April 8, 2026

Before I started writing this note to you, I had been working for many hours. I had a GREAT plant masterclass live chat with my Confident Herbalist Tribe (CHT) students on this month's herb, Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), and what a fascinating and biblical herb it is. The replay is already out, too!

Hyssop is a particularly relevant medicinal herb for this time of the year, as it is purifying and clearing, just what we need for spring. Also, it was the plant used to hold the soaked cloth to Jesus' lips as He was crucified prior to His resurrection. What an amazing and beautiful gift He gave to us, and one we can't ignore.

I shared a formulation for congestion caused by cold, flu, and allergies in the chat, and I'll share it with you too! You can find it just below, and all the ingredients are those used in ancient, Biblical times.

After the live chat, I spent some time working on a project. But I couldn't stand it anymore. I went outside and I laid down flat on my back in the tall grass with the sun on my face. Wow. It felt SO good. I think that little 15 minutes felt better than a whole night sleep.

That action underscored how the simplest things are the best things.....

But the sun!

As it blasted down on my aging skin, I gave it some thought....my skin, that is.

There is something so appealing about healthy, youthful, glowing skin.

Not because we're trying to look like a young and lovely twenty-year-old forever, but simply because glowing skin reflects something deeper about us: our general health.

I decided long ago to care about being healthy rather than trying to look youthful forever. And I like being the age of 62 that I am. I certainly don't want or need to look twenty, or even forty or fifty!

That's why I like natural skincare best.

Natural skincare isn't about harsh correction or fighting your face into submission. It is about supporting the skin you have with gentleness, wisdom, and ingredients you can feel good about using.

Our skin is not just a surface to cover up or scrub down. It is a living, active organ. It protects us every day. It breathes, releases, renews, and responds to what we put on it. That is one reason I have such a strong preference for simpler, cleaner skincare products whenever possible.

So many conventional skincare items are filled with ingredients that we assume are safe (because the FDA wouldn't hurt us, right?) but can be incredibly harsh and even dangerous: synthetic fragrance, drying alcohols, artificial dyes, preservatives, and other compounds that may irritate sensitive skin or add to the body’s overall burden. And trust me: your liver DOES feel it.

Of course, not every ingredient in every bottle is “bad,” and I'm not interested in fear-based living. But I do think it's wise to read labels, ask questions, and choose carefully. And...to make your own items when and if you can.

In my experience, skin tends to do better when we stop overwhelming it and just stick to a nice natural routine.

Rose, calendula, chamomile, lavender, aloe, oats, jojoba, and tallow are just a few examples of ingredients people have turned to for generations because they are simple, effective, and time-tested.

And here is something else that matters: Glowing skin doesn't come only from a jar.

Mostly...lovely skin comes from nourishment. From the inside out.

From mineral-rich foods. From healthy fats. From good digestion. And herbal teas!

And also from rest. From getting outside in the fresh air. From managing stress. From drinking enough water. From not constantly assaulting your skin with products that over-promise results and instead disrupt its natural balance.

I think many women are tired of all the hype anyway. Tired of ten-step regimens. Tired of spending money on products with labels they can't pronounce. Tired of being told that aging is a flaw to fix.

At least I'm in that group, for sure.

Luckily, there is a much better way!

Natural skincare.

My invitation is to try something more wholesome with constituents that build, nourish, and support your skin.

Glowing skin is lovely, yes.

But even lovelier is the peace that comes from knowing what you are putting on your body — and why.

Here's an herbal tea blend I formulated around 15 years ago, and it's still popular today. One of my students mentioned it, and I thought I'd share it with you!

​Sensuous Skin and Healthy Hair​

​THIS formulation helps create beautiful skin from the inside out. It's nourishing and full of vitamins and minerals. It tastes pretty good too! (You'll find many other links in that article for other delicious healthful tea blends that are also good for you.)

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Which Type of Natural Skincare Person are You?

