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Since the beginning of time, humans have turned to herbs as trusted allies for nourishment, protection, and skin support. From turmeric fields in India to the native tea tree groves of Australia, every culture has leaned on botanical treasures for their beauty and wellbeing. Today, these ancient herbal traditions offer powerful answers to modern winter skincare challenges. From calming calendula and chamomile to warming turmeric and ginger, discover how eight herbs - and two special Australian natives - can restore balance, comfort, and vitality to winter-weary skin.

Cold air. Indoor heating. Flaky skin. Sound familiar?
Winter is one of the harshest seasons for your skin’s barrier - and your usual moisturiser might not cut it. That’s where carrier oils come in. These plant-based emollients don’t just sit on the surface - they dive deep to replenish lipids, restore balance, and bring much-needed nourishment when your skin needs it most.

In this guide, we break down the top 5 carrier oils for winter skincare, complete with formulation tips, lipid profiles, and why they’re worth reaching for when the weather turns icy. Whether you’re creating a facial oil, body balm or ultra-nourishing serum, these ingredients are the backbone of cold-weather skin repair.

The Blueprint She Left Behind for Today’s Founders and Formulators
Anita Roddick didn’t set out to build a beauty empire - she set out to make a living for her daughters. What she created instead was a movement that still shapes ethical skincare today. From repurposed packaging to radical transparency, her legacy offers powerful lessons for modern-day makers and brand founders. In this post, we explore the five principles that shaped The Body Shop - and how you can apply them to your own business.

Before niacinamide and hyaluronic acid stole the spotlight, there was glycerin.
Clear, quiet, and endlessly reliable, glycerin is the backbone of countless skincare formulas - from humble handmade soaps to refined serums. It’s more than a humectant; it’s a connector, a protector, and one of the most skin-friendly ingredients you’ll ever work with.

In our latest deep dive, we explore what makes glycerin so powerful - how it hydrates, extracts, and transforms your creations. You’ll learn how to use it wisely, what to avoid, and even how to make your own hibiscus glycerite.

Discover why this unassuming classic is still a hero ingredient.

Golden, soothing, and time-honored - calendula oil has become a staple in the world of botanical skincare. In this guide, we explore why makers continue to reach for calendula-infused oil in their formulations, from baby balms to after-sun blends. You’ll learn what gives this flower its skin-loving properties, how to choose the right carrier oil, and the safest, most effective methods for making your own infusion at home. Whether you’re new to DIY skincare or a seasoned formulator, calendula is a gentle, versatile ingredient worth knowing deeply.

It’s one of the first things we learn in chemistry class (you know, assuming you didn't spend the whole lesson fighting to stay awake): Oil floats, water sinks. 

But when it comes to healthy skin and effective skincare formulations, oil and water are the perfect match, as long as we use solubilizers or emulsifiers to bring them together.

Let's chat about the 7 lessons in our 7 years of business. No jargon, no stiff corporate talk. Just a friendly, down-to-earth conversation about what’s worked for us, what hasn’t, and everything in between.