the power of plants: why every mac + mitchell product starts with what the earth already provides
written by kelly goodwin, certified aromatherapist and holistic health coach
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i grew up watching my mom reach for a plant before she reached for a bottle.
a burn got aloe. a headache got lavender. a stuffy room got eucalyptus. she did not call it holistic living. she did not have a label for it. she just understood that the earth already had what we needed, and our job was to pay attention.
that belief is in everything i formulate.
every mac + mitchell product starts with plants. carrier oils pressed from seeds. essential oils distilled from leaves, bark, roots, and flowers. botanical butters. plant-derived extracts. the ingredients are not chosen because they sound impressive on a label. they are chosen because they work. because the body recognizes them. because centuries of use and generations of women before me already proved what they can do.
this is not a trend for me. this is how i was raised.
why plant-based ingredients matter in skincare
the skin is the largest organ in the body. it absorbs what you put on it. that is not a metaphor. it is physiology.
when you apply a product made with synthetic fragrances, parabens, petroleum derivatives, or hormone disruptors, your skin absorbs those compounds and they enter your system. when you apply a product made with cold-pressed plant oils, botanical extracts, and pure essential oils, your skin absorbs those instead.
the difference is not subtle. it is the difference between feeding your skin and burdening it.
plant-based ingredients are biocompatible. that means their molecular structure is similar enough to the lipids and compounds naturally found in human skin that the body knows what to do with them. it can use them. it can absorb them efficiently. it does not have to work to process or eliminate something foreign.
this is why plant oils like jojoba, olive, argan, and squalane feel so natural on the skin. they are not coating the surface. they are integrating with it.
the plants behind mac + mitchell
i want to walk you through some of the botanicals i use most and why they have earned their place in these formulations. this is not a complete list. the oil crush facial serum alone contains over twenty plant-based oils. but these are the ones i reach for again and again, and the ones i want you to understand.
lavender. lavender is the most versatile essential oil in my collection. it calms the nervous system, reduces stress, and supports restful sleep. it also has properties that soothe irritated skin and support healing. lavender appears in oil crush cleansing oil, nightcap magnesium cream, and petal + pasture lavender fields tallow. it is the thread that runs through almost everything i make.
cedarwood. cedarwood essential oil is grounding and warm. it supports the nervous system in winding down and has been used for centuries to promote calm and reduce tension. in nightcap, it works alongside lavender and vetiver to signal to the body that it is time to stop.
vetiver. vetiver is distilled from the roots of the plant, and it carries that quality. deep, earthy, stabilizing. it is one of the most effective essential oils for calming an overactive mind. in nightcap, vetiver is the anchor. it is the ingredient that takes you from thinking to resting.
frankincense. frankincense has been valued for thousands of years for its ability to support skin cell regeneration, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and promote an even skin tone. it is one of the key essential oils in oil crush facial serum. when i was formulating that serum, frankincense was one of the first ingredients i knew had to be in it.
helichrysum. this is one of the most prized essential oils in skincare. helichrysum supports skin repair, reduces the appearance of scars and discoloration, and promotes a healthy, even complexion. it is rare, it is expensive, and it is worth every drop. it lives in oil crush facial serum because that serum was never built to cut corners.
sea buckthorn. sea buckthorn oil is packed with omega fatty acids, vitamin c, and carotenoids. it supports collagen production, protects against environmental damage, and gives skin a natural vitality. it is another cornerstone of the oil crush facial serum.
rosemary. rosemary co2 extract serves as a natural preservative and antioxidant in several mac + mitchell products, including the oil crush cleansing oil and the facial serum. it protects the integrity of the other oils in the formula, extending shelf life without synthetics.
aloe vera. aloe has been used for thousands of years to soothe, hydrate, and support skin healing. it is in both the skin boost and the hydration luxe creme, where it delivers lightweight hydration and calms sensitive skin.
shea butter. shea butter is a plant-based fat rich in vitamins a, e, and f. it deeply moisturizes, supports the skin barrier, and helps lock in the benefits of the other ingredients in a formula. it appears in hydration luxe creme, nightcap, and every scent of petal + pasture tallow.
