Our Ingredients

Naturally great skin care

Ingredients

Did you know that there is no standard around using the word “natural”? I use it to mean an ingredient coming as directly from nature as possible with minimal processing. For example, oils are pressed from their fruits, essential oils distilled from plants. And although petro-chemical byproducts could be considered ‘natural’, I don’t believe they are good for your skin and don’t use them at all.

As of November 2006, Health Canada will require that all labels list the “INCI” name for ingredients.

“INCI” stands for International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients. Quite a mouthful! Essentially, it’s a standard naming convention.

Ingredient	INCI	A little more info ...
Oils & Butters
Apricot Kernel Oil	Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil	extracted from the seeds of the apricot tree. This oil is gentle and soothing enough for use around the eyes, mouth & neck. Used in all my creams.
Avocado Oil	Persea gratissima (Avocado) Oil	pressed from the pulp of the avocado. It’s rich in vitamins A, D & E and softens tissues beautifully. Used in creams for dry skin.
Castor Oil	Ricinus communis (Castor) Seed Oil	comes from castor beans. It’s very thick and doesn’t convert to soap very well so provides extra moisturizing qualities to soaps & shampoos.
Cocoa Butter	Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter	pressed from the roasted seeds of the cocoa plant. It’s a fabulous moisturizer, melts at body temperature and smells just like chocolate - yummy! Used in soaps and moisturizers.
Coconut Oil	Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil	pressed from the kernel of the coconut, this oil provides terrific, fluffy lather in soaps.
Jojoba Oil	Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil	is one of my favourites. It’s very close to your body’s own oil (sebum) so it’s easily absorbed. It comes from the seeds of the jojoba shrub and provides the base for all my creams.
Macadamia Nut Oil	Macadamia ternifolia Seed Oil	comes from Hawaii and like jojoba oil, it’s very similar to your body’s own oil. Used in all our creams because it absorbs into the skin so well.
Olive Oil	Olea europaea (Olive) Oil	is a great moisturizer. It doesn’t block pores and holds moisture close to your skin. Used as a major ingredient in soaps and in most creams.
Palm Oil	Hydrogenated Palm Oil	is pressed from the pulp of the fruit from a variety of palm tree. Used in soaps to make a hard, long-lasting bar.
Soybean Oil	Sodium soyate	definitely better in a bar of soap than in your food, this oil adds bulk and moisturizing qualities.
Sunflower Oil	Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil	Is rich in Vitamins A and E and goes into soaps and come creams.
Other Ingredients
Baking Soda	Sodium bicarbonate	used in bath Salts, baking soda soothes the skin.
Clays	Bentonite or Kaolin	go into soaps to add colour and help hold the fragrance of our essential oils. In larger quantities, they help cleanse the skin.
Cocoa Powder	Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) Seed Powder	Chocolate is good for you! In the Hot Chocolate line, cocoa powder provides colour.
Epsom Salt	Magnesium sulfate	Epsom Salts soothe the skin and help draw toxins from the body.
Herbs & Roots		I use alkanet root and annatto seeds for colour, along with indigo, liquid chlorophyll, lavender buds, beet root powder and vanilla seeds
Palm Stearic Acid	Stearic acid	a vegetable emulsifier used to bind the oils and water together into cream.
Potassium Sorbate	Potassium sorbate	a food grade preservative very good at preventing the growth of mold. Derived from the berries of the Mountain Ash tree, but almost all supply is lab-made.
Sea Salt	Sodium chloride	like Epsom salts, sea salt helps to draw toxins from the body.
Tinosan	Tinosan SDC	I’m excited to find this new preservative. It’s an anti-microbial made of a unique electrochemical procedss with silver and citrc acid. An argument could be made that it’s not completely natural, but it’s a lot closer than other preservatives.
Vegetable Emulsifying Wax	Emulsifying Wax NF	a vegetable emulsifier used to bind the oils and water together into cream.
Vitamin E	Tocopherol	a natural anti-oxidant
Essential Oils I use a large variety of essential oils both for fragrance and their healing and therapeutic properties - these are some of our favourites:
Bergamot	Citrus aurantium bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil	this fruity & citrusy oil can have antiseptic qualities. It’s a marvellous morning eye-opener.
Chamomile	Chamomilla recutita (Matricaria) Flower Oil (German) or Anthemis nobilis Flower Oil (Roman)	has anti-inflammatory properties, is safe for youngsters and the German variety is a vivid blue!
Cinnamon Leaf	Cinnamomum zeylanicum Leaf Oil	a spicy twist, used in small quantities. It smells great and in small amounts, warms the skin.
Clary Sage	Salvia sclarea (Clary) Oil	has a sweet-spicy aroma that blends well with peppermint.
Clove	Eugenia caryophyllus (Clove) Flower Oil	reminiscent of the holiday, this spicy oil may be warming on the skin.
Ginger	Zingiber officinale (Ginger) Root Oil	a stimulating oil both warming on the skin and fragrant to the nose.
Lavender	Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) Oil	a perennial favourite, lavender is soothing, relaxing and goes into most of my blends.
Lemon	Citrus medica limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil	a refreshing and lively astringent, it provides a mental lift
Lime	Citrus aurantifolia (Lime) Oil	stimulating and refreshing, Lime pairs wonderfully with ginger.
Patchouli	Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli) Oil	love it or hate it, this distillation from the leaves of the patchouli plant is great for cracked & rough skin.
Peppermint	Mentha piperita (Peppermint) Oil	a perennial favourite, peppermint is refreshing on the skin, helps ease breathing and may be effective against headaches.
Rosemary	Rosemarinus officinalis Oil	is bracing and invigorating and excellent for skin and hair care.
Sandalwood	Santalum album (Sandalwood) Oil	is distilled from the sensitive sandalwood tree. It’s precious, smells heavenly and is good for dry & chapped skin.
Vanilla Absolute * NEW *	Vanilla planifolia	Extracted from vanilla beans, this is a thick liquid that’s pure vanilla. It’s as precious as Sandalwood so I’m using this in the leave-on products—creams and lip balms.
Vanilla Extract	Vanilla planifolia & Propylene Glycol	This is a boosted vanilla extract and a compromise. Propylene Glycol isn’t the best stuff, but the price (as compared to Vanilla Absolute) is about 1/6. So I use it in the wash-off products. It’s extracted from vanilla beans and tints soaps and creams a light tan.
Ylang Ylang	Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Oil	this exotic & floral oil can help balance the production of sebum. It’s also good for your hair. Used in very small quantities.