On my quest for the ultimate in so-natural-you-could-eat-it skincare that actually works, I was super stoked to discover Osmia Organics, and the super knowledgable skincare expert behind it, Sarah Villafranco.  I’ve been using Osmia skincare products for the last few weeks, and am just as impressed with the amazing quality of the organic ingredients as I am the awesome effects it’s had on my skin!

I love the calming Gentle Foaming Cleanser, which leaves my skin super soft, clear and clean.  Ingredients like organic aloe juice and organic chamomile extract help with redness and breakouts, while organic green tea and marshmallow extract have anti-inflammatory and rejuvenating effects on the skin.  Another favorite is the Facial Calibration Serum, which I was a bit nervous about using on my oily skin, but was thrilled that, as promised, it actually soaked into my skin and made it less oily throughout the day, while keeping it super soft and supple.  Organic grapeseed oil and black seed oil have awesome anti-aging effects as an added bonus!  But the product I’m totally addicted to is the is the luscious Body Oil, which comes in a million different delicious scents to match your mood and personality.  I love slathering on the woodsy, herbal smelling Forest scent after every shower to smooth my skin and totally invigorate my senses.

I talked to Sarah about what led her to create Osmia Organics (after nine years as an emergency physician!), and also learned about her amazing remedy for perioral dermatitis (an annoying and mysterious skin affliction I sometime fall prey to in the winter months):

1. Tell us about the philosophy behind Osmia Organics?

Really, it comes down to two concepts.  The first is caring about and wanting to KNOW what you are putting on your body.

Sarah Villafranco of Osmia Organics

There are no secrets with Osmia.  All of our ingredients are listed on the labels, and on the website.  We really, truly don’t have any icky chemicals or fillers to hide.  The second concept is rooted in THIS moment, THIS now.  We hope you will take a few seconds to sense each Osmia product you are using.  We are all insanely busy – this is a fact of life for most of us.  But being able to weave moments of scent or texture into your day is an honor for Osmia.  And we hope it carries forth into the rest of your life.  Because all of life’s precious, tiny moments can either go noticed or unnoticed – we hope to help you notice them.

2. What were you doing before you started Osmia, and what brought on the career change?

I spent nine years as an emergency physician, and I don’t regret a single one of them.  I was privileged to see people in their most trying moments – when they needed to know someone genuinely cared about them and their loved ones.  I never lost sight of the fact that it was a rare opportunity to know people in their least edited form, and I hope I was able to touch some lives meaningfully.  But, I started to get a bit frustrated with the healthcare system in general, and, at times, with Western medicine in particular.  I have always believed that the least invasive treatment is the starting point in medicine.  But our culture no longer embraces that idea, and has become accustomed to narcotics and antibiotics as a way of life.  This, in combination with a timely soap-making class, opened the door to this next phase of my life.  I love what I do now so much that I can’t really call it work, even though the hours I log more than match those I worked in the ER!

3. What sets Osmia apart from other organic beauty products on the market?

Osmia brings together natural ingredients and luxury skin care in a very conscious way.  We want each product you purchase to feel really special to you, as if you had stumbled upon it in a tiny shop while strolling down a secret side street.  The ingredients have been chosen and combined with great intention, resulting in the fewest, least processed, highest quality ingredients we can use for the desired effect of each product.  We are a small company, and maintain complete control of our formulation, manufacturing, and packaging.   And, my scientific background allows me to screen ingredients and the claims made by their suppliers with a fairly critical eye, allowing the discerning consumer to put that burden on me, for once.

4. What is your favorite Osmia product, and why?

That’s a bit like asking which one of my daughters I prefer – impossible to answer.  Juniper Fire holds a special place in my heart as my first perfume, and one that appeals to a great number of customers.  Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair is a favorite – I love the way it is still on your lips in the morning, and I find it to be an extremely effective product.  And the body oils may be my favorite in terms of the sensory experience – the smells are divine, and the feeling of your skin after using the oils is pure velvet – even in Colorado.  How’s that for dodging the question?

5. Many Organic Beauties have sensitive skin. Does Osmia have any products that are recommended for skin with eczema, acne, dry spots or Rosacea?

Certainly.  The Purely Simple Face Cream was developed for a friend with ridiculously sensitive skin and lots of allergies.  She used all natural products on her children, and was still using Cetaphil (the recommendation of most dermatologists) on her own skin, despite the fact that it is a petroleum-based product.  She said everything else made her face react.  That was a perfect challenge for me!  She has been using Purely Simple for over a year now, and loves it.

I, myself, have a condition called perioral dermatitis, which initially fueled a lot of my research and product development.  (There is an article on my site about the condition. In fact, many people suffer from it, and have been misdiagnosed with eczema or acne.)  For true eczematous and psoriatic conditions, I usually steer people to the Organic Tea Bath or the Milk Bath, the Oh So Soap, and the Unscented Body Oil.  For oily or acne-prone skin, I recommend the Gentle Foaming Cleanser or the Black Clay Facial Soap, while dry skin prefers the Rose Clay Facial Soap (don’t be afraid of soap on your face – it won’t dry you out!).   And for pesky blemishes, the Spot Treatment is quite powerful, without leaving the blemish crusty and red while it heals.

6. What is your skincare routine?

I use the Black Clay Facial Soap twice a day.  I follow with the Active Gel Nutrient Serum (perioral dermatitis likes water-based products) and the Purely Simple Face Cream.  I take a less-is-more approach, due to my perioral dermatitis, and I gently exfoliate no more than once a week.  Just as importantly, I exercise daily, eat a crazy healthy diet, drink lots of spring water, and use sunscreen religiously.  And I laugh – A LOT.

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Natasha Uspensky, chhc