HERBALIST SKINCARE
WHERE PLANTS BECOME MEDICINE FOR THE SKIN
At the core of Laurel Skin lies the power of whole plantsโraw, unrefined, unaltered, and carefully crafted into herbalist-made plant medicine for the skin. We often get grouped under the label of โplant-based skincareโ, and while that isnโt wrong, it isnโt the full truth either. Herbalism is the true foundation of our formulas, influencing every decision we make.
Herbalism is a type of practiced medicine in which plants and their vast network of phytochemicals are relied on to positively impact the body, its cells, organs, and tissues. When applied to skincare, herbalism becomes a way of supporting the skinโs innate intelligence rather than overriding it. Itโs the understanding that plants are not simply ingredients; theyโre complex, living systems.
The use of herbalism to treat all aspects of human health, including skin ailments, existed long before Laurel Skin was created. What weโve pioneered is bringing this ancient wisdom and technical skill to modern skincare, amplifying it with a traditional whole-plant approach that cannot be found elsewhere in the industry.
KEY DIFFERENCES
THIS IS PLANT MEDICINE
Unlike most plant-based skincare, which incorporates chemically refined plant extracts into a standardized formula base, our herbalist approach is the through line of every ingredient choice. Every Laurel Skin formula is built from the ground up using only raw, whole plants, each one serving the purpose to positively impact skin health.
WHOLE PLANT HERBALISM
While herbalist-created skincare is becoming slightly more common, a traditional whole plant approach is unique to Laurel Skin. Most Herbalist lineages believe that a plantโs vast synergistic chemical profile is more impactful than any of its single, isolated parts. Every plant is made up of hundreds to thousands of intricate constituents, harmoniously working together, and Whole Plant Herbalism relies on that full spectrum of a plantโs complex chemical profile to support the bodyโs natural functions. Our rare whole plant approach is one that others quickly abandon for less expensive or more easily accessible synthetic cosmeceuticals like retinol, ascorbic acid, or even lab-made bioidenticals such as astaxanthin and resveratrol. While these popular chemical compounds can be found in Laurel Skinโs formulas, they are present within the full matrix of a whole plantโs phytochemistry, ensuring that those nutrients can actually perform to their maximum ability.
UNCOMMON EFFICACY
Our herbalist approach to formulation preserves the vitality, enzyme activity, and antioxidant viability of a plant, capturing every synergistic constituent and optimizing each formulaโs bioavailability and efficacy. This is why our herbalist skincare formulas carry an uncommon potency and the capability to create deep and lasting shifts within the skin.
ATYPICAL USAGE
Vastly different from conventional skincare, our unique formulation approach is further reflected in the unique textures, colors, and application of our line. Laurel Skin products smell and look like plants, and simultaneously function like plants, because they are plants. We choose the best possible application for the efficacy we want you to see, and that will often show up as uncommon and atypical product usage that may take some getting used to.
in the lab
Herbalism as a Science
Just as cosmetic chemistry is a science all its own, so is herbal medicine making. Laurel Skin products are made in our GMP-compliant apothecary-lab in Petaluma, CA, where there is a constant flow of incoming plants and infusions are always in a rotation of being started or being pressed. As our lead formulator and herbalist, Laurel creates with a focus on skin physiology and phytochemistry; support with formulations and maintaining the lab comes from Sunny, a certified herbalist, and Rebecca, a chemist. Together, they apply proprietary methods of whole plant infusion and extraction techniques utilizing a wide array of organic mediums to capture the full spectrum of phytonutrients needed to make a formula effective.
Human benefits
TRANSFORMATIONAL OUTCOMES
Our herbalist skincare formulations offer an unparalleled level of support for skin health and longevity, providing both bioavailable nutrients and clear signals to the body, allowing our skin to respond with strength and deep vitality. Laurel Skin has proven that whole organic plants can rival – and even surpass – the results of cosmeceutical counterparts, especially when it comes to long-term skin health.
LIFE SYNERGY
Whole plants carry more than nutrientsโthey carry life force. Every Laurel Skin formula is alive with this vibrancy, and its presence can be felt emotionally, physically, and energetically. Allow it to reconnect you to Natureโs innate intelligenceโฆ and your own.
SKIN AS A SYSTEM
Herbalism approaches skincare through the lens of whole-body ecology, holistically integrating skincare into a broader context of health and well-being. Rather than forcing quick results or suppressing symptoms, herbalist formulas work with the bodyโs natural processes, supporting long-term balance, resilience, and overall skin health.