Salve: Sea Buckthorn

Help Me Choose An Herbal Salve

What Is a Salve?

A salve is a rich, oil-based balm used to nourish dry skin and help soothe minor everyday skin irritations.

Because salves contain no water, they have a naturally thick, semi-solid texture that softens when applied to the skin.

Chagrin Valley salves are handcrafted with USDA Certified Organic ingredients and contain no petroleum products, artificial fragrances, preservatives, or other unnecessary additives.

Many of our salves are also made with herbal-infused oils and botanicals traditionally used to support healthy skin.

As with any new skincare product, we recommend performing a small patch test before general use if you have sensitive skin.

Which Salve Is Right for Me?

Each of our salves is formulated with a different blend of oils, herbs, and botanicals designed to support specific skin needs. Some are intended for very dry or irritated skin, while others are formulated to help comfort muscles, calm minor skin irritations, or provide aromatic relaxation.

To make choosing easier, we created a guide that explains the purpose of each salve and offers suggestions based on common skin concerns.

🌿 Explore our Help Me Choose a Salve page to explore the different options and find the one that best fits your needs.

Although it is not technically a salve, our Healing Herbs Oil is included in this section because it is made with the same herbal-infused oils used in our salves—just without the beeswax that gives salves their thicker texture.

As you research different healing oils or salves you will notice that although some target very specific problems, many have similar properties.

If the descriptions for Sea Buckthorn Salve, Tamanu Salve, and the Tamanu Sea Buckthorn Healing Oil seem very similar, that's because they all contain really great natural, but very different, bioactive ingredients that promote healing.

SEA BUCKTHORN OIL: Sea Buckthorn oil contains approximately 190 bioactive substances. It has a beneficial effect on the skin because it is a strong antioxidant and is rich in Omega fatty acids, beta-carotenes and vitamin E.

The moisturizing oil easily penetrates deep into the skin and has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbiological activity that helps promote healing and reduce scarring. It also may help kill the Demodex mites that can cause rosacea.

TAMANU OIL: Tamanu oil has been used in traditional medicine for ages, specifically for its ability to speed the healing of wounds by fighting bacteria and increasing cellular regeneration.

It also has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibiotic, and antioxidant properties. What really sets tamanu oil apart from other oils is its unique chemical composition. It contains a unique fatty acid called Calophyllic acid, a natural antibiotic called Lactone, and a natural non-steroid anti-inflammatory agent called Calophyllolide.

Although salves are semi-solid at room temperature, they soften quickly once applied to the skin, making them very portable and less messy than oils.

To help you choose between the two salves, here are a few suggestions based on our experience and customer feedback.

Sea Buckthorn Salve

• Acne
• Rosacea
• Psoriasis
• Dermatitis
• Scars
• Minor burns

Tamanu Salve

• Wound healing
• Healing new scars
• Fading stretch marks
• Soothing and healing itchy, irritated skin
• Minor burns
• Tamanu oil helps soothe and heal surgical scars. If using for fresh surgical scars please check with your healthcare provider.

What about the Tamanu Sea Buckthorn Healing Herbs Oil?

The oils plus the infused botanicals are highly emollient, chocked full of antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties that make it great for any kind of tissue in need of repair.

Some differences between healing salves and healing oil:

• Absorption Time
  • Since herbal salves are made up of oils and beeswax, they will often sit on top of the skin and take a bit longer to penetrate the layers of the skin
  • Sometimes you want penetration to take longer and last longer, like with a simple scrape--so use a salve
  • Sometimes you may want faster relief, like when you have a burn--so use an oil
    
    
• Continued Hydration
  • When you do not cover a scar, cut, or scrape it dries out and scabs over. A scab is not always a good thing because, especially if it forms too quickly, it can act as a barrier to healing
  • You want to keep a cut moist to help prevent a scab from forming
  • While both the oil and salve will keep the area moisturized, a salve will provide a moisture barrier that lasts longer than an oil
  • If you choose to use only an oil, then use it more often to dab the area to keep it supple until new skin begins to grow

This product may be new to Chagrin Valley’s product line, but it is not new to me.

I formulated the recipe for our Tamanu Sea Buckthorn Healing Herbs Oils about five years ago. I wanted to create a concentrated oil using my two favorite healing oils that I could use in conjunction with our salves for healing surgical scars, burns, skin rashes and other irritations.

