The Alchemy of Science & Art in Skincare
What goes on the skin goes into the skin. So here is every ingredient we use, how a jar is made, and how to read a label like someone who makes them.
Most skincare is made for shelf life first. Scheal is made for the life of your skin. Each jar is compounded in small batches after you order it, from certified organic botanicals and oils distilled in our own studio, and adjusted for the season.
Every jar starts with something that grew.
Plants have a clock.
"Every plant oil is alive. From the day it is pressed, it slowly loses what makes it work. A jar made this week and a jar that sat in a warehouse for a year can have the same label, and almost nothing else in common."
Thirty-four ingredients, in five families.
Every plant, oil, clay and wax we use, each once. Choose a name to read its entry: what it is, what it does for the skin, why it earned its place, and which jars it is in. The notes come from thirty years of studying these ingredients, written the way we explain them across the table.
Five stages, by hand.
This is the part no label shows. It is also the reason the same ingredient works differently in a Scheal jar than in one from a shelf.
Source
Certified organic botanicals, cold-pressed oils and mineral clays, chosen for what they do rather than how they sound. Many are bought in small quantities so nothing waits around.
Distill
Several of the oils and waters are distilled in our studio in Franklin. We know their age to the week, and there is no middle step between the plant and the jar.
Then it is made for you.
Everything from here happens after your order comes in.
Compound after you order
A jar is made when your order comes in, not before. The base is weighed, the actives are added last, and the batch is small enough to be done by one pair of hands.
Adjust for the season
January skin and July skin are not the same skin. Through the year the ratios shift: richer in the cold and dry months, lighter and more calming in heat and humidity.
Ship within days
Each jar is labeled with every ingredient and sent out within days of being made. In the spa, the same blends are compounded for you in the room during a facial.
The balm, as an example.
Ingredients are listed in order of amount, most to least. On most labels the first three lines are water, a cheap filler oil and an emulsifier. On ours they are the oils doing the work. Fifteen ingredients, and nothing else. Tap any of them to read its entry.
The handful that hold a jar together.
A cream is oil and water, and the two do not stay mixed on their own. These are the few functional ingredients we use in small amounts so a jar stays stable and safe. A library with gaps is not a library.
- Glycerin
- A humectant. A small amount in the cleanser draws moisture to the skin so it does not feel stripped.
- Emulsifying wax, stearic acid
- Plant-derived. They let the water and oil in a cream stay blended so it goes on evenly.
- Xanthan gum
- A plant-derived thickener that gives the toner and serum their texture.
- Polysorbate 60
- A plant-derived emulsifier used in tiny amounts to keep oil and water from separating.
- Tetrasodium glutamate diacetate
- A chelating agent made from fermented plant sugar. It binds trace metals so a jar does not degrade.
- Phenoxyethanol, organic alcohol
- A fresh product with water in it needs a preservative or it grows things. We use the smallest effective amount so the jar stays safe for the weeks it is in your bathroom.
A few honest notes.
Read these before you start, especially if your skin reacts easily.
- Walnut shellThe Microderm Exfoliant contains ground walnut shell. It is a physical exfoliant, so use it lightly and not every day. If you have a nut allergy, or very sensitive skin, choose the mask instead and tell us.
- Patch testBefore a new jar goes on your face, put a little on the inside of your wrist for a day. Fresh botanicals are strong, and skin is individual.
- SPF numbersSome oils carry natural sun-protective properties, and we note them. They are not a tested sunscreen rating. For real sun, layer a broad-spectrum sunscreen over the day cream.
- Fragrance-freeNothing is scented. If even plant oils bother you, every jar can be compounded without the aromatic ones. Ask when you order.
- Not medical adviceWe are skincare specialists, not physicians. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition. For a skin condition, see your doctor.
Two collections. One kitchen.
Everything above goes into either The Lift, for firmness and sun damage, or Clear Skin, for breakouts and the marks they leave. Both are made after you order.
Legal disclaimer
Scheal Organics takes great care in formulating and making its products, but skincare carries inherent risk and affects individuals differently. All information on this site, including product descriptions, is general guidance and not medical advice. We are not licensed medical professionals, and our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. Skin is individual; results vary. Patch-test before use, particularly if you have allergies or sensitivities, including to nuts and walnut derivatives. If you have a skin concern or medical condition, consult a qualified professional before beginning a new regimen. Scheal Organics is not liable for direct or indirect damages or adverse reactions arising from use or misuse of its products; by using them you do so at your own risk. This disclaimer may change without notice. Questions are welcome at any time.