New at Isola: Isola Solstice Facial Oil, plus Em is now a Clinical Herbalist!

First things first, if you follow me on Instagram, you would have seen that after four years, (plus five years of pre-requisite studies) I have completed the 500-hour Advanced/ Clinical Herbalism Course with the Herbal Academy of New England. During these last four years, I have also completed my studies in Botanical Skincare, plus, from the Wild Rose College: Iridology, Seaweed Therapeutics, and small courses on the therapeutics of mushrooms, local and seasonal herbs and foraging, and materia-medica building (this is an herbalists handbook!). I have had amazing mentors, from the Master Herbalist that I have seen most of my life, to my Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor and Acupuncturist, whom I have seen for 12 years, and of course, the founders and teachers at the schools where I have received my certifications.

I’m pleased to offer consultations virtually, or in person! The first 20 minute consultation is complimentary, usually via video (zoom), or phone. From there, our initial meeting (virtual or in person) will be about an hour, so that we can explore all of the areas of your personal health and lifestyle strengths, and any areas that could use some support, and I will make some dietary, lifestyle and herbal remedy recommendations. Our second consultation is usually about three weeks later, just to check in and to answer any questions that you may have, and alter any of the recommendations if need be. From there, as we are in Alberta and the changes of seasons really affect our bodies systems, it is ideal for us to meet once every three or four months so that we can understand how your body adjusts to the seasons, and work to ensure that those adjustments don’t result in any discomforts (an example of this would be when a person’s joints begin to ache in the cold weather, or a headache occurs when its very windy outdoors).

Next Up: Isola Solstice, The New Winter Brightening Oil!

We are finally here! The Isola Solstice Oil is ready! I truly love to share my passion for organic skincare, made with sustainably harvested, local herbs, and filled with our Isola Fountain of Youth ingredient: Pacific Coast Sea Kelp. I’ve been so happy that so many of you love Isola skincare as much as I do! The new Solstice oil labels just arrived today, so i’ll be bustling this week to have the products all ready to ship straight to your doorstep!

I started making Isola skincare in 2014. I would often experience extreme reactions to skincare and cosmetic products, until along came to a burst of stars (…well… palm trees…) and I took the plunge and made my very first skincare product. Some of you may remember it, as I was eager to have your reviews of it. I made a green tea and vitamin C cream. And it was good! It was good enough! But the problem for my skin, is that the cream was thick and nourishing – great for nighttime. But I wanted something that everyone could use all the time! Day or night, at the gym or at the beach, and especially in the middle of winter, so I simply removed a step and didn’t blend the infused oil into a cream. I kept the infused oil, natural and beautiful and simple, and I begin using it as my ‘everything’ skincare as I learned and grew as an Herbalist. From there I began to create more specific herbal infusions for different times of the year, and different areas of the body. You’ll still see my original Green Tea and Vitamin C oil as the Isola Ocean Eyes. I love this oil for the delicate skin around the eyes and just above the eyebrows!

Today, I’m excited to share our first true dark-spot treatment oil, Isola Solstice! I named this the Solstice oil as it should be used only during the dark months, beginning use around the Winter Solstice in December and ending use around the Summer Solstice in June. These usage recommendations are due to its infusion of bearberry leaf, which acts as a natural hydroquinone alternative. The skin-lightening action of bearberry leaf could make the skin extra-sensitive to UV rays, so its more beneficial to use this oil when the sun is low and the days are shorter. In the summertime, when the sun is bright and the days are long, protective and nourishing skincare should be used – the Isola Lumiere du Jour and Lumiere du Soir oils are perfect for summertime!

This oil began infusing – you’ve got it! – on the Winter Solstice. As I primarily solar-infuse Isola skincare, the oil infusions that take place in the winter months take longer than in the summer months due to the lack of sunlight in the winter. Rich in vitamins and minerals from herbs grown at Isola, including lemon balm and rose hips, plus organic calendula oil, Pacific coast macro kelp and Western Cedar Cedar from just off the north coast of Vancouver Island, organic butterfly pea flower, organic bearberry leaf, and evening primrose oil.

I can’t wait for you to experience the new Isola Solstice Oil! If you’ve reached the end of this long blog post, use the code: ISOLA20 for 20% off your next Isola order!

Sending Island Vibes, Em x