“Think of your face like a vege patch – cleansing clears the slate, serum is the sprinkler and balm is the mulch”
Skincare in 3 minutes (without the wank)
Oil Cleanse – The Desert Sage Oil, combines with daily gunk, skin gunge, makeup & sunscreen and rinses off clean.
Serum – Best applied to slightly damp skin. Serum works like an irrigation system – it binds with moisture and shlurps deep into your skin.
Moisturising Balm – Like a layer of mulch in your garden, these balms lock in moisture and provide a protective layer against, sun, wind, dust & dry conditions.
Cleansing oil, serum & facebalm – 3 step routine
No, you don’t have to use ALL the things… If you’ve just got one or two of these products, just skip to that section – this is just an overview of how they all work together.
Clean your face.. ya grub.
- Shake the cleansing oil. Every. Single. Time.
It separates. That’s normal… but shake, shake, shake before use. Don’t skip this bit.
2. Apply oil to a dry face with dry fingers
Dry on dry… feels weird but it’s important.
Work it around your face for about 30 seconds and let it slurp up everything your skin collected today. Work that oil baby – it’s like a vacuum cleaner for the day’s grossness.
3. Wet your fingers — keep working for 30 more seconds.
Add water and keep massaging. Watch it turn milky — that’s the emulsification happening, binding everything to the water so it rinses away clean.
4. Rinse well
A few splashes should do. Your skin should feel clean but not stripped. Here’s the important bit: don’t dry it completely. Leave it slightly damp. The serums and balms love having a bit of moisture to work with.
5. Apply serum
A small amount goes a long way. Pat it gently into your skin don’t rub it around. Think of it like watering the garden, not squirting duckshit off the verandah.
6. Let it sink in — give it a few minutes
Brush your teeth, make a coffee, do a little jig… This gives the serum time to shlurp into your skin
7. Balm baby… boom you’re ready to go!
The balm is like a barrier – You’re not adding more moisture here – you’re sealing in what’s already there.
It’s like adding a layer of mulch…. the face balm provides a barrier to preserve the valuable moisture within.
What to choose?
These products are produced seasonally and may not always be in stock (speak to nature about that… or me about getting better at harvesting for the lean patches 🤣)
Here are your options for the shopping list….
Cleanser:
The Desert Sage Cleansing Oil is genuinely spectacular. You’ll find it here.
Serums:
Willow Brillo – (willow bark, chickweed & aloe) The gentle exfoliator, ideal for use 3-4 times a week. You’ll find it here
Grapefruit Vitamin C Powerhouse Serum (grapefruit & aloe) The kickstart. Brightening, refreshing & renewing. (ideal for peeps who do their skincare ablutions at night because Vitamin C can occasionally cause issues in the sun). Find it here.
Rosehip Drought Relief Serum – (Wild Rosehip & aloe) Rosehips are the ultimate skin regenerator. Rich in vitamin A, polyphenols and deeply hydrating. Pick this one if you’re on the fence about what you need – it covers all bases. Find it here.
Mint Condition (cucumber & mint) – cooling, calming, sweaty hot mess antidote. If you’re feeling peri, sweaty, irritated or sunburnt – whack this one on. It’s bloody delicious. You’ll find it here.
Facebalms:
Wild Rosehip Skin Drink – the original heavy hitter. Deeply, deeply nourishing. Ideal for night time use (or if you’ve got plenty of time to let it sink in before you hit the town)
Serenity Now Calming Face Balm – Got a mug that gets sweaty but also needs moisturising? This is your friend. Made with my passionflowers, it’s a cooling, calming balm with the addition of arrowroot to sponge up sweat moustache. Sounds crazy but it works a charm. Ideal as a daytime moisturiser.
Glow Getter Renewal Balm – Made with carrot, calendula & wild rosehip. It’s the daytime, quiet achiever – ideal if you owe your skin a bitta TLC after months or years of neglect. Find it here.
FAQs
Do I really need to shake the cleansing oil every time?
Yes. The Desert Sage Cleansing Oil separates — it’s a natural, properly made product, not a shelf-stable emulsion held together with synthetic stabilisers. The shake takes two seconds and it’s the difference between using the full formula and just using part of it. You can do it 💪
Why does it need to go on a dry face?
Because oil and water repel each other. On a wet face, the cleanser just slides around. On a dry face, it can do what it’s made to do, which is to dissolve the oils, sunscreen, and whatever shit you’ve collected on your face.
Repeat after me: Dry on dry, then add water after.
Can I use the balm without the serum?
You can. But without a humectant underneath, the balm is mostly just sealing in whatever moisture your skin already has — which on a dry day, might not be much. It’s like putting mulch on dry dirt. It protects, but it doesn’t feed. For best results, do both.
Can I use the serum without the balm?
Same answer — you can, and it’ll still do something. But humectants without an occlusive on top can actually pull moisture from deeper in the skin if the air is very dry. In humid conditions you’ll be fine. In the middle of a dry winter or on a hot windy day? Put the balm on top. Seal the deal.
How much of each do I actually need?
Less than you think. A small amount of serum, a pea-sized amount of balm. These are concentrated, farm-made products — not the 70% water in a fancy bottle you’ve been trained to slather on generously.
A little goes a long way, and a jar lasts considerably longer than the stuff from the chemist.
Morning, evening, or both?
Both is ideal. Morning routine gives your skin something to work with through the day. Evening is when your skin does most of its repair work — applying both before bed means you’re giving it the best possible conditions to do that.
If you’re only doing it once, do it at night.