Botanicals

Every ingredient in a BumbleBalm product is here because it does something specific. This page explains what that is.

We grow and forage these plants ourselves, near Ottawa: dandelion, yarrow, red clover, horsetail, plantain, and peony. We pick them by hand, then slow-infuse them into carrier oil before they go into a formula. Infusing takes longer than buying a standardized extract. It lets us control freshness and potency from the plant to the jar.

Everything else in our formulas — carrier oils, butters, waxes — comes from Canadian suppliers and manufacturers we've checked ourselves. If it's in a product, it has a job.

Harvested by hand

  • DANDELION

    Taraxacum officinale (flower)


    The first plant we ever used. It's still the one we reach for first when skin feels dry, tight, or irritated.

    Dandelion flowers contain beta-carotene, vitamin C, and flavonoids. Beta-carotene supports the skin's normal renewal process. Vitamin C plays a role in how the body builds collagen. The flavonoids have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity — part of why dandelion-infused oil leaves dry, irritated skin feeling calmer and more comfortable.

  • YARROW

    Achillea millefolium (leaf and flower)


    Yarrow has a long history in wound care. The Latin name comes from Achilles, who's said to have used it on the battlefield. We're not making battlefield claims, but the chemistry behind the old stories holds up.

    The main active compound is azulene, a strong anti-inflammatory. Yarrow also contains tannins, which have an astringent effect — they help calm redness and tighten the look of irritated skin. Together, the two work well on skin that's both inflamed and easily irritated.

  • HORSETAIL

    Equisetum arvense (stem)


    One of the oldest plants still around today. We use it for one main reason: its silica content.

    Horsetail has more usable silica than almost any other plant. Silica is a building block of connective tissue, including skin and hair. That's why horsetail shows up in formulas aimed at skin firmness and stronger-feeling hair. The effect builds slowly rather than overnight — this isn't a quick fix, it's a long-game ingredient.

    Horsetail also contains flavonoids, tannins, and minerals like potassium and calcium.

  • PEONY

    Paeonia lactiflora (flower)

    Peony root has a long history in East Asian herbal medicine, mostly as an anti-inflammatory. We use the flower instead, which contains paeoniflorin — the compound responsible for most of its effect.

    Paeoniflorin calms certain inflammation pathways in the skin, which makes it useful for reactive, sensitive, or easily-reddened skin. Peony also contains flavonoids and polysaccharides that help skin hold onto moisture.

  • BROADLEAF PLANTAIN

    Plantago major (leaf)


    Plantain grows almost everywhere — along paths, in lawns, in the cracks of driveways. It's tough, and it's everywhere, which is exactly why it's been used in skin care for centuries.

    Plantain leaves contain mucilage, a natural gel-like fibre that holds moisture against the skin. They also contain allantoin, a compound known for its calming effect on irritated skin. Together, they make plantain useful in formulas meant to comfort skin that's recently been put through something — windburn, shaving, or everyday roughness.

  • RED CLOVER

    Trifolium pratense (flower)


    Red clover flowers are rich in isoflavones, a type of flavonoid with strong antioxidant activity. We use red clover in our mature-skin formulas, where skin tends to feel drier and less supple over time.

    Red clover also contains coumarins, which add mild anti-inflammatory support on their own. Together, these compounds help skin feel calmer, smoother, and better able to hold onto moisture.

  • Disclaimer

    We make cosmetic products only - not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition.
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Carrier oils and butters

Mango Butter

Mangifera indica (seed)

Dense, slow-absorbing butter high in oleic and stearic acids. Excellent for very dry or cracked skin because the slow absorption means it stays on the surface long enough to do structural repair work. Non-comedogenic. No scent.

Avocado Oil

Persea gratissima (fruit)

High in oleic acid, vitamins A, D, and E, and lecithin. One of the heavier carrier oils that penetrates deeply and is particularly effective for strengthening hair and hydrating dry or mature skin. We use it as the base for our horsetail infusion in the beard and hair oil.

Castor Oil

Ricinus communis (seed)

High in ricinoleic acid, which has a humectant effect, castor oil draws moisture toward the skin surface. Also gives lather density in the shaving soap and conditions the hair shaft in the beard oil. One of the few oils that does genuinely different jobs in different formulations.

Jojoba Oil

Simmondsia chinensis (seed)

Technically a liquid wax rather than an oil, which is why it's stable and doesn't go rancid. Closely mirrors the composition of human sebum which means it absorbs well without disrupting the skin's natural oil balance. Particularly useful for skin that oscillates between dry and reactive.

Grapeseed Oil

Vitis vinifera (seed)

High in linoleic acid and polyphenols. Lightweight, fast-absorbing, low comedogenic rating. Useful as a base oil in formulations where you want absorption without weight.

Fractionated Coconut Oil

Cocos nucifera (fruit)

Lauric acid-rich, which gives it antimicrobial properties. Useful in hair formulations for its ability to penetrate the hair shaft rather than just coating it. Comedogenic for some people — we note where it appears in facial formulations.

Rosehip Oil

Rosa canina (seed)

Lightweight but loaded with vitamin A and C, linoleic acid, and antioxidants, this oil supports skin regeneration and tackles signs of wear.
Useful for skin texture, uneven tone, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Lighter than avocado oil making it better suited to facial formulations.

Apricot Oil

Prunus armeniaca (kernel)

Lightweight, softening, good slip. Often used in formulations for sensitive or mature skin because it's well-tolerated and non-reactive.

Beeswax

Cera alba (wax)

Canadian-sourced. Forms a breathable, occlusive barrier on the skin surface which locks in moisture without blocking pores. Also gives our balms their structure and staying power. The natural wax in our products is made by Canadian honey bees.

Rose Water

Rosa damascena (hydrosol)

A hydrosol rather than an oil, the water-based byproduct of rose steam distillation, which retains trace amounts of the essential oil and various plant compounds. Mild toner. Soothing for reactive skin. We use it in formulations where we want light hydration without adding an oil base.

Witch Hazel

Hamamelis virginiana (bark & leaf extract)

Astringent. Tannin-rich. Tightens and tones without stripping. Useful in formulations for oily, reactive, or pore-prominent skin. Ours is alcohol-free meaning the astringent action comes from the tannins, not the solvent.

Argan Oil

Argania spinosa (kernel)

High in vitamin E, oleic acid, and squalene. Fast-absorbing. Useful in facial formulations and hair products for its combination of antioxidant protection and light moisture. The squalene content is particularly relevant for skin barrier support.

Vitamin E Oil

Tocopherol (natural)

Antioxidant that protects the formula and the skin simultaneously. Slows oxidation of other oils in the blend, extending shelf life. On the skin, supports barrier function and reduces free radical damage from environmental exposure.

Vegetable Glycerin

Glycerin (plant-derived)

A humectant: draws water from the environment and from the deeper layers of skin toward the surface. Works best in conditions with reasonable ambient humidity, although in very dry winter conditions it can have the opposite effect without an occlusive alongside it. We always pair it with a wax or butter for this reason.

Grapefruit Seed Extract

Citrus paradisi (seed)

Preservative. Extends product shelf life by inhibiting microbial growth. We use it in formulations as a natural preservative. We source ours with full documentation confirming no synthetic additives.