Imogen Skin Care

Once you Balm you can never go back to creams!!

Love this winter elixir. Have you tried it?

Love this explanation
I get this question a lot

ELIXIRS vs HYDROSOLS

We get asked a lot about the difference between our Hydrating Elixirs and our Hydrosols. There are a couple of key differences:

HYDROSOLS
Hydrosols are outstanding plant medicines all on their own. Our Single Farm Hydrosols are made by distilling water through freshly harvested plant material. They are artisan made for us and are therefore not a byproduct of essential oil distillation, which allows them to have an entirely different phytochemical profile, including less common nutrients like PALMITIC ACID and SQUALENE, which support our skin barrier health. Water holds memory. Our cells hold memory. Imagine consciousness stored in the beautiful plant waters of our hydrosols, distilled exclusively for us, from seed to harvest. I love contemplating their journey and wisdom each time I mist them over my skin or my pillows or my office space when I’m working.

Hydrosols are also a beautiful way to include hydrating plant essences into the daily lives of babies and children! For various reasons, most skincare products are not appropriate or needed for children’s skin but HYDROSOLS are wonderful for all stages of life. For pre-teens who are interested in taking care of their skin, hydrosols are ideal and introduce a relationship to plants that is very clear, helpful and accessible!

ELIXIRS
There are some phytonutrients that are not captured through the distillation process, and that includes vitamin C, polysaccharides, B vitamins, and a whole list of other beneficial nutrients. This is where our whole plant macerations come into play and where the vibrant color of our Elixirs comes from! Our Elixirs are richer, thicker, and more like sprayable mist/serum hybrids that are high in water-soluble nutrients that support skin firming, plumping, and long-term cellular vibrancy.

Our Hydrosols and Hydrating Elixirs are known to be game-changers when added to a daily skincare routine. What have you noticed when you’ve added water-based nutrients to your skin?

Where We Shine: Lipid Oils

Ingredient quality is the heart of everything we do and when it comes to the oils we use, well, they really set us apart.

From Tamanu and Rosehip to Almond and Sunflower, every oil we use is meticulously sourced. (And yes, we’ve seen the PUFA debates. See our July post for our take.)

When I first started formulating, I noticed dramatic differences in oils—even from trusted distributors. Labels like “organic” and “cold-pressed” didn’t guarantee quality. (Spoiler: “cold-pressed” doesn’t mean anything). So I followed my curiosity to the best possible source. That path has shaped Laurel Skin ever since.

As a former sommelier and herbalist, I know that minimal intervention preserves nutrients. In wine, that’s where the good stuff lives, and the same is true for skincare.

Most oils used in beauty and skincare products are highly refined: colorless, odorless, stripped. These highly processed oils like Almond, Avocado or Sunflower are often some of the cheapest in the industry - typically imported from regions where labor can be ethically questionable. They are empty, hollow lipids that have been stripped of their phytonutrient structure. They’ve been heated, with their enzymes denatured, and rendered lifeless.

Our oils are the opposite - for us, these common name oils are some of our most costly. They're raw, unrefined, unheated, regionally sourced, and pressed fresh exclusively for us; sometimes taking up to 10 hours per gallon to press! (We use the term “Slow Farmed Beauty” for very good reasons!) They are made from a combination of whole plant material - not just a stripped nut or seed. They contain a stronger phytonutrient and antioxidant structure than I’ve found found anywhere in the world. Bold claim? Maybe, but I’ve done the work to make it.
These lipids are powerful whole plant medicines. Can you tell?

These vibrant lipids live in our Serums and Balms, and they’re part of what makes Laurel Skin truly unique.

xo,�Laurel

Well said Laurel Skin
We love your plant goodness!

SINCE THE BEGINNING
I sometimes hear from people that our products are too “herbal”.

Yep. Please allow me NOT to apologize for that.

I can’t even express how easy it would’ve been to build a brand full of commercially appealing products - pretty to look at, convenient to use. But if I’d gone that route, our formulas would be just like everything else out there - Soulless. White. Bland. Water, refined oils, emulsifiers, preservatives, synthetic nutrients, and fragrance. Paint by number.

What we’re doing at Laurel Skin—and what I’ve always set out to do—is something entirely different. We make herbal medicine for the skin. We are here to truly transform the health of our skin, not to suppress or diminish.

Our products will look like plants. They will smell like plants. You will see ACTUAL plants.

If you’re looking for a “natural” line that is made of silky, poly-emulsified creams, with all the trending biotech mixed in and maybe a couple plants thrown in for good marketing… there are thousands of those out there. In fact, when I look out there, it is all I see.

We are not that.

We are real whole plants - not processed, diluted, or chemically refined plant material.

Every decision we make when formulating is to ensure our final product is as nutrient dense and potent as possible.

Powdered Masks? On purpose.

Earthy-smelling Serums? Also on purpose.

Balms over Creams? Definitely on purpose.

I will never apologize for the visible, lasting results that happen when you use real whole-plant medicine.

I have always wanted you to have the healthy skin you could imagine. And I am interested in nothing less than the most authentic expression of herbal medicine to heal the skin.

xo Laurel

Common question: How do I achieve DEWY skin?

We all seem to be obsessed with DEWY skin—but why, and what does “dewy” actually mean? One thing is clear: people may not know exactly how to define it or how to achieve it, but they definitely know it when they see it.

We asked around and, while the answers were varied, DEWY SKIN was most often described as:

✨Healthy!
🌿Fresh!
💦Hydrated!
⭐️Radiant!
🫧Plump!
🍯Juicy!

This all sounds amazing, right?! So, how do we get there? Here’s our recipe for achieving DEWY skin using whole plants:

GENTLE EXFOLIATION: Dewiness is as much about texture as it is about a glossy finish. Gentle exfoliation, rich in hydrating herbs and nutrient-dense superfoods, will help you achieve a smooth, refined texture, allowing your skin’s radiance to shine through. Our ALMOND ROSE EXFOLIANT and HONEY BERRY MASK are your best allies for this!

VITAL HYDRATION: Dry and dehydrated skin are not the same, but both need the proper balance of water and oil for maximum dewiness. Always layer a generous misting of our HYDRATING ELIXIRS under your Serum and/or Balm. For an extra dewy boost, mist with an Elixir or Hydrosol over makeup and throughout the day.

BARRIER SUPPORT: A healthy skin barrier is as much about what it keeps out as what it keeps in. Our lipid-rich SERUMS and BALMS help strengthen and support skin barrier function, locking in hydration and providing essential moisture while providing a layer of protection against environmental damage.

FROM THE INSIDE OUT: The biggest secret (or not-so-secret secret!) is that healthy skin IS dewy skin. If you’re an avid Laurel Skin user you’re likely getting plenty of these essential nutrients topically. But don’t forget to feed your skin from the inside - what you drink and eat counts too! Drink natural spring water or add trace minerals (or a pinch of unrefined sea salt) to your water to support key biological processes and enhance cellular function. Eating whole, unprocessed foods rich in healthy fats, antioxidants, and vitamins is also key to healthy skin.

What are you doing to achieve plump, radiant, DEWY skin?

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Ryanne Asher how come we never tried this with all the magic you work? Lol

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Hello Ladies and Gents!
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