As soon as I learned about a skin care company that was totally organic and whole plant sourced I got very excited. Then I started reading more and more about Laurel Skin and fell even deeper in love. Not only are the products beautiful, they are created with such brilliant care. Laurel pays attention to every little detail, holds firmly to her extremely high standards when it comes to the quality of the ingredients and is a huge wealth of knowledge about plant medicine and how we can utilize it to heal our skin! I am thrilled to be partnered with Laurel Skin and can’t wait for you to experience the magic of organic whole plant skincare. All the Laurel products will be available for purchase in studio and will be featured during your Wholelistic Transcendence Signature Treatment.
“Sourcing determines how effective a formula will be and the carbon footprint we have on our planet. Sourcing defines who we are as a company, and in many ways defines who I am as a human being – I can’t imagine anything more important to both the heart and science of our formulas than sourcing.”
Sourcing is something I have been paying more and more attention to. You can find very inexpensive “natural” products on any shelf and it really begs the question; why is it so cheap? The quality of the ingredients that go into our products and how those individual ingredients are handled is just as important as what ingredients we are avoiding. Have you experienced the difference between a fresh carrot from the farm market and one from the grocery store? The bright crisp “aliveness” of the fresh carrot that traveled a very short distance from ground to your kitchen vs the less energetically charged store bought one is undeniable. Are both carrots good for you? Sure! But, if given the option, I want the most medicine for my skin! Here’s a little more about Laurel Skin:
Headquartered in Sausalito with views of the San Francisco Bay, Laurel’s Lab sits nestled in a corner studio, tucked away from the bustling activity on Bridgeway. With several organic and Biodynamic® farms within 100 miles of her Lab, Laurel’s namesake line captures California’s hearty terrain and natural abundance in each and every bottle. In the practice and disciple of Slow Beauty, Laurel relies on her own manufacturing and production capabilities.
it starts with the seed.
In the Winter, Laurel meets with their partnering farms to discuss how much plant material they project for the year ahead. With over 150 plants in the line, this is no small feat, and under or over-projecting can mean significant loss for both farm and brand. Luckily, because many farms are local to the Bay Area, Laurel meets on their land to cultivate close relationships and develop a clear understanding of the conditions, capacity, and culture of the farm. For the few ingredients that thrive in tropical climates, Laurel sources from overseas and is in constant communication with the growers and artisan purveyors throughout the growing season.
After harvesting the plants, the materials arrive to Laurel’s Lab in raw form and are lovingly assessed. Laurel’s sommelier nose is the true test for each and every ingredient that enters the Lab. With skill and swiftness, she can decipher the year of harvest, harvesting conditions, storing conditions, processing conditions, and of course adulteration, with just one whiff.
Other than its odor, a telltale sign of purity and quality is color. While cosmetic suppliers offer botanical extracts that are clear or white, indicating a lack of antioxidant potency, Laurel’s ingredients produce a rich palette of vibrant hues. Their unwavering commitment to purity and quality ensures that pre-preserved, chemically refined, or otherwise compromised ingredients are unwelcome in Laurel’s Lab.
As plant materials are exposed to light, heat, and oxygen, the antioxidants within them begin to turn into free radicals, thus losing potency. This degradation process is inevitable for all plant ingredients, but the degree to which these materials maintain their integrity through strict quality control is what sets Laurel apart. This is often overlooked or under-regulated by cosmetic suppliers and product manufacturers. Laurel’s in-house manufacturing guarantees the most stringent oversight to ensure the freshest, most efficacious products for your skin.
I hope you get the chance to experience the magic medicine in this line soon. Come in for a Transcendence Signature Treatment for all the whole plant love!
xo