Wearing masks all day is saving lives and it’s causing some skin issues for many of you. 

I get it that this is becoming something that some of you can’t ignore anymore, and you’re looking for ways to prevent irritation and acne and all the other not-so-fun side effects of being a good human being and wearing your damn mask. 

Please keep in mind that I’m not an esthetician- I’m a clinical herbalist who has been in the making and using of natural botanical skincare products for over a decade, so I offer these insights from my own mind and experience. May it be helpful!

Cleanliness of Masks: first things first! Keep your masks clean! If you’re using the reusable cotton/silk kind of masks that are ubiquitously made now by all sorts of small makers, that’s awesome! Just make sure you wash them as regularly as you wash your underwear. Because you’re breathing into that all day, your skin is sweating into them all day, and if they’re dirty, they’re going to up the irritation factor for your skin. So get yourself a small collection of masks and rotate them very, very often. And wash them with a detergent that isn’t full of harsh chemicals, because the skin on your face is sensitive and you don’t want it getting irritated by that stuff. Similarly, if you’re using the disposable kind, you’ll want to swap those out at least every day. On hot days, maybe even multiple times a day. 

Material: from my experience, my favorite mask for breathability are the ones my friend made me out of 100% cotton. And apparently, they’re also really effective at filtering. It seems that in general, natural fibers are better for both breathability and filtration. So choose cotton or silk over polyester!

Cleanliness of Face: the same way you want your masks to be clean, you want to make sure you’re only wearing a mask over clean skin. Because dirty skin and clogged pores equals irritation. Wash your face in the morning and moisturize with a light, emollient oil. This way your skin is primed for the friction of the mask, and hydrated without being too densely covered. From my product line the best oils for this season and mask wearing would be: 

Handsome Serum (emollient and moisturizing but quickly and efficiently absorbed)

Sea Buckthorn Serum (repairing for pores and soothes irritations/breakouts while moisturizing). This is something I've guided several people to since opening the new shop, and they've all written back saying it's been majorly helpful!

Wide Awake Serum (usually recommended for eye area, but can absolutely be used all over. This is light and moisturizing and really great for sensitive skin- hence it being perfect for the eye area)

Makeup: don’t wear makeup under masks! Just don't. Even the nicer more natural face makeups do clog your pores, even if only slightly slightly, and the addition of a mask on top of that is going to cause irritation. The best situation for wearing masks is a clean face that’s lightly moisturized and nothing else. 

Skin Care: even with precautions, breakouts will still happen sometimes. I recommend doing a facial steam once or twice a week to open and clear out pores. Depending on your skin constitution there are different herbs that can be extra repairing/nourishing/helpful. Part of the Facial kits I’m releasing soon will have tins of herbs that are blended for different skin types. Soon, soon! 

I hope these tips help you and your beautiful face while you do your part to be a good human being and wear your mask!

From working in my darling brick & mortar shop, Homebody, for the past year and a half, I’ve come to realize the importance of some guidance when it comes to touring my work. We all get by with a little help from our friends. So in this case, your friend is me- Max- the maker of each item that appears in my shop. 

I sat down and thought about how to make this tour fun and accessible. Here is what I came up with! Hope it helps...

Thanks for shopping small and consciously this season….

 

FOR LITERALLY ANYONE // YOUR EVER-ANXIOUS BFF // THE NEW PARENTS in your life

Anything from the You’re Ok Collection!

I was inspired to make this line of both herbal remedy + aromatherapy versions of stress-relieving goods after nannying infant twins and hearing their mom say “you’re ok” over and over to them when they were fussy. It made me realize that no matter what age we are, or what phase of life we are in...we could use similar soothing. 

Choose from: Bath Soak, Tincture Blend, Tea Blend, Essential Oil Perfume Mist, Essential Oil Perfume Roll-On Oil, Essential Oil Diffuser Blend, The You're Ok Amulet, and The You’re Ok Bundle

FOR THE NEW HOMEOWNERS in your life

The first thing many folks wanna do with their new home, is cleanse their space. I’m so glad to have found some new friends who are also queer Jewish witches who make smoke cleansing wands out of locally sourced non-endangered plants. I chose Cedar & Yarrow for my shop because these are plants I feel most affinity for in this application… 

Smoke Cleansing Bundle....

