About

About Skin Elixir

Handmade natural skincare meets nervous system regulation.

I'm Shona, founder of Skin Elixir—a solo parent to twins, and on a mission to redefine what self-care actually means.

What started as a personal quest for self-healing has evolved into something much deeper: a practice of self-regulation through botanical rituals.

I'm building a revolution of self-kindness—one that starts with botanical skincare rituals and spills beyond our own skin into how we show up in the world.

How It All Began

My journey with botanical healing started in 2005, when I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease.

I refused to accept that medication was my only option. I got on the case—researching, experimenting, and exploring natural approaches to healing. Frankincense essential oil became part of my healing armoury, and it worked. My Crohn's went into remission and has stayed there ever since.

But that experience changed me. It wasn't just about managing a disease—it was the start of my deep self-healing journey. I started to understand that true healing wasn't just physical. It was about regulating my nervous system, reducing inflammation through presence and calm, and using botanicals as tools for transformation.

Years later, when my twins were 3, I was exhausted and overwhelmed. I had a dry, flaky nose and redness at the sides that nothing seemed to help. Everything I tried—even "natural" products—made things worse.

But there was something else: I was desperate for a creative outlet. Confined to the house every night with two 3-year-olds, I needed something that was just for me. Something I could create with my hands when the kids were finally asleep.

So I started making my own skincare.

I drew on everything I'd learned from my self-healing journey—the power of frankincense, the importance of pure botanicals, the connection between stress and inflammation. I began blending small batches in my kitchen in Nottingham, creating skincare that was gentle, effective, and deeply nourishing.

Skin Elixir completely healed my dry, flaky nose and redness. The original hero product worked. And for the first time in years, I felt like I could breathe.

But it gave me something more: a creative practice that was mine. A reason to research, experiment, and build something meaningful during those long, isolated evenings at home.

Friends and family noticed. They asked to try what I was making. Word spread. And slowly, Skin Elixir grew from my kitchen table into a small-batch, handmade skincare brand.

The Epiphany (10 Years Into Skin Elixir, 20 Years Into My Healing Journey)

For a decade, I thought I was making skincare.

I was formulating with bakuchiol and black seed oil, sourcing organic botanicals, handmaking every batch in Nottingham. I was winning awards, building a loyal community, and genuinely helping people's skin transform.

But something kept nagging at me.

Customers would tell me: "When I use your products, I feel calmer." "My evening routine with your night oil is the only time I slow down all day." "The scent of frankincense helps me breathe deeper."

They weren't just talking about their skin. They were talking about their nervous systems.

And then it hit me—the epiphany that changed everything:

I wasn't making skincare. I was creating tools for self-regulation.

Every time someone applied an oil with intention, they were practicing embodiment. Every time they inhaled frankincense or vetiver, they were signalling safety to their nervous system. Every time they paused to massage their face, they were choosing presence over productivity.

The skincare was working—but not just because of the bakuchiol or the rosehip. It was working because the ritual was regulating them.

Here's the truth: The stress of single parenthood cannot be underestimated.

I was sick of snapping at my kids. I am sick of losing my shit when I'm overwhelmed. I wanted—I need—to foster patience, presence, and calm. Not just for my customers, but for myself.

It was only recently that I realized: I could use Skin Elixir as an anchor too.

My evening skincare routine became the moment I returned to myself. The scent of frankincense signaled to my nervous system: you're safe, you can rest. The ritual of applying oil with intention gave me a pause between the chaos of the day and the person I wanted to be.

But I needed more than skincare. I needed actual tools for when I was about to snap. When the twins were fighting and I could feel my nervous system spiraling. When I was triggered and needed to reset right now.

That's where ROOTED by Skin Elixir came from.

Not affirmations. Not pretty words. Evidence-based self-regulation techniques I could use in the moment—breathwork, grounding, body scans, resets. Tools that actually work when you're dysregulated and need help now.

ROOTED by Skin Elixir is doing this for me. It's helping me pause before I react. It's teaching me how to regulate my nervous system so I can show up as the parent I want to be. It's not perfect—I still lose it sometimes—but I'm learning. I'm practicing. I'm getting better.

