🌿 Skincare on the Homestead: Why We Chose to Make Our Own

This one is especially near and dear to my heart.

Did you know that women and men spend hundreds of dollars trying skincare products that end up tossed away or forgotten in the back of a cabinet?

We did too.

Drawer after drawer… bottle after bottle… all promising “clean,” “gentle,” or “natural.”

What most people don’t realize is that many of those products—yes, even the ones labeled as “safe”—can still contain synthetic fillers, hidden irritants, and even ingredients derived from things your body may not tolerate.

One of the biggest eye-openers for us?

Lactic acid.

Common in skincare… and often derived from dairy.

🤎 When “Natural” Wasn’t Safe for Us

We learned this the hard way.

For years, our youngest daughter was constantly reacting to things—

skin flare-ups, sensitivities, not feeling well, swollen, sick to her stomach, hives—

and we couldn’t quite put our finger on why.

After what felt like endless appointments, an allergist finally gave us the answer:

She’s allergic to dairy.

Not the kind she’d outgrow…

The kind that changes everything.

A potentially life-threatening allergy caused by the proteins in milk.

So we did what any parent would do—

we changed everything we could control.

We adjusted her diet.

We removed dairy from our home entirely while she was little.

We became hyper-aware of what she was eating.

But even after all of that… something still wasn’t right.

She was still having reactions.

Still dealing with hive flare-ups.

Still struggling in ways that didn’t make sense.

That’s when it hit me—

It wasn’t just what she was eating.

It was what we were putting on her skin, too.

🧾 Reading Every Label Became a Way of Life

From that moment on, I didn’t just read every food label—

I read the back of every single product.

I researched ingredients I couldn’t pronounce.

I questioned everything.

I spent hours trying to figure out what was actually safe.

And finding skincare that truly fit our needs?

It felt like a full-time job.

So I asked myself the same question many of you probably have at some point:

What’s a mother to do?

🌾 We Made Our Own

We went back to what made sense.

Simple. Honest. From the land.

Right here on our homestead, we started creating skincare the way it used to be made—before the long ingredient lists and lab-created fillers.

Products made with ingredients we know, trust, and can stand behind.

A lot of trial, error, research and test batches!

🐖 Our Skincare, Rooted in Tradition

Every jar, every balm, every butter we create is crafted with:

• Local, grass-fed Kune Kune lard – deeply nourishing, rich in skin-loving vitamins, and incredibly similar to our skin’s natural oils

• Coconut oil – moisturizing and protective

• Jojoba oil – lightweight, balancing, and gentle for sensitive skin

• Pure shea butter – rich, creamy hydration

• Organic, high-quality essential oils like, lavender, frankincense, and helichrysum – for natural scent and therapeutic benefits

• Organic dried botanicals – like calendula, chamomile, and lavender, infused for their soothing properties

No fillers.

No hidden ingredients.

No shortcuts.

Just real, nourishing skincare.

🌿 Lard? (Yes, Really)

This is usually where people pause—and we get it.

But here’s the truth:

Traditional skincare relied on animal fats for a reason.

Lard is:

• Naturally rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K

• Incredibly compatible with human skin, closer than even tallow.

• Deeply moisturizing without feeling synthetic or harsh

And when it comes from pasture-raised, well-cared-for animals like the local farms we purchase from and our Kune Kunes…

It becomes something truly special.

❄️🌞 Seasonal Skincare, the Homestead Way

One thing we’ve learned living close to the land…

Your skin’s needs change with the seasons.

Just like we eat differently in winter than we do in summer—

our skincare should shift too.

That’s why we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach.

❄️ Winter: Tallow-Based Skincare

In the colder months, skin tends to be:

• Drier

• More sensitive

• Prone to cracking and irritation

This is where tallow shines.

Tallow is:

• Richer and more deeply protective

• Slightly heavier, creating a natural barrier against harsh winter air

• Packed with nutrients that help repair and restore dry, stressed skin

  
  

It’s like wrapping your skin in a warm, nourishing layer when it needs it most.

🌞 Summer: Lard-Based Skincare

In the warmer months, skin needs something different.

Heat, humidity, and sun exposure call for:

• Lighter moisture

• Breathable hydration

• Something that won’t feel heavy or clog pores

That’s where lard becomes our go-to.

Lard is:

• Softer and more lightweight

• Easily absorbed into the skin

• Hydrating without feeling greasy in the heat

It gives your skin exactly what it needs—without weighing it down.

🌾 Rooted in Rhythm, Not Trends

Modern skincare often tries to be everything all at once.

But on the homestead, we’ve learned to follow a different rhythm—

Work with the seasons, not against them.

By rotating between tallow and lard throughout the year, we’re able to:

• Support our skin naturally

• Avoid unnecessary additives

• And keep things simple, effective, and intentional

🤍 Skincare That Feels Good—And Is Good

We didn’t set out to start a skincare line.

We set out to protect our daughter.

What came from that journey is something we now get to share with all of you:

Skincare that’s:

• Safe for sensitive skin

• Free from unnecessary additives

• Made in small batches with intention

• Rooted in homestead tradition

And most importantly…

Something you don’t have to second guess.

🌻 From Our Homestead to Your Home

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed reading ingredient labels…

If you’ve ever spent money on products that didn’t work…

If you’re just looking for something simpler, more honest, and truly nourishing…

You’re not alone.

And you’re exactly why we do this.

Because skincare shouldn’t feel complicated.

It should feel like coming home.