How to Decode a Lotion Label (The Lavish Earth Way)
Ever looked at a lotion ingredient list and thought, “Water, glycerin, cetyl alcohol… sounds like a science test”? You’re not alone. Let’s break it down using our Argan & Avocado Hand & Body Lotion as a real-world example. Knowing these ingredients = skincare confidence. ✨
💧 Water (Aqua)
The foundation of virtually every lotion—it’s the solvent that makes everything else possible.
🌿 Argania spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil & Persea gratissima (Avocado) Oil
These are your antioxidant-rich, skin-loving heroes! Argan oil is great for elasticity and glow; avocado oil nourishes deeply. They’re also lightweight on the skin, making the lotion absorb fast.
🧈 Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit
A creamy classic that moisturizes without greasiness. Think soft, supple skin without any oily feel.
🌊 Glycerin
A humectant—it pulls moisture into your skin, keeping things feeling fresh and hydrated.
🧾 Vegetable-based emulsifying wax (Cetearyl Alcohol + Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate)
Emulsifiers help blend your oil and water together (so the lotion doesn’t separate). Plant-based, so they keep the formula natural!
🛡️ Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
An antioxidant that protects both your skin and the product itself—double-duty hero.
🧴 Preservative: Ecocert Natural Blend
This keeps your lotion safe from bacteria and extends shelf-life—all while avoiding nasty parabens or formaldehyde releasers (YES, you read that right - there are tons of cheapo preservatives out there that are designed to release formaldehyde to preserve the product and that just full body shiver gives me the creeps!)
🌸 Essential Oil or Fragrance
Lavender Bergamot? Orange Sorbet? Tropical Coconut? Banana & Ginger Lily? Essential oils or clean fragrances create the vibe you love—while staying skin- and nose-friendly.
👀 Pro Tips for Reading Lotion Labels
Know the hero oils (argan, avocado, shea)—these have real benefits.
Humectants like glycerin hydrate by drawing moisture in.
Emulsifiers & waxes = texture and stability, not harmful fillers.
Preservatives matter—natural ones like ours keep things fresh without parabens.
Fragrance matters—ask yourself if it’s essential oil, vegan fragrance, or fake chemical. Choose what aligns with your skin and values.
TL;DR Lavish Earth makes lotion to be felt and understood, not just slathered on. Our ingredient choices are intentional—from texture and moisture to scent and sustainability.
Bar Soap Is Back, Baby — And Ours Is Built Different
Let’s get one thing straight: not all bar soaps are created equal. If your childhood memories involve tight, squeaky skin and soap that doubled as a punishment on your skin, we feel you.
But handcrafted bar soap? That’s a whole other story — especially the way we do it at Lavish Earth.
First of All: Yes, Bar Soap Can Be Good for Your Skin
Our bar soaps are made the traditional way (cold process!) with a nourishing blend of plant oils, essential oils, and a lot of love.
No weird detergents. No sketchy foaming agents. No industrial dryness.
What’s In Our Bar Soap? Only the Good Stuff.
🧈 Shea Butter — For softness, richness, and creamy lather. Shea is your skin’s best friend.
🥥 Coconut Oil — Gives big bubbly lather and helps cleanse without being harsh.
🌿 Castor Oil — The secret sauce for stable, silky bubbles. It also brings gentle moisture.
🌾 Rice Bran Oil — Full of antioxidants and vitamin E, this oil is underrated and oh-so-luxurious.
🫒 Olive Oil — Gentle, soothing, and amazing for sensitive skin. It makes the bar hard and long-lasting.
Superfatted? You Bet.
We superfat our bars at 5%. That means there’s 5% more oil than the lye needs — so the final soap still has nourishing oils left behind to moisturize your skin as you wash.
Translation: It cleans you without stripping you. Your skin stays soft, not squeaky.
Scented with Care
We use:
💐 Essential oils (lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, citrus — all the classics)
✨ Or safe, phthalate-free, paraben-free, vegan fragrance oils when we need a scent that essential oils just can’t do (hello, I’m looking at you, you beautiful bar of Sweet Pea goodness!).
Everything is made with sensitive skin and noses in mind. (Because no one wants their hands to smell like fake flowers or chemical candy.)
