🌿🌿🌿Chaga Cream
Since there's quite a few Chaga creams that have been going out in the mail, I figured I'd do a recap on it 🥰
This skin remedy is all about sustainability and crafting what's around you for medicine, my favorite kind of remedy making. This Chaga cream is hydrating, enhancing, protecting and healing the skin from every angle. For the Tallow base, I used venison tallow, rendered from the fat I harvested and infused with Chaga I harvested on the shores of lake superior. Vanilla bean (because oh how delightful the scent becomes 😍). A strong Chaga decoction in water and Non GMO Emulsifying wax to emulsify both the water and oil components. Preserved with the natural synergy preserve, coconut derived. I use the Chaga in both the water component and the fat, or "oil" component because Chaga has a lot to offer with both solubilities and has a plethora of benefits topically. From its anti inflammatory properties, to aiding with skin sensitivity and acne (thanks to the kojic acid). The betulinic acid found in Chaga is responsible for its skin cell regenerative properties. Chaga is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients for the skin. It's extremely beneficial to all ages and stages 🥰
A little recap on Tallow and PUFA. The healing that tallow offers is backed by time honored traditions. These are the methods our ancestors used. The original care. Most natural products we use on our skin these days are filled with inflammatory PUFAs which are unstable and can be toxic to the body. Tallow on the other hand is far more balanced and offers stability and slows oxidation. Tallow is also loaded with bioavailable nutrients, both for your skin and internally. Let's go down the rabbit hole of polyunsaturated fatty acids- aka PUFAs.
Skin care products that are made with PUFAs and touted to be anything and everything for our skin. I've certainly used plenty of them for myself, for my family and in products. They have so many great qualities, and I'm not going to sit here and say they're all bad, but moderation is certainly key as with everything. Essentially, the issue with PUFAs is that they are most times unstable and this leads to oxidation (damage and deterioration) when they're exposed to light, heat or air (so, anytime they're on our skin). Their molecules have double bonds, rendering them weak and easily broken. So why does any of this matter? Well, when these oils on your skin oxidize it creates a free radical cascade which damages what may have been previously UNdamaged lipids in your skin. PUFAs have now been identified as the main culprit of cellular damage. In fact, there have actually been studies done of internal use of PUFAs vs not, and how quickly the individual consuming PUFAs skin starts to get damaged and deterioration sets in, because what you eat affects your skin too.
I struggle during the winter with my skin, the dryness really causes me issues. It's important to learn about our bodies, what it needs and how to give it what it needs to keep any of those unpleasant winter skin issues at bay. That's what this product line is is all about. Honoring what our bodies need through this next season.