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I’ve held a dream in my heart for almost a decade. To take the healing power of touch to people: pop-up-spa-style. Making these restorative, transformative spa treatments available and accessible, especially for women who need it most. On a trip to South Africa back in 2018, a friend told me about a small group of women who were already doing this dream — and how I had to meet them.  South Africa is a place where immense beauty and intense heartbreak, gracious hospitality and the cruel corruption, unwavering resilience and ever-present fear all coincide. With a breathtaking view of Table Mountain to one side and the vast Atlantic coastline to the other, being surrounded by such beauty is in stark contrast to the reality of those living in Ocean View.  Ocean View is one of Cape Town’s government housing communities (or also known as a township) and all too known for its abuse, violence and poverty. Densely packed tin shacks line the dusty streets and families fear for their safety on a daily basis.  In the middle of this township consumed with immense pain, a small group of women saw a deep need for embodied care in their community and created a place of rest for those who were desperate for a respite from the winds and the wounds of their daily realities.  So they completely transformed a shipping container into a simple, serene spa space.  I was invited to visit Havilah Collective and was introduced to the local women who felt called to this kind of care — learning restorative touch techniques with essential oils and listening to stories of deep pain and divine redemption. Isabel and Debbie have dedicated their days to wholeheartedly showing up for their hurting sisters (even in the midst of their own stories of struggle and loss). Stories of trauma, tragedy and transformation were shared through tears as we sat together - an esthetician from Southern California and a mama who (unexpectedly) became massage therapist from South Africa - inside a shipping container. With its calming hues of blues, intentional touches of nature and uplifting essential oils infusing the air, this shipping container turned spa has become a place of peace for the surrounding township and a space for healing in the midst of unspeakable devastation.  Having a place where the parasympathetic can finally engage and the nervous system can actually regulate is a rare experience in this township. Fight or flight has become a normal, natural state for so many — bodies and minds consumed with fear, stress and tension. A state that does not allow healing to happen on a cellular or soul level. Havilah Collective was created to change that.  Understanding the deep need for healing in a war torn township, and believing in the profound impact that being held and being heard can have on restoring homeostasis, Havilah Collective transformed a shipping container into a spa on a mission to transform their community. A space where healing hands touch pain points and offer hope to a hurting soul. A space that provides solace from fear, where the mind can be still, the body feels safe, the soul can finally find rest, the spirit can hope once again.  Foundational aspects of human flourishing are experienced through intentional, healing touch. From that first encounter with Havilah Collective and seeing firsthand this dream I’ve held on to for years come to fruition through these women, I knew I wanted to come alongside what they’re creating and support my South African sisters in their calling — which I knew deep down was also mine. And that’s exactly what we’ve been doing through our holistic spa, The Spa at Primally Pure. We’re on a mission to support wellness through non-toxic products and healing touch, not just within our Southern California community, but around the world. Since day one of opening our spa doors in 2019, we’ve been donating 10% of every spa treatment to Havilah Collective to provide even more treatments to impact women holistically.  This past summer I had the insane privilege to visit Havilah again. This time with the purpose of loving on the women who pour out their heart and soul every single day. I flew to South Africa with a suitcase of Primally Pure products and facial tools to share the same restorative touch and time of rest they offer women in their own community. I had the most profound opportunity to stand in Isabel’s shoes. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year she has stood here, over this same table, offering this same touch. But this time, Isabel was the woman melting into the massage bed. This time, the caretaker was being cared for, her cup was being refilled, her soul becoming refreshed. Inhales, exhales, silent prayers, sweeping oils over her skin, holding acupressure points, touching pain points, melting tension, experiencing healing, restoring beauty. What a gift to get to share a gua sha facial in this shipping container, on this sacred ground. Through hope-filled prayers, cleansing tears and of course, teaching her simple gua sha techniques to continue to care for herself and others, it was as if everything has culminated for this moment. I knew this trip was for her. The ripple effect and impact of one woman is profound.  Her touch can touch many and multiply immeasurably more than we could ever imagine. She’s worth it. The women she touches are worth it. And the women they touch are worth it. May we never underestimate the power of touch, or the power of rest, or the power of women, or the power of one. This one’s for her. While I’ve had the privilege of visiting Havilah a couple of times, I felt the best way to get a real glimpse into the deep brokenness and divine beauty was by having the Founder, Christina, and local women, Isabel and Debbie, share their experience with us. Although this post may be a little longer than usual, every word holds so much weight and I hope you feel a little tug in your soul as they share snippets of their story and how touch truly holds the power to transform lives. Can you give us a closer look at your community and where you call home? Christina, Founder of Havilah Collective: “South Africa is a new republic, just a few decades old. It was only 1994 when the right to vote was extended to all citizens of the nation. Apartheid, literally pronounced apart-hate, was a racist political policy in demanding segregation of the nation's white and non-white populations. During the apartheid years of 1948-1990’s, more than three million black and coloured citizens were forced to move from their homes to segregated neighborhoods.  