About Earth Alkemie

Li's story:

I have been learning about environmental issues since I was a teenager (about 1992). Back then, I had flawless skin, and regularly used conventional and commercial products, including many popular lines that I thought were 'natural' (but were really mostly synthetic with only a small percentage of natural ingredients). Though I knew a lot about environmental issues, like most people I gave little thought to the majority of the ingredients used in cosmetics. I just assumed that every ingredient I didn't recognize and couldn't pronounce was completely safe, non-irritating, non-toxic, and also benefited the skin, because why else would they be used if they weren't safe or good for the skin?

My viewpoint about cosmetic ingredients soon changed sometime during and after college. I was prescribed birth control pills for menstrual problems, and my once flawless skin soon became very oily but dry, and I began to get acne. Around this time (2001), I also worked at a perfume counter in a major department store. After only a few months of working there, I became very sensitive and allergic to many fragrances and conventional cosmetics, and developed hives from many products that I had been using for years. I began to pay more attention to labels and research cosmetic ingredients. After learning about the amount of fillers (ingredients that are in the formulation mainly for texture or to make the product feel or smell good but do little for the skin), many irritating, and some potentially toxic synthetic ingredients used in most conventional cosmetic lines, I decided to make the switch to completely natural or products that were as natural as possible. As I learned more about ingredients, although I found several 'natural based' (mostly natural with a few synthetics) skin and hair care lines, I initially didn't find that many products in stores that were truly 'all natural' (100% natural) or 'nearly all natural' (almost all natural but may contain 1-2 synthetic ingredients in low percentages like preservatives) (in later years I found a few lines that were, but at the time didn't). While these products contained a lot of wonderful natural ingredients, most of them were only 'natural based' and still contained many synthetic ingredients (many of these synthetics were relatively benign and safe to use in skin care, but many others were either known irritants or potentially toxic). While some of these products helped improved my skin and hair, many of them didn't work that well for me: I was still plagued with acne, and my skin and hair were still very oily but dry. Though thankfully they got rid of the hives!

Frustrated, I began to craft my own cosmetics, and research even more about natural and synthetic ingredients, natural cosmetics, formulation, aromatherapy, and herbalism. To my own disappointment, many of the recommendations and recipes in books didn't seem to work for my skin, which didn't seem to match any skin type described. My whole face (and not parts of it) was dry and flakey but also very oily and blemished at the same time. The recommended natural recipes and ingredients for dry skin were often too rich, which clogged my pores and made my acne worse, and tips for oily skin seemed to dry my skin out more (and then ironically my skin would produce even more oil, leading to more breakouts). After much trial and error (and finally stumbling literally upon a sentence or two in a couple books describing my skin type at the time, which was dehydrated), and after more research and experimentation (by 2003), I figured out which ingredients worked for my skin type, what ingredients worked better for other skin types and conditions, and application methods (since there are no fillers, natural products generally should be applied sparingly on the facial area; for some people, applying too much can clog pores. I was applying way too much which broke me out, and my skin was also purging/detoxifying). Nowadays, my skin is balanced, clear, and healthy again.

About six or so years ago (around 2005) I begin blogging and posting on forums to help people select and craft 'all natural', 'nearly all natural', or 'natural based' products (though many natural based lines contain certain synthetics that I personally do not recommend using, there are many other lines out there that contain mostly benign, non-toxic synthetics) to improve their skin and to use more ecologically-minded products. Through blogging and posting on forums (and even moderating one for three years for a diy ingredient, natural based cosmetics vendor) I realized how much I enjoyed helping people find and use exceptional skin care and eco-friendly alternatives. I also realized how much crafting, herbalism, and aromatherapy (once only hobbies) had become my passions.

I have been crafting my own skin care for over a decade, and love sharing my products with others. It is my hope that my herbal and aromatherapy blends will not only take care of your skin, but will also nurture your emotions and spirit too :)

Cheers,

Written on February, 2010. Edited January, 2011.

Please note: Just because something is 'synthetic' does not automatically mean it is 'bad', and just because something is 'natural' does not mean it is completely 'safe'. Ingredients from nature should be treated with respect, as many are very potent substances, and when used incorrectly can be irritating or toxic. Having said that, I prefer, formulate, and use all natural and nearly all natural cosmetics because I personally believe natural substances are overall safer, more soothing and gentler for the skin, and in addition plants contain high levels of many actives including antioxidants and nutrients. :)