Finding skincare that’s good for both the planet and our skin isn’t always easy. Most natural formulas come just shy of perfection, missing the mark enough to be disappointing. Some brands sacrifice effectiveness for strictly botanical formulas, or they might provide impressive results while lacking in natural ingredients. In most cases, these brands just don’t have that “wow” factor, and as much as we want to feel good about the products we use, our skin should come first.
That’s where Botnia comes in. Not just your average eco-conscious skincare line, Botnia has mastered the blend between science and plants to create gentle formulas that nourish the skin without compromising the health of the planet. So let’s dive in and see what makes Botnia so special.
Background on Botnia
As you may already know, we carefully research and test each product for months, sometimes even years, before introducing it to our website. Botnia was no different. And as you can guess, they passed the test with flying colors.
A breath of fresh air, Botnia offers an array of plant-based products like gentle cleansers, toners, serums, seasonal hydrosols, and even body care. Each product starts with organically grown ingredients and arrives fresh to your counter, ready to impress. Carefully crafted formulas mean that most of Botnia’s products have received our Acne-safe badge of approval! This is great news for our clients who might be looking to switch to a natural skincare routine that won’t break them out.
How it Started
So what sets Botnia apart from other plant-based skincare? Simple: lots of first-hand experience. Botnia’s founder, Justine Kahn, worked for years in the treatment room as an esthetician. She quickly realized that conventional skincare products come loaded with harsh, irritating ingredients. Worse yet, they often failed to deliver the results they promised. She regularly saw clients leaving the treatment room with sensitized or inflamed skin. Justine knew something needed to change, and that’s when she decided to create her own solution.
Enlisting the help of her friend Clayton Coker, a Biologist from Stanford, Justine spent years researching and developing Botnia. Keeping her own experiences in mind, Justine knew she needed to approach things differently to avoid sending more clients home with sensitized skin. So, she focused her efforts on creating gentle formulas that would work to repair the skin’s natural barrier. With this philosophy, Botnia was able to create clean, gentle formulas that make our skin look as great as our conscience feels. Justine learned that even though organic skincare requires more effort, than conventional skincare, the extra TLC is totally worth it. (We agree!)
“Our founder, Justine, worked in the treatment room with each of our botanicals for years, poring over the results she saw and developing our skincare line through client feedback and direct experience.”
–Botnia
From Garden to Counter
One of the unique things about Botnia is their commitment to locally and ethically sourced ingredients. So local, in fact, that they have their own micro-farm where they grow many of their own ingredients! However, not every plant can thrive in the sunny climate of Sausalito, California. Whatever they can’t grow themselves, they source from nearby farms that share the same values, ensuring the quality of their ingredients never falters. After all, these plant extracts are going on our face, so it’s important to know where they’re coming from, right?
Botnia and the farms they work with grow all their plants without chemicals or pesticides. and they strive to create a healthy, sustainable relationship with the earth. Because of this, the plants they grow don’t leach any chemicals into the groundwater and actually improve overall soil quality. They make conscious decisions from start to finish, right down to the weeds they pull, which are offered back to their soil by way of organic compost.
“Our goal is that our little organic farm nurtures a holistic relationship between the soil, plants, and waterways, which in turn creates a more sustainable earth.”
–Botnia
Behind the Bottles
The level of extensive research behind each botanical and the carefully crafted formulas are what really make Botnia special in our eyes. Afterall, combining those aspects together to craft skincare that restores the skin’s barrier with only natural ingredients is no small feat. Here are just a few of the amazing plants that Botnia uses throughout their line.
- Arnica: Arnica possesses antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties. It also offers support for inflammatory conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, cystic acne, rosacea, and premature aging due to sun exposure.
- Rose Geranium: Along with a sweet, calming aroma, Rose Geranium offers antifungal and antibacterial properties. It’s also incredibly soothing and works wonders to help relieve redness and irritation. If you’re like us, you’ll love Botnia’s Rose Geranium Hydrosol for refreshing and hydrating the skin. Rose Geranium also serves as a natural preservative for many of their formulas.
“Rose geranium, a common essential oil in our blends, serves as a piece of our preservative system. It’s high in terpenes nerol & geraniol – which are both antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral.”
-Justine Kahn, Founder of Botnia
- Chamomile: The terpenes and flavonoids in Chamomile have been shown to have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, while promoting healthy cellular growth.
- Goldenseal: Goldenseal has been used by the Native Americans for centuries. Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, and astringent properties make Goldenseal beneficial for healing a number of skin conditions.
“Goldenseal is an endangered species. We only use goldenseal that was grown specifically for use in skincare; we never use “wildcrafted” goldenseal, meaning none of our goldenseal was found in the wild where it is endangered.”
–Botnia
The Bottom Line with Botnia
In short, Botnia is a dream come true. This is a brand that is both eco-conscious and effective, which isn’t always easy to find. Throughout the years Jeana has spent as an esthetician, she was never able to find a natural skincare line that met her standards. However, Botnia has proven itself to be the exception. We are so excited to share this brand with you, and we can’t wait for you to fall in love with it the way that we have!
If you have any questions or concerns, or if you want to learn more, please reach out to us via live chat or email. We are always happy to answer your skincare questions and help you reach your glowing goals!
