Step 1 - Face Wash

Willow bark. Papaya. Step 1 of the daily routine.

Short description: A gentle daily cleanser made with willow bark and papaya enzyme for smooth, refreshed skin — plus aloe, silk protein, and a whisper of lime. Physician-formulated, handmade in small batches, and the first step of a simple, honest routine.

Cleanser is the product a lot of people cheap out on, and I think that's a mistake. It's the first thing that touches your skin in the morning and the last thing at night — the base layer everything else sits on top of. A cleanser that's too harsh sets your whole routine up to fail; one that doesn't actually clean means your serum and moisturizer are working on top of the day's grime.

I formulated this one to hit the middle — genuinely cleansing without stripping, and mild enough for daily use on the face. Two ingredients do the heavy lifting: willow bark and papaya enzyme.

Willow bark has been used in skin care for centuries,  long before modern chemistry existed. It's a natural source of salicin, a plant compound closely related to salicylic acid but gentler and slower-acting. In cosmetic use, willow bark extract is prized as a traditional ingredient for smoothing, refining, and helping skin look clear and even.

Papaya enzyme (papain) is the second half of the story. It's a natural fruit enzyme that provides very gentle exfoliation. It's mild enough for daily use, unlike physical scrubs that can over-exfoliate. The combination of willow bark and papaya gives you a cleanser that's actively working, not just sudsing.

Made with:

• Willow bark extract (a traditional source of plant-based salicin)
• Papaya enzyme (papain)
• Aloe
• Silk protein
• Allantoin
• Panthenol (provitamin B5)
• A small amount of lime essential oil for scent
• No parabens, sulfates, phthalates, or synthetic fragrance

What it feels like: A soft, gentle cleanser that rinses cleanly with no tight, squeaky finish. Doesn't strip. Doesn't leave a film. Skin feels smooth and refreshed, not stripped.

What it smells like: Bright and clean, with just a hint of lime essential oil making it refreshing without being perfumed. We use a small amount deliberately; a cleanser you'll use every day shouldn't be overpowering.

How to use: Massage a small amount into damp skin, morning and evening. Rinse with lukewarm water. Follow with Step 2 (serum) and Step 3 (moisturizer).

The simple routine:

• Step 1: Facial cleanser (you're here)
• Step 2: Facial serum
• Step 3: Facial moisturizer

Packaged in a recyclable and reusable glass bottle, this eco-friendly face wash is as kind to the planet as it is to your skin. Available in a full 4 oz size or a convenient 1 oz travel bottle—perfect for home or on the go. 

Ingredients: Distilled water, cocoamidopropyl betaine, coco-glucoside, sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate, aloe, vegetable glycerin, silk protein, willow bark extract, papaya extract, panthenol, polyquat 7, allantoin, propylene glycol, diazolidinyl urea, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, lime essential oil.