Essential oil diffusers are great ways to utilize aromatherapy in one’s home. After years of using somewhat tacky plastic-y ones, I’m so happy to have found these beautiful wooden & hand-blown nebulizing diffusers that are a lovely decor piece on their own! And they even have an auto-off switch after a few hours of use. Functional Art at its finest. 

I also recently released 6 different Roots & Crowns essential oil diffuser blends that you can choose from! 

And of course BROOMS!

These brooms are handmade in Eugene, and dyed with non-toxic dyes. I am happy to offer either winged or whisk style brooms…great for small areas, corners that are hard to reach, and table-tops! 

FOR THE FACES in your life

My face serums are a really approachable, yet luxurious way to simplify a skin routine. These are to be used for both cleansing and moisturizing!

 I could go on and on about each one, but for a quick intro: 

Rose Serum: for dry- prone skin 

Handsome Serum: for sensitive-prone skin

Sea Buckthorn: for combination/oily-prone skin (yes! Oil on oily skin does not make more oil! It balances it!) 

Adam’s Oil: for dry, sensitive, facial-haired skin

And they each come in 3 sizes 

FOR THE LOVERS in your life

Anything from The Beloved Collection!

This whole collection is full of aphrodisiac herbs and sensual scents. Made with the intention of all kinds of self-love and love-with-another dates in mind. The Beloved scent profile that is found in the perfumes and bath soak have become a tried and true favorite in my shop, and there’s a reason for that! 

Choose from: Bath Soak, Bitters, Love Dust, Tea Blend, Essential Oil Perfume Mist, and Essential Oil Perfume Roll-On Oil

FOR THE WORKAHOLICS (you?) in your life 

One of the most profound permaculture principles that I’ve taken with me in my life is that “all work is half rest.” The endless-work, always-productive mindset that seems so ubiquitous in our society is just not sustainable. Call in The Rest Well Collection. Aromatherapy and herbal remedy blends to help encourage rest and aid sleep…

Choose from: Bath Soak, Bitters, Tea Blend, Pillow Mist, Essential Oil Perfume Roll-On Oil, and Essential Oil Diffuser Blend

FOR THE PUTS-CBD-IN-EVERYTHING FRIENDS in your life

I recently released a line of three CBD products! Made from potent, locally sourced CBD extract. All three products have been lab tested to ensure their CBD content. Also I wanna low-key let you know that the CBD Face Serum may be the best thing I ever made, in my personal opinion.

Since my webshop doesn’t yet allow the sale of CBD products through its processor (although, CBD is fully legal in all 50 states!) you can order these products via email or through the contact page on my website. And don’t worry! You won’t incur an extra shipping charge for these. If you place an order and email your CBD order to me right away, I will make sure they ship out all together! 

 Choose from: The Balm (an arnica-infused body salve), Face Serum, and Tulsi + Rose Tincture Blend

FOR THE WITCHES in your life

The Ritual Candle is my one candle offering, and it is amazing. Made from the best smelling oils, soy wax, and wooden wick that cackles slowly...this candle is great company to ceremony and rituals. 

The Elemental Notebook is a great tool for dream journaling, moon intentions, or any other kind of magical notes. 

My Amulet Necklaces were the very first offering I ever made under the name Roots & Crowns, and I’m so thrilled to have them back with actual gold chains and an upgrade in design quality. 

Choose from: You’re Ok, In Joy, To Connect & Be At Peace, and Protector 

 And of course.. The smoke cleansing wands. 

FOR THE QUEERS you wanna love up in your life 

I’m so glad that my Self Care with Pride Kit has been such a hit year round, because I say Pride-month-only marketing be damned! 

This bundle of goodies is to help spoil the queer babes in your life who deserve all the self care. And 10% of each Pride Bundle goes to local organizations that support queer youth. 

Oh and word on the street says there’s an actual rainbow botanical situation happening with the included bath soak! 

FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HEARTBREAK, LOSS, GRIEF in your life

One of the mots important categories of medicine I make is for the process of grief. When my community lost a friend to suicide a few years ago, I was cracked open and moved to devote a lot of my effort to help the healing process when the heart is jostled and hurting. 

