It is always important to check your labels, whether you are putting something in your body or on your body, it's great to know your ingredients. We wanted to highlight a couple of our brands whose ingredients are worth mentioning and the healthy benefits they possess.
DAMN HANDSOME GROOMING CO:
This stuff is pretty damn great! No, but really....this husband/wife duo business, combines men's grooming, craft beer and outstanding branding to create one incredible line of products. They take recycled goods from craft beer, literally "the bottom of the barrel" and all natural plant ingredients, to make the best smelling stuff out there!
As avid craft beer drinkers in Kalamazoo, MI, they got to know some great local breweries and soon became more interested in the brewing process. Once realizing all the healthy ingredients that went to waste when creating beer, and the lack of men's grooming products, Damn Handsome Grooming Co. was born. Their ingredients include:
-GRAINS: Oats, barley and wheat are mineral-rich super grains packed full of powerful antioxidants and proteins, which help preserve the texture of the skin and help repair damaged hair. All the while, gently exfoliating dead, dry skin without any harsh abrasion - perfect for drier or sensitive skin.
-BREWER"S YEAST: is abundant with B vitamins, riboflavin, biotin and can help balance the pH of skin, regulate the production of sebum - your skin’s natural oil - making it ideal for treating acne-prone and dry skin. Not to mention, the maltose and sucrose sugars in beer tighten the hair's cuticles for enhanced shine and body.
-HOPS & PLANT OILS: The bioactive molecule xanthohumol (present in hops) has shown to have antioxidant and anti-cancer effects 100 times that of green tea. In addition, their use of natural plant based oils - like avocado and olive - add rich vitamins C, E, K, folic acid, magnesium, and potassium. Which are not only packed full of anti-oxidants that help protect the skin from wrinkles and damage caused by sun, smoke, and pollution, but also act as humectants; that is, they draw water into the skin.
Their motto is "Work Hard. Do Good. Stay Handsome" It's their commitment to the lives and livelihoods behind each product they produce and for every Damn Handsome purchase they donate soap to those in need.
DRAM APOTHECARY:
Dram creates a line of wonderful cocktail bitters, syrups, teas and switchels. Bitters have been around for hundreds of years, these plant based concentrations aid in healthy digestions and add flavor into drinks and foods alike.
What a fun way to get super healthy herbs and plants into our systems, or help out a nasty hangover. Their goods are made with organic and wild harvested ingredients. Non-GMO, vegan, gluten & alcohol free, no preservatives, and free from any synthetic flavors or dyes.
Not to mention all their bottles and packaging are recyclable and biodegradable, so good on our planet....always a plus!!
ALAFFIA:
We've blogged about this awesome brand before and their notable charitable services that the sales of their products go towards. Not only do they support some amazing causes, but their ingredients are absolutely fabulous! So let's go in a little deeper:
-SHEA BUTTER: Shea butter has been around forever and serviced so many purposes from UV protection, to moister retention, anti-wrinkle properties, soothing for chapped skin and help repair damaged hair.
-NEEM: This amazing medicinal tree is used to create natural products that are rich in fatty acids, that are non-irritating and moisturizing at the same time. Great for eczema and dry itchy skin. It helps boost immunity by detoxifying so it is great for healing, and it's anti-bacterial, anti-microbial! Neem is a great all natural healer for the skin and has been used and seen in many Ayurveda practices.
-REISHI: Is a mushroom known at the "Herb of Immortality." These amazing little dudes have a wide ranging support of health conditions. Reishi mushrooms work as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic agent. They help out both the immune systems and promotes blood circulation which leads to nice, clear, younger looking skin and fights against hair loss.
-TURMERIC: has been used for hundreds of years in many cultures around the world. It's antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory components make is great for skin. It works for fast healing and antiseptic applications, which aids with acne and acne scarring. It is also known to assist relief from many skin problems and disorders such as psoriasis, eczema and alopecia, Turmeric slows down the ageing process, helping with fine lines, wrinkles and skin elasticity. It also is great for stretchmarks, treating skin pigmentation, soothing burns and great for exfoliating.
-COCONUT: We all know coconut is an amazing fruit, that has so many health benefits for our bodies. This nutrient rich fruit makes an excellent moisturizer for hair and skin and is an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and antioxidant. Coconut helps against UV rays and has been know to prevents skin related cancers.
-OTHER NATURAL INGREDIENTS: We could go for days with all of the fun facts about what is in Alaffia's products, so here is a list of other great natural ingredients also found in their line: Aloe, yarrow, activated charcoal, tea tree, argan oil, baobab oil, henna, melon seed, rosemary and essentials oil blends.
Their products are ethical trade, gluten free, vegan, no GMO's, paraben, sulfate, propanediol, phthalates, aluminium, silicone and synthetic fragrance free.
BROTHER'S ARTISAN OIL:
These fragrant packed products are full of all natural essential oils, distilled with real plants. Brothers Artisan Oils have truly master the art of blending essentials oils, without sacrificing staying true to their beliefs.....absolutely no synthetic fragrance oils, yay!! Their products are vegan, never tested on animals, paraben free, all natural and made in America.
-ACTIVATED CHARCOAL: This powerful ingredient pulls out bacteria, poisons, toxins, chemicals, and dirt from pores. Great for acne and getting rid of impurities.
-JOJOBA OIL: This emollient works great to soothe chapped and dry skin. It fights infections, wrinkles, hair loss and known to help with acne and eczema.
-MANGO BUTTER: Rich in vitamins A & C, mango butter treats dry skin, clears blemishes, fights fine lines and wrinkles, helps heal cuts, rashes and scars.
LUTSKA:
This small batch essential oil and scent company, makes all natural and handcrafted fragrances made on Vancouver Island, Canada. Aromatherapy does wonders for the mind, body and soul. Looking for a relaxing evening, add some lavender essential oils to a diffuser next to you bed. Feel energized with a pure peppermint drop in a carrier oil behind you ears, to start your day off productive. Try one of their amazing personal blends specialized for different spiritual intentions.
-DAWN: Transformation & Change
-MID NIGHT: Manifestation, Intuition & Magic
-DUSK: Love, Passion & Comfort
The importance of good ingredients is important to us and we love sharing any information about are artisan and small batch companies. These brands go to great lengths to make sure what they put in the bottle matters and is good for you. You can find all of these products here at HEX, located at 114 Neal Street Downtown Historical Grass Valley, Ca 95945.
PHOTOS | ANGELA NUNNINK