The community of Ocean View was created by one of those forced relocations from the city of CapeTown. Local fishermen, teachers, artisans and workers were forcibly removed from nearby areas. Their homes were bulldozed. They were allowed to take only what would fit into suitcases and boxes. They were given assigned flats in concrete buildings, triple stacked, poorly constructed. There, generations of people are expected to live just miles from where their families once lived. The areas where their families once lived are some of the wealthiest in the country, now selling for millions of dollars. Auntie Debbie, who is part of Havilah Collective, recalls how when growing up, her parents taught her to not go to the ‘all white beaches’ or to sit in certain compartments on the train. She had a nice employer, and as a nanny was allowed to eat with the family and eat from the same dishes as the family used.” Isabel, Massage Therapist: “Ocean View is a beautiful place. It has beautiful people. It is buried underneath gangsterism, drugs and violence, unemployment and lack of opportunity. But the beauty is there and I can see it.” We’d love to learn a little bit more on how Havilah Collective came to be and what inspired its conception. Christina: “The concept started one day in Ocean View…I was called into one of the offices to talk and pray with a woman whose 14-year-old daughter had just been raped. She was inconsolable, understandably. I was clearly out of my depth, had no business being asked to step into that role and had absolutely no idea what to do. There were trauma counselors there but they were booked solid. This mother needed something in between. There was this moment when her heart was devastated, when no words would suffice. There needed to be something for her body, for her emotions, for the wild emotional upheaval that shook her from the inside out. I had nothing. I started searching for something. Havilah Collective was born from the need to offer a safe space for mothers to grieve the loss of their children and a safe space to rage against the pain of ongoing domestic violence. So often, there are not enough resources in the community, there is not enough help and there is nowhere to turn in an already troubled and traumatized community.  What can one say to a mother who has lost her daughter to senseless violence? What can one offer? Words are inadequate. But what I found, (divinely found I say because it was not my own idea for sure) was the power of healing touch in a safe space.  Offering a dysregulated nervous system the opportunity to rest, to enter into homeostasis, a place for repressed emotions to surface and to be released in a comforting environment is quite therapeutic. It was only years later that I read The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk that I realized why this space was so effective.  We offered women a treatment with essential oils that involved the spine, ears, and feet, effectively engaging many nervous system pressure points. Combined with light touch, soothing music and an inviting atmosphere, even the sound of bullets firing outside couldn’t be a distraction. Many women experience such powerful healing that 90% are in tears on the massage table. They encounter themselves in ways that they never have before. Their body responds when their mind is in turmoil. They encounter peace.  Then, after the treatment, many women have a felt need to talk through the most immediate burden they are carrying. They need to process what they just experienced. Through principles of interpersonal neurobiology, we know that ‘feeling felt’ is a healing modality that is just as healing for the listener as it is for the speaker. Deep listening is not problem solving. It is stepping into the pain and grief and carrying the burden with someone. To know they are not alone, to be heard, is enough for many women to take the next step they need in their journey. Hearing someone's story, knowing that we are walking on sacred, holy ground is the beauty of what we do. There is healing that happens in the sharing of stories, in the whispering of pain that moves from shoulder to shoulder and lifts the burden, giving the speaker reprieve.” How have you experienced the healing power of touch to holistically transform your community? Christina: “We’ve seen people who are completely broken in spirit and in body so much so that they can barely walk. Aunt Eliza was one of our first elderly people who visited our container for an Aromatouch treatment. She is one of the first citizens of Ocean View, once who can remember the forced removals. She was broken in spirit and rarely left her home. She struggled to walk. For whatever reason, she stepped into our container that day. She slept for an hour on the massage table after the treatment. Afterward, she got up, stood straight up and walked out of the container singing and laughing. It was reported back to us that she had walked to visit friends and family she hadn’t seen in months. She told everyone that they should come to our container because that’s where healing takes place. She was seen dancing in the street outside her flat. She was the best advertisement for us, a living, walking miracle.” Isabel: “Another lady came to us so broken from her young son’s death that she couldn’t speak. She was in a state of shock. Her friends were worried for her so the four of them brought her in together. After her son drowned, she had stopped speaking and had gone completely numb. I began to gently massage this mother, gently, so gently, caring for her. About midway through she began to weep on the massage table. Then loudly she wept. I could hear her friend in the front room then began weeping along with her, for they knew the significance of her tears. There are many stories of broken spirits who leave having experienced a sense of healing. There are too many to recount. A community like Ocean View, with trauma of its own is the last place one would come to experience healing. But it’s the place that knows pain so well that can offer healing readily. Pain is always present here, which makes comfort right around the corner.” Auntie Debbie: “There was a local judge whose daughter was murdered at university. Shortly thereafter, his wife died. The judge heard of our container and what we offered with essential oils so he came to us for a treatment. This was significant to us because it was our culture, our people who had murdered his daughter. He enjoyed the treatment. He returned. Again and again. Unfortunately, he recently died. In his eulogy, he thanked the two ladies from Ocean View, who made his life better. That is what healing looks like.” What is one of your most memorable or impactful moments working with Havilah? Christina: “I once was giving a mother a treatment and she was sobbing on the massage table. When we had a chance to talk afterwards, she shared that her daughter had been murdered. The following week, another mother came in for a treatment. I had never met her before. She came to us on the referral of the mother whose daughter had been murdered. After her treatment, we sat down and talked. She was the mother of the son who had murdered the girl. From that encounter, we were able to facilitate a reconciliation circle, not just between these two ladies who led the way but between many neighbors and family members who came to the meeting to offer each other forgiveness. It was one of the most miraculous encounters I’ve ever experienced.” As a massage therapist at Havilah pouring out to serve your community, what your experience was like to be on the table this time and receive a facial treatment? Isabel: “The technique, the prayer, the atmosphere…you’re just… because it was my face… It felt almost like it was better. It felt like a face lift. There was just something different. I saw myself before I laid down and I saw myself after that. I could see a difference. I felt like I was shining. It lasted. It made a difference in me now. It still feels nice. Even if I don’t have a full facial, I use the gua sha. It taught me to care for myself. Courtney is strong but soft. We still keep in touch.” What does beauty mean to you?  