This is not an exhaustive list of every ingredient that we use by any means but we’re adding to it all the time. It gives a bit of background about the ingredient and an insight into why we use a particular ingredient for a formulation and if there is a special oil that you love, this list is useful for showing you some of the key products to find it in. Happy reading!
This list is broken into three categories:
- Essential Oils
- Special Oils, Butters and Waxes
- Everything Else
Essential oils
Bergamot Essential Oil
This green oil is obtained by pressing the peel of a green bitter orange that grows mainly in California. It is antiseptic, deodorising, slightly astringent and healing for wounds. There are a whole host of skin complaints that Bergamot Oil is used for from greasy skin and hair to blisters and scars and eczema to acne. It also has the unusual ability to tan the skin, like all citrus oils and increases sensitivity to light so should be used with care in strong sunlight.
You can find Bergamot Essential oil in
Black Pepper Essential Oil
Black Pepper essential oil has a fresh, dry, woody fragrance with a warming, spicy note. Black pepper essential oil contains both vitamin A and K, making it an ideal choice for treating fine lines or wrinkles. It also improves circulation and helps to effectively reduce visible cellulite. It has a warming effect on the skin which can work to relieve the pain from arthritis. It also soothes cramps, sprains and pulled muscles.
You can find Black Pepper Essential oil in
Carrot Seed Oil
Carrot Seed essential oil is rich in beta carotene and Vitamins B, C, D and E. It is mainly obtained from wild carrots, usually found in Europe. The oil is extracted from the plant’s seeds and should not be confused with Carrot Root Oil (which is obtained by infusing carrot material into a base oil).
The name carrot is derived from the Greek ‘carotos’. It has been used since ancient times for its carminative properties and to help support the liver and cleanse the body. It has also been used to relieve dry skin conditions and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
You can find Carrot Seed Oil in
Cedarwood Essential Oil
The Atlas Cedar originated from the famous cedars of Lebanon which are referred to in the bible. It is a tall, evergreen tree with highly aromatic wood that can live for more than 1,000 years.
Cedarwood Essential Oil is  antiseborrheic so great for problem skin, especially greasy skin. It’s antiseptic and antibacterial benefit skin that suffers with breakouts. It is able to reduce the size of the skin’s pores and helps combat cellulite.
You will find Cedarwood Oil in
Clary Sage Essential Oil
Clary Sage is similar to Sage but much milder in scent and effect. Its aroma is sweet, hay-like and spicy, relaxing and almost euphoriant (and aphrodisiac). It has a deodorising effect and is used for hydrated, infected and normal skin, for hair care and dry scalps, where it vitalises the scalp.
You can find Clary Sage Essential Oil in
Clove Essential Oil
Clove is very antiseptic and pain-relieving (remember the Clove-oil-and-toothache combination?) We use the oil from the Clove blossoms, rather than the leaves, which is milder and has a warmer, spicier and sweeter scent. Traditionally it is used for warts, callouses, infected wounds and insect stings and is great for disinfecting small razor-nicks.
You will find Clove Essential Oil in
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus essential oil has a fresh, penetrating, woody, camphoraceous aroma. It has excellent antimicrobial properties and can be useful for reducing inflammation and speeding up the healing process, for example in treating acne or easing sunburn. It has deodorant qualities and can also be used as an insect repellent. It’s a good anal analgesic so good for easing muscular aches and pains and for treating bites and stings.
You will find Eucalyptus Essential Oil in
Frangipani Essential Oil
Frangipani doesn’t offer the long list of benefits that you find in many Essential Oils but sometimes less is more as they say. It has the most divine scent so I think that is justification alone for inclusion. It is a complex scent in its own right – musky, floral and slightly sweet with background hints of exotic spices and when I use it in formulas I find it a long lasting scent.
Aside of just having a delicious scent, it is a rich source of lignin which is an organic polymer that it structurally binds cells together to keep your skin supple and firm as well as glycosides which help support that all important collagen.