carrot seed oil. carrot seed oil is one of the most underappreciated oils in clean skincare. it is rich in beta carotene and antioxidants, supports skin cell turnover, and helps even skin tone. it is a key ingredient in skin boost, where it works alongside copper peptides and hyaluronic acid.
plants in your home, too
my love of plants does not stop at skincare.
eucalyptus and peppermint are in our eucalyptus spa mist. cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, and rosemary are in our sparkle + shine all purpose cleaner. even our fruit and veggie wash uses plant-derived ingredients.
there is something grounding about filling your home with things that come from the earth rather than a lab. a spider plant quietly removing formaldehyde from the air. a pot of lavender on your nightstand. eucalyptus in the shower. it is all the same principle. nature already made what we need. we just have to use it.
if you are someone who keeps plants in your home, who pays attention to what goes into the air your family breathes, you already understand this instinct. mac + mitchell was built on that same instinct, just extended to what goes on your skin, into your cleaning products, and into your nightly ritual.
what plant-based skincare is not
i want to be clear about something. plant-based does not automatically mean effective. there are plenty of products on the market that contain a token amount of botanical extract buried in a base of synthetic fillers, artificial fragrances, and cheap preservatives.
reading an ingredient list matters. the order matters. the source matters. cold-pressed, organic, unrefined oils perform differently than refined, heat-extracted, or synthetically modified versions of the same plant.
when i formulate, i source the highest quality version of every ingredient i can find. ethically sourced. organic when possible. cold-pressed or co2 extracted to preserve the full benefit of the plant. no shortcuts. no synthetics to dilute what nature already perfected.
ingredients matter because you matter.
frequently asked questions about plant-based skincare
what does plant-based skincare mean?
plant-based skincare uses ingredients derived from plants, including carrier oils, essential oils, botanical extracts, and plant butters. these ingredients are biocompatible with human skin, meaning the body can absorb and use them efficiently without the burden of processing synthetic compounds.
is plant-based skincare better for sensitive skin?
in many cases, yes. plant-based ingredients tend to be gentler and less likely to cause irritation than synthetic alternatives. however, quality matters. cold-pressed, organic, unrefined plant oils are significantly different from heavily processed or diluted versions. always check the full ingredient list.
what is the difference between plant-based and toxin-free skincare?
plant-based refers to the source of the ingredients. toxin-free means the product excludes known harmful compounds like parabens, synthetic fragrances, formaldehyde, and hormone disruptors. mac + mitchell is both. every product is formulated with plant-based and naturally derived ingredients, and every product is free of toxins.
why do plant oils work so well on skin?
many plant oils have a molecular structure similar to the lipids naturally found in human skin. this biocompatibility allows them to absorb efficiently, deliver nutrients directly to the cells, and support the skin barrier rather than disrupting it.
are essential oils safe in skincare?
when properly diluted and formulated by someone who understands their properties, essential oils are both safe and beneficial in skincare. as a certified aromatherapist, i formulate every mac + mitchell product with precise ratios to ensure the essential oils deliver their benefits without irritation.
how do i know if a plant-based product is actually clean?
read the full ingredient list. look for recognizable plant names. check that oils are cold-pressed and unrefined. avoid products that list "fragrance" or "parfum" as these are almost always synthetic. if you cannot identify most of the ingredients, that tells you something about the product.
the bigger picture
my mom taught me to trust what the earth provides. she handed me lavender before she handed me anything from a pharmacy. she showed me that plants are not decoration. they are medicine, nourishment, and care.
every mac + mitchell product carries that belief forward. from the essential oils to the carrier oils to the botanical extracts, everything in the formula comes from a plant, a seed, a root, a flower. and everything is chosen with intention.
this is what clean, slow living looks like when you put it in a jar.
kelly goodwin is the founder of mac + mitchell and a certified aromatherapist and certified holistic health coach with over twenty six years in the medical field. she formulates every mac + mitchell product by hand in small batches using ethically sourced, toxin-free ingredients.
it is not just skincare. it is a ritual.