Happy summer, y’all!
Thanks to my Aunt Julie for the photo, and for helping us eat this cake!
We’re in it now, aren’t we? Memorial Day, summer solstice, and the 4th of July are all behind us. What lies ahead? Corn, berries, peaches, tomatoes! And dry skin.
I was just in Wisconsin visiting my mom and we made this olive oil citrus cake to celebrate her birthday. We used orange as the citrus, but had I been there in February when my trip was originally scheduled, I would have made it with Meyer lemons as she is fanatically in love with lemon flavored anything. Instead, we used orange, topping it with softly whipped cream and strawberries–DELICIOUS! And I brought her a bag of Lemon Crinkle cookies made by my friend Flour Girl. You can’t go wrong with anything made by Shannon.
I noticed through those humid Midwestern days that I was not desperate to have my lip balm handy at every turn. When I’m in California, I am 100% dedicated to having a tube of lip balm with me at all times. If I go out to hear music, I bring money, my keys, and a tube of lip balm. There are tubes tucked in my car, my office, my purse, rolling around on my dresser. You get the point. I cannot be without it. Lip balm was the first product my daughter and I started making way back when, before Spring Street Botanicals was born. We wanted to make a balm that included clean, non-toxic ingredients. But when in Grafton: no lip balm? No problem. Most of the time, I didn’t even know where it was. As soon as we flew over SFO, I whipped that tube out before we hit the tarmac.
I’ve always had dry skin. Very dry skin. My Ayurvedic constitution is made up of primarily air and ether (Vata) and secondarily, fire and water (Pitta). Those with Kapha doshas are the ones with the soft, dewy skin. Me? This dried out picnic table is the equivalent of mine. So it makes sense that I took my herbal journey in the direction of skincare. I’ve created infused oils, balms, salves, butters, scrubs, creams, and now I’m researching ingredients for a serum. All for the purpose of keeping our skin in good health.
I was looking at my leather purse one day, noticing how dry, cracked, and worn it was. Ah ha! We condition leather and wood, and we wax the paint on our cars to enhance appearance and protect it from environmental damage. That is exactly what we do with our skin. For some reason this connection made me think differently about committing again to a daily habit of skincare for my entire body, not just my face. Working moisturizers into our skin is a way to preserve, feed, and protect our largest organ—our barrier against the outside world.
The integumentary system (or skin) consists of three basic layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis.
The epidermis is the outer layer keeping hydration in, and protecting against harmful UV radiation and pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The cells of the epidermis are mostly dead, and thus, exfoliation to regularly slough off those cells is important to help boost cell turnover, improve circulation, and allow for better absorption of our moisturizing skincare products.
The dermis, or second layer, provides the structural support of the skin, containing glands, follicles, blood vessels, sensory receptors, and connective tissues. This is the layer where repair and regeneration occurs.
The hypodermis, or deepest layer of this system, contains adipose and connective tissues, insulating our bodies, acting as a sort of shock absorber, and connecting our skin to our muscles and bones. Feed these layer with lots of hydration, and a diet rich in antioxidants, proteins, and essential fatty acids.
It is true that, as we age, we lose collagen and our skin thins, becoming more prone to bruises and cuts. I don’t know that moisturizing daily can stop the realities of aging, but I do believe that if we tend our skin regularly, we can trend more toward the soft and supple petals of this fragrant Cécile Brunner rose than that wonderful old picnic table.
My dad made that table, and we love it, cracked paint and all. This is the attitude I’m aiming to hold toward my self, my skin, and my body as I travel through the years: love it, cracked paint and all!
Here are some of my favorite ways to anoint my skin.
Specifically for summer skin, I created Sunny Butter. Calendula-infused sunflower oil, seabuckthorn CO2, and carrot seed essential oil protect our cells from those aging UV rays. Moisturizing shea butter and the delightful, grounding scent combo of lavender, frankincense and palmarosa add to the carrot seed EO, and I can’t stop applying this to my face (after a spritz of hydrosol to help it glide) and my body to protect and nourish before and after summer days in the sun.
Another major factor to tending our skin is SUNSCREEN! We all know it’s important to apply sunscreen often. My good friend with great skin who doesn’t skimp on self-care uses Drunk Elephant and I’m about to order mine. Thanks for the tip, KLB.
I’m overdue, but it’s also important to schedule a yearly full-body exam with a dermatologist. When I saw mine last, she told me I was a boring patient and, in this case, that’s what we like to hear!
Visit me and the lovely Michelle Schultz at Lucky Heron on Thursday, July 24th from 5:00-7:30 pm, coincidentally, International Self-Care Day. Established in 2011, the International Self-Care Foundation is a globally focused non-profit, promoting the importance of the seven pillars of self care.
None of the pillars are Shopping for botanical skincare, local art, and beautiful adornments sold at a small, woman-owned business in your hometown. But I believe that along with physical activity, mental wellbeing, and healthy eating, being connected with and supporting others in our community is absolutely vital for a good life. So come celebrate self-care with us! I’ll have the infused oil bar ready for you to create your next body oil. I’ve been loving the California sagebrush oil these days—so sweet.
