The Herbalist's Favorite Things
Wellness and sustainability aren't just the values that drive my business ~ they are at the center of my life. I truly believe in voting with your dollar for products & companies you believe in, and the following list is full of businesses whose missions are aligned with my own. These are all brands I discovered on my own through research, and that I've purchased from because I love what they create.
While I've been able to get discount codes or affiliate links for some, please know that this is not sponsored in any sense and I own their products solely because I paid for them. I really love seeking out small, independent businesses that are doing great work, and have been a customer of all of these brands for at least a few years before they are added to this list.
Although none of these brands are 'luxury,' they are generally more expensive than similar products you can get from retail giants. Just know that I've vetted them all for quality, and I truly believe that less can be more. When you have goods that you know will last, that support your health, that don't pollute the environment, I think it's worth paying a bit more if you are able.
When we choose to invest in small business, we also choose to support independent makers, fair labor, better production practices, and local communities ~ as opposed to the profits of a corporate board. Every dollar we spend consciously can contribute to the future we want to create, especially when we're shopping with people we believe in!
BEAUTY & BODY CARE
Indigenous Soap | Hawaiʻi Made Soap
This O'ahu-based company brews up small-batch soaps using local botanicals & natural ingredients in their Kaimuki studio. Founder Love Chance integrates her knowledge of herbal medicine into her soap formulas, which are scented only with essential oils & plant extracts (and are free of synthetic fragrances & dyes). Amongst the line of lusciously scented bars, Love Child, Lord Vetiver & Chocolate are staples in our house.
Lokelani Essentials | Floral Hydrosols
Grown + made on Maui, Lokelani offers a wide array of beautiful hydrosols that are distilled from fresh flowers and can be used as facial toners & body sprays. I cannot emphasize enough how difficult it is to find floral waters that are actually distilled from flowers like Plumeria, Tuberose & Puakenikeni ~ it was a delight to discover that these existed and to chat with the founder Fernanda about distillation on her farm. I've tried most of the hydrosols, but the Pikake, Gardenia & Lokelani Rose remain my favorites. Use code indigoelixirs for a special discount!
Moonrise Creek | Natural Makeup
This small woman-owned business makes truly some of the cleanest makeup I've ever found. I've long been a fan of her mascara, which works just as well as the ones I used to buy from the drugstore or makeup counter. I have since ventured into trying her liquid eyeliner, eyeliner pencil, and matte lipstick, and have purchased her shimmer balms for friends. Everything works well, functions like real makeup, and has a lovely scent of real Vanilla.
Wild Veil Perfume | Artisan Perfumery
The day I discovered Wild Veil Perfume, I spent hours on her site, pouring over her Lexicon of Scent, and reading through product descriptions that retell Greek mythology with the aromas of the time & place woven in. The female founder, Abby Huntsman, does many of her extractions in-house, and therefore is able to give us truly botanical fragrances that are otherwise unavailable as extracts: Lilac, Gardenia, Plumeria to name a few; she also dabbles with the more unconventional: wool, leather, dirt. All of the aromas I've purchased are exquisite tapestries of scent, and her work has actually re-inspired my love of perfume through artisan extraction.
Marble & Milkweed | Small Batch Beauty & Teas
Female-founded & made in NYC, Briar offers small-batch perfume, body care, herbal tea blends, and rare vintage finds. Her ethos is 'analog beauty' and her formulations are akin to my own ~ crafted lovingly with exceptional ingredients.
CLOTHING
Of Earth and Salt | Handmade Clothing
Also founded by a woman named Deanna, Of Earth and Salt is a California-based company that offers super comfortable clothing designed with woman's bodies in mind. They use deadstock fabrics to offset waste, and also do a lot of beautiful dyeing in-house. I've turned almost all of my friends on to her crop tops, which are so comfortable and have become an essential part of my wardrobe!
Groceries Apparel | Plant-dyed Basics
Groceries does all of their cutting, sewing and dyeing in their L.A. factory. This brand is one of the only I've found that actually uses plants to dye their clothes! Indigo, pomegranate peels, avocado pits & more yield natural & beautiful colors. They specialize in plastic-free everyday basics and workout clothing (like biker shorts & leggings) made with natural fibers like organic cotton & hemp.
Oddo Body | 100% Cotton Underwear
Founded by a female duo, I discovered Oddo because I was looking for 100% organic cotton underwear. There's something about the dampness in the air where I live that just makes any fabric with elastic woven into it break down so quickly. Even my 95% cotton + 5% spandex underwear only last a couple years before the tiny spandex fibers (aka, microplastics) start to show and inevitably come out in the wash (or on me, which I do not want). The few pairs of Oddo I've tried are so soft & comfortable, and will hopefully outlast the others!
OteKloth | Reusable Pads
If you've been just as turned off to period underwear by the PFAS debacle as I have, these reusable pads are for you. Made with USA grown organic cotton, sewn in New Mexico, and dye-free, these are about as healthy as it gets for period care.
HOME & CLEANING
MamaSuds | Cleaning Supplies
I discovered MamaSuds after a lengthy internet search for the simplest possible dishwasher detergent. This small, woman-owned business makes ultra-clean cleaning supplies that work really well. For those on island, the Kokua General Store has their dishwasher powder available in bulk!