About
My name is Jess,
I’ve always had sensitive skin.
It shows its sensitivity in acne, redness, clogged pores, and cysts. Growing up it was a real stress for me, those tender formative years of adolescence when all you want is to fit in and not be made fun of.
At some point in high school, in the throes of my acne flare ups and after the countless prescriptions for antibiotics and birth control, I discovered a natural food store. It was like discovering a needle in a haystack in a place like where I grew up, it wasn’t like the common type of grocer we frequented.
One day, I walked into the skincare aisle and talked to the person working there about my acne. They handed me a tub of Aztec Clay (iykyk). A single ingredient face mask to cleanse your skin, bentonite clay collected from Death Valley.
It was the first “natural” thing I used and immediately saw positive effects from. This planted a seed and began opening up my mind to the idea of using natural things, straight from the earth, to help soothe and heal my sensitive skin.
Fast forward to many little and big decisions later, I find myself living on some land and starting a farm with my partner, you can read about that story here. My dreams of growing vegetables which turned into growing flowers which turned into growing medicinal herbs and dye plants, for my business Root Rise Farm + Apothecary.
Sometimes, I wonder “why do I grow all of these plants for the skincare line?” It would be much easier to just buy them in bulk like the majority of natural skincare brands.
I discovered early on that whole, living, organic ingredients and plants from the earth are what work on sensitive skin. When I’m the grower of these plants they are a much more vibrant, rich, and fresh quality. I grow it all because it connects me to myself and my strength, as a woman and as an artist. It allows me to make something out of nothing with my hands. It connects my body to the earth. It lets me live out my values.
I’m proud to make products that support our skin, overall health, and wellbeing.
I truly think teenage me, challenged by my acne, would be SO proud of where I am today. If I could go back and hug her I would, and let her know she would discover so many beautiful ways to treat her sensitive skin and tender heart, and they all came from the earth.
Now, we are in the next chapter of our life, with our 2 year old Eden, in tow.
And this organic product line and farm means more to us than ever. I feel even more inspired to create my safe and gentle product line, and grow it in even better ways. I’ve loved using my line on the whole family, without any confusion around ingredients I can’t pronounce. All of the scents of the skincare line are mild, gently smelling of flowers on a breeze. No harsh fragrances, just pure plants from the garden.
I rely on many self care tools to keep my day to day feeling nourished in the midst of mothering a young babe.
I call upon my products in new, more meaningful, and deep ways now. Carving out a moment (Eden’s playing in the bath? A perfect moment to do a rose glow face mask and moon butter sesh) or cozy evening after his bedtime to pause and take time and give to myself. These micro moments mean more than ever to me now.
I love getting to share my love for gardening, making things with my hands, and natural dyeing with Eden. Watching him run through the flower field makes it all feel right.
