Natural Ingredients

It’s important to us to keep the ingredients used in our products safe, natural, and locally sourced when possible. Due to these values and to our love of gardening, we grow a lot of our own herbs, flowers, and other botanicals. From Lavender and Calendula to Rosemary and Peppermint, many of the plants used in our products come straight from our garden. We also have our own hives of honeybees so are able to source our own beeswax and honey. We’re aiming to be able to grow or collect all of our own botanicals in the future but for now, also purchase beeswax direct from other small scale beekeepers on the Isle of Man.

Though we use some plants specifically for natural colouring, others have properties that can help soothe, heal, and cleanse the skin. Calendula petals, for example, are wonderful in helping treat chapped and irritated skin but also produce a golden orange colour that looks gorgeous in our Sunny Calendula soap. Where a botanical is mentioned as being in a product we also provide a little bit of information as to how it is beneficial for your skin.

Other ingredients such as essential oils are sourced from both local retailers and cosmetic suppliers in the UK. All are certified as food-grade or for cosmetic purposes.

Each of the ingredients used in each product is clearly labelled in plain English under each item’s description. A list of our natural ingredients and their properties can also be found below but if you’d like to find out more about a particular item we encourage you to research it further.

Botanicals

When the term ‘botanicals’ is used it means anything that grows from the earth or which is directly produced by a living organism. Botanicals we use include Seaweed and Kelp, Calendula, Peppermint, Lemon Balm, Rose petals, Honey, Lavender, Madder Root, Alkanet Root, Goat Milk, and Oats.

Alkanet Root • Alkanna tinctoria

Alkanet root provides the beautiful purple colour found in our Lavender Soap. Though it may have been used in folk medicine to treat wounds and ulcers, its primary function in our products is its natural colour.

Beeswax • Cera alba

Beeswax from our own bees and from other local (Manx) beekeepers is used in our Manx Beeswax Lip Balms. With the natural scent of honey, beeswax is helpful in healing chapped lips, preventing cold sores, and keeping your lips well moisturised.

Calendula Petals • Calendula officinalis

Calendula is a beautiful golden flower that is used in two ways in our calendula products. It lends its sunny colour then its gentle healing properties help to treat chapped or irritated skin by helping to stimulate healing.

Honey • Mel

Honey is nutritious for you both inside and out. On your skin, it helps to attract and hold water which helps it to stay moisturised and supple. It also has anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties which can be beneficial for those suffering from acne and dermatitis. We use honey in our ‘Manx Honey & Oatmeal’ soap.

Lavender • Lavandula angustifolia

Lavender is a deep scented floral essential oil that is used extensively in aromatherapy to calm both mind and body. Aside from its ability to soothe, it is safe enough to use directly on the skin and is greatly beneficial to the healing of wounds, burns, and skin irritations. Our Lavender products.

Madder Root • Rubia tinctorum

The deep red roots of Madder have been used for generations as a natural red and pink colourant. Used in our ‘Rose Geranium soap‘, Madder root provides a deep feminine pink with tiny specks of red throughout.

Neem Tree Oil • Melia azadirachta

This amazing oil is used to treat various skin disorders due to its strong anti-inflammatory action and emollient properties. Touted as the best natural treatment for eczema and psoriasis, find it in Neem Treatment Balm.

Oatmeal • Avena sativa

Oatmeal adds natural exfoliation but it’s also great for soothing inflamed and dry skin. Our oatmeal soaps include Manx Honey & Oatmeal and Pure and Natural.

Peppermint • Mentha piperita

With its naturally cooling sensation, Peppermint oil is used in several of our products including lip balm and soap. It’s a gentle herbal oil that is best known for its distinctive scent but it’s also effective at reducing redness and inflammation and treating skin conditions such as acne.

Rosemary • Rosmarinus officinalis

The fresh and clean scent of rosemary can really stimulate your mind and add energy to your day. A natural disinfectant, it’s ideal for use on troubled or injured skin making it a useful addition to both our ‘Gardeners’ Hand Soap‘