Auntie Debbie: “Anyone and anything bearing the God Image.” Isabel: “Beauty to me means uncovering and unveiling someone else's heart, by loving them into wholeness. Like a diamond that has been dirtied by mud and dirt, the issues and struggles of life. When cleaned it shines so brightly, when light shines on a diamond it shines so many different beautiful colors. Beauty is making others shine, making others hope and helping them live and not just exist.” Christina: “Beauty is the wrinkled face of a mother who serves hungry children food even when bullets have left her own children dead. Beauty is the sparkle in the eyes of the ones who see things for the first time…an orange tree ripe with fruit, a shiny sports car, an ocean angry with waves. Beauty is a smile that says hope is around the corner and tomorrow will be another day. Beauty is the warmth of rooibos tea and rusks and a listening ear. Beauty is the silky feel of clean sheets, the glow of a rested soul and the hands that massaged the knots of yesterday into the promise of tomorrow.”     Pin your fav blog post below:

The most wonderful time of the year is here and we want to help make gift-giving even easier and meaningful. No matter who’s on your list, they’ll love unwrapping these non-toxic products! We’ve curated personalized collections to take the stress out of holiday shopping – from the mama, the man, the teen and everyone in between, we’ve hand-picked PP products to promote health + wellness for those you love. ‘Tis the season to stock up on products you trust – and give the gift of truly non-toxic products to the ones you love most. ATHLETE COLLECTION For the person in your life who loves to sweat it out! From their gym bag to the bathtub, these high-performance products will help them feel fresh + replenished so they can keep up their active lifestyle while still looking (and smelling!) good – without compromising their health. DEODORANT EVERYTHING SPRAY DRY SHAMPOO BABY POWDER SEA SOAK LIP BALM SET Shop the full ATHLETE COLLECTION here! TEEN COLLECTION Shopping for teenagers can be tough, but now you can prove to the teen in your life that you’re on-trend by gifting products that help create skin they can’t wait to take a selfie in. Practical and pretty, these effective + non-toxic products are a win-win for parents and their teens. DEODORANT DRY SHAMPOO BODY BUTTER SEA SOAK LIP BALM SET FLOWER BATH CLEANSING OIL (OILY SKIN) BABY BAR EVERYTHING SPRAY CLARIFYING SERUM Shop the full TEEN COLLECTION here! MEN’s COLLECTION Now’s the time to get the man in your life on board with natural grooming products! From non-toxic deodorant that’s strong enough to mask their manly aroma to a simple skincare routine any man can handle, this collection has got your guy covered. UNSCENTED DEODORANT CHARCOAL DEODORANT TEA TREE DEODORANT LEMONGRASS DEODORANT BEARD OIL BABY BAR EVERYTHING SPRAY BABY BALM Shop the full MEN’s COLLECTION here! MAMA’s COLLECTION The perfect collection to support a new mama’s needs. Whether she has only a few minutes or a free evening, these non-toxic + nourishing products help to bring a welcomed moment of relaxation to the mama in your life – and maybe that mama might just be you. 🙂 FLOWER BATH ROSE QUARTZ ROLLER DRY SHAMPOO LIP BALM SET BABY BALM (for you, mama – cuticle, eyes, nips!) LAVENDER COMPLEXION MIST BLUE TANSY BEAUTY CREAM PLUMPING SERUM DRY BRUSH BODY OIL Shop the full MAMA’s COLLECTION here! VEGAN COLLECTION For the friend who prefers plants on their plate – and in their skincare products! This collection contains all of our PP vegan-friendly products to support radiant skin, a healthy body and a happy self – for the whole family. CLEANSING OIL COMPLEXION MIST EVERYTHING SPRAY SKIN-SPECIFIC SERUM BATH SOAKS BODY OIL DRY SHAMPOO NATURE SPRAY BABY OIL BEARD OIL RIDGED FACIAL ROLLERS Shop the full VEGAN COLLECTION here! We’ve made it simple to be even more intentional with your gift-giving + stocking stuffing (and saving!) with more bundles below. SERUM TRIO Not sure what serum to gift? No worries! Our new Serum Trio is the perfect collection to support every skincare routine – and the skin’s ever-evolving needs. From brightening the complexion to calming inflammation and increasing collagen levels, our Clarifying, Soothing + Plumping Serums are a must for every complexion! This trio includes a .5oz bottle of each of our skin-specific serums to transform the skin, naturally. Shop our SERUM TRIO here! BLUE TANSY COLLECTION It’s a blue, blue (tansy) Christmas with our Blue Tansy Collection. Blue tansy essential oil provides powerful aromatic and anti-inflammatory benefits such as soothing nervous tension + softening skin texture. Gifting this collection has got you covered from head to toe and includes our best-selling Blue Tansy Deodorant, Blue Tansy Beauty Cream and Blue Tansy Body Oil. Shop our BLUE TANSY COLLECTION here! SERUM + ROLLER COMBOS We’ve combined the power of our targeted Skin-Specific Serums with our gemstone Ridged Facial Rollers to boost the benefits of your skincare routine and provide even more visible results. By supporting diverse skin needs and detoxifying the skin tissue, these are the perfect pairs to promote healthy skin, holistically – plus the perfect size to stuff stockings! Shop our SERUM + ROLLER COMBOS here! BODY BUTTER COLLECTION This collection comes with all 3 delicious scents and is the perfect size for stuffing stockings. Our Body Butters deeply moisturize even the most dry skin with good-for-you ingredients and are scented with only organic essential oils (no harmful, artificial fragrances here!). Almond + Vanilla has an aroma that will remind you of a decadent Christmas dessert, Citrus + Mint smells fresh like a crisp Winter’s day, and Lavender + Eucalyptus will promote balance during a busy holiday season. Shop our BODY BUTTER COLLECTION here! LIP BALM SET This set is a must for lip balm addicts. Gift all 5 flavorful, organic lip balms (peppermint, cocoa, creamsicle, lavender, grapefruit) in this little bundle. Our lip balms help to heal, hydrate + protect chapped lips, naturally. Plus, this fair-trade pouch makes the perfect stocking stuffer. Shop our LIP BALM SET here! SPA KIT We all deserve moments to invest in our own health + happiness and our Spa Kit allows you to do just that. Our Sea Soak, Flower Bath, Body Oil and a dry body brush create the perfect non-toxic beauty bundle for someone in your life who needs to slow down. It all comes packaged in an organically grown + ethically made tote that you can reuse again and again! Shop our SPA KIT here! PP GIFT CARD For a last-minute gift or for the person who’s got it all, let our beautiful letterpressed or digital gift cards be your go-to. Shop our PP GIFT CARDS here! DOUBLE CLEANSING KIT Toss the oil-free, chemical-filled cleanser (especially for your teen!) and put a cleansing routine that really works under the tree. Especially if you typically wear a full face of makeup, live in a polluted city, produce more oil than most – or just simply want glowing, gorgeous skin. Our Double Cleansing Kit not only creates seriously clear skin, but looks super cute on the bathroom counter. Shop our DOUBLE CLEANSING KIT here!   We wish you the happiest + healthiest holiday, PP fam! XO  