🌼 CAMP 1) Those who love DIY and making their own products....

and...

🌼 CAMP 2) Those who don't want to have a lot of leftover ingredients that may get wasted, or who don't have time (legitimately), and who just want to buy the best, effective natural skincare they can get.

I have a solution for both types of people....because I actually fall into both camps.

I make a lot of my own products....but I've experienced the frustrating waste and the expired ingredients, so there are now some things I just buy, but I don't compromise on the ingredients or quality.

So, for those of you who fall into CAMP #1 and love to make your own products....

Enjoy my Botanical Skincare specialty course!

Original price, $97, usually on discount for $57, and now on a flash sale today for just $19!

Be sure to use the coupon code: BEAUTY

It's time to give yourself the gift of beautiful skin and a Spring Reset!

NOTE: You can also find this course included in the Confident Herbalist Tribe as one of our many popular Specialty Courses and Plant Masterclasses.

In fact, becoming a member of the Confident Herbalist Tribe is the ONLY way you can get this course outside of this special sale.

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And, for those of you who fall into CAMP #2, and just want to buy great products without obsessing over reading labels....

Visit Lemongrass Spa.

It's a small family-owned, small-batch natural skincare business that I've been using for gosh, probably at least five years now. I love them, and I 100% vouch for their products.

You can check out their products here:

​Lemongrass Spa​

NOTE: In full disclosure I am a distributor for them, although I only do this for the great 25% distributor discount I get. I'm a terrible sales rep, to be honest. I need to talk about them more because they deserve it!

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🌼 Can You Join Me Today for Ask the Herbal Answer Lady? 🌼

Last week I told you about my latest experiment to help me get back onto the YouTube scene....authentic, real, and live. Which is honestly my favorite way to teach, anyway.

This morning at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time; 11:00 Mountain; noon Central; and 1:00 p.m. Eastern, I'll be going live on YouTube to answer any and most of the herbalism questions I can in roughly 45 minutes to an hour. This is Episode 2!

If you're subscribed to my YouTube channel, you'll get a notification (I think). If you're not, just show up on YouTube, and search @Heidi Villegas to find me there....talking away about all things herbalism.

I'd love to see you there! If you can't make it, no worries. I understand. The replay will be live right afterward.

I can hardly wait to talk with you!

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Roller Bottle for Congestion...Using Biblical Herbs

AND.....Here is the Congestion Formula using Biblical Herbs for you! It was so fun to talk about Hyssop in today's chat, and it's quite an impressive medicinal herb. There are several pharmaceutical drugs that it's been clinically proven to be equal or better to, as well!

It's just more proof that God created our medicinal plants absolutely perfectly for us. We only need to learn the old traditional skills again, and then we get to enjoy improved health.

Here's the formulation for you (and this version is safe for people over age 10):

Ingredients:

4 drops frankincense (Boswellia carterii or sacra)

4 drops cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)

1 drop hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)

Olive oil or almond oil or other carrier oil of choice

Directions:

In a clean 10 ml roller bottle, add your essential oils. Then add your carrier oil just to the shoulder of the bottle.

Shake REALLY well to distribute the essential oils into the carrier.

To Use:

Apply around your ears, on your temples (avoiding your eyes), and neck. Your congestion will be relieved as you inhale the scent in and also as the oil is absorbed into the skin.

This is just under a 5% dilution, and is for those over age 10 to 12. For children under ten, leave out the hyssop and use 3 drops of the frankincense and one drop of cardamom.

The chemical constituents of these beautiful oils are what makes them work!

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Have the most beautiful and blessed spring day (or fall, if you're Down Under)!

Hugs, Health, and Herbs,

Heidi

P.S. Don't forget to get my Botanical Beauty course for just $19! Use the coupon code: BEAUTY at checkout.

P.S.S. And hopefully I'll see you on YouTube!!

P.S.S.S. Do you know someone who'd enjoy this kind of information? Please forward this note along.