Seasonal Rituals

Slow Down This Summer: An Herbal Evening Ritual

Summer is made for being outdoors: gardens, woodland trails, long golden evenings. But all that sun, wind, and soil can leave your skin ready for a little TLC by the end of the day.

My favorite way to wind down is with an herbal salve, massaging something rich in botanical oils and nourishing ingredients into my tired hands and skin while the day quietly fades. Simple, intentional, and completely handcrafted.

This season I've been reaching for two favorites from my shop. Honeyed Veil Salve, made with propolis and Manuka honey, is deeply nourishing and protective. Perfect for hardworking summer skin. And Nettle & Lavender Salve, crafted with calendula, plantain, purple dead nettle, and lavender, is a soothing botanical blend that's especially lovely as part of an evening wind-down.

Handmade with care, the way it should be.

💋 Why Your Lip Balm Melts in the Heat — And How to Bring It Back

Customers ask us why natural lip balm melts so much faster than a drugstore one. It comes down to ingredients. Plant-based oils and butters; coconut oil, shea butter, the things that make natural balms good for your lips, start softening near body temperature, about 98°F. A car parked in the sun can climb past 130°F, so it doesn't take long. Beeswax is the more heat stable piece of the formula, holding its shape to around 145°F, which is part of why we lean on it.

A few habits help: keep your tube stored upright, resting on the twist-knob, so if it does soften it resolidifies in the tube rather than leaking into the cap. Skip the car console, cupholder, or a bag left in direct sun. If a balm does turn soft or runny, an upright stint in the refrigerator for 15–20 minutes solidifies it again with no change to quality. On the go, an insulated pouch or even keeping it tucked in a bag rather than a hot dashboard makes a real difference.