As a skin health company inspired by the richness of nature, we’re feeling especially grateful this Earth Day.
At LAKE+MAIN, we’re constantly reminded that the ingredients our skin responds to — the ones we reach for in our products — aren’t new, trendy, or high-tech. They’re ancient. They’ve been part of healing rituals and beauty routines for centuries, passed down by generations of women who turned to the Earth for comfort, remedies, and renewal.
Our process is no different. Our skin has unique needs at different stages of life. Through breakouts, hormonal acne, or sun damage, we look to nature — and it answers with abundance.
Today, we want to pay homage to the history behind some of our favourite ingredients. Whether you’re facing chronic dryness, or acne for the first time at 60 (thank you, menopause), there’s a woman somewhere in history who reached for the same natural solutions you do today.
Liquid Gold: Frankincense Essential Oil
Long before scientists confirmed its ability to reduce inflammation and support skin cell regeneration, the Egyptians already knew: frankincense works.
The frankincense tree is native to the rocky slopes and deserts of the Arabian Peninsula and Northern Africa. For over 5,000 years, people have harvested resin from these trees to be used in beauty rituals, particularly in Egypt.
Thriving where few other plants can survive, this oil was so precious that it was once worth its weight in gold. Traders who wanted to protect their precious crop would even claim that the trees were guarded by red snakes that would attack trespassers.
Luckily for us, access to frankincense is no longer limited to Pharaohs and wealthy kings. Today, we know it as a precious ingredient that can fade scars, calm inflamed skin, and support radiant, glowing skin/
The Balancer: Rose Geranium
While rose geranium’s long medicinal history also goes back to ancient Egypt, the plant found its fame as a skincare remedy during the Middle Ages in Europe. Here, it was used to treat anything from wound sto emotional imbalance. With clinical studies documenting its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, we now know that our ancestor’s instincts were correct.
It also has a deep significance in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, where it’s celebrated as an oil that clears heat, balances the heart chakra, and restores emotional equilibrium.
Nicknamed “the balancer” for good reason, rose geranium has a remarkable ability to regulate sebum production, making it a dream for both oily and dry skin. It also minimizes the look of pores, calms redness, supports elasticity, and fades scars — all while bringing an uplifting, rose-like scent that soothes the mind as much as the skin.
Find it in: NOURISH, BALANCE, and INKED Tattoo Serum.
The Plant of Immortality: Aloe Leaf Juice
Aloe vera has been revered for millennia across cultures and continents. The earliest records of its use date back to ancient Mesopotamia, where clay tablets describe its healing properties.
In ancient Egypt, aloe was so treasured that it was referred to as the "plant of immortality" — not just for its restorative effects on skin, but for its use in spiritual and burial practices. Cleopatra and Nefertiti were said to incorporate aloe into their beauty rituals, believing it preserved their radiant skin under Egypt’s unforgiving sun.
Today, aloe is still celebrated for its high concentration of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids that help to reduce inflammation, boost moisture, and accelerate healing. It’s often the first thing we reach for when skin is irritated or sunburned — and for good reason.
Find it in: NOURISH, INKED Tattoo Serum, and Velvet Body Serums.
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Rituals
Our skin has never craved synthetic solutions—it craves natural ingredients that ground, balance, and nourish. These ingredients and rituals transcend space and time, connecting us to what we’ve always known to be true: nature is a sacred and healing resource.
We know that we love the Earth, but we sometimes fail to remember that the Earth loves us right back. You can count the ways with each ingredient.