Why Choose a Bar Over a Bottle?
Less waste. No plastic. Just a simple recyclable/compostable paper wrap.
More concentrated. One bar lasts longer than most bottled body washes (hey! Please use a soap dish to maximize life of your bar - if it gets a chance to drain, it’s got so much more life in it!).
Better for your skin. You’re getting real oils, not synthetic detergents.
Easy to travel with. No leaks. No TSA stress. Just toss it in a tin and go.
TL;DR: Our Bar Soap Is a Tiny, Bubbly Work of Art
Made for real skin, real life, and real good vibes.
If you’ve sworn off bar soap before — try ours. It’s the kind your skin actually wants to invite to the shower.
Skincare Terms That Sound Made Up But Aren’t (And What They Actually Mean)
Let’s be honest — skincare marketing is full of words that sound like someone typed with their eyes closed and said “that’ll do.”
You’ve seen them. You’ve googled them. Let’s break them down, real-talk style.
pH balanced lotion with humectant, non-comedogenic oils, and occlusive shea butter (did you catch all that?!)
1. Sebum
No, it’s not a villain from Star Trek. It’s your skin’s natural oil. Too little? Your skin’s dry. Too much? Your forehead’s a Slip ’N Slide. Argan Oil is awesome because it absorbs quickly. Jojoba oil is great because it mimics your sebum without being a jerk about it.
2. Comedogenic
Fancy word for “might clog your pores.”
Coconut oil? A little comedogenic. Jojoba? Usually not.
Translation: Know your skin type, and don’t panic if your bestie swears by something your face absolutely hates.
3. Occlusive
Sounds like a wizard spell. Actually just means it forms a barrier that locks in moisture. Think candelilla wax or shea butter. Occlusives are your winter skin’s best friend (unless your skin says “nah,” in which case we listen to her).
4. Humectant
Not a space alien. Just an ingredient that pulls moisture into your skin from the air. Glycerin and snow mushroom extract are both humectants. They're like little hydration magnets.
5. pH-balanced
This just means it won’t mess with your skin’s natural acidity. Your skin has a pH around 5.5 — just a bit on the acid side of things. All our leave-on products are pH balanced to 5.5 (because the fact of the matter is that the nature of a bar soap is that it is alkaline. To get around this, we “superfat” our formula with extra shea butter to leave skin soft and hydrated)
At Lavish Earth, we try to keep the jargon light — and the skincare legit.
But hey, if you ever need a glossary with a side of sass, we’ve got you.
Why We Choose Both Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils at Lavish Earth
When it comes to scent, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach — especially in skincare. At Lavish Earth, we’re all about creating products that smell amazing and feel great on your skin. That’s why we lean on a mix of natural essential oils and carefully selected fragrance oils.
Essential Oils are from plants, herbs and flowers - natural, earthy and fresh aromas.
The Magic of Essential Oils
About 80% of our products are scented with pure essential oils. Why? Because they bring that earthy, fresh, and natural aroma that we love — straight from plants, flowers, and herbs. Essential oils aren’t just about scent; they often carry skin benefits too. Plus, if you’re sensitive to synthetic chemicals, they’re usually a much gentler choice.
When Fragrance Oils Step In
But sometimes, essential oils just can’t do the whole job. Maybe we want a scent that’s tropical, candy-sweet, or just a little quirky — something nature can’t quite provide. That’s when we turn to high-quality, phthalate-free, paraben-free, and vegan fragrance oils or flavors. These are specially formulated to be safe for sensitive skin and noses, and they let us get creative with scent profiles.
Sensitivity Is Always Top of Mind
Whether it’s essential oils or fragrance oils, our number one priority is your skin and your nose. We avoid anything harsh, irritating, or full of hidden nasties. We want you to enjoy your skincare routine without any worry.
In a nutshell:
We’re proud to keep it mostly natural but never compromise on your experience. Because skincare should smell good, feel good, and be good for you.
If you’re curious about any of our scents or ingredients, just hit us up — we love talking all things natural and nourishing!
How Running a Small Skincare Business Taught Me to Trust My Gut (and My Skin)
If you’ve ever used a skincare product and thought, “Why does this feel wrong?” — you’re not alone. That was me. A lot. Which is how Lavish Earth came to be.
