Things are certainly getting more curious around here as we dive into our newest collection! Thus far this year, via our Realms of Enchantment series, we’ve stepped through magic mirrors, visited far-flung kingdoms, and visited secret gardens….and now we’re falling down the rabbit hole to seek our innermost truths, embrace our wildest imaginations, and simply have FUN! Our Most Curious Collection is a wondrous assortment of enchanted delights!
"Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
-Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a timeless classic that follows the adventures of an imaginative young girl who falls down a rabbit hole and enters a curious and surreal land full of magic. From talking animals to absurd tea parties, Alice encounters a world where logic and reason are turned upside down. Wonderland teaches readers to embrace imagination and creativity, to be ever curious and questioning, to challenge conventional logic, and to encourage self-exploration.
"Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality."
-The Cheshire Cat, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
This iconic quote from the enigmatic Cheshire Cat begs us to explore the depths of our own imagination and to embark upon a personal journey of self-discovery. Reality itself can often be strange enough (hello alternative facts and AI??!), full of absurdity and confusion. When we allow our perspectives to shift, we make space for deeper understanding of our crazy world. Maybe we can't change our reality, but we can certainly change how we perceive it. So celebrate the mysteries within yourself and embrace each fleeting moment as an opportunity for growth and change.
Lessons from a cat: There's never a better time to make today magic than within your own mind! Be ever curious! Question everything! Think outside the box! Keep an open mind and embrace the absurd! Believe in the impossible!
You're invited to our enchanted tea party!
This month, we invite you to join us on our quest down the rabbit hole to revel in whimsy and enchantment! We’ve got the tea and mushrooms, lol…..you just need to bring your imagination and childlike sense of wonder!
Ok, so our tea isn't the drinkable sort! LOL, we're in Wonderland so that makes perfect sense, right?! We've got tea in the form of soap, skincare, bath bombs and aromatic delights, though! Come have a sit with us at the table and sample (or sniff, heehee!) our delectable treats. We've got green tea and matcha, white tea, black tea and boba, and an assortment of tea cakes and treats.....all for your aromatic amusement (an amuse bouche for your nose!).
We're tea lovers, obviously, whether it's for sipping, soaping, or smelling, but what really gets us spilling the tea is our love for its benefits in skincare! The answer to glowing skin may just be a cup away....
Matcha, a ground and highly concentrated version of green tea, has become super popular in cafes the past few years, but matcha isn't just a trendy beverage - its high antioxidant content and polyphenols make it a worthy skincare ally as well.. It’s particularly high in a compound called epigallocatechin gallete, or EGCG, which acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory and is known for its anti-bacterial properties, as well as its ability to support skin structure and promote cell turnover. Whether you drink it or apply it as part of your skincare routine, matcha has the potential to transform your skin, from the inside and out.
Our Matcha Latte Bubble Tea Mask might sound whimsical but it's serious skincare. Authentic premium matcha powder brings all the antioxidant power while French green clay offers gentle detoxification. A coconut-based foaming surfactant makes this a double duty product that can act as a cleanser as well as a mask. And our Matcha Magick whipped sugar polish combines matcha powder with green tea oil for a gentle but effective exfoliating experience that leaves your skin nourished and smooth. We've even included tiny little jojoba beads for extra emolliency and whimsy...because they mimic boba pearls!
Did someone say mushrooms?!?
Oh right, we did! Well, you can't take a trip to Wonderland without mushrooms, eh?!
She stretched herself up on tiptoe, and peeped over the edge of the mushroom, and her eyes immediately met those of a large caterpillar, that was sitting on the top with its arms folded, quietly smoking a long hookah, and taking not the smallest notice of her or of anything else.
'Who are YOU?' said the Caterpillar. This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, 'I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.'
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
Alice, down the rabbit hole, meets the Caterpillar sitting upon a magic mushroom, which tells her in a ‘languid, sleepy voice’ that the mushroom is the key to navigating through her strange journey: ‘one side will make you grow taller, the other side will make you grow shorter’. He has the appearance of a wise old professor – he smokes a hookah lazily and takes a very long time to say anything. He treats Alice wearily and with condescension, but also gives her advice. Alice accepts his advice and pockets a piece of mushroom from both the top and bottom, which she subsequently uses throughout the story to change her height as needed. IMAGE CREDIT TO PENDALUNE ON DEVIANT ART
Mushrooms have long held an aura of mystery, and this mystique has been intensified by their potential to induce altered states of consciousness. It turns out that Victorian folk and fairy lore is chockfull of stories about magical mushrooms and toadstools, fairies, pixies and elves all appearing in mystical worlds teeming with the unimaginable. The iconic red and white capped amanita muscaria aka fly agaric mushroom is well known for its psychoactive intoxication. The use of mushrooms to induce altered states of consciousness is not a recent phenomenon. Indigenous cultures across the globe have incorporated certain mushroom species into their rituals and spiritual practices for centuries, and cultures around the world have revered mushrooms as gateways to the divine and the mystical.
While our enchanting mushroom soaps and bath bombs do NOT contain anything that will send you off to your own version of Wonderland, LOL, we feel they certainly capture the mystical and magical vibes that a trip down the rabbit hole might induce! What do you think??? The pic of Alice and the caterpillar above was our inspiration piece for our soap design below....did we capture the vibe?? (Not gonna lie...we're pretty amazed and proud ourselves! Huge props to my girl, Shara, for her steady hands and incredible patience...she's a swirl sorceress and she's truly elevating our soap artistry!
FEATURED PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
Our brand new Mushroom Melody botanical complexion bar does deserve some special props, though. It won't induce divine visions, but it just might induce a divine complexion!
Mushies are truly one of nature's miracles! Various mushroom extracts have been shown to offer anti-aging, brightening and antimicrobial action. Polysaccharides in mushrooms help hold moisture, while fading dark spots and improving scar tissue in the process. Beta glucans offer serious anti-inflammatory properties as well as a bevy of antioxidants. This bounty of bennies make mushies star ingredients in the skincare world!
Our Mushroom Melody bar focuses on Reishi mushroom as the lead of this show. This calming mushroom, aka the "mushroom of immortality",
is considered an adaptogen - natural substances that help the body adapt to stressors and exert a normalizing effect to bring the body into balance. Reishi is known to help balance mood and concentration, nourish the brain, support the immune system, and relieve stress. Reishi is prized in the beauty world for its soothing effects on the skin and its ability to protect the skin barrier from irritation. The polysaccharides in Reishi provide serious humectant and deep hydration benefits.
We've included Reishi in 2 ways in this bar. First, we brewed a strong water infusion of locally sourced Haw River Mushrooms dried reishi (essentially a mushroom tea) and used that as our water replacement. Second, we included ground Reishi throughout the bar, and a little crushed Reishi adorns the top of each bar. It's shroom-tastic!
Our Mushroom Melody isn't a solo piece of mushrooms, though! It's a perfect melody of active botanicals! Nettles, matcha, and marshmallow root accompany the performance, with green tea and avocado oils playing the overture. And our essential oil blend sings a woodsy aromatic hymn that offers soothing aromatherapeutic action.
We hope that you've enjoyed your little visit to Wonderland with us! We look forward to hearing about your experiences with our Most Curious Collection!
Be ever curious!
xoxoxo
Steph
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