You can find Frangipani Essential Oil in
Geranium Essential Oil
Geranium is a really ‘good’ feminine oil – it is antiseptic, astringent, deodorizing, toning, anti-inflammatory, cleansing and stimulates the lymphatic system. Oddly enough it is good for both dry and oily skins since it has a balancing effect on sebaceous production and is both sedative and uplifting so invaluable for treating nervous tension and depression.
There are hundreds of different species cultivated for their pretty flowers, but it is only the aromatic Pelargonium varieties, which often have lemon scented leaves, that yield the sweet yellowy essential oil. It has quite a strong, heady scent that can be best described as herbaceous, sweet and ‘rose-minty’ and it tends to work best when blended with other oils, particularly Rose.
You will find Geranium Essential Oil in
Grapefruit Essential Oil
Grapefruit essential oil, high in Vitamin C, has a fresh, slightly bitter citrus scent that is very characteristic of the fruit and is valuable to your immune system. Grapefruit essential oil is useful for fighting cellulite and boosting the lymphatic system. It also lifts your mood and revives the mind while stimulating the digestive system and clearing up congested oily skin and acne. It is used with great success to combat muscle fatigue and stiffness while stimulating the lymphatic system and thereby clearing the body of toxins. Grapefruit is also used in hair care to promote hair growth. It also has diuretic properties, helping to remove excess water from the body.
You will find Grapefruit Essential in
Juniperberry Essential Oil
The berries of the Juniper bush that grows all over Europe are distilled to obtain this oil which purifies the blood, promotes metabolism, is antiseptic, astringent, bacterial and inhibits infection. Its scent is woody, sweet, peppery and fresh; quite powerful and slightly reminiscent of pine needles and well actually it is one of the ingredients of gin (my favourite summer tipple) so, yes, it does smell quite a lot like gin!
You will find Juniperberry Essential Oil in
Lavender Essential Oil
There are hundreds of different kinds of Lavender and each one has its own chemical composition and scent, for example English Lavender is quite different to that grown in the south of France. We use a High Altitude Oil in our blends which is herbaceous, woody and earthy but floral; whereas alpine varieties are harsh-floral but very sweet.
Lavender is an all-purpose oil for skincare. Its effects are endless and could justify a position in just about every blend that we make and it does tend to strengthen the effects of other oils in a blend, so it’s never wrong to add some Lavender. I have to say though (from my own research of course) that its absolutely best use is in a bath, last thing at night before retiring to bed, aaaahhhhh!
You will find Lavender Essential Oil in
Lime Essential Oil
I love the scent of this oil and never tire of making with it (I think it could be the Gin and Tonic association cropping up again), actually it’s known to be cheering and restorative and is good for refreshing a tired mind, so it’s probably the effect it has on me that I like in reality. Its scent is sharp, tart-but-sweet, fresh and slightly spicy and, if it makes sense, I think it represents the actual smell of ‘clean’. Many citrus scents are known to fade quickly when used in blends with the exception of Lime which does linger and I’ve noticed when using the soap in the shower that even the very last sliver of soap retains its fresh scent.
Did you know……that in order to prevent scurvy in the 19th century, British sailors were issued with daily rations of limes (the vitamin C in the fruits prevents the disease) but it lead to the famous nickname for Brits “Limey”.
You can find Lime Essential Oil in
May Chang Essential Oil
May Chang is intensely-lemony, sweet, fresh, fruity and soft (actually I can use all the descriptive words that I like but the best way to describe this specific lemon scent is – sherbet lemons!) It has been long used in Chinese medicine, where it is a native plant and also belongs to the same family as Bay Laurel, Rosewood and Cinnamon.
This oil with its citrus, fruity fragrance is refreshing and rejuvenating, stimulating and balancing. Its aroma inspires and brings fresh energy and clears the mind and is particularly good for oily, mature and inflamed skin.
