the skinny on skin part II: tinc & tone

bless me father for i have sinned, it's been over a month since my last blog post. i haven't been catholic since the 90s, but that repetition really sticks with ya.

i've never met a person without a skincare regimen. even if it's just "i fall asleep with my makeup on and wash it off 2 days later in the shower", everyone has an answer to the question of how they care for their skin. if you want to know mine (and even if you don't) it's this: nutritive cleanser and face finishing moisturizer by perricone MD in the AM (look, i'm not perfect. truly i have no idea how i even got hooked up with this stuff. i probably found some in the medicine cabinet at an air bnb once and decided it felt luxurious. i'll be honest that i don't even know what kind of "MD" perricone is or whether there is a ton of bullshit in the face cream. nonetheless, it goes on my face and it smells good.) and tea tree face wash in the PM followed by thyme toner and a dose of skin rescue tincture.

the thyme toner and skin rescue tincture are homemade by yours truly. and i know a parent always loves their own kids best, but they really are both amazing. 

thyme toner: menstruum is a combination of alcohol-free witch hazel w/ aloe, witch hazel with a bit of 14% alcohol to help with extraction, and rosewater. herbs are thyme, lavender, comfrey, and chammomile. 

skin rescue tincture: menstruum is trusty ol vodka (Tito's, i'm open to a sponsorship any time). herbs are dandelion root, burdock root, yellow dock, red clover, and milk thistle.

i find that thyme is so great for blemishes because of the antibacterial properties. and the rest of the liquids and herbs in the toner are calming and, well, toning. most of the herbs in the tincture help to eliminate toxins through the digestive system that might otherwise be trying to get out through your skin and cause breakouts. the red clover has estrogen-like properties* that help with skin elasticity and can reduce inflammation. i've personally had success with both after tens of years of struggling with commercial products and prescriptions.

​get in touch if you want me to set any aside for you once they're bottled!

*use caution with red clover if you are at risk for breast cancer or other hormone-sensitive conditions. use caution with the tincture in general if you are taking any medications for your liver or have liver concerns.