to put in your diffuser, but it’s also a potent skin care ingredient. We use it in our Facial Recovery Elixir, where it works double-duty for its marvelous natural scent and anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties.  Let’s dive deep on this therapeutic oil in today’s ingredient spotlight.      The basics  Sandalwood oil comes from the plant of the same name, which is a slow-growing tree of the genus Santalum. trees are native to warm places of the Southern Hemisphere, including India and Africa. Sandalwood is a hardw ..read more

Your skin's microbiome. Although it might sound very technical, it’s actually pretty simple once you get past the fancy name. You may have seen mentions of your body’s microbiome in relation to everything from your skin care to kombucha. So what is it, and how to improve it? That’s the topic for this week’s blog post.      Basics of your microbiome   Let’s start at the very beginning: what even is your microbiome? In simpler terms, it’s all the genetic material of bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc, that live inside your body. But, they aren’t your body’s naturally produci ..read more

The jojoba plant may be an unassuming desert shrub, but it’s also one of the best clean skin care ingredients on the market. This natural oil (technically a wax) packs all kinds of benefits not just for your skin, but for your hair as well. Jojoba oil is one of the ingredients in our Deeply Cleansing Milk, a cleanser that doesn’t just remove dirt and excess oil, but also helps to lock in moisture and repair damage. That’s where jojoba oil shines.   Like we always do with our ingredient spotlights, it’s time to take a deep dive on the benefits of jojoba oil for skin.    &nb ..read more

Is anyone else intimidated by the ‘beauty tools’ section of the beauty isle? These days it seems like there are so many pliers, rollers, and sponges to choose from. Fortunately for you, we’ve picked out some of our favorite (and we think best) body and skin care tools on the market.    Face Rollers   There are two big players in the land of facial rollers: jade and rose quartz. Both are great, but have different benefits and are best for different kinds of people.    The use of jade in skincare (and general health and wellness) is a practice that dates back to ancient ..read more