You can find May Chang Essential Oil in
Palmarosa Essential Oil
Palmarosa has excellent skincare properties as it balances sebum production making it useful for all skin types so in theory we could put this in many of our formulations. It’s particularly for acne prone skin as it is a cellular regenerator and is very regenerative for old acne scars. It can also relieve stiff and sore muscles and is a strong antifungal oil.
You can find Palmarosa Oil in
Patchouli Essential Oil
This instantly recognisable “hippy oil” has an earthy, musky, herbaceous base note gives way to a sweet and spicy top note. Unlike many essential oils, Patchouli matures with age. It is a good oil for fighting depression and anxiety and has great diuretic properties, helping to break down cellulite, ease constipation and fight water retention. It also has a great deodorising action, cools down hot skin and inflammations and stimulates the regeneration of skin cells, speeding up healing and preventing scars forming when wounds heal. Patchouli oil is very effective in sorting out rough, cracked and overly dehydrated skin and is used to treat acne, acne, eczema, sores, ulcers, any fungal infections, as well as scalp disorders
You will find Patchouli Essential Oil in
Peppermint Essential Oil
This familiar herb is grown worldwide and is known for its ability to open the breathing passages, and boy does it do that in our workshop when we’re making with it! It is slightly antiseptic and anti-inflammatory and it purifies sluggish skin and pores. It is stimulating in shampoos, is great for treating all greasy skin problems and has a pleasing effect when applied to sunburn. I love this quote from the famous 17th century Culpepper saying that peppermint was the herb most useful for “complaints of the stomach, such as wind and vomiting, for which there are few remedies of greater efficacy”
Aside from those benefits, a few drops on a handkerchief can alleviate headaches and sea-sickness or used in a footbath it can help smelly, sweaty or tired feet. I always carry a bottle in the glove-box of my car and on long journeys dab a couple of drops on a hankie; I’m sure it helps keep me alert in the same way that peppermint tea perks me up when feeling tired.
You will find peppermint Oil in
Rose Essential Oil
Oh Rose, what can I say? Well one of the things I can say is why are you soooo expensive? Rose Absolute Oil has to be just about the most expensive oil on the market. Mind you it’s hardly surprising, the petals aren’t exactly oily are they? – I read that it takes five tonnes of petals to make one litre of oil! (just what does five tonnes of rose petals look like?) As children, half a dozen of my mothers best rose heads did us fine in a bucket of water and we produced a vaguely pleasant brown liquid that we left to putrefy in fathers garage all summer long.
The real McCoy is rich smelling, sweet, (dare is say ‘rosy’?) -with a strong honey-like scent and when diluted, you notice its delicate woody undertones. I can understand why Cleopatra reputedly carpeted her bedroom is rose petals to seduce Mark Antony. It is known as an aphrodisiac and mood enhancer, a general tonic and a fortifier; it is particularly good for dry, sensitive and mature skins, yet it can be used in almost every recipe for all skin types.
You will find Rose Oil in
Rosemary Essential Oil
Many of us are familiar with this kitchen herb with its strong, minty, woodsy, herbaceous, scent which can be overpowering if you are heavy-handed with it in food dishes. It is a good stimulant, especially for the circulation (and memory), so we thought it ideal in our range of products for the feet. It is invigorating and warming in baths and it clears the head and is good for the common cold.
Rosemary is incredibly antiseptic and has been burnt in sick rooms as a fumigant for centuries and until very recently was still being burnt in hospital wards in France for the same reason. Sometimes the old ways are best?
You will find Rosemary Oil in
Rosewood Essential Oil
Not related to the Rose at all, this oil is distilled from the wood of a tree as its name suggests. Its scent really is slightly Rosy, flowery and spicy-sweet and it is sometimes used as a replacement for Rose Oil.
Rosewood Oil is antibacterial, slightly toning, and mild in effect, so ideal for all skin types, even sensitive ones. It makes the skin smooth and supple and is a cellular regenerator which makes it more valuable for older skin (and may even diminish wrinkles and stretch marks). It also makes a good deodorant and works well when included in a blend for the bath. We’ve used it blended with Lavender Oil to ‘ground’ the very heavy Lavender scent and they seem to work very well together.
