🌿 Summer Skin Care with Herbs: Products That Soothe, Cool, and Protect

Summer is full of barefoot moments, sunlit hikes, and lazy porch evenings but the season can be tough on your skin. From bug bites and poison ivy to tired feet and too much sun, nature has a way of reminding us to slow down and tend to ourselves.

At Willow Moon, I turn to time-honored herbal allies to help soothe, cool, and protect summer skin without the need for harsh chemicals or synthetic shortcuts. These handcrafted offerings bring the power of plants to your daily rituals, helping you enjoy the season a little more comfortably.

☀️ Herbs That Shine in Summer

• Jewelweed - Wild and wonderful, Jewelweed is beloved for easing itchy, irritated skin, especially after exposure to poison ivy or insect bites.

• Plantain - A skin-soothing powerhouse, this “green bandage” helps calm minor cuts, scrapes, and stings.

• Calendula - Gentle and bright, Calendula supports the skin’s natural healing process.

• St. John’s Wort - Traditionally used to ease nerve discomfort, sore muscles, and sun-stressed skin.

• Peppermint & Tea Tree - The dream team for tired feet: cooling, cleansing, and oh-so refreshing.

• Yarrow - A protective, astringent plant often used for wound care and skin support.