If you’ve been following along this year, you probably already know we’ve been focusing on impact a lot. We don’t want to practice (or encourage) thoughtless consumerism and unsustainable practices. Instead, we want to have a deeper appreciation for where our ingredients come from. We want to dig in with our community, taking time to pause and consider the origins of our most precious natural resources. Especially when it comes to skincare because, well, that’s kind of our thing. ;)  So what’s the deal with honey for skin? We think this sticky little miracle deserves a spotlight. In our hustle culture, it’s far too easy to live disconnected – from the products we apply to the food we put on our plates. We want to reconnect our community to the sources of their skincare products. We hope this reconnects you to your skin and our innate connection to (and appreciation for) nature. Nature has provided us with many incredible resources. Using honey for skin (along with its cousin, beeswax) is a resource we can’t get over. This is the real deal, PP fam. This is a sweet feature you don’t want to miss.  When Did People Start Using Honey for Skin? When you think about it, it seems a bit weird that honey for skin even became a thing, right? Well, here’s how it all started. The Honey Association (yes, it’s a real thing) says this about the origins of honey:1 “Cave paintings in Spain from 7000BC show the earliest records of beekeeping; however, fossils of honey bees date back about 150 million years!” Most sources say honey for skin, specifically, was first used by ancient Egyptians.  In fact, one of Cleopatra’s most-loved beauty rituals was a milk and honey bath. But a variety of ancient cultures like the Mayans, Egyptians, Romans, Greek, and Babylonians2 all leaned on honey for skin ailments and other issues like:  Wounds Burns Skin ailments Eye diseases3 Digestive issues Lung disease Oral ailments2 Bees often symbolized royalty in ancient cultures. So it only makes sense that honey was revered as a sacred + potent medicinal resource.1 Our ties to honey have been deeply medicinal since the beginning. It’s no wonder this ingredient perfectly complements our formulas designed to heal + restore your skin health.  Honey for skin, for the win. How Is Honey Created? While some of us know the basics, many people don't. Plus, this little biology session is fascinating. Let's get into how honey is created so you can truly appreciate its importance in how it benefits your skin health. First of All, Why Do Bees Make Honey? Bees make honey to provide energy for their long flights and heat inside the hive during the winter.4 Stay tuned to learn how we source honey responsibly through seasonal surplus. The Collection Process The first step is something we’ve all seen before: bees perch on flowers, collecting nectar. → The nectar is then stored in their “honey stomach.” This is separate from a bee’s normal stomach to prevent them from digesting the honey. The honey stomach is purely for transporting + breaking down the nectar into simple sugars – glucose and fructose.5   While collecting nectar, the bees also collect pollen. It’s stored in stiff hairs on their hind legs, called the “pollen basket.”5 (How cute!)  → After collecting nectar and pollen from around 150 flowers, they’ll make their way back to the hive.5 Most bees carry over half their weight in pollen and nectar.6 Back at the Hive Once they return to the hive, the bees “pass off” the honey to the worker bees. The workers eat and regurgitate the sugar nectar until it’s the perfect consistency.  Keep in mind: this is NOT throw up, since it’s going to their “honey stomach,” not their digestive stomach. ;) Then they store the future honey in the honeycombs. The bees use their wings to fan the combs, which evaporate moisture and give it the classic honey consistency and taste. They also create a wax cap that seals off the honey inside the comb. The process is so intuitive. How do these little bees know how to do all this? It’s incredible, right? The final step: beekeepers harvest the honey by collecting the honeycomb frames from the hive and scraping off the wax caps.  And that’s just the beginning for us at Primally Pure. How Much Honey Do Bees Make? Most sources say a healthy, thriving hive will produce around 200 pounds of honey per year. But it’s also important to note: generally, a hive will produce about 55 pounds of extra honey each year. Safe to say, there’s a surplus we can source sustainably.  This resource comes from an immense amount of dedicated work from the bee colony. To create a pound of honey, bees fly around 55,000 miles and collect from two million flowers.6 Now, that’s a work of art. Yet, at the same time, they’re incredibly efficient.  Remember how we talked about the honey supplying energy for their flight? Check out this stat from PBS:6 “Theoretically, the energy in one ounce of honey would provide one bee with enough energy to fly around the world.”   So don’t worry, using some of the surplus honey still leaves plenty to go around.  What a journey, right? Converting simple flower nectar into honey all the way to your nourishing PP products that deliver the benefits of honey for skin. It’s inspiring and humbling to realize how far this ingredient travels to end up in your precious skincare routine.  Full of nourishing compounds and healing properties, it’s one we can’t overlook. With the incredible journey it takes + the healing benefits it offers, it only makes sense to consider our gratitude for this natural resource. Why We Use Honey + Beeswax in Our Products It might seem obvious why we use honey for skin ailments in our products. We chose both, beeswax and honey, for skin nourishment for a variety of reasons. Let’s take a deeper look. Benefits of Honey for Skin Here are just a few of the reasons we love using honey for skin rejuvenation + healing:  Enzymatic exfoliating properties soften your skin texture Acidic ph prevents the growth of microbes3   Antibacterial properties speed up wound healing  Antioxidants protect against free radicals that damage + cause premature aging Anti-inflammatory protection for skin health Humectant qualities provide incredible moisture to your microbiome Improves oxygen circulation in your skin tissues7 There’s no convincing us that honey for skin isn’t magical + full of healing powers. We use honey in our clarifying bar and all our masks.  