I tend to use both the healing oil and the salve. Sometimes I use the salves for the first few days or a week (depending on the problem) and then switch to the oil. For some surgical scars, I used both the oil and a salve every day for weeks.

**This information is not meant to replace proper medical treatment. As always use good judgment. If a wound or burn is large or there is any concern about infection or the rate of healing please consult your healthcare professional. Infected wounds can lead to very serious systemic conditions.

For more information see our "Help Me Choose Salves" page

Organic Unrefined Sea Buckthorn Oil

Wonders of Tamanu Oil

Will Your Products Heal My Rosacea, Eczema or Psoriasis?

We often receive emails and phone calls from customers with chronic irritated or inflamed skin problems.

While we cannot promise that our products will help heal your inflamed or irritated skin conditions, we have received a lot of feedback from customers telling us that our products have helped ease or soothe symptoms associated with irritated skin problems.

We have learned that for some people simply switching to a natural product may help.

We believe that natural ingredients are usually milder and gentler on the skin. I often say that what is NOT in our products, that is often the most helpful.

Pure essential oils, herbs, and other natural ingredients have been used for centuries. Their folklore and uses have been passed down through generations.

Please note that our products are NOT drugs or medicines meant to treat or cure illness, which would require FDA testing and approval. Our products are intended to help ease symptoms associated with irritated skin. Always consult your health care provider if you are concern about a skin issue.

If you have sensitive skin issues, always try an allergy patch test before using a new product.

Your skin is as unique as you are.

If you think about it, your skin type is not even the same for all of the areas of your body.

The skin on your face is different from the skin on your hands, which is different from the skin on your back which is different from the skin on your feet ...etc.

Although your skin type is determined by genetics, it will also be affected by other factors and can change with time.

Understanding your skin type is a good starting point before trying or switching to natural products.

There are typically five types of healthy skin: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive.

NORMAL SKIN

This skin is balanced, neither too dry nor too oily. It has regular texture, no imperfections and a clean, soft appearance, and does not need special care.

OILY SKIN

Oily skin is the result of excessive secretions of sebum, an oily secretion of the sebaceous glands. Oily skin tends to attract more dirt and dust than dry skin and may be prone to blackheads, acne, and excessive shine. It is frequent in adolescents and often seen with acne or blemish-prone skin. 

DRY SKIN

For some people dry skin is caused by external factors such as the weather, low air humidity, sun, or hot showers, and it is often temporary.

However, for others it may be a lifelong condition. Dry skin is a result of a decrease in natural oil production which often results in skin that is flaky and has a rough appearance. Dry, cracked skin is often prone to skin disorders, such as eczema.

SENSITIVE SKIN

Truly sensitive skin easily reacts to external stimuli. The skin is often fragile, thin or fine-textured, dry, and prone to allergic reactions. 

Sensitive skin often feels uncomfortable, tight, red or itchy. It is a delicate skin that needs a lot of TLC. 

COMBINATION SKIN

Combination skin is just what is sounds like, it has characteristics of both dry and oily skin. The area with more oil is usually the T- zone (forehead, nose, and chin), while the skin on the cheeks is normal or dry.

For more information on skin type and help with product recommendations for your individual needs, please read our blog, What's Your Skin Type?

We often receive questions as to whether our soaps, shampoos, and other items are safe to use on young children.

A baby’s skin, so thin and delicate, is no place for harmful synthetic chemicals.

Sadly, even some of the most trusted baby brands add nasty chemicals to their products.

Read the label on a bar of commercial baby soap or shampoo. Read the label on a bottle of commercial baby oil. Now read the ingredients in Chagrin Valley products.

We recommend starting with our Milk & Honey Baby Soap. We also recommend our two Castile soaps and Carrot & Honey Soap. They are unscented and, as with all of our products, contain no artificial ingredients!

My grandkids use our Milk & Honey bar as a baby shampoo--just keep the soap away from their eyes.

When you think your child is ready, try some new soaps.

As with all new products, it is best to do a skin patch test prior to full usage to test for any skin allergies or sensitivities. If you have any questions or concerns always check with your doctor or health care professional.

It is best to add only one new soap or product at a time and use it for a while before switching to a new soap.

