SKIN COMPOUNDS:
A DEEP DIVE

SOMETHING ENTIRELY NEW

At the core of Laurel Skin is the power of whole plants formulated into herbalist-driven skincare. The tenets of herbalism call for a commitment to creating botanically active formulas that are pure, potent, and can affect change within the skin. We know how to use medicinal plants to impact human health – including skin health – in ways that rival, and even surpass, conventional medicine.

As Laurel Skin has steadied and flourished over the past 14 years, I have quietly and simultaneously worked behind the scenes on a new creation; one that takes the very essence of herbalism, amplifies it, and places it front and center in skin health. After many years of study, many herbalist minds, and patient testing and development from our production team, Laurel Skin Compounds emerged as the embodiment of who we are as a brand.

These Compounds are entirely new to the industry and represent a new approach to plant-active skincare: potent, result-specific herbal medicine concentrates for the skin. Laurel Skin Compounds are used to support the skin through both momentary flare-ups and chronic conditions such as discoloration, dehydration, congestion, skin weakness, and loss of vitality.

 

SKIN MEDICINE, REDEFINED

Introducing these Compounds to the world was something I spent many years working up to. When I first began dreaming of this new category, I recognized that the industry might not be fully prepared. As a highly sensitive person at the helm of a small yet impactful business, navigating skepticism and doubt within the corporate realm of ‘Big Wellness’ has become a familiar challenge.

When I first set out to formulate herbalist-driven skincare, there was still a lot of doubt in the industry. Brands were, and still are to a large extent, formulated by cosmetic chemists or by aromatherapists. Being deeply rooted in herbal medicine, I faced doubts about whether or not plants were as powerful as conventional skincare ingredients. Questions lingered about the feasibility of running a company that prioritizes fair compensation for farmers and growers while remaining profitable. Perfecting these Compounds became a transformative journey in both plant medicine and the lesson of standing in my truth and not silencing my heart. Amid moments of uncertainty, I never lost sight of what I knew was possible with plants.

 

“THESE COMPOUNDS WERE SOMETHING I REALLY WANTED FOR MYSELF, AS AN HERBALIST. THEY ARE AN EXPRESSION OF HOW I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF MY SKIN AND MY HEALTH.”

Launching this new category into the world feels like a full-circle moment for me and my team. Our commitment to being an herbalist-driven line is the heartbeat of our brand today. Our Compounds epitomize this founding principle, setting the bar at the pinnacle of potent plant medicine for the skin.

 

IN THE LAUREL LAB

THE MAKING OF A COMPOUND

If you have been following Laurel Skin for a while, you probably know that we specialize in formulating whole plant skincare.  This involves utilizing the entire plant, preserving all its delicate nutrients and vital supportive structures and co-factors. When harnessing plants as skin medicine, maintaining the integrity of the phytonutrient structures is crucial for the preservation and delivery of potent medicinal properties. With Laurel Skin Compounds, we elevate our commitment to whole plant principles by taking it up ten notches.

Our Compounds are the most complex formulas we have ever attempted in our lab and require the collaborative efforts of our entire team, with our Production Manager, Sunny, at the helm. Each Compound is a labor of patient dedication, taking several months to create. Containing multiple types of plant mediums, medicines, and techniques, the intricate process involves each plant undergoing a diverse array of maceration, extraction, and infusion. This process ensures that we capture the complete phytonutrient profile of each whole plant in the final product.

 

COMPOUND FAQ

Who can use Laurel Skin Compounds?

While most Laurel Skin products are for everyone – wherever you are in your journey to vibrant skin health – our Compounds are different. These potent skin supplements are designed for those who are already using a Laurel Skin ritual with ease; their skin has already adapted to herbalism-based skin care, and they wish to further customize their skin rituals with an advanced level of symptom support.

Who should NOT use the Compounds?

We encourage all lovers of herbal skin medicine to work with their skin to arrive at a place where it’s ready for the potency of our Compounds. However, they are not intended for those who are brand new to Laurel Skin or anyone experiencing heightened sensitivities or severe conditions such as rosacea, skin cancer, or an already weakened or compromised skin barrier. If you’re experiencing any of these conditions, we recommend a ritual of Essential Lipids paired with a Hydrating Elixir or Single Farm Hydrosol, returning your skin to a place of strength before considering adding a Compound. Please reach out to our Customer Care team if you have any questions about whether or not our Compounds are right for you!

How much Compound do I need to use?

Our Compounds are concentrated, nutrient-dense supplements for the skin, and they are meant to be used by the drop. We typically recommend 1-3 drops per application, depending on the specific Compound formula and how it’s being used. This small amount is truly enough when used after a generous application of Hydrating Elixir. The two-step usage of Elixir and Compound is necessary for proper nutrient uptake and skin acclimation.

When should I add a Compound to my existing ritual?

All of our whole plant Compounds can be used intuitively to address symptoms as they arise, at any time throughout the year. Each formula was carefully crafted to target specific conditions within the skin and encourage specific responses; however, they do each have a seasonal match where they are best aligned. I want to stress that it’s important to listen carefully to your own skin, especially when reaching for a Compound. We all have unique skin with unique needs and these Compounds are designed to be a potent support to meet you wherever you are.

Should Compounds replace my Elixir or Serum?

No, definitely not. Our Serums provide lipid-based nutrients, while Elixirs provide water-based nutrients; you need both of those things to properly hydrate and nourish the skin. A Compound is completely separate from that and is used to add into your ritual to further customize your results.

Can I add drops of Compound into my Serum?