Benefits of Beeswax for Skin We can’t overlook the beauty of honey’s counterpart: beeswax! It actually contains many similar benefits in a different format. Here are some of our favorite benefits of using beeswax in your skincare routine:8 High in Vitamin A content that exfoliates and hydrates your skin Humectant that attracts water molecules, locking in moisture Antibacterial to help prevent irritation, infection, and inflammation Anti-inflammatory protection against damage and irritation Non-comedogenic and soothing skin protection Many of our best-selling products, like our balms, deodorants, body butters, and candles contain beeswax. We Believe In Animal-Based Ingredients + Ethically Using Honey for Skin We think honey for skin makes sense. After all, it was used by our ancestors for a good reason. When sourced ethically/responsibly, animal-based products are a tremendous natural resource. We’re thankful we get to use them to supplement healthy skin. The same thing holds true for other animal-based ingredients in our products, like tallow and emu oil. Respectfully using animal-based ingredients is a value we proudly stand by. Why? Because when you know exactly where your resources come from, it’s much easier to ensure they support your standards and align with your beliefs. Our products contain intuitive blends of plant-based ingredients and animal-based ingredients. Together, these provide the most essential combinations of nutrients your skin needs to thrive + glow. Another reason we support using honey for skin: Honey bees actually make more honey than they need. Though this isn’t widely advertised, it’s easy to find confirmation with a quick Google search.  With this knowledge, we feel confident our honey use is not depleting a natural resource. While, of course, the honey is part of their natural life cycle, we aren’t harming bees by respectfully harvesting the honey.  What’s even better: We’re able to locally source our honey for skin purposes, lining up with our sustainable values. Sustainability is important to us at Primally Pure. So we’re proud to say our honey is sourced from a local Murrieta-based company right down the road. Here’s what you need to know about their honey: It’s not processed – it’s raw and unfiltered, bottled right out of the bee hive! That’s as pure as you can get when it comes to honey for skin! (And don’t worry about contamination, remember the antibacterial properties?) This bee farm only collects in the summer when there’s an excess of honey. This ensures the bees always have enough honey to stay warm during the winter.  We love the respect they have for our little bee friends. It’s an exceptional company. We also source our unrefined beeswax from the same company for our body butter and baby balm. Any other beeswax you see (deodorants and lip balms) in the ingredients are cosmetic-grade beeswax decolorized and filtered to remove impurities. They’re naturally (physically) processed, with no chemical processing. With these things in mind, using honey for skin is a no-brainer. Knowing we can respectfully and sustainably source this powerful ingredient gets us fully on board. Returning to the Source Returns Gratitude From our ancient ancestors to modern-day beauty products, honey is a staple of a rich, well-lived life.  We hope you enjoyed taking a moment to ponder the source of such a potent + nourishing ingredient with us. Whether you’ve been using honey for skin for years or you’re just a little curious, we promise there’s something for every skin state in this magical little ingredient. What ingredient would you like to learn about next? XO  Sources: The Honey Association | A Brief History of Honey Springer Link | Brief History and Traditional Uses of Honey Amish Honey | Scientists: Honey Is Used by Ancient Civilizations for Medicinal Purposes National Honey Board | How Honey Is Made Healthy With Honey | Body Parts of a Honey Bee. The Worker Bee. PBS NOVA Online: The Buzz About Bees: A Flush Fund of Fascinating Facts Pub Med | Stingless Bee Honey, the Natural Wound Healer: A Review Skincare.org | Beeswax for Skin   Pin your fav blog post below:

With the holiday season here, I love to use this time to hand-pick special gifts for all the loved ones in my life. Gift-giving is a great way to express gratitude by letting someone know they’ve touched your life in a meaningful way. On top of that, when you’re able to find ethical/mindful brands to support, your purchase holds even more meaning. I’ve had a lot of fun curating this list of unique and notable items along with some of my own wishlist items and favorite brands. With a variety of items and price points, I hope you’ll find a few things that will bring joy to someone else’s holiday season this year. All these ideas are meant to inspire generosity, curiosity, and a spirit of giving.  Happy browsing! Bian Gua Sha Stone from Primally Pure Exfoliating Scalp Scrub from Innersense Organic Beauty Dry Brush Duo from Primally Pure Unisex Organic Waffle Robe from Coyuchi Sea Soak Detox Salts from Primally Pure Plastic-Free Razor from Leaf Mask Trio from Primally Pure Oral Care Bundle from Risewell Moringa Concentrated Superfood Drink from Moringa Vinga Infrared PEMF Mat from HigherDOSE Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor Smart Cooling Mattress Cover from Eight Sleep Go 2.0 Handheld Red Light Therapy Device from Joovv Blue Light Blocking Glasses from Bon Charge Toxin-Free and Mold-Free Coffee from Danger Coffee by David Asprey Glucose Monitor from Nutrisense Health and Sleep Tracking Ring from Oura Ring Superfoods and Supplements from Cymbiotika Blanket Scarf from Janessa Leone Crewneck Sweatshirt from Primally Pure The Everywhere Mug from Fellow James Shearling Slipper from Freda Salvador Art Puzzle + Puzzle Glue from Jiggy Gluten-Free Bakery Sampler Pack from Nowhere Bakery Crisp Smoky Woods Beeswax Candle from Primally Pure Stone Essential Oil Diffuser from Vitruvi French Terry Boatneck Sweatshirt and Tapered Lounge Pant from Cuyana Pasture-Raised Chicken Variety Pack from Pasturebird Thrive Market Membership or Gift Card from Thrive Market Cast Iron Skillet from Fredericksburg Cast Iron Co. Plant-Based Milk-Making Machine from The Nutr Organic Wine Collection from Dry Farm Wines The Always Pan from Our Place High-Performance Blender from Vitamix Felix Packable Bucket Hat from Janessa Leone Nature Spray from Primally Pure Large Recycled Travel Bag from Cuyana Penelope Sunglasses in Ecru from Sezane Leather Passport Case from Cuyana Everything Spray from Primally Pure Toiletry Travel Containers from Cadence Sustainable Carbon-Neutral Luggage from Paravel Non-Toxic Deodorant from Primally Pure Recycled Scrap Scrunchies from Girlfriend Collective Weighted Ankle and Wrist Bands from Bala Everything Spray from Primally Pure Glass Water Bottle from BKR Waterproof Gym Bag from Rains Essential Scooped Bralette from Saisei Nuuly Rental Membership for sustainable clothing rentals Laude the Label for clothing made by women artisans with fair pay Everlane for ethical clothing with transparent pricing Vetta Capsule for sustainable capsule clothing collections Gray Label for non-toxic clothing for kids and adults Janessa Leone for clothing/accessories made from regenerative materials Freda Salvador for small batch and ethically made footwear Christy Dawn for clothing made from regenerated materials Go Gently for organic kids and womens clothing Aurate for sustainable jewelry with transparent pricing Able for