Essential Oils & Children: We do not provide information on the safety of essential oils for use in Children because the available information is very ambiguous and often contradictory. If you are interested in using essential oils with young children please consult your health care professional before use.

Please do not ask us to diagnose your child's skin problems, we are not health care professionals. Our recommendations are based on what our customers have shared.

Click Here to visit our page of Organic Baby products!

We often receive questions as to whether our soaps, shampoos, and other natural products are safe to use during pregnancy.

We recommend that expectant and nursing mothers check with their midwife or physician before changing a skincare routine with our organic products, or any other line of products.

Read the label on a bar of commercial soap. Read the label on your jar of moisturizer.

Now read the ingredients in a Chagrin Valley product.

We use quality natural and USDA Certified Organic ingredients. No synthetic additives, colorants, fragrances, preservatives, or chemical derivatives are used.

There is nothing in our all-natural basic soap or other products that could cause a problem in pregnancy.

Topically applying the herbs present in many of our soaps is also not a problem. Your skin will absorb much less herb from the soap than if you would sprinkle them on your food.

Essential Oils

The issue that seems to be of most concern is the use of essential oils during pregnancy.

There is a lot of confusing, ambiguous, and inaccurate information concerning the use of essential oils in pregnancy.

The question of safety and safety testing has a lot to do with several factors.

• The type and composition of the specific essential oil. Essential oils differ greatly in strength and composition.
  
  
• The quality of the essential oil. Many "cheap essential oils" are not pure and maybe cut with synthetic chemicals.
  
  
• The actual “dose” of herb/essential oils. Most of the clinical research on essential oil safety is based on information for internal (actually ingesting) large doses of herbs, essential oils, or herbal "medicines." Obviously there have been no tests done on pregnant women.
  
  
• How the essential oil is being used. The concentration of essential oils that are absorbed through inhalation, as in aromatherapy, and massage is much lower than if you were actually ingesting the oil.

But also, aromatherapy and massage therapy use much higher concentrations of essential oils than you find in soap or even in eating the herb. With aromatherapy, you are inhaling the high concentrations which get absorbed via the lungs and in massage therapy, the essential oils remain on your skin and are absorbed.

Our scented soaps are gently scented with essential oils, but the choice is between you and your health care professional. The most critical time is the first trimester.

Just about every one of our products, like lip balms, whipped butters, soaps, shampoos, and deodorants has a "no added scent" version.

When there is a growing baby to consider, if you are at all uncertain as to the safety of an essential-oil containing product, or any ingredient, please consult your doctor, midwife, or health care professional!

When it comes to safety during pregnancy it is understandable that many massage therapists and aromatherapists decide to err on the side of caution in recommending the avoidance of certain essential oils.

Some Herbalists and Aromatherapist believe that essential oils that are normally safe to use, are safe during pregnancy, while others will recommend avoiding all essential oils during pregnancy.

Some essential oils that are normally quite safe have hormone-like effects and some even stimulate uterine muscles, both of which would be contraindicated during pregnancy.

Please do not ask us if one of our products is safe to use during pregnancy--we will simply refer you to this page.

We do not provide a list of essential oils considered safe during pregnancy because the information available is very contradictory. One aromatherapy source will list an essential oil as problematic while another one states it is fine.

The information is also changing constantly. Please do your own research and consult your doctor, midwife, or health care professional for the most up-to-date information.

Sensitive Skin Can Strike During Pregnancy

Even if you have never had sensitive skin in the past, you may notice that a product you have been using for several years now irritates your skin.

The stretching belly is often the most sensitive spot. Other potential problem areas include the hips, thighs, and bottom where the skin may become dry and flaky.

Although the exact cause is not known, raging hormones do make you more sensitive to a wide range of things, and also your skin is thinning and stretching as you, and your baby, grow.

These changes can behave in unpredictable ways. For example, if you have eczema you may suffer from major flare-ups or complete remission during pregnancy.

Keep your body well moisturized and avoid products that contain synthetic additives, colorants, fragrances, or preservatives. Any of these can exacerbate sensitive skin problems.

Before trying a new product, you can always do a patch test to test for sensitivity.

And again, we recommend that expectant and nursing mothers check with their midwife or physician before changing a skincare routine with our products, or any other line of products.