You will find Rosewood Essential Oil in
Sandalwood Essential Oil
This oil is like Golden Syrup in looks and is known the world-over as the archetypical men’s scent. It’s sweet, woody and balsamy and yet soft, deep and lingering (I like it, can you tell?) It is antiseptic, astringent, soothing, rejuvenating and aphrodisiac and can be used for all types of skincare, especially raw, itchy skin. Sandalwood is what they call a ‘base note’ in perfumery terms and I have to say that it really lingers for a long time after using it.
You will find Sandalwood Essential Oil in
Sweet Orange Essential Oil
Sweet Orange Oil is derived from the fresh untreated fruit peels through cold pressing. Its lively scent hardly needs describing and must be known to almost all of us. Throw some rind into a summer bath and enjoy the sweet, slightly tart scent and the refreshing stimulating effect it has on your skin. I’m rather partial to my orange rind surrounded in dark chocolate and served with Cointreau, but that’s another story altogether.
You will find Sweet Orange Essential Oil in
Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
The fragrance of these tropical blossoms is jasmine-like, sweet, heavy, aphrodisiac and intense, almost cloying. I personally am not keen on it in its pure state (although many of you are) but when blended with peppery, herbaceous oils the result is wonderful to say the least. We use it in our most popular range.
You can find Ylang Ylang Essential Oil in
Tea Tree Essential Oil
This healing oil is derived through distillation of the leaves and young twigs of a tree that is primarily native to Australia and is not dissimilar in make up to Rosemary and Eucalyptus oils. It has been the subject of much research in recent years and is known the world over for its highly disinfectant, fungicidal, bactericidal and virucidal properties (in short it’s a really good healing oil and lots of people use it).
Its unmistakeable scent is fresh, spicy and reminiscent of camphor and I’ve noticed that it is one of those scents, like Lavender, that divides people, they either love it or they hate it!
You can find Tea Tree Essential Oil in
Special oils, butters & waxes
Argan Oil
Argan oil is like liquid gold – I love to pour this oil into a recipe – it’s so rich. Argan Oil is expressed from the fruit of the Moroccan Argan tree and the Berber women of North Africa have used it for centuries to protect and nourish their skin, hair and nails from the harsh conditions in which they live. It contains extremely high levels of Vitamin E and consists of 80% fatty acids which make it ideal for healing many skin ailments as well as protecting against premature aging. Argan oil contains active anti-inflammatory compounds called triterpenoids which can help heal acne, eczema, and scarring. It also contains 0.8% unsaponifiables (a large group of compounds also known as plant sterols or sterolins). Sterolins improve skin metabolism, reduce inflammation and promote excellent moisture retention. Argan is considered an effective anti-aging oil due to its high levels of anti-oxidant vitamin E which helps to neutralise free radical damage. It also contains saponins, which are skin-softening agents. Besides cooling and soothing inflammation, it is also reputed to help reduce wrinkles by restoring the skin`s hydro-lipid layer.
You can find Argan Oil in
Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is obtained from the pulp of the avocado pear and is one of the most active and effective ingredients used by the cosmetics industry. It contains protein, amino acids, fatty acids, lecithin and relatively large amounts of vitamins A, D and E, making this oil both very moisturising and healing. These vitamins enable avocado oil to regenerate skin cells, soften body tissue and soothe and heal scaly skin. We use an unrefined, cold-pressed oil to preserve these wonderful elements and add it to our hand creams and Body Butters to make them really rich.
You will find Avocado Oil in
Beeswax
Beeswax, derived from honeycomb is a natural emulsifying agent which binds and stabilises emulsions. Its addition to our creams and lotions makes them firm, but smooth and really creamy, as well as offering some protection to your skin once the moisturisers have been absorbed. Recent research into the chemical composition of beeswax has revealed its versatility. It keeps moisture within the skin for longer than traditional moisturisers by providing a barrier yet still maintains the skins permeability for smaller molecules to pass through. We love Beeswax but we’re using it less and less and replacing it with Candelilla Wax which is a plant-derived Beeswax substitute and suitable for vegetarians.