ethically made apparel and leather goods Saisei for environmentally conscious clothing made for comfort Old Fashioned Beard Oil from Primally Pure Whole Package Supplement from Heart and Soil Hand Forged Cleaver from Forged Blade Bonfire 2.0 Smokeless Fire Pit from Solo Stove Smart Meat Thermometer from Meater Non-Toxic Charcoal Deodorant from Primally Pure Sunday Performance Jogger from Vuori Rambler Mug from Yeti Performance Snapback Hat from Melin Unisex Scooter from Banwood Buy Farm Animals for a Family In Need from Samaritan’s Purse Wild Pines Train Set from The Tot You Are Special by Max Lucado Wooden Zebra Ride-On from Target Block Climbing Playset from Gathre The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak Harlow Rattan Play Stroller from The Tot Spring-Free Trampoline by Springfree Trampolines Palo Santo Incense Sticks from Primally Pure Ribbed Sweater Sock from Everlane Maple & Nibs Dark Chocolate Bar from Raaka Spot It! Card Game from Amazon Green Jade Beauty Roller from Primally Pure A-Ha Mints from Risewell Organic Lip Balm Set from Primally Pure Grass-Fed Beef Sticks from Paleo Valley Beard Oil Travel Case from Primally Pure Puffer Jacket from Jenni Kayne Plumping Collection from Primally Pure Piper Beanie from Janessa Leone Clyde Stovetop Tea Kettle from Fellow 14k Gold Plated Mini Hoop Earrings from Cuyana The Brooklyn Dress from Christy Dawn Adult Dropped Shoulder Sweater and Adult Track Pants from Gray Label Non-Toxic Cleaning Starter Kit from Branch Basics Infinity Ring from Aurate  Washable Silk Sleep Mask from Lunya  Hopefully, this list has sparked some new ideas for your holiday shopping. And while this season is about a lot more than just “stuff”, I really believe that investing in quality items is worth every penny – especially when it’s for someone near and dear. If gift-giving isn’t in your budget this year, don’t stress! There are plenty of ways you can bless someone else this holiday season. If you’ve ever been a recipient of generosity, you know how much actions and words can mean too.  Here’s to a season full of love and gratitude! Bethany  Founder of Primally Pure   Pin your fav blog post below:

The holidays are around the corner already! How did that happen? I personally love gift-hunting. It’s a challenge that I love to rise to, especially for those people that are just impossible to shop for! For some people, holiday shopping can take away from the joy that comes with this season. Some agonize over which gifts are perfect for each person on their list, where to find gifts, and even which places and brands will give you the best products for your money. And on top of all that, maybe this year you are trying to be more intentional about who you buy from, or what you buy. This year I am definitely going to be supporting companies that are driving change through their business for my gift list this year – and there are so many amazing options (which can be a little overwhelming!). So here I am, along with the Primally Pure team, to help guide you through some of our favorite sustainable brands and gift ideas for your holiday shopping. Gifts for Home and Self-Care HILMA | I love plant-based medicine, and I think most of you who shop at Primally Pure do too, but I also want it to be as effective as the drugstore counterparts. Hilma is an all-natural remedy startup that produces plant-based alternatives backed by science. They collaborate with doctors while using plants and minerals and adding no fillers, dyes, and less than a gram of sugar. They are also committed to having a 100% carbon offset and supporting community gardens in their home base of New York. A good gift to start with would probably be the Starter Trio! | SHOP ROOTED WOMAN | Rooted Woman is a black-owned, non-toxic, ethical nail polish and treatment company that promote radical self-care for women. They make their polishes in small batches and offer online self-care courses. I think we all know by now how toxic nail polish and nail polish remover ingredients are for ourselves and the environment, so this company offers alternatives free from those ingredients. One of their products I am especially excited about is their nail polish remover, which is oil-based and works on any conventional nail polishes you may already have! | SHOP JUPITER ORGANIC CBD DROPS | Do you remember when I said that holidays can be stressful for some people? Fear no more, here’s a gift for you and all of your stressed-out family members. Jupiter is 100% USDA organic, partners with a single-family farm to produce small batch products, takes time to use only the flower of the hemp plant, triple lab tests, makes it in the USA, and uses only four organic ingredients. Their packaging is also BPA-free and 100% recyclable. They also have an extensive FAQ page for anyone nervous about using CBD for the first time! | SHOP PLANTS | A really easy sustainable gift you can give to someone is house plants! Now I know not everyone has a green thumb, but houseplants are very easy to take care of if it is the right plant. Plants clean our air, make us happier, and for me, being around them makes me more creative. For those of you who know people that live in cities devoid of parks or greenery, indoor plants are a wonderful way to bring some of outdoors inside. You can get house plants at any nursery or home improvement store, but one of my favorite websites is The Sill. They can deliver indoor houseplants right to someone’s door, and they have lots of tips on how to take care of different plants. | SHOP PRIMALLY PURE HOME COLLECTION | Air quality in our home goes hand in hand with the products that we use to clean and make our home smell nice. In addition to plants, using non-toxic, wildcrafted, and sustainable alternatives to home products are important to encouraging air wellness inside our homes. Our new Home Collection is a pure alternative to artificial hand-soaps, air fresheners, and candles. A blend of organic and wildcrafted essential oils that smell like the best Autumn day of apple-picking and warm cider, bottled in recyclable glass packaging, this collection is the perfect gift for someone who loves sustainable home products. | SHOP Gifts for the Fashion-Forward JANESSA LEONE | Our founder loves this LA-based accessories label – you will rarely see her around the office without one of their hats on her head! Janessa Leone creates minimal yet unique designs that are perfect for those people in your life who love timeless accessories. They are all hand-made with the highest quality materials that, with proper care and love, will last a lifetime. From Panama straw to wool, their hats are all sustainably made in the USA and crafted through multiple skilled artisan’s hands. Some of our favorites are Felix and Aisley! | SHOP TRIBE ALIVE | One of my personal favorites, Tribe Alive is a champion of women artisans in five different countries, providing fair wages and safe work environments. They also produce sustainable clothing made from up-cycled and organic materials that are built to last. Can you think of that person in your life who likes to look chic but be extremely comfortable at the same time? This is the brand for