Living Libations
by nadine artemis
Aromachologist, visionary, and innovator, Nadine Artemis, is the creator of Living Libations, an exquisite line of essential oils, serums, elixirs, and oral care products. She is also the author of Renegade Beauty and Holistic Dental Care. Nadine is passionate about radiant wellness, published research, and sovereignty in self-care, and one can often find her sitting in a ray of sun.
Hi Nadine! We would love to hear more about your experience as a beauty philosopher, aromacologist and botanical muse.
As a botanical formulator, my hands serve at the pleasure of plants and flowers, the original owners of essences and oils I formulate with. I draw inspiration from nature and tap into its ancient wisdom. This wisdom ignites innovation and helps me create botanical formulas that are an extension of creation. Every Living Libations formula is a translation of infinite plant intelligence into physical form.
I also receive inspiration from meditating on the poems of Rumi and Mary Oliver that laud creation and befriend the cosmos, and I’m fascinated by Helen von Bingen’s spiritual relationship with plants. Her term “veriditas,” which may have been a word-play combination of the Latin words viridi (green) and veritas (truth), is moving to me. Veriditas expresses the greening energy or vitality of the Divine as a freshness and creative power of life that sustains and heals. I do a deep dive into my philosophy of beauty and the mysteries of the cosmos in the first few chapters of my book, Renegade Beauty.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind Living Libations and how you turned it into a successful business?
The inspiration for Living Libations came about gradually. As a little girl and a teenager, I had a knack and desire to concoct mixtures and cosmetics. For my ninth-grade science fair project, I explored ancient ways of making perfume from botanical oils. My mother took me to the health food store to buy essential oils for the project, and I inhaled my first whiff of essential oils.
In university, I started reading skincare labels, and I noticed that they were all made with synthetic ingredients — my favorite cucumber facial wash had no cucumber in it! This gave me a legitimate reason and motivation to concoct my own skincare products. I started collecting beautiful botanical distillations from artisan distillers around the world, and the quality was mind-blowing. I started making products for myself and my family and friends, and they loved it.
When I graduated from university, I opened a full-concept aromatherapy store in Toronto. It was the first of its kind in North America, and people could buy essential oils by drop or bottle. I was ensorcelled in the scents of sandalwood and jasmine, surrounded by decanters and bottles of botanicals, and it was heavenly. Yet, after a few years, I closed the store to rethink and rejuvenate and move to the lake and woods that I love. Soon after, Living Libations was born.
Living Libations success stems from our devotion to authentic and pure botanicals, nurturing personal relationships with artisan distillers and family farmers, and the boundless energy of our rock-star staff.
Could you explain the importance of using bioactive, botanical ingredients in our skincare routines and how they benefit our overall health?
There is an easy elegance in using botanical oils in our skincare and self-care routines. Botanical oils are lipids and aromatic essences secreted from plant tissues. These secretions work synergistically with our skin and befriend our microbiome by protecting our body, skin, and mouth, much in the same way that they protect the parent plant.
Essential oils are especially effective as they absorb into the body through the membrane of our skin and the tissues in our mouths to purify mood, mind, and body. Antiquity appreciated medicinal plants and oils, and today we have gas chromatographs to map out the hundreds of special substances in them that are anti-inflammatory, pro-collagen, and free-radical fighters that also defy the development of anti-bacterial resistance and encourage resilience.
Employing these bioactive oils into our self-care makes perfect sense. Synthetic skin cleansers contain ingredients that strip the acid mantle and stratum corneum, the skin’s top layer that protects and moistens the skin and provides nutrition to the skin’s microbiome. This leaves the skin dry and vulnerable to damage. Yet, washing with botanical oils protects the acid mantle and friendly flora while gently lifting away makeup, excess oil, and the day’s debris. The skin feels clean, soft, and supple — and it smells amazing!
For someone new to Living Libations, which product would you recommend they try first and why?
Seabuckthorn Best Skin Ever and Happy Gum Drops are a great place to start. They our beloved, best-selling products, and, for many people, they are the gateway to a new paradigm of beauty and clean cosmetics.
Seabuckthorn Best Skin Ever is the first in our line of eleven Best Skin Evers. It is a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer all in one bottle. Seabuckthorn supercritical extract is packed with omega fatty acids 3, 6, 7, and 9, antioxidants, vitamins, palmitoleic acids, carotenoids, and phytosterols. A single drop contains 190 different bioactive compounds. A squirt or two of Seabuckthorn Best Skin Ever on a dampened facial cloth massaged over the face and body will beautifully cleanse and bedew your skin. It is a great choice for all types of skin and all skin issues.
Happy Gum Drops is an oral care superhero for people seeking pure botanical oral care, especially those who brush, floss, and go to the dentist twice a year and yet still struggle with bleeding gums, cavities, and less-than-fresh breath. One drop on a soft, dry toothbrush and another drop on a length of floss cleans the teeth, strengthens the gums, balances the oral microbiome, and freshens breath. Since Happy Gum Drops produces no suds and is safely swallowed, you can discretely brush your teeth anywhere.
Out of all the products you have developed, which one is your personal favorite and why?
They are all my favorites! Each one is a gem, and I use them all depending on the season and my vibe. This morning I washed my skin with Rose Best Skin Ever to add extra hydration to my skin and rolled on Rose Glow Poetic Pits to get a double dose of the rosy aroma. I am going to spend time by the lake, in the sun, so I have juiced my body with Everybody Loves the Sunshine to harmonize my skin with the sun. Today by the dock, I will wash my hair with Seabuckthorn Shampoo, and I always use the Honey Myrtle Conditioner.
What does a day in the life look like for you?
There is no typical day in our household. My home life and vocation are mixed and melded, and every day is fresh and new. I operate with what I call spontaneous organization; I gather all the elements of my projects in place so that when inspiration and creativity arrive, I am prepared to dive in.
My perfect day is a sun-filled summer day of playing on the land and lake with my family and being immersed in nature. I love catching sunrise and sunset – which are meditative moments. Taking a walk in the woods, adoring the flowers in the garden, and then cooling off with a swim in the lake and basking in the sun.
Are there any rituals you practice on a daily basis?
I have a daily practice of cultivating gratitude. As the sun rises, I contemplate all the blessings in my life, and if my family is around, we like to shout out all the things we are thankful for. Every day I spend time being outside, keeping company with the sun and elements reinvigorate body and spirit and nourish those circadian rhythms.
What do you see in store for the future of Living Libations?
Ideas and inspiration are ever-blooming at Living Libations. We have many original creations on the go, and we are super excited to introduce a few new Libations this year. Last year we introduced Raven Maven Mascara, which is the cleanest mascara on the planet. It is full of natural black pigments, botanicals such as frankincense, and peptides that help build strong, long lashes. We will be expanding that line this year.
Article Credits
Instagram: @nadineartemisofficial
Facebook: @nadineartemisofficial
Twitter: @LivingLibations
TikTok: @livinglibationsofficial
Website: livinglibations.com
Photo creds: Living Libations