We do not recommend this. It’s best to apply the Compound directly onto skin that has been saturated with Elixir, pressing into the skin so that the active medicine can work as it was intended. When mixed with other products, it will not absorb as directly or as quickly.

Can I use more than one Compound at a time? 

This will depend on your unique skin but the short answer is yes! Many of us experience multiple conditions at once that we’d like to address simultaneously. These Compounds are your medicine chest of plant allies to draw from as needed, whether that’s using one Compound at a time or by combining multiple Compounds into your AM/PM rituals.

How often should I change which Compound I’m using? 

For acute or short-term conditions, it’s fine to adjust your Compound use as often as an imbalance arises. For example, you might use Soothe Compound to treat active breakouts or use Radiance Compound after times of prolonged sun exposure. To address a chronic, long-term condition we recommend staying consistent with the appropriate Compound to support your skin as it shifts back to heath.

What is spot treating with a Compound?

Using the Compounds to spot treat symptoms that arise means to only apply the Compound to the area(s) that need it most. This might look like applying Lymph to the neck and chest only or applying Brighten to hyper-pigmented areas.

Should Compounds be used during the day or at night, or both?

This is up to you and what feels right to you. If you are using your Compound properly with an Elixir and a Serum or Balm, it can be used day, night, or both. It’s important to listen carefully to the skin and watch for any increased sensitivity when using a Compound, especially if the formula contains resurfacing fruit acids + enzymes.

What can you compare Compounds to?

Our Compounds are truly a first-of-its-kind skin care category, but many do have a conventional product counterpart that they are meant to replace. However, in true Laurel Skin fashion, our Compounds offer the results of their conventional counterparts, but with the authenticity of whole plant medicine: they look like plants, feel like plants, smell like plants, and behave like plants.

Why is alcohol used in the Compounds? 

We incorporate whole-plant alcohol (among other things) as one of our plant medicine-making mediums because it works exceptionally well with certain plants—especially those rich in healing resins and strengthening phenols. Using whole-plant alcohol in the smallest amounts possible enhances overall formula absorption and results in more thoroughly hydrated skin. Using alcohol in whole-plant medicine has been a practice since the very beginnings of herbalism.

 

THE COLLECTION

 

HYDRATION COMPOUND Roots + Roses

Dryness | Dehydration | Fine Lines | Loss of Elasticity

A potent blend of super-hydrators to deeply nourish, strengthen, and replenish, immediately restoring hydration levels and plumping visible surface lines.

Conventional Comparison: Hyaluronic Acid Serum

The Potent Plants Within: Marshmallow Root, Astragalus Root, Chia Seed Milk, Heirloom Roses

 

SOOTHE COMPOUND Calendula + Oat

Inflammation | Acne + Breakouts | Weakened Skin | Redness

Reverses the impact of chronic inflammation and eases symptoms of imbalance, providing supportive relief from conditions such as acne, perioral dermatitis, eczema, redness, and irritation.

Conventional Comparison: Niacinamide and/or Peptide Serum

The Potent Plants Within: Calendula Flowers, Milky Oat Tops and Oat Milk

 

RADIANCE COMPOUND Fruit + Flavonoid

Dullness | Sun Damage | Uneven Tone + Texture

A brightening, resurfacing, vitamin C boost – packed with berries and tropical fruits – to brighten and even skin tone, eliminate dullness, and reveal a smooth, vibrant glow.

Conventional Comparison: Vitamin C and/or AHA serums

The Potent Plants Within: Hibiscus Calyx, Camu Camu, Papaya Seed, Bilberry, Elderberry, Blood Orange

 

LYMPH COMPOUND Clover + Conifer

Puffiness | Congestion | Loss of Elasticity | Stagnant Fluid Flow

Stimulates lymph movement beneath the surface of the skin, releasing stagnation within the fascia, enlivening the tissues, releasing congestion, and contouring the face and neck.

Conventional Comparison: There is no conventional comparison to this product, because the role of the lymphatic system is under-valued in western and conventional care.

The Potent Plants Within: Rosemary, White Pine, Clover, Fennel, Bladderwrack, Juniper, Sea Salt

 

BRIGHTEN COMPOUND Resin + Rhizome

Hyperpigmentation | Sun Damage | Lipid Oxidation

Balance melanin production, repairs scars and sun damage while building cellular resilience to both heat and UV exposure.

Conventional Comparison: Arbutin or Hydroquinone

The Potent Plants Within: Creosote, Licorice, Uva Ursi, Turmeric, Frankincense

 

VITALITY COMPOUND Wild Weeds

Fine Lines | Dullness | Lack of Vitality | Oxidative Damage

Nature’s most powerful herbs come together in the sole lipid-based formula, reducing oxidative damage and stimulating new cell growth, improving collagen production and restore vibrancy and vitality to the skin.

Conventional Comparison: Retinol or Stem Cell Serum

The Potent Plants Within: Comfrey, Nettle, Lemon Balm, Rose Geranium. Dandelion, Horsetail

 

WHAT’S NEXT?

Fall of 2024 will be a milestone for us, as we introduce the final two Compounds in the context of The Herbalist Collection – a boxed set of all our Compounds, created for “the herbalist” in each of you. I am certain it will be the fullest expression of heart and this endeavor that I embarked on so many years ago. Until then, I hope you have enjoyed the first four Compound creations as much as I do! My personal favorite seems to change with each day’s journey, but most often I find myself reaching for Soothe Compound’s milky and resinous blend.

 

Much love,

Laurel