Myrrh-Hibiscus Face Cream and the Lewis and Love Creation Story

At Lewis and Love we are not your average skin care company. There is a process behind each of our products and that process is a story that deserves to be told. Therefore, we have decided to occasionally spotlight certain products to tell their story. When you eat food, it makes sense to know where that food came from and how it was prepared. We believe the same goes for skin care. Understanding is a key to growth, and we think by showing people the amount of love, precision and thought process that goes into each of our products, we might help in a small way to reframe the common conception regarding the significance of true, quality craftsmanship in a world of cheap, factory consumer goods. 

Myrrh-Hibiscus Regenerating Face Cream
$35

This week we want to feature one of our stars and truly the flagship product of our brand, our Myrrh-Hibiscus Regenerating Face Cream. I can absolutely say that it is this product that started it all. Before designing this product, soaps and lotions for myself and my family were as far as I had thought to venture into the skin care world. The transition came when I finally got sick of spending ridiculous amounts of money on high quality, organic facial care products, trying endlessly to find something that regulated my skin, balanced my complexion and had anti-aging properties...aka.. worked. So I started reading ingredient labels and entered a long phase where research was my every spare moment. My goal became to create a product (for myself) that would provide all of the above desired results (work) at around half the $50-$70 price point of most products I was expensively experimenting with. Then the pieces began falling into place.

I started with common sense, infusing oils and creating decoctions from herbals and florals known for their regulating, regenerating, anti aging effects on the skin. I turned to the wisdom of the ancients to find organic ways of preserving both the skin and the product itself. Seemingly all at once, a formula began taking shape that incorporated each aspect I was trying to harness. Throughout the creation of this product, quality was the standard. I wanted to stop searching for something that worked for my skin.

Aside from what I already knew about herbal infusions, my study revealed a crucial point largely overlooked in the skin care products market; the ratios of various acid levels in carrier oils. Carrier oils are typically chemically composed of a ratio of linoleic to oleic acids, among others. Oleic acid, also omega-9 fatty acid, is a monounsaturated fatty acid.  Linoleic acid, omega-6 fatty acid, is an unsaturated fatty acid. Research has demonstrated that when our skin is lacking in linoleic acid, the natural sebum it produces tends to become thick and sticky, clogging pores and creating an acne prone environment. On the other hand, when our skin’s natural sebum is composed mainly of lipids high in linoleic acid, we tend to have minimal breakouts. 
Therefore, It began making sense to me that taking special care to create a formula with a balanced acid profile would play a major role in the overall effectiveness of the product. 

Myrrh & Hibiscus Infusion Oils

It needed to be slightly higher in linoleic acid, to prevent clogging pores, stimulating excess sebum production, or creating conditions likely to cause acne, but still oleic enough to penetrate the layers of skin and absorb deeply. 
The completed result was a portfolio of 10 different beautiful and amazing, high quality oils, each with its own properties and purpose, completely balanced, each oil contributing to the enhanced functionality of the next. Once the oil portfolio was developed, it was time to actually begin the process of making the product. First I would need to start my infusions. Each infusion would take about 2 weeks before it was ready to use. I used my best judgement and decided on a myrrh infusion and a hibiscus infusion, each based in a unique combination of carrier oils. Once the infusions were ready, it was time to get to work. 

Whenever I have a day when I get to make a batch of face cream, the first thing I do is start with the herbal decoction. A decoction is basically like a tea. It is purposely chosen herbs and florals steeped in water. This way, all of the yummy natural power of the plant life becomes a tangible medium we can work with. We typically let our decoctions steep at least 60 minutes, sometimes even longer. Once a decoction is ready, it is time to prepare the oil component. You know, any cream or lotion is really just an emulsion, like mayonnaise. As long as you have an emulsifying agent (we use bee’s wax), you can make a lotion out of ingredients as simple as tap water and vegetable oil (if you’re into GMOs, yuck!). The next order of business is melting the emulsifier. While the wax melts, the oil infusions  are gently added, as well as additional carrier oils. Once the wax is melted and the oils are thoroughly incorporated, it's time to make the emulsion. This is where all the magic happens. 
Slowly I pour the liquid decoction into the warm oil, while blending. After a few minutes and once all of the liquid is absorbed, the result is beautiful pink moisturizer of the perfect consistency. 

Actual color of product ranges from a bright fuchsia pink to a lighter pink, as shown above. 

You can imagine how excited I was to try it out, from both an aesthetic view point and a functional perspective, and clearly it had been a long, complicated process to bring this formula to life so I couldn't wait. I wasn't positive of what to expect, but I knew the science was behind it as well as the intuitive faculty. So I started using the cream and immediately began noticing what I would call significant results... at least above and beyond what I had hoped or anticipated... aka.. it worked. I began to notice that my dry skin had dissipated, my complexion seemed more even, and my skin tone more firm. I thought maybe it was just a coincidence, or I was just having some really good days, or had been doing extra good with the nutrition lately or something, until I ran out. That’s when I knew it wasn’t a fluke, or a coincidence. It really was working. 

The first time I made the product I only made a small quantity, enough to last about 2 weeks, as it was 100% experimental. When unfortantely for me the 2 weeks ran up, it happened to be the holidays and super hectic, busy times, and I didn’t have one spare second to make another batch for a good 2 weeks. In the mean time, I went back to what I had been using previously, as well as my dry, uneven complexion. Still a skeptic at this point, I finally got an opportunity to do it again, to make another batch. And voila. It worked. Within days, my beautiful, even, balanced skin tone was back. Needless to say, at that point I had no intention of ever switching back to another brand of facial care and not only that, I felt guilty hoarding the greatness of my discovery all to myself. So I shared some with my cousin, who immediately had the same reaction. It was for real. Thus, the concept of Lewis and Love was born and we couldn't be happier or more proud to lovingly offer it to the world. 
This is the story of Myrrh-Hibiscus Regenerating Face Cream and the origins of Lewis and Love <3