You will find Beeswax in
Candelilla Wax
So – this is a new ingredient for me and one I discovered while looking for an alternative to Beeswax in my recipes. I tried lots of plant waxes and this seems to me the best one so far and for the recipes that I’ve tried it in so far. It comes from a plant found mostly in Mexico and for those of you that are gardeners it’s from the Euphorbia family – those beautiful bright green spires of joy that appear in Spring, last for weeks and set off all the other Spring colours so magnificently. This was comes from a different variety than the ones found in our gardens however – Euphorbia cerifera.
Carrot Tissue Oil
The humble carrot has been known as a medicinal plant, as well as a culinary one, since the 1st century AD with many references appearing in even earlier Greek writings. In the 21st Century, our Organic Carrot Root Oil sits in its opaque container on the shelf in our workshop and positively glows in the dark it is so orange.
As well as being orange it is a highly concentrated blend of vitamins A, E, and provitamin A. Vitamin A heals dry, chapped skin, making it perfect for our Gardeners Hand Cream. It also stimulates the sweat and sebaceous glands which work to balance the skins moisture content.
You will find Carrot Tissue Oil in
Castor Oil
Castor Oil is thick viscous oil that is soothing and lubricating; it has been used for centuries for its anti-microbial and ant-bacterial properties and was used for many skin problems such as burns, sunburns, skin cuts, abrasions etc. It is the perfect additive to our shaving soap making it easier to shave and to help prevent infection. It is also absorbed quickly by the body and in its presence, other less easily absorbed materials are likely to be absorbed, which is great when we mix it with other therapeutic ingredients to get right into your skin where they can do their work.
You can find Castor Oil in
Cocoa Butter
Cocoa Butter is a by-product of cocoa pressing. It is obtained from the roasted cocoa beans that are the primary ingredient in chocolate and cocoa, and when we melt it to make our Bath Melts and hand creams, the room fills with the smell of white chocolate, very dangerous if I’m in the wrong mood and there’s chocolate lurking in our fridge!
Cocoa Butter is a good emollient, is very moisturising, softening and soothing the skin when applied, melting (like chocolate) at body temperature. It is gentle on the skin and is known to slow the loss of moisture from the skins surface and therefore has earned its inclusion as one of the main ingredients in our Really Rich Hand Cream.
You will Find Cocoa Butter in
Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil is obtained from Copra, which is basically dried coconut flesh, and it is itself a bit of a parody; used is small quantities it is moisturising, but too much can be drying, so you will usually find it blended with other oils in skincare preparations.
It inhibits the loss of skin moisture since it melts on the skin and is hardly absorbed; it makes the skin soft and is good after-sun oil. One of its other benefits is that it produces a really great lather making it a soap-makers dream oil. We use it in our Gardeners Soap where hard-working hands need all the help they can to get clean.
You can find Coconut Oil in
Comfrey Oil
Historically, the root of Comfrey was boiled and ingested to help in the treatment of all manner of internal problems. The oil is extracted from the leaves and stalks which contain allontoin, a cell regenerator which is why it’s so valuable in the treatment of wounds and skin disorders, perfect for inclusion then in our shaving soap to help soothe post-shaving skin.
You will find Comfrey Oil in
Evening Primrose Oil
Evening Primrose Seed Oil is pressed the seeds of the Evening Primrose plant, Oenothera biennis . The yellow flowers only open in the evening, hence their common name.
