OUR INGREDIENTS

WHY I CHOOSE WHAT I CHOOSE

At Raw & Lovely, I don't choose an ingredient simply because it's popular, natural-sounding, or looks pretty on a label.

I choose it because I believe it belongs there.

Every ingredient that goes into my products is carefully considered and intentionally chosen. I spend time researching what I'm using, where it comes from, how it is made, and why it deserves a place in something you're putting on your skin.

I want to be able to look at every ingredient in a Raw & Lovely product and know exactly why it's there.

Tallow

Tallow is one of the foundations of Raw & Lovely.

I use 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef tallow sourced from a small family farm and wet rendered from suet. Tallow is rich in naturally occurring fatty acids and has a long history of being used in traditional skin care and soap making. I love using it because it is a simple, traditional ingredient with a beautiful history - and because its naturally occurring fatty acids make it a wonderful foundation for nourishing, moisturizing products.

For me, it represents something I love about Raw & Lovely: simple doesn't mean inferior. Sometimes the most beautiful ingredients are the ones that have been around for generations.

Olive Oil

Olive oil brings a beautiful, gentle quality to our soaps and skincare formulations. It is naturally rich in fatty acids and has long been valued for its use in skin and body care.

I choose quality olive oil because I want the oils in my products to do more than simply fill space in a recipe. Every oil has a purpose.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is another traditional ingredient I love for soap making. It contributes cleansing properties and helps create the rich, satisfying lather that makes a handmade bar of soap feel so good to use.

As with every ingredient, I use it thoughtfully and in balance with the other oils in a formulation.

Shea Butter

Shea butter is a beautiful plant-based butter that brings richness and conditioning to many of my products. I especially love it in formulations where I want a creamy, luxurious feel.

It is one of those ingredients that feels right at home in Raw & Lovely - simple, familiar, and purposeful.

Essential Oils

When I'm making products that stay on your skin - like balms, lotions, and other leave-on products - I tend to reach for essential oils more often.

I love essential oils for their beautiful, natural aromas and the way they allow me to create something that feels connected to nature.

But natural doesn't automatically mean appropriate for every person or every product. I take that seriously, which is why I carefully consider the essential oils I use, their intended application, concentration, and the overall formulation.

Fragrance Oils

This is one area where I am especially particular.

You will sometimes see fragrance oils in Raw & Lovely products, particularly in soaps and candles, but I don't choose them simply because they smell good.

I vet them. Carefully.

I look at the ingredients, the supplier, the available safety information, and the intended use before I ever consider putting a fragrance into a Raw & Lovely product.

I specifically seek out fragrance oils that meet my standards for clean formulation and that do not contain ingredients I have chosen to avoid, including ingredients associated with endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, or other health concerns.

And when I don't feel comfortable with an ingredient?

I don't use it.

That's my standard.

Micas

Micas are finely powdered mineral pigments that allow me to add beautiful color and a little bit of magic to my soaps and other creations.

But I don't choose a mica simply because I love the color.

I look for skin-safe, cosmetic-grade micas from suppliers I trust, and I pay attention to how they are intended to be used. I also seek out options that align with my preference for more environmentally conscious ingredients and responsible sourcing.

I carefully vet the micas I use because I believe that something being beautiful isn't enough.

It needs to meet my standards, too.

Micas allow me to create everything from soft, earthy neutrals to beautiful pops of color while still being intentional about what goes into the finished product.

Natural Clays

I absolutely love incorporating natural clays into my soaps and skincare.

Clays are naturally occurring minerals that have been used in traditional beauty and body care for generations. They can add beautiful, earthy color and contribute to the look, feel, and character of a handmade bar of soap.

Each clay has its own unique mineral composition, color, and characteristics, which makes them especially fun to work with.

You'll find clays such as kaolin, French green clay, rose clay, and others throughout different Raw & Lovely formulations.

But just because something comes from the earth doesn't mean I automatically put it into a product.

I vet my clays, too.

I consider the source, quality, intended cosmetic use, and available safety information before choosing a clay for a Raw & Lovely product.

Simple Doesn't Mean Basic

You'll notice a theme throughout Raw & Lovely.

I don't choose ingredients simply because they're trendy.

I don't believe that a product is automatically better because it has fewer ingredients.

And I don't believe that everything labeled “natural” is automatically better for everyone.

Instead, I believe in intentional formulation.

Every ingredient should have a reason for being there.

I want to understand what I'm using, where it comes from, how it functions in a formulation, and whether it meets my standards before I put it into a product.

And I'm always learning.

Ingredient education isn't something I consider finished.

New research comes out. We learn more. Suppliers provide new information. Standards evolve.

So I keep learning, keep researching, and keep asking questions.

Because you deserve to know what's in the products you're putting on your skin.

And I believe the more we know, the better choices we can make for ourselves and our families.

That's the Raw & Lovely way.

BEAUTY WITH INTENTION

Whether I'm choosing an oil, a butter, an essential oil, a fragrance, a clay, or a mica, my thought process is the same:

Where did it come from?

What exactly is it?

How is it intended to be used?

What does the available safety information tell me?

Does it meet my standards?

If the answer isn't one I'm comfortable with, I leave it out.

Because at Raw & Lovely, I don't believe we have to choose between beautiful and thoughtfully made.

We can have both.

And that's exactly what I'm striving for with every product I create.

SHOP COMING SOON!