OUR PRECIOUS

INGREDIENTS

All of our ingredients are sourced exclusively from plants & hives, and are extracted using time-honored techniques that preserve their inherent benefits. Your skin absorbs just about everything you put on it, and our formulations are imbued with the healing potency of nature to nourish your body from the outside in.

Sourcing locally within Hawai'i is a top priority. The majority of the herbs & carrier oils we work with, and all of our bee products, are produced by farmers here on the islands. Everything we make is sustainably crafted in small batches, cruelty-free, vegan (with the exception of products containing beeswax & honey), and organic when possible.

No Toxins • No Synthetic Preservatives • No Artificial Additives • No Animal Testing

We steer clear of synthetic materials, as well as those that have undergone extraction processes utilizing harsh chemicals or rendering final products devoid of nutrients. All of the aromas & colors in our elixirs come from real botanicals, not petroleum-based fragrance or dyes.

our formulations are free from:

Parabens • Sulfates • Synthetic Fragrances • Phthalates • Silicones • Petrochemicals • PEGs • Artificial Dyes • Microplastics

CARRIER OILS

'Carrier oils' refer to liquid oils that can be extracted by pressing fatty seeds, nuts & fruits. They serve as an ideal medium to 'carry' fat soluble herbal compounds into the skin, plus have many nourishing qualities on their own. These oils form the basis of almost all of our elixirs, and most of the time are infused with herbs.

Cold pressed Sunflower & expeller pressed Macadamia oils serve as the basis for all of our oil-based formulations, including salves, balms, butters & serums. Both of these are sustainably cultivated with no added pesticides and pressed by Maiden Hawai'i Naturals. These oils are culinary grade and unrefined (aka virgin), meaning that no additional processing is done after pressing. This leaves their aroma, color, and nutrient profile fully intact.

We also import a few additional organic & unrefined carrier oils that possess unique therapeutic benefits, including Sea Buckthorn & Tamanu.

CARRIER OIL PROFILES

SUNFLOWER OIL

Produced in Hawai'i | Sustainably cultivated | Unrefined
• Cold pressed from Sunflower seeds {Helianthus annuus} to yield a golden yellow oil
• Rich in linoleic acid, which supports the skin barrier and helps retain moisture
• Contains vitamin E and antioxidants that protect against environmental stressors
• Non-comedogenic and calming ~ ideal for sensitive or acne-prone skin
• Promotes wound healing and soothes irritation

MACADAMIA OIL

Produced in Hawai'i | Sustainably cultivated | Unrefined
• Expeller pressed from Macadamia nuts {Macadamia tetraphylla} to yield a pale golden oil with a buttery aroma
• High in palmitoleic acid, a fatty acid that mimics skin’s natural sebum
• Deeply moisturizing and softening
• Supports skin regeneration and elasticity
• Contains squalene and tocopherols that help protect and nourish mature or dry skin

SEA BUCKTHORN OIL

Organic | Unrefined
• Cold pressed from the Sea Buckthorn seeds {Hippophae rhamnoides} to yield a crimson red oil with a fruity aroma
• Exceptionally rich in omega-7 (palmitoleic acid) and carotenoids, which promote skin repair
• Helps reduce inflammation and supports healing for scarring & skin irritation
• Offers powerful antioxidant protection from UV and pollution damage, and can help reduce visible sun spots
• Encourages collagen production and skin elasticity

TAMANU OIL

Organic | Unrefined
• Cold pressed from the dried nuts of the Tamanu tree {Calophyllum inophyllum} to yield a deep sea green oil with a unique pungent aroma
• Used traditional across the South Pacific for its regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties
• Supports healing of scars, acne, and skin irritation
• Rich in fatty acids and calophyllolide, which soothe and protect compromised skin
• Antibacterial and antifungal

RAW BOTANICALS

All of the herbs infused into our healing formulations are grown here in Hawai'i by local farmers & producers, or organically cultivated in our Mānoa garden. By sourcing close to home, the effect is multifold: fresh plants mean our potions are ultra potent, we're able to import less to reduce our carbon footprint, and purchasing from local farms helps support our community's initiative for agricultural resilience.

Our Hawai'i grown herbs are processed and extracted in house. When we receive fresh plant material, it's go time ~ washing, sorting, slicing, wilting or drying all have to happen quickly to ensure that the final products are vibrant.

Most of our local botanicals make their way into our formulations by way of infusion, one of the oldest methods of plant extraction. Fresh or dry herbs are soaked in carrier oils, and by a function of gentle heat and time, release their fat-soluble constituents into the carrier. Once strained, the oil is now charged with the healing benefits, aromas, and sometimes even colors of the plants with which it was infused.

