Called No. 4 not only because it was slated to become the 4th face oil in the wyld skincare line, but also because each bottle is infused with 4 powerful botanicals – Red Clover blossoms, Hibiscus flowers, Rowan berries and Rose hips.
Like all Wyld products, No. 4 is 100% natural, organic and/or honorably wildcrafted and handcrafted here in Sweden with highest-quality, low-PUFA ingredients.
First, I must say thanks for the enormous response I got after announcing the closing of the Wyld shop. You have humbled me and warmed me deeply – thank you! Many of you have asked if I will continue offering Wyld products with resellers, or if I’d be willing to sell products privately to you, or even collaborate on some of your own product ideas. I am trying to keep my mind and heart open for all of this and more.
One thing that I have been wanting to do for a long time is to offer some very small batch products of the season. Small pop-up sales, you might say. I’m constantly creating new things in the studio as I continue to learn about and learn from nature. Sometimes this results in things that are just too good not to share!
Like the hand & body lotion that I shared about last time – and now also this very special skin oil that I worked on all last winter!
When I began dreaming of this oil, I kept seeing the color red. This vision guided me as I landed on four vividly red botanicals harvested right here close to home. The first was Red Clover blossoms, which pop up around mid-summer.
Red Clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense) – contain high levels of phytoestrogenic isoflavones which thicken skin, reduce aging and the effects of menopause. They also speed healing of cuts, wounds, razor burn, eczema and more. Among their many valuable nutrients (isoflavones, coumarins, flavinoids, lecithin, calcium, chromium, choline, magnesium, manganese, iron, vitamins B, C and E), Red Clover also contains molybdenum, which helps to eliminate nitrogenous waste that can cause skin problems such as acne. I wild harvested these beauties around midsummer, when they were everywhere.
The next botanical to enter the scene was Hibiscus flowers. Hibiscus isn’t native to Sweden, but I have a lovely and very talented friend who cultivates them in her biodynamic garden. When she asked if I still wanted to experiment with them, I went straight over with my basket!
Hibiscus flowers (Hibiscus syriacus) – Loaded with nutrients and antioxidants, including one called myricetin which is thought to halt collagen and elastin degradation as we age. Hibiscus flowers also a natural source of coveted AHAs like citric acid and malic acid which encourage skin cell turnover, keeping skin fresher and more even-toned. I also must mention the high mucilage content of hibiscus flowers, which offers our skin natural intense hydration. They belong to the Mallow family, which are super soothers.
Now with Red Clover and Hibiscus, I began experimenting. I felt as if something was missing, though I wasn’t sure what it was yet. I continued to see only red in my mind. But summer passed, school started, I went back to work, and the autumnal chill began to set in. I had nearly given up on this red oil dream, until something new arrived on the scene…
Rowan berries, everywhere! In the wild forests, on the side of the roads, towering in gardens, Rowan berries ripened and hung heavy in their clusters. I had often used Rowan berries to make jams and teas, but I became curious about its skin benefits. The more I researched, the more excited I became. My red oil dream was back on!
Rowan berries (Sorbus aucuparia) – One of the most interesting benefits of Rowan berries is their high antibacterial and antimicrobial activity, which helps keep skin of infection, acne, eczema flare-ups and more. They also contain tons of vitamin C – twice as much as citrus fruits! – and antioxidants – making them highly anti-inflammatory – as well as exfoliating fruit acids to keep skin cells refreshed. Phenolic compounds in wild Rowan berries can significantly protect the skin’s natural lipid layer that provide epidermal protection. Rowan trees are so wildly prevalent here in Sweden, it was very easy to harvest the berries in autumn. They are edible and medicinal, and often sweeter after the first winter frost, just like Rose hips.
Rose hips (Rosa Canina) – I’ve written about Rosehips before in my Ode to Roses post here, and it’s also listed in Our Ingredients. But to quickly summarize, Rose hips are chock full of nutrients and antioxidants that can, just to name a few: stimulate collagen production, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improve moisture content and skin texture, combat sun damage, decongest pores and encourage skin regeneration. Rosehips grow wild all over here, making it a natural choice for me to utilize. I really believe in using the whole fruit rather than buying industrial-made Rosehip oil – and you can read why here.
These 4 radiantly red botanicals were infused into organic Jojoba oil in order to extract all of their beneficial properties. This took a couple of months. I had secretly hoped that the oil would also turn red in color, but alas, the infused oil is a deep vibrant yellow, almost gold-like.
Once the infused oil was complete, I played with the remainder of the formula for months, iterating and iterating, finally landing on a blend of Squalene oil (from Olive), organic Macadamia oil, and Prickly Pear (Barbary Fig) oil. For a total of – yep you guessed it – 4 wonderful skin oils.
Finally, No. 4 is spiked with a couple of drops each of Juniper Berry, Wild Lavender, Rosemary and Ylang Ylang oils for their fabulous skin properties. This oil is NOT heavy on essential oils, but does contain just enough to contribute some important properties.
The composition: 4 powerful wild botanicals + 4 of my favorite skin oils + 4 strategic essential oils.
The result: A multi-tasking, unisex, highly emollient yet relatively light skin oil.
I believe it’s great for dry, sensitive, acne-prone and/or mature skin. I’ve been reaching for it almost daily and find that 1-2 drops is sufficient for my entire face and neck. I’ve also been mixing it with the sun shield powder for some sun protection lately, which works perfectly.
Also, I want to note that just because the oil is moisturizing doesn’t guarantee that it will lead to breakouts. What keeps it from clogging my pores, I believe, is the botanicals themselves. Red Clover blossoms and Rowan berries both have legitimate anti-acne properties. Furthermore, I chose to add essential oils that are cleansing and purifying. Juniper Berry oil, Rosemary oil and Ylang Ylang oils all help regulate sebum production and decongest pores. So hopefully what I have achieved is a balanced oil that can offer a little bit of everything – moisturization, healing, protection and regulation.
If you’d like to try it, I’m offering 60 ml bottles for 319 kr each. Details below!
Wyld Face Oil No. 4
Ingredients: jojoba (simmondsia chinensis) oil*, wildcrafted red clover (trifolium pratense) flowers, hibiscus (hibiscus sabdariffa) flowers*, wildcrafted rose hips (rosa canina), wildcrafted rowan berries (sorbus aucuparia), macadamia (macadamia ternifolia) oil*, squalane (from olive) oil*, prickly pear (opuntia ficus-indica) oil*, juniperus communis (juniper berry) fruit oil*, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil*, cananga odorata (ylang ylang) oil* / * denotes organic /
50 ml –– 319 SEK
To order, simply send me an email or message me on instagram @wyldstudio
I only have about 20 of these babies, so please don’t hesitate if you’re interested!
xx
