1 oz / 30 ml
Imhotep's Balsam is a finely milled powder mask that turns into a pleasantly sticky, easy-to-spread, comforting roots-and-herbs paste once you add water. The powder is a blend of laboriously ground Hawaiian alaea salt, nourishing chickweed, and redness-calming chamomile flowers, plus soothing and hydrating mucilage-rich roots of marshmallow and comfrey, brightening licorice, and more. This is a moisture-replenishing, barrier repairing, deeply conditioning mask for all skin types, especially dry, imbalanced, stressed, or with a compromised skin barrier.
HOW TO USE
Apply day and night or only at night all over the face or just on the oily or acne-prone areas. Keep away from excessive heat (above 80 degrees F) for maximum shelf life.
SKIN BENEFITS
The skin benefits of Tigress are myriad, especially if you give it time. Here are the key ingredients:
Birch bark: The bark of white birch, also known as peeling birch, has been known in Poland since pagan days as the herb to use if one wants beautiful, bright, healthy skin and strong, abundant hair. The sustainably obtained, dried, and milled bark has a characteristically invigorating scent reminiscent of wintergreen. Birch bark contains a high concentration of betulinic acid, which has been studied for its stimulating effect on collagen synthesis and for its elastase-inhibiting properties, making it an outstanding ingredient for the care of mature skin concerns such as wrinkles and skin sagging.‡ For more on birch bark, see The Science Behind Our Ingredients.
Astragalus root: This spleen qi tonic and immune-supporting herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine has a special affinity for the skin. People who consume astragalus as part of their herbal regimen often notice an improvement to the clarity, texture, and moisture level of their skin.
Marshmallow root: Mature roots are rich in mucilage with soothing, softening, hydrating properties. American herbalist Matthew Wood recommends marshmallow root for breaking up hardened tissue.
Licorice root: This root is an ingredient in most classic herbal formulas in Traditional Chinese Medicine. One of its properties is that it makes other herbs work better. In cosmetic science, licorice has come to be known as a skin lightening ingredient for addressing brown spots and sun spots.§ For more on licorice root's medicinal effects.
Chickweed: This ubiquitous herb is considered a nutritional powerhouse (it is a favorite of the American folk herbalist Susun Weed, who recommends eating it daily in salads). Chickweed improves skin moisture levels, reduces surface redness, and alleviates itching.
Comfrey root: The comfrey plant, especially the roots, is rich in allantoin, which is a well-established, reliable cosmetic ingredient with moisture-retention, protective, and soothing properties. In Western herbal tradition, comfrey is thought to be particularly regenerative and useful when working on scars. Comfrey is an excellent ingredient to alleviate dry skin and has balancing properties for eczema and psoriasis.
INGREDIENTS
Aloe barbadensis leaf powder*, Sodium chloride (red alaea salt)†, Matricaria recutita (chamomile) buds (organic or *), Althaea officinalis (marshmallow) root (organic or *), Stellaria media (chickweed) leaf and stem (organic or *), Astragalus membranaceus root (certified organic), Betula lenta (paper birch) bark (* or †), Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root*, Symphytum officinale (comfrey) root (organic or *), Cedrus atlantica (Atlas cedar) extract†, Canarium luzonicum (elemi) resin essential oil†, Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. (plai) essential oil†.
*Certified organic. †Responsibly wildcrafted.
Certified cruelty free, vegan, handcrafted, small batch. Gluten free.