them, especially the Everyday Collection. The Everyday Crop is one of the most comfortable pair of pants I have ever owned, and still makes me feel fashionable. | SHOP SHADES OF GREY | Some of the best clothing comes from brands that make small batch production runs, resulting in exclusive, well-made pieces. Shades of Grey partners with a small, family-run factory in China and keeps their prices down by selling directly to their customers instead of other retailers. Some of their standout pieces are their dresses and jumpsuits, specializing in structured yet simple, utilitarian staples. If you have someone in your life who likes one-piece garments that stand on their own, Shades of Grey offers the perfect look. | SHOP GIRLFRIEND COLLECTIVE | Anyone else wear leggings 90% of the time? I can’t be the only one. Girlfriend Collective is one of my go-to’s for sustainably well-made, size inclusive, and comfortable activewear. Their leggings are made from recycled materials and fiber waste in a factory in Taiwan that specializes in eco-friendly and high quality textiles. Girlfriend Collective really thinks about every step of the process and describes in detail the way they make their clothes. They offer a wide range of sizes from XXS-6XL, and at a relatively low price point, striving to be available to everyone. | SHOP TWO DAYS OFF | For those who love a curated, simple, and high-quality online boutique, this is the store for them. Two Days Off is a black-owned, sustainable clothing company based in LA. They make their clothes in limited edition batches, or made to order, putting the slow in slow fashion. They use deadstock fabric that has already been manufactured but not used, and that means each of their designs are super limited and super special. They also offer a wide range of items other than clothing, such as facial tools, coffee table books and home products. Pieces such as their Mioko Jacket are simple, a timeless staple, and slowly made. | SHOP Gifts for the Reader THE CONSCIOUS CLOSET | The Conscious Closet: A Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good by Elizabeth L. Cline. This book is perfect for the person just diving into ethical and sustainable fashion and what it means to shop consciously. This is a definitive guide to building a wardrobe that you love that also happens to be ethical and sustainable. It gives you the tools to build a wardrobe that will last, is within your price point, and is best for your particular lifestyle. Elizabeth L. Cline is a journalist and clothing resale expert that has investigated the effects of fast fashion on garment workers and the environment. | SHOP THRIVE | Thrive by Kamea Chayne is not just a book, but a holistic guide to living healthier, conscious, and thoughtful lives. Kamea has created easy exercises through research-based evidence to create sustainable choices in all aspects of our lives. This is not only a guide to make more eco-conscious decisions, but to boost holistic physical well-being and happiness. Kamea Chayne is the host of Green Dreamer podcast (one of my favs!) wherein she interviews pioneers in the world of sustainability and phrases questions not just to them, but also ourselves, on how we can improve our own sustainable journeys. | SHOP CRADLE TO CRADLE | Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungart – for those in your lives who are interested in business and science, this book is for them! There are three main principles in this book: everything is a resource for something else, use clean and renewable energy, and celebrate diversity. Cradle to Cradle emphasizes re-designing our framework for the economy, shifting from linear to circular economies. William McDonough is an architect and Michael Braungart is a chemist, and together they promote the integration of design and science to create beneficial systems for our society. | SHOP BRAIDING SWEETGRASS | Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer – for those you may know interested in intersectional environmentalism, this is a book that explores that topic. This book explores the relationship between humans and our role in restoring the natural world, from the perspective of indigenous people who have lived on the land and harmonized with it for centuries. By listening to their wisdom and experience, we can be led to a more regenerative environment. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a botanist and member of the Potowatomi Nation who trains to answer questions of nature with the tools of science. | SHOP WASTE NOT | Waste Not: How To Get the Most from Your Food by The James Beard Foundation – While I love collecting cookbooks and looking at all of the beautiful recipes, I am not a cook. But for those of you that are or know people who are, this is a great gift! This features 100 recipes from chefs across the country who teach you how to be a full-use cook. These recipes will show you how to reduce food waste, save money, and use ingredients that normally go in the trash in new and exciting ways. The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit organization that celebrates leaders who make America’s food culture more sustainable. | SHOP Gifts for Everyone LEAF SHAVE KIT | Everybody needs a good razor, but millions of disposable razors end up in the landfill year after year. Leaf Shave has offered a solution to this problem, with their all-metal safety razor, a razor built to last you for years to come. They package and ship 100% plastic free and actively offset the carbon footprint that they create. Their Leaf Shave Kit comes with a razor, a stand, a razor blade pack, and my favorite part, the blade recycling tin. Essentially, you fill up the recycling tin that holds years worth of blades and mail it back to them to recycle! They also have a lot of information on how to start using a safety razor if you are nervous. | SHOP SUSTAINABILITY STARTER KIT | This is one of my favorite gifts for people who might be interested in more sustainable living, or who are just on the go a lot! A sustainability starter kit consists of: a tote bag (for unexpected grocery store stops) a reusable water bottle (we love MiiR) some reusable straws for restaurants or coffee shops (there are so many different kinds and everybody prefers something different so I don’t have a specific recommendation) a bamboo or metal reusable cutlery set for work lunches or takeout This is something that can be fun, unique, and different for each person you are buying for! Everyone should have something like this in their car or their purse, because you never know when you will need them. This kit can also be added to or simplified depending on the person, but I think these four things are the perfect combo! PELA CASES | I know some of you have tech junkies in your life, who always have the latest device or add-on. New phones come out every year, and every year new plastic phone cases come with them, and consequently right into the landfill (or our oceans) when they are ultimately outdated. Pela offers biodegradable and compostable phone cases, Apple watch straps, and AirPods cases made out of raw materials derived from renewable resources that eliminate the need for