Evening Primrose Oil is very high in gamma linolenic acid (GLA). GLA is an essential fatty acid (Omega-6) which is renowned for keeping the skin healthy. GLA plays an important role in maintaining a youthful complexion and repairing skin that has been weathered and damaged by the environment. Evening Primrose Oil is also believed to have a soothing effect on hormonal fluctuations and can, in many cases, help with chronic skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
You will find Evening Primrose Oil in
Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp seed oil is also the highest oil in essential fatty acids and is incredibly rich in Omega 3 oils. Filled with essential nutrients, hemp seed oil is nature’s richest source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are known for their excellent emollient and lubricating properties. PUFAs increase the moisture retention of the skin, keeping it soft and supple. Retaining this moisture also strengthens skin and hair – enhancing the body’s natural defences against pollution, sun and dry air. Hemp seed oil has a high content of Vitamin E, a natural anti-oxidant that traps excess free radicals which can injure, age degenerate and kills our cells and tissues.
You will find Hemp Seed Oil in
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba Oil is a light-textured and deeply penetrating oil (technically it’s a wax but let’s not go there)with excellent softening and moisturising properties. It is very similar in composition to the skin’s own natural oil, or sebum, which makes it an excellent emollient for the skin and balances oil production. Jojoba is readily absorbed into the skin and is ideal for use on the face. It is particularly suitable for dry, mature and oily skin, and is also excellent for the hair and scalp.
You will find jojoba Oil in
Monoi de Tahiti
Monoi oil is infused oil made from soaking the petals of Tahitian gardenias (tiare) in a semi-wax coconut oil. Monoi (pronounced Mah-noy) is an ancient Tahitian word meaning scented oil in the Reo-Maohi language. Monoi is widely used among French Polynesians as a skin and hair softener. Even in the state that it arrives in our workshop it smells truly divine – when infused into our Body Oil the result is truly delicious….
Monoi oil is rich in methyl salicylate which is a skin-soothing agent. It is a naturally concentrated emollient which penetrates the skin, re-hydrates the layers of the epidermis and shields skin against external damages including sun and wind. Monoi oil is used:
You will find Monoi de Tahiti in
Neem Oil
Neem Oil has been used in India for centuries for its many medicinal benefits. It has quite a pungent scent and it is certainly not an oil you would want to cook with unlike many of the oils we use in our recipes. It is a dark brown viscous oil with an almost garlicky kind of scent. No wander then its main use is to repel insects and is used as a bio-pesticide for organic farming and repels a wide variety of pests without harming beneficial insects, birds and mammals.
Neem Oil is finding its way into many skincare products and particularly into animal preparations. We use it in our Doggie Shampoo Bar where it is used as a base oil and also as a precious oil added at the end of the soap making process to increase the benefits of the Oil, helping to keep your mut free from fleas.
You will find Neem oil in
Olive Oil
Many of us have heard of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, now standard in our kitchens; this is the first cold-pressing of the Olives, yielding the highest grade oils; whereas Pomace Oil, used for soapmaking, is the fourth or fifth pressing which gets all the last bits of residue from the Olives, but it also makes use of the pits (stones) of the olives and these pressings are the best ones for making soap.
Olive Oil is a good moisturiser, not because it has its own healing properties, but because it attracts external moisture and holds it close to the skin, and forms a breathable film to prevent loss of internal moisture. Though Olive oil produces a slow lather, it is very mild, cleans well and is mild enough to be used on sensitive skin and babies.
You can find Olive Oil in
Rosehip Seed Oil
Rosehip oil has been clinically tested and shown to help minimise the appearance of wrinkles, smooth skin and dramatically improve skins moisture levels.
It is the only vegetable oil that contains natural tretinoin, the acid form of vitamin A, which helps to delay the effects of skin ageing, promoting collagen and elastin levels and replenishing and rebuilding skin tissue. Rosehip is one of the best vegetable oil sources of omega 3 and omega 6 and is believed to be the best oil available for anti-ageing and skin rejuvenation. Numerous scientific studies have also taken place, which have yielded astounding evidence supporting the use of Rosehip oil.