BOTANICAL PROFILES

TURMERIC

Hawai'i Grown
• Bright orange rhizome of Curcuma longa
• Rich in curcumin, offering strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant support for calming irritation and promoting healing
• Supports wound & injury repair by encouraging tissue regeneration & blood flow
• Helps even skin tone and minimizes the appearance of scars

COMFREY

Hawai'i Grown
• Leaves of Symphytum officinale
• Contains allantoin, which stimulates cell growth and accelerates skin regeneration
• Soothes inflammation and deeply moisturizes dry or damaged skin
• Eases discomfort from bruises, sprains, and muscular injuries

MUGWORT

Hawai'i Grown
• Fragrant silver-backed leaves of Artemisia vulgaris
• Promotes circulation to support repair of skin & injured tissue
• Calms sensitive, reactive skin with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties
• Protects the skin barrier with antioxidants

GOTU KOLA

Hawai'i Grown
• Aerial parts of Centella asiatica
• Supports microcirculation to enhance nutrient delivery for repair of damaged tissues
• Calms irritation and protects against oxidative stress with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity
• Boosts collagen production to strengthen skin and improve elasticity
• Enhances blood flow to the head to boost hair growth

CALENDULA

Hawai'i Grown
• Bright golden blossoms of Calendula officinalis
• Accelerates wound healing by stimulating tissue regeneration
• Calms rashes, burns, and other skin irritations with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects
• Helps maintain skin hydration and strengthens the skin’s natural barrier

Find more in depth profiles on a selection of our favorite botanicals below:

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

BEESWAX & PLANT BUTTERS

We work with raw, unprocessed, honey-scented beeswax sourced straight from the hives of Hawai'i beekeepers. Our beeswax is sourced from Wai Meli on Big Island, who's been tending to their honeybees with organic practices since 2011.

We also bring in Fair Trade, organic, raw Cacao & Shea butters for their unparalleled skin-repairing properties. These natural plant butters are produced solely through mechanical pressing (similar to our carrier oils), without the need for hydrogenation (the same process used to make margarine, required for butters like mango & avocado).

By incorporating fats that are solid at room temperature, we are able to transform our herb-infused carrier oils into salves, balms, butters & bars that are more shelf stable and packed with skin-nourishing properties.

BEESWAX & PLANT BUTTER PROFILES

BEESWAX

Produced in Hawai'i | Organically cultivated
•  Sourced from honeybee hives {Cera alba} to yield a honey-scented wax
• Forms a breathable protective barrier on the skin that helps lock in moisture
• Contains natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties
• Supports wound healing and soothes dry or irritated skin
• Adds structure and stability to oil-based formulations without clogging pores

SHEA BUTTER

Fair Trade | Organic | Unrefined
• Pressed from the nuts of the Shea tree {Butyrospermum parkii} to yield a soft butter with a nutty aroma
• Contains stearic and oleic acids that deeply moisturize and soften the skin
• Rich in triterpenes, vitamin A, and fatty acids that help support collagen production and tissue regeneration
• Helps calm inflammation and protect sensitive or reactive skin
• Commonly used to soften the appearance of scars & stretch marks, and improve skin texture over time

CACAO BUTTER

Fair Trade | Organic | Unrefined
• Pressed from roasted cacao beans {Theobroma cacao} to yield a chocolate-scented butter that's solid at room temperature
• High in saturated fats that provide long-lasting hydration and skin barrier support
• Contains polyphenols, vitamin E, and phytosterols that help calm inflammation and protect against environmental stress
• Improve skin elasticity for a supple, even complexion
• Traditionally used to reduce the visibility of stretch marks, especially during pregnancy

ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils are the final touch in many of our formulations, adding a lovely dose of aroma and potent benefits. Produced by the ancient art of distillation, where plant material is heated with water and the steam is condensed, essential oils are comprised of the most 'volatile' or quick-to-evaporate botanical constituents.

Extremely concentrated, essential oils are powerful and need to be used with care. And because they require huge amounts of plant material to produce, there are very few essential oil distillers in Hawai'i. We source the few we can locally, and the rest are from reputable suppliers all over the world.

Aside from essential oils, we work with a number of other aromatic extracts including absolutes & resinoids (particularly for perfumes). As of late, we've been experimenting with in-house enfleurage & absolute extractions, which will slowly make their way into our formulations!

Still reading? Considering joining me for a workshop in Honolulu or enrolling in one of our online courses to learn how to create your own botanical formulations!

HONOLULU WORKSHOPSVIRTUAL COURSES