“Natural skin care” has become something of a buzz phrase these days, with companies using it very loosely to describe all kinds of products. People like the idea of using natural ingredients on their skin; why wouldn’t you choose something from the Earth rather than a chemical? But there are other benefits to committing to [...]

As a kid, my mother bought a tiny aloe plant for the windowsill in the kitchen. When my sisters would get sunburned in the summertime, she’d snap off a fleshy leaf and rub the clear gel onto their skin. I was fascinated by the way the insides would ooze out and create a soft, tingly [...]