Meet Cheri.
I am often asked about my skincare routine… The answer may surprise you.
I am an herbalist, turned skincare enthusiast, and holistic wellness professional. From a young age, I have had an affinity for plants and all things terrestrial, always making “tea” from the wild mint, and “mud pies” from the rich red clay dirt of my hometown- Paradise, California. My first ingredients were Pine, Blackberry, and Horsetail, which grow in abundance along the magical Feather River. So, it was no surprise when I began my studies in both traditional and clinical herbalism in my early 20’s. I started my first line of herbal first-aid and wellness formulas, Herban Myth Botanicals, and from there, began formulating skincare, using my knowledge of medicinal plants, and experience with healing oils.
My first skincare formulation, way back in the year 2000, was a home-made, natural acne treatment using almond oil, geranium, and carrot seed oil. Experiencing embarrassing acne as a young woman, and finding that drugstore ‘skincare’ just exacerbated the problem, I sought out to find a better way to take care of my skin. Seeing results from my home-made formula, I ditched harsh cleansers, and chemicals altogether. I radically changed my skincare routine, and started cleansing only with water, and moisturizing with pure olive oil. A radiant complexion emerged, but it would still be years before I realized how radical what I was doing really was.
In an age where makeup, harsh treatments, and filters actually cover up our unique complexions’ natural beauty, I prefer to simplify my skincare, and encourage good health to find a radiant, natural glow. Our lifestyles, environment, and common skincare products can be a source of toxic chemicals, often containing endocrine disruptors, without us even knowing it. These substances can actually keep us in a cycle of breakouts, inflammation, imbalance, and premature aging. My goal is to educate people about the benefits of plant and oil based skincare, helping to break this cycle, bringing our skin, and our lives back into balance with nature.
As I age into my 40’s, not only has preventative skincare become a priority, but avoiding toxic ingredients, pesticides, and endocrine disruptors is essential to me. Skin is the largest organ in the human body, and it is vitally important to me that my products are clean, pure and effective. The closer my ingredients are to nature, the better I feel about using them on my skin. The more accessible the routine, the easier it is integrate healthy habits. Oil. Plants. Water. Never overcomplicated, radically simple, and effortless skincare.