As someone with a science degree (shoutout to Biological Science from the University of Guelph!) and a background in aromatherapy and acupuncture, I knew I should be able to find products that worked for me. But no matter how pretty the packaging or fancy the ingredients list, most products didn’t feel good. Some were too greasy. Some made my skin freak out. Some smelled just wayyyy wrong.
So, I started making my own stuff.
From Sensory Overload to Sensory Yes, Please
Lavish Earth was born because I needed skincare that worked — and didn’t gross me out. I started making formulas that felt right on my skin and smelled like actual peace. Slowly, I realized other people needed that too. Sensitive skin, sensory struggles, ingredient confusion? Welcome to the club. Let me make something for you.
What I’ve Learned from Building This Business:
Most people want skincare that feels good, not just looks good on a shelf.
“Natural” doesn’t always mean gentle. “Fragrance-free” doesn’t always mean nice.
The best skincare advice? If it works for you, don’t let anyone shame you for using it.
People will absolutely DM you asking if you can make a whipped butter that smells like cotton candy. (Answer: Yes, check out our Vanilla Sugar Triple Whipped Shea Body Butter! We got you!)
Lavish Earth is still growing, still learning, still making things in small batches with love and a ton of testing on myself.
Thank you for being part of it. You’re the reason I keep doing this — and why my studio smells like lavender, peppermint, and a hint of chaos most days.
How to Create a Simple, Sensory-Friendly Skincare Routine (Copy)
Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, if you’ve ever stood in front of your bathroom mirror overwhelmed by too many products (or textures or scents that just don’t sit right), we see you. We built Lavish Earth for exactly that reason.
If you’ve got sensory sensitivities or just crave a routine that feels right, here’s how to build a simple, effective, sensory-friendly skincare routine.
If it’s working, keep doing that! Your skin is happy.
Step 1: Start with What Already Works
You don’t need a 10-step skincare routine. You need your skincare routine.
If it’s working, keep doing that.
That cleanser you love because it smells like a calming cloud and doesn’t leave you tight? Keep it. That face oil that feels like a silky hug? Don’t ditch it just because TikTok says something else.
Step 2: Keep the Steps Minimal
Try this basic structure:
Gentle Cleanser
Hydrating Mist or Toner (optional)
Face Oil or Moisturizer
Barrier Cream or SPF (in the AM)
That’s it. Four steps max. Sensory overwhelm? Denied.
Step 3: Choose Products That Feel Good
Night Cream formulated with sensitive skin (+ brains!) in mind. Lightly scented with earthy frankincense oil.
We’re talking texture, scent, and vibe.
Textures: Smooth, creamy, whipped, or silky are often the most comfortable for sensitive skin and brains.
Scents: Choose subtle essential oils or go unscented if needed.
Application: Use clean hands or a soft cloth — no harsh scrubbing required.
Step 4: Be Consistent (Not Perfect)
You don’t have to do everything every day. Aim for consistency, but give yourself grace. If your routine feels soothing and easy, you’ll be more likely to stick with it.
Final Tip: If Something Feels Off, Trust Yourself
Your skin (and your nervous system) are wise. If a product makes your skin sting, itch, or just feel “wrong,” stop using it. Your comfort matters more than the hype.
Lavish Earth was created for sensory-friendly, feel-good skincare — because self-care shouldn’t feel like a struggle.
Keep it simple. Keep it soft. Keep it yours.
5 Skincare Ingredients You Should Know (and Why We Love Them)
When it comes to skincare, we’re big believers in knowing what’s going on your skin. At Lavish Earth, every ingredient is chosen with care — not just because it sounds nice, but because it actually does something for your skin (and your senses!).
Here are five skincare ingredients we reach for again and again — and why they deserve a spot in your daily routine:
1. Shea Butter 🧈
The queen of soft skin. Shea butter is rich, creamy, and deeply moisturizing. It’s packed with fatty acids and vitamins that help soothe dry, irritated skin — without feeling greasy or heavy. It’s a staple in our triple whipped shea body butter and hand & body lotions for a reason.
Bonus: It also creates a soft, velvety skin feel, especially when warmed and whipped up — a win for texture-sensitive folks.
