It’s here, and then it’s gone
Summer arrives and disappears in one sandy blur — beach days, vacations, camp. For some of you it’s already winding down. Here in California, things are just starting to really heat up. As we roll from August into September and even October, we’re still dealing with heat, sunshine, and the same question we ask every year: how do we care for our skin through all of it?
Sunny days and fragrant tonics always remind me of my sweet granny. When I was a little girl, we used to sit together outside in her garden. She would sip her tea (a vodka tonic, if we’re being honest) and I would drink homemade root beer or fresh apple cider, depending on the time of year — both made from scratch by my papa and granny with a whole village of friends and family to help.
My granny was covered in character lines, with beautiful, smart, wrinkly, hard-working hands. The only thing she ever complained about was what she called barnacles. It was never the wrinkles, or running out of red lipstick, that got her goat. It was just those barnacles.
So what are barnacles?
Picture me sitting beside her, imagining the white, crusty little things clinging to the seashells on those rocky Pacific Northwest beaches. She’d point to something on the side of her leg, the top of her hands, or a cluster forming on the left side of her face — the driving side, of course.
All these years later, I think about her constantly. Those rough, weathered-looking spots never really bothered me until now. At this age, they bother me too. Inspiration to solve a problem comes in many forms, and for me, the images of my childhood have had a lasting effect — guiding my business and my deepest concern: caring for your skin (and mine) with the utmost love.
That’s where a little understanding of your skin goes a long way. As skin matures and spends years in the sun, the surface can start to look rough, dry, and uneven in places — a build-up of tired, weathered-looking texture. Left alone, that surface layer can also make the rest of your routine feel like it’s just sitting on top of your skin rather than sinking in. This is exactly why I’m such a believer in thoughtful exfoliation: when you soften and refine that top layer, everything you apply afterward has a better chance to do its job.
Meet Barnacle Buster
As many of you know, I’m an expert at exfoliation. I thrive in this environment — and so does our skin. Barnacle Buster is an all-natural tonic I created to soften the look of rough, weathered patches and help skin look smoother, brighter, and more even in tone. Think of it as your best defense against the crusty look of sun, time, and summer, on the face, hands, and chest.
It’s meant to work with the rest of your routine, not replace it — a way to refine the surface so your skin looks its freshest as the seasons turn.
How I use it
Here’s exactly how I recommend working Barnacle Buster into your evenings:
- Start with a clean face at night. Apply the tonic over the areas you’re focused on.
- Treat a slightly larger area than you think you need. If the spot is the size of a dime, treat it as if it’s the size of a nickel. That way you know you’ve covered it completely.
- Think of it as prep. If you’re planning professional treatments this fall, preparing your skin in advance makes a real difference in your results.
- Or keep it simple. If lasers and deep peels simply aren’t your thing, this is my keep-it-clean alternative.
Heather’s hot tip for hot weather: the washcloth in the freezer
This one may sound ridiculous, but trust me — it works. So many of you ask what to do about swollen, irritated tissue around the eye area, especially when the environment or a product has you reacting.
Take several clean washcloths, wet them, and lay them in a cake pan in the freezer. Morning or night, pull one out and let it sit on the counter while you make your coffee, or while you have a glass of something you love in the evening. Then, on a clean face, gently press the cold, softened cloth onto the orbital area and let it rest there.
It’s a simple way to address that itchy, puffy feeling. Give your eyes a break from the usual creams and serums, and let everything calm down.
Here’s to you, Granny
Everything I make comes back to this: real care, for real skin, at every age. My granny’s barnacles started it all — and this little tonic is my answer to them.
— Heather