Rethinking beauty and wellness: A Q+A with Nadine Artemis of Living Libations

Some conversations have the power to shift the way we think about wellness, and Nadine Artemis is leading that shift. As the founder of Living Libations and author of Renegade Beauty and Holistic Dental Care, Nadine has spent years exploring the connection between nature, health, and beauty. Her approach is all about simplicity—working with the body rather than against it and embracing the intelligence of botanical ingredients.

In this Q+A, we chat with Nadine about redefining beauty routines, the power of plants, and how we can take a more holistic approach to self-care. 

Q. What are the biggest benefits of switching to a botanical skincare routine compared to conventional products?

A. Modern conventional cosmetics make wild promises of perfect pores yet disrupt the skin’s microbiome, aggravate the acid mantle, and cause skin cells to shrivel and shrink, leading to more and more skin issues. We then think we need to apply more products to our skin as bottles amass at our bathroom sink.

We can step out of this endless skincare spiral by embracing nature’s best beauty attendants: botanical oils! Washing with oils is an ancient tradition used throughout the Middle East, India, and parts of Asia to clean and moisturize the skin. Essential oils are lipophilic (fat-loving) which allows them to absorb deep into the skin and influence it on a cellular level. Unlike conventional products that mask and create issues, botanical oils are deeply healing and stimulate the cells to function properly so that the skin glows with health.

Q. How does using oil-based cleansers and moisturizers support the skin’s natural barrier and long-term health?

A. Conventional skin care contains surfactants that remove the protective barrier and make the skin feel tight after washing. Free of surfactants and other synthetics, our botanical formulas gently remove makeup, dirt, sweat, and leave the skin thoroughly clean, soft, and supple without feeling greasy. The lipophilic nature of essential oils and botanical carrier oils, and their wealth of nutrients, rebuild and preserve the skin’s protective acid mantle and barrier, which is our water-proof seal that protects our skin and bodies from environmental contaminants.

This protective barrier is also where our skin’s menagerie of microbes live, and microbial diversity is both a sign of healthy skin and a guardian of the skin. Essential oils encourage healthy diversity by preventing microorganism from spreading unchecked. They do this by managing quorum sensing between organisms, which curbs microbial reproduction. This is why I like to call essential oils “botanical-biotics.” Unlike synthetic products that disrupt the protective surface of the skin and remove microbes, essential oils simply keep the microbiome well balanced. 

Q. Many people struggle with sensitivity and inflammation. How can a natural approach help soothe and rebalance the skin?

A. Sensitivity and inflammation are markers of overly stimulated and/or damaged skin cells, so the first step to healing upset skin is to recover the protective layer of the skin and reseed it with microbial diversity by washing with oils. Humans evolved along with plants, and plant oils harmonize with our skin and heal it in lieu of masking issues.
 
There is an abundance of botanical oils that are deeply healing and gentle enough for sensitive skin, including succulent Sandalwood Essential Oil and Sandalwood Nut Oil, cooling Cape Chamomile, fortifying Frankincense, regenerative Rose, and palliative Immortelle. These oils can heal sensitivities, eczema, and scar tissue, reduce redness and inflammation, hydrate and smooth out fine lines, abolish acne, and stimulate cells into health. 

Seabuckthorn oil is one of my favorites, as it is a superhero for sensitive skin. Our Seabuckthorn supercritical extract is potently packed with healing properties that go deep into the lipid layers of the skin, diminishing imbalances from the inside out. It is a wealth of omega-3, -6, -7, and -9 fatty acids, and a single drop of this ample oil contains 190 different bioactive compounds including vitamins C, E, A, B1, B2, and B12, antioxidants, forty-one carotenoids including beta carotene, and seventeen phytosterols. These all work together to reduce inflammation, redness, and water loss in every skin cell and regenerate the surface of the skin.

Q. Living Libations emphasizes the connection between skin and overall well-being. How do your formulations go beyond surface-level care?

A. The connection between what we put on our skin and our wellbeing is multilayered. The most obvious connection is that our skin is the front line of our immune system, and healthy skin with a balanced microbiome is a boost to our immunity.

What we put on our skin sinks in, and it is important to know if those substances cause harm or create health. Conventional cosmetics are full of synthetics that are less than healthy, and there are often secondary substances that are not listed in the ingredients. They are the ingredients of the ingredients, and we prefer to dodge mystery substances and stick with the lovely and luxurious oils that nature provides.

The gorgeous aromatic and volatile constituents of essential oils also sink deep into the skin and enter the bloodstream and olfactory system. For a thousand years, humans have trusted these essences to fortify nerves, create calm, solidify emotional strength, give gladness to the heart, and lull us into languid peace and sleep.

Q. If you had to build the ultimate skincare lineup using Living Libations products, what would it include?

A. Prime and align the skin with Seabuckthorn Best Skin Ever, Living Libations all-in-one cleanser, exfoliator, and moisturizer. It perfects and adores the pores of every skin type and brings balance to the skin’s microbiome. Our Best Skin Ever line is also the go-to Libation for people who like to keep skincare super simple because it is one and done!  

If your skin needs a little more TLC, try slugging with a Libations serum and then topping it off with a Beauty Balm. To slug with acne prone skin with zits that just won’t quit, after washing with Seabuckthorn Best Skin Ever, apply Zippity DewDab and top it with Zippity Dew Dab Beauty Balm. For dry skin, apply Rose Glow Serum under Seabuckthorn Best Skin Ever Balm for a double dose of rose to grace the face with bioactive enzyme CoQ10 for hydration and restoration. 

Bring slugging to the delicate skin around the eyes with Open Sky Eye Serum a true-blue rejuvenating serum for tired eyes, puffy skin, dark circles, and fine lines. Top it off with All Seeing Opulent Eye Crème for an influx of moisture.

Don’t neglect the lips! Mint Condition Lip Fix’s rich formula nourishes lips into mint condition, lickety-split, and keeps cracked lips at bay.