2. Argan Oil 💧
Known as “liquid gold,” argan oil is light, nourishing, and full of antioxidants. It helps improve skin elasticity, supports barrier repair, and gives you that dewy glow without clogging pores. We love it in face oils and night treatments.
3. Jojoba Oil 🌾
This oil is actually more like a wax, and it mimics your skin’s natural sebum — meaning it absorbs beautifully. Jojoba is calming, balancing, and ideal for sensitive, acne-prone, or combination skin. It’s like your skin’s BFF.
4. Coconut Oil 🥥
A multitasking marvel! Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, making it naturally antimicrobial and great for rough patches or dry skin. While it’s not for everyone’s face, it’s wonderful in body care, lip balms, and soothing salves.
Note: We use it mindfully and sparingly where it makes sense — especially for dry, flaky skin.
5. Zinc Oxide ⚪
Zinc isn’t just for sunscreen (though it’s a superstar there). It’s soothing, anti-inflammatory, and great for irritated or compromised skin. You’ll find it in our barrier creams and Wild Mint Foot & Body Lotion because it protects without blocking pores. Think of it as your skin’s gentle armor.
At Lavish Earth, we love skincare that works hard and feels good.
These ingredients are tried-and-true favourites for a reason — and we’ll keep using them because they deliver.
Welcome to Lavish Earth: Skincare with Soul (and a Sense of Humour)
Hi there, Soapy Friend!
Whether you just stumbled upon Lavish Earth Canada or you’ve been cheering me on since the early days—welcome. I’m so glad you’re here.
This little corner of the internet is about to become a whole lot cozier, glowier, and maybe even a little weirder (in the best way).
I’m reviving this blog because I’ve got stories to share, skincare wisdom to spill, and some seriously lovely products to introduce you to. But first—let me reintroduce myself.
Who’s Behind Lavish Earth?
I’m Andrea Rideout, the founder, formulator, and slightly obsessive ingredient nerd behind Lavish Earth Canada. I have a B.Sc. in Biological Science from the University of Guelph, plus certifications in acupuncture and a huge interest in aromatherapy—so, this isn’t just kitchen magic. It’s science-backed, soul-led skincare.
This brand was built out of pure necessity. I’ve got what I lovingly call a spicy brain—and some textures or synthetic scents in conventional skincare? Instant ick. Plus I wanted to be in charge of what my family was using on their skin and making sure it was full of real, premium ingredients. So I started making products that felt good, smelled real, and didn’t leave my skin in full revolt.
What began as a solo mission turned into a two-person dream team—my husband recently joined me full-time, which means there’s now twice as much love (and slightly more chaos) going into every product.
What Makes Lavish Earth Special?
Let’s be real—there are a lot of natural skincare brands out there. So what makes this one different?
💚 Everything’s made in small, consistent batches
💚We are a mom and pop shop so we hand-pack every order (usually with a goofy grin and a lil happy dance)
💚 Ingredients are chosen with care, not hype
💚 The goal is always to nourish—not just sell
Plus, I believe skincare should feel like you-time, not a chore. That’s why everything I formulate is designed to feel luxurious, absorb quickly and easy-to-use.
What You’ll Find on This Blog
This blog isn’t going to be all “10 Step Routines You Must Follow”—because who has time for that?
Instead, you’ll find:
Easy skincare tips for real life
Ingredient spotlights (because nerding out over plant magic is fun)
DIY recipes you can actually make at home
Honest talk about running a small biz
Seasonal skincare guides (and possibly the odd meme)
If you like your skincare with a little sass and a lot of soul, you’re in the right place.
Let’s Get Connected
Want to follow along as we grow, glow, and get a little messy in the best way?
👉 Sign up for the newsletter
👉 Follow along on Instagram @lavish_earth_canada
👉 Or comment below—what’s your biggest skincare struggle? (Seriously, I want to help.)
And if you haven’t checked out the shop yet, here’s a little nudge:
✨Lip Balm in Compostable Paperboard Tubes — Lavish Earth Canada ✨
Thanks for Being Here!
Running this business is a dream, and getting to share it with a community like you makes it even better. Thanks for supporting small, natural, handmade, and heartfelt.
Now let’s make your skin happy. 💫
—Andrea