The "To Connect and Be At Peace" amulet is a special talisman that contains herbs and the words "to connect and be at peace" in a little vial on a 14k gold chain. 

For ingestible herbs, I have the Heart Tonic & In Joy tincture blends...

May our hearts feel hope and trust that the deepest sadness will give way to joy...

FOR THE FLOWER POWERS in your life

It’s no secret that flowers are a MAJOR inspiration and fused element to Roots & Crowns. I made this bundle of self care with flowers a couple of years ago, and it’s a popular gift item!

Insider tip: the foot balm in this bundle is soooo good! 

FOR THE MIXOLOGISTS in your life

Did you know that I make a whole line of Bitters? In fact, my bitters were the first ingestible/topical product I ever made. These bitters are not only great in mixed drinks, they are also tincture-based and remedial so they all serve purposes beyond delicious flavors. From aphrodisiac yumminess to a blend that helps with seasonal sadness, I’ve got you!

Choose from: Beloved, Awake, Blues Away, Moon, Detox, Rest Well, and Forest

FOR THE BEARDED ONE in your life

Because even beards deserve some love. This serum was made to encourage self care for the skin and hair that grows on the face of a loved one. Nourishing, moisturizing, and helpful for any irritation that may come from maintaining these faces! 

Here's to Adam's Oil...

FOR THE BATH-ENTHUSIASTS in your life

How about some of the most decadent, mineral rich bath soaks that also smell incredible?!

These soaks are a great gift, and the bottles are so pretty that they tend to become vases for flowers, after the fact. 

Choose from Beloved, You’re Ok, Forest, and Rest Well 

FOR THE WOODSY BABES in your life

Somehow I have a whole bunch of forest-inspired products. I think that’s because I know the sense of grounded clarity I receive whenever I walk into the woods, and I always want to bring back into my spaces with me. 

Forest Clearing Room Spray is one of the best bathroom, car, drawer fresheners! 

Forest Bath is a mineral-rich soak that can be used as a foot or full body soak to hydrate the body with the scent of the forest...

Spruce & Cedarwood is a popular blend that comes in: Essential Oil Perfume Mist, Essential Oil Perfume Roll-On Oil, and Essential Oil Diffuser Blend

The Self Care of Forest Kit is a nice little gift bundle…

And of course, the coveted Doug Fir Chai which is a yummy spicy woodsy tea blend that often sells out at some point during the winter! 

FOR THE COME-IN-AND-HAVE-A-HOT-CUP-OF-TEA FOLKS in your life 

I have a whole line of libations that are loose-leaf teas and mushroom-cocoa elixirs...

The Cocoa Dust is a top-selling blend of adaptogen herbs and medicinal mushrooms, with organic cocoa! A healthy potion to add to a morning latte. 

The Love Dust is an aphrodisiac version of the Cocoa Dust, and can be used to make a date-night cocktail or dessert treats. 

For Tea Blends, choose from: Doug Fir Chai, You’re Ok, Beloved, Awake, Mama Love Day, Mama Love Night, Rest Well

FOR THE COFFEE-ADDICTS in your life

Listen. I’m allll about coffee. I enjoy my morning coffee ritual every single day. However, I also happen to know that the over-caffeinated versions of people sometimes backfire. 

Enter, the Awake Collection. Herbal and Aromatherapy blends to hedge the many extra cups of coffee that may not be the *best* for the adrenals. These potions can help keep the focus and deter energy slumps.

The Awake Serum is a great eye-area serum that smells so strongly of coffee (purely from infusion, no essential oils!) that whoever sniffs it may accidentally also lick it. Haha. Great for bags, easing inflammation around the eyes, and brightening up the face!

Also choose from: Awake Bitters, Tea Blend, Essential Oil Perfume Roll-On, and Essential Oil Diffuser Blend

FOR THE FREQUENT FLYERS in your life

Traveling for work or pleasure is cool, but have you tried anointing yourself with a germ-protecting oil that also smells fabulous? 

I offer the Protector blend as a roll-on oil, or diffuser blend. Great for folks who are on trains and planes a lot (or in schools or hospitals, too!). 