Rosehip seed oil also contains a high amount of essential fatty acids and Vitamin E, which further promotes healthy skin. In particular, it is rich in linoleic and linolenic acids, which are important skin nutrients. Rosehip seed oil has been used successfully to treat the following skin problems:
You will find Rosehip Seed Oil in
Palm Oil
Extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the Oil Palm, this fat has become the main substitute in the industry for Tallow (tallow being rendered beef fat, yuk!) and Palm Oil is a valuable ingredient for soapmakers. Unfortunately the Palm production industry is linked to major issues such as deforestation, habitat degradation, climate change, animal cruelty and indigenous rights abuses in the countries where it is produced, as the land and forests must be cleared for the development of the oil palm plantations. There has been a lot of publicity about this in recent years and the start of a movement away from this ingredient. As a business we had recently made a commitment to reformulate any of our recipes that currently include Palm Oil in their recipe.
Shea Butter
Also known as Karite Butter, it is expressed from the pits of the fruit of the African Shea tree which grows in central Africa. Although a relatively new ingredient for us, it has been used for food and body care by Africans for years, is an excellent moisturiser and emollient and is known as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Shea Butter is used for all types of dry skin problems including scars, eczema, burns and rashes, is ideal for lessening the irritation of psoriasis and is gentle enough for babies and people with sensitive skin. It is also richer than most other emollients and absorbs rapidly into the skin without feeling greasy, and having very sensitive skin, I have to admit that this is my personal favourite way to moisturise.
You can find Shea Butter in
Tamanu Oil
Tamanu Oil is derived from the nuts of the Calophyllum inophyllum tree, which is native to Southeast Asia and is abundant in Polynesia. Tamanu Oil contains a unique fatty acid called Calophyllic acid, which is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and stimulates wound healing. It is ideal for treating acne, psoriasis and other skin irritations and infections. Tamanu Oil softens and moisturises the skin, without being greasy, and leaves it with a healthy glow. It is also beneficial for dry, chapped skin, hair and scalp conditions. Tamanu Oil can help with the regeneration of new tissue, healing scars, ulcers and burns. It helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, making it perfect for mature skin.
You can find Tamanu Oil in
Sweet Almond Oil
Sweet Almond oil is derived from the ripe seeds or sweet almonds of the almond tree (ours comes from Italy – they have so many Almonds out there that they use them at weddings as confetti). It smoothes and maintains the skin and is colourless and odourless, making it an ideal base for creams. This high quality oil is well absorbed into the skin and thus can help in the penetration of essential oils into the skin. I think this is a superior oil to the industry standard of Grapeseed Oil when mixing with other essential oils for aromatherapy purposes and is easily available form health food shops, so if you do mix you own, try it next time.
You will find Sweet Almond Oil in
Everything else
Bentonite clay
Bentonite Clay is a naturally-occurring highly absorbent clay which is usually formed from volcanic ash sediments which have been aged by time. This greenish/grey clay is also known as Montmorillonite Clay and it contains over 70 trace minerals and is one of the most effective and powerful healing clays you can use.
You will find Bentonite Clay in
Clays
Red/Pink/Green Clays are combinations of finely ground minerals from the earth and are often seen in skincare masks to draw out excess toxins, sebums and dirt. Clays clear the pores of blockages, stimulate circulation and are anti-inflammatory and are one of the best skin cleansers available. They are high in minerals such as siliceous earth, iron, magnesium, zinc and potassium, which when stored in the body protect the tissue against loss of liquids. If there are not enough minerals present in our bodies, the tissue becomes dry, tired and sluggish.
You will find Green Clay in
You will find Pink Clay in
Dead Sea Salt
The Dead Sea is the most saline body of water in the world with far greater concentrations of minerals than any ocean (a concentration of 32% minerals compared to other seas, holding approximately 3%
All these minerals work together as regulators of cell activity and daily functioning, relieving muscular pain and stabilizing fluid levels in the body Dead Sea salts are mineral-rich and contain high proportions of Potassium, Magnesium and Bromide. Potassium helps regulate the moisture level of the skin and Magnesium helps promote healing, and Bromide has a smoothing and relaxing effect.