fossil fuels. They make products that stand up to the best plastic phone cases, ship with as little packaging as possible, and take old cases back to make new cases out of them. | SHOP BRANCH BASICS | Gift products with a purpose to help those you love take cleaning to the next level and transform their health with this non-toxic cleaning solution. Branch Basics female co-founders are women on a mission to create a plant + mineral-based alternative for cleaning and to inspire others to create a healthy home in hopes that they, too, could experience a transformation in their health. Be sure to gift Branch Basics Concentrate (a multi-tasking powerhouse) along with their chic, sustainable glass bottles for all-in-one cleaning that actually looks cute on their countertops. | SHOP SOCKS | I love a good pair of socks, and I know many other people in my family do too. Fun socks have become a super popular trend in the past couple of years, and they are definitely an easy gift! Fun socks does not have to mean they aren’t ethical or sustainable. Kind Socks is a black-owned company that started because the founder wanted to combine fun and ethical. They sell non-toxic, organic socks that have fun, colorful patterns while also paying workers fair wages and providing a safe workplace. Conscious Step is another sock company that is ethical and sustainable while staying fun. Each sock design is partnered with a charity that helps protect or support a cause, such as these socks that stop violence against women! They are also organic, fair-trade, vegan, and of course, sustainably and ethically made. I hope this gift guide gave you some sustainable ideas for your loved ones (or maybe even yourself!). Holiday shopping doesn’t have to mean choosing quantity over quality. I am someone who appreciates one thoughtful, well-made gift over multiple cheap items that don’t last very long. Remember, “good quality is never cheap and cheap quality is never good.” Sometimes investing in one higher-priced item will save us and someone else money in the end, because it will likely last longer and perform better than the lower-priced items. I also have some tips for wrapping your sustainable gifts! Use what you already have: Why buy new wrapping paper for everything when we have a multitude of alternatives at home? I have seen people reuse bags they already own, like a tote bag they no longer use, the fabric bag Girlfriend Collective sends their clothing in, or even a Primally Pure mesh bag! There are also options such as paper bags from the grocery store, magazine or newspaper (if you still get one), and even parchment paper from your kitchen. The concept of “wrapping” is still the same, without buying new paper or throwing it away after one use. In the end, have fun with the holidays, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect. Sustainability is a journey and no one ever becomes an expert in it. Use these ideas as inspiration to make your own versions of things, if you are creative, or just be inspired to be more intentional when you shop in general. The more we question the status quo, and challenge ourselves to think about what we buy, the more we can make a difference in the world around us. What are some of your favorite ethical gift ideas this year? Share with us below!  

How was your year? Are you feeling organized, clear-headed and ready to take on 2024? Or are you feeling like your biggest accomplishment of late is remembering to brush your teeth in the morning and getting yourself and/or your kids fed and dressed in a reasonable amount of time? 2023 has been a lot of the latter for me. In years past, I’ve usually taken time before the new year to take inventory of the previous year and brainstorm/visualize new habits to put in place - not the case this time! A lot of 2023 for me has been allowing myself to embrace the season of life that I’m in. In addition to owning a business, I’m also a wife and a mother to three kids (including a rambunctious 15-month-old boy)...and we’ve been living in a tent due to a mold issue or traveling for the better part of the year.  Needless to say, life has felt a bit chaotic lately. And my introverted personality has really missed having regular moments of solitude and silence to collect my thoughts and assess, dream and plan.  BUT, I’ve also found so much joy in serving my family and imperfectly allowing myself to simply “be” during this full season of life. My own dreams and desires for myself and my company will still be there waiting for me in 2024, but my day-to-day family life will look a whole lot different than it does today. My baby boy won’t need me as much a year from now, my middle daughter will be officially done with her toddler/preschool days and starting kindergarten, and my oldest will be an independent third grader.  So no matter what this year has looked like for you, I hope you can enjoy where you’re at. If you’re in a place to create and carry out a comprehensive plan to improve your health, career, or something else - awesome! I would encourage you to take full advantage of that space/freedom and run with it!  But if not, I pray that you’ll be able to give yourself grace and find joy in embracing your current season of life - whatever that may look like.  XO, Bethany P.S. If you’re looking for some fresh new year inspiration, here’s a collection of our most-loved blog posts from 2023, as well as my top picks from years past. Hope you enjoy! 5 Most-loved Blogs of 2023: Honey For Skin? Check Out These Nourishing Benefits + Where It Comes From What Is Beef Tallow? (What It Is + Why You're Going To Love Tallow For Skin) The Ultimate Guide To Using A Dry Brush: Everything You Need In One Place Wanting To Try The Viral Mouth-Taping Trend? Here's The Full Scoop 7 Natural Remedies To Resolve Under-Eye Bags, Dark Circles, and Wrinkles Bethany’s Top 5 All-time Favs:  I Did a 6 Day Water-Only Fast And This Is What I Learned 5 Important Reasons We Don’t Believe In Wearing Sunscreen Everyday Experiencing An Underarm Rash From Natural Deodorant? Here's How To Help Ingredient Spotlight: Why Astaxanthin Benefits Your Skin and More 6 Incredible Benefits of Dry Brushing (Plus How To Dry Brush) Pin your fav blog post below:

In early 2015, I launched a line of only four 100% natural and non-toxic skincare products that I had been working on for the past two years. I was living on our family farm and making product in my kitchen, hand-writing addresses on packages, and manually shredding old newspapers and magazines (which I collected from local coffee shops and hair salons) to use as packing material. If someone had told me back then that Primally Pure would one day grow into a company of 20+ employees that ships worldwide and has an actual headquarters with an in-house spa (opening to the public next month!), I would have thought they were crazy! But it quickly became clear to me that God had a plan in place for Primally Pure that was bigger than anything I could have ever dreamt up on my own. We recorded this fun video to give you guys a better glimpse into the PP story and where we’re at today – I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we loved making it!