Pregnancy & Children: We do not provide information on the safety of essential oils during Pregnancy or for use in Children because the available information is very ambiguous and often contradictory. If you’re interested in using essential oils during pregnancy or with young children please do your own research and consult your doctor, midwife, or health care professional before use.

Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve is a USDA Certified Organic Company

The most important consideration in any business is its customers. Today's world of misleading claims, false advertising, and simple deception, often leaves consumers trying to discover the truth about personal products and their ingredients.

• We want our customers to know that we are committed to transparency in everything we do.
• We want our customers to know that when we say "organic," we mean it.
• We believe that in becoming a USDA Certified Organic company, our customers do not have to wonder if we really use certified organic ingredients or if our organic products are truly organic.
• So we choose to be a certified organic company and abide by the strict standards required for organic certification.

Some of my favorite products are made with ingredients that just do not exist as certified organic. Why? At this time there are no standards created for ingredients specifically used in the personal care product industry. Organic certification of personal care products is based on the organic food standards set by the National Organic Program of the USDA.

But since we are a certified organic company, we are required to submit documentation that even our "non-organic ingredients" were produced without the use of toxic pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), sewage sludge, or irradiation.

Why Did We Become a Certified Organic Company?

What Do All of the Organic Labels Mean?

Organic Soap Labeling

Help! I Have Allergies

Trying to choose the right natural soaps or skincare products can be a bit overwhelming especially when you have allergies and/or skin sensitivities.

Since we proudly list every ingredient in all of our products, reading the ingredient list will help to eliminate ingredients that may cause you problems.

We always recommend doing a patch test before using any new products especially if you have sensitive skin or allergies.

We receive so many emails asking for help with allergies, we created categories in our “Help Me Choose” section to provide information for those with allergies or sensitivities to nuts, coconut, shea butter and gluten.

Check out our help me choose pages!!

If you are allergic or sensitive to any of the ingredients in our products, they may cause skin irritation. Even natural ingredients may cause sensitivities.

People with severe allergies--please note: If you have severe anaphylactic-type reactions to ANY of the ingredients in ANY of our products, please do not buy our products. We have dedicated soap rooms and product rooms that are kept meticulously clean, but we cannot guarantee against possible cross-contamination of individual ingredients.

All of Chagrin Valley's natural soap, shampoo bars, and personal care products are certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny.

 Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve has been Leaping Bunny Certified since 2013. 

The Leaping Bunny Program was developed in 1996, by The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), to identify and support companies that are doing their part to help eliminate the unnecessary use and mistreatment of animals to test cosmetic products and ingredients. The CCIC is made up of eight animal protection groups including the Humane Society of the U.S., as well as groups from Canada and Europe.

At Chagrin Valley we do not test our finished products on animals (other than human volunteers). But what about the raw materials, the ingredients we use?

Many products display labels claiming that their finished product is ‘not tested on animals’ but this does not guarantee that the product ingredients are actually free from animal testing. 

The CCIC Standard is a pledge that a company makes to remove animal testing from all stages of product development. Our pledge to buy ingredients that are cruelty-free is integrated into the purchase agreement for all of our suppliers.

Personal care products displaying the “real” Leaping Bunny logo are certified ‘cruelty-free' using the internationally recognized Humane Cosmetics Standards. These rigorous standards require that no animal testing is performed or authorized for finished products or any of the ingredients in any stage of product development by the company, its laboratories or its suppliers after a fixed cut-off date. All Leaping Bunny companies are subject to independent audits and pledge commitments that are renewed on an annual basis.

This annual renewal is a key requirement that sets the Leaping Bunny Program apart from other cruelty-free certification programs. Companies that manufacture products, as well as their ingredient suppliers, must annually recommit to upholding their promise to not conduct animal testing on any finished products, ingredients, or formulations.

Why is this annual commitment renewal important? "Because product formulations change, suppliers come and go, and manufacturers develop innovative lines to meet consumer needs. But we know that compassionate consumers need to be confident that no animal testing is involved in the products they use."

At Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve . . .

• we do NOT test our products on animals
• we do NOT use ingredients tested on animals
• we do NOT sell into markets that require animal testing
  
  

The Leaping Bunny Program provides
the best assurance to consumers
that they are making compassionate shopping choices
by purchasing Cruelty-Free skin care!