The high mineral content of Dead Sea salt stimulates blood and lymphatic circulation, which in turn moves trapped fluid from joints, improving joint movement and reducing stiffness and pain. Regular use of salts promotes healthy skin by exfoliating and encouraging regeneration of new skin cell
You will find Dead Sea Salt in
Eco silk
EcoSilk is a colourless and odourless vegetable-based emollient that is 100% of natural origin and 100% biodegradable. It is made from sugar beet and coconut which are both renewable natural sources. An Emollient by the way is something that softens the skin and provides a protective layer that helps prevet moisture (water) loss from the skin so valuable in many of our formulations.
Eco Silk possesses unsurpassed unique and amazing qualities. A lot of commercial products use synthetic silicones to obtain this same texture so we’re really pleased to find another natural product that des the same job.
You will find Eco Silk in
Epsom salts
Unsurprisingly, Epsom salt was originally discovered in Epsom, Surrey where the salt creates a high mineral content that duplicates the benefits of a hot water spring. It is renowned for being soothing & detoxifying, helping relax tired, aching muscles and softening skin when added to a bath. The high magnesium content in Epsom salt also facilitates the removal of acids through the skin.
Ideal for sports recovery and muscle relaxation, Epsom Salt is the perfect product for sports and fitness enthusiasts or anyone with aching muscles. The tried and tested mineral compound of magnesium sulphate helps detoxify and relax the muscles.
You will find Epsom Salt in
Himalayan Pink Salt
As its name implies, Himalayan Pink Salt has been dug out of the Himalayan mountains and is packed full of minerals. Known for its balancing and detoxifying properties, Himalayan Pink Salt contains 84 minerals and trace elements that are highly beneficial for the body. These include magnesium, calcium, copper, potassium and iron. It can support proper nutrient absorption, eliminate toxins, balance the body’s pH, normalise blood pressure and increase circulation and conductivity.
The salt is sometimes a reddish or pink colour, with some crystals having an off-white colour to them although we’ve notices that the finer you grind them the whiter they become.
You will find Himalayan Pink Salt in
Phenoxyethanol
This is an aromatic ether alcohol which can be obtained from phenol. It is an oily liquid used as a preservative and fixative. Commercially it is also used as an insect repellent and a fixative in perfumes and as a topical antiseptic. It is the only ingredient in this listing that is not from nature.
We have sought high and low and have worked long and hard with our lab to find the mildest preserver that we could and have steered well away from the Parabens group of preservers. We also use minimal quantities of preserver and you will only find it in our creams and emulsions where we feel it is important to include it due to the high risk of bacterial growth.
Pumice Powder
The fact that pumice stone is formed by being ejected into the air as a froth from a volcano fascinates me, cooling so quickly that the gas bubbles in it remain, making it one of the few rocks that float! The fact that when finely ground, it make a really good abrasive is almost a side issue for me.
Ground Pumice in our gardeners hand soap really does get the dirt from your hands, and in much larger quantities in our foot cube it helps to remove hard skin too (the Fairweather half of our partnership uses the Foot Cube on his hands, rather than his feet, apparently its great for getting paint, glue and oil of his hands! Personally I think the Gardeners soap is tough enough for most of us.
You will find Pumice Powder in
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can help protect the skin from damage caused by environmental pollutants like exhaust fumes, smoke, radiation etc and can also help protect the skin against the damaging effects of exposure to the sun. It is also used as a natural preservative for oils.
You will find Vitamin E Oil in
Water
We use water in most of our preparations. The water in our part of Cumbria is very soft but we put it through a series of filters to help remove bacteria, salts, dust, and other inorganic substances so that it does not alter our recipes in any way. In an experiment, we once used hard tap water in a sample batch of hand cream and the result was a quite lumpy cream and it was not properly emulsified so it split slightly due to the high level of minerals in the water.