I created ROOTED by Skin Elixir™—a portable toolkit of evidence-based self-regulation practices.

Twenty years after frankincense helped heal my Crohn's, I finally understood what it had really been doing all along: regulating my nervous system.

Ten years into building Skin Elixir, it finally made sense.

It's not just skincare. It never was.

It's botanical self-regulation. It's embodied self-care. It's the practice of returning to yourself, daily, through intentional touch, scent, and presence—and having real tools for when life pushes you to the edge.

Why This Overhaul Is Happening Now

This realisation has made me feel weirdly contented.

For the first time, I understand my mission with complete clarity: to help others the way these tools are helping me.

The Skin Elixir products have proved their worth through excellent reviews and multiple awards. They create those anchor moments, that space in the day to pause and return to yourself. The ROOTED cards provide the practical nervous system tools for when you need them most.

Together, they're the vehicle for self-regulation. For presence. For choosing calm over chaos, even when it's hard.

That's why I'm overhauling everything now—the messaging, the website, the way I talk about what I do. This is a new chapter. Because this isn't just about skincare anymore. It's about giving you the same tools that are helping me navigate single parenthood and the daily overwhelm of being human.

The products are still handmade with the same organic ingredients, the same safety testing, the same care. But now I understand what they're really for:

Helping you feel rooted, regulated, and radiant—inside and out.

What Skin Elixir Is Today

Every product is still handmade by me in small batches in Nottingham. Every formulation is safety tested with professional Cosmetic Product Safety Reports (CPSRs). Every ingredient is chosen for both its skin benefits and its ability to support your nervous system through scent, texture, and ritual.

What makes Skin Elixir different:

  • 100% natural, organic, vegan – No synthetic fragrances, no harsh chemicals, no compromises
  • Bakuchiol-based formulations – Nature's retinol alternative, gentle enough for sensitive skin
  • Black Seed Oil in every formulation – Ancient healing oil with powerful anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties
  • Aromatherapy-led – Every scent is chosen to support nervous system regulation
  • Small-batch, handmade – Made fresh weekly in Nottingham, never mass-produced
  • Award-winning – Recognized globally for quality and innovation
  • Self-regulation focused – Products designed to be used as sensory anchors for presence and calm
  • Born from personal healing – Rooted in my 20-year journey of overcoming Crohn's disease and deep self-healing
  • Tested on me first – I use these products and practices daily to regulate my own nervous system

My Mission

I'm here to help you transform your skincare routine into a self-regulation practice.

Not because you need to be "fixed" or "optimised," but because you deserve moments of calm in a chaotic world. Because your nervous system needs support just as much as your skin does. Because self-care should be helpful, not performative.

Whether you're a single parent like me, navigating chronic illness, dealing with stress and overwhelm, or simply looking for skincare that actually works—I'm here for you.

Skin Elixir is for:

  • People who want natural skincare that's backed by science and safety testing
  • Those seeking self-regulation tools that fit into daily life
  • Anyone tired of wellness culture that's all aesthetics and no substance
  • Humans who need practical support for their nervous systems, not just pretty affirmations
  • Parents who are sick of snapping and want to foster patience and presence
  • You, if you're ready to turn routine into ritual

The Skin Elixir Promise

Every product I make is:

  • Handmade in small batches in Nottingham
  • 100% natural, organic, and vegan
  • Safety tested with professional CPSRs
  • Backed by product liability insurance
  • Free from synthetic fragrances, parabens, sulfates, and harsh chemicals
  • Cruelty-free and never tested on animals
  • Made with love, intention, and a deep commitment to your wellbeing

I stand behind every product. If you're ever unhappy with something, I'm always open to chat.

Let's Connect

I love hearing from customers—whether you have questions about ingredients, need help choosing products, or just want to share your experience with Skin Elixir.

Get in touch:


 

Thank you for being here. Thank you for choosing Skin Elixir. Thank you for prioritising your nervous system and your skin.

With love and botanical blessings,
Shona
Founder, Skin Elixir
Nottingham, UK

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