The Wellness Tincture blend is a great handy airport-friendly-in-size herbal remedy to keep those immune systems up to par on the journey. 

Spring time. Element of air. First breaths springing forth. Spirituality, the image of air/ being in spirit. Feelings of renewal. Spring cleaning. Birds come back out and things start blooming. So when we talk about self care for this season:

• Lots of slow stretching, our bodies have been tight and now is a good time to get the oxygen flowing in our blood to wake up all our organs and stir the brain.
• Breathing exercises. Since traditionally the element for spring is air, doing some good breathing exercises is a great idea.
• Decluttering. There’s a reason why spring cleaning is such a widespread thing. These days it’s not just about clearing out our closets, dusting forgotten corners, and readying the garden for the season. These days we have an extra opportunity to clear out our inbox, the millions of photos from our phone, and the more technological clutter that creeps into our lives.

I think living in the Pacific Northwest, with such intensely rainy grey dark winters, I always am still somehow amazed when Spring is here. It's kind of like there's a big confusing dark storm and then BOOM! blossoms and flowers everywhere. I don't know if it's just me, but I think since moving here I'm struck more by how sensitive I am when Spring arrives- there's almost a whiplash. So though Spring might feel like a push forward right away, it's also important to take care. 

Along with this change of season, often comes uncomfy allergy symptoms for some of us. 

Please remember that every body is different, and allergies are unfortunately a reality that takes trial and error, but hopefully the things that have worked for me can help you, too.

1. Probiotics. From everything I've read, it looks like the reason why probiotics help, is because they help balance the general inner ecosystem, so when there is an onslaught of foreign allergens and anything the body reads as toxic, the balanced inner ecosystem helps. Basically this means that probiotics should always be taken regularly to keep the body and immune system functioning at top-notch. Also, make sure you get on a good quality probiotic. Get one that is actually kept refrigerated! I know there are some shelf-stable probiotics out there, but I definitely notice a difference when I'm on the good ole' live probiotics that are kept alive in the refrigerator. 

2. Regular drinking of water and allergy-easing herbal tea. I blend and sell this one! 

3. NETTLES! Gosh I cannot encourage this enough. For the past few years since being in the Pacific Northwest, my allergies have been worse than ever, and I notice a significant difference when I take Nettles + Quercetin capsules. 

4. Eyebright/Euphrasia. The other thing I've struggled with a lot, is really itchy irritated eyes from allergic response. Last year I found out about Euphrasia, homeopathic remedy style, and it really does help. This remedy, in conjunction with some good homeopathic eyedrops, and I'm good to go! 

5. Eyedrops. Pretty self-explanatory. I like the brand called "Similasan." 

6. Apple cider vinegar. Besides for having probiotics (assuming you get the good stuff that has the "mother" in it!), ACV contains compounds that help balance the PH of the body, and in turn has been shown to be a wonderful remedy for allergies. 

7. Bee products. Pollen, honey, propolis. Obviously only if you're not allergic to bee products! But if you're cool with them, they do have natural occurring antihistamine properties- especially if you get pollen, honey propolis from a local beekeeper. Bees are magic and their medicine is nuanced for their local habitats. 

8. Since allergies is your body's way of expressing its feeling of being invaded by something undesired, it's important to keep things extra anti-inflammatory when your system is already compromised by histamines. I hate to say it, but gluten and dairy are two of the main inflammatory culprits in this way. I have a lot of experience and studies under my belt within the holistic nutrition field, and I'm not one who preaches any one particular diet, but during allergy seasons, it makes sense to avoid food products that the body would usually be able to process more easily. 

9. Due to all I just wrote in #8, adding in herbs that support the liver, ease inflammation and heat, and support the immune system as it manages the histamine reactions, is also helpful. I just released a tincture blend that I find perfect for this combination of goals. Check it out! 

Here are some products that I make that will be supportive during this season:

• Detox Bitters
• Spring Thing
• Lung Tonic 
• For Allergies: Herbal Tea
• Skin Ease 

Would consciously creating a dreamy/positive ritual at bed-time help those of us who just can't shut our brains off and relax? Probably. 

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Seven Winter Self Care Tips & Rituals to Support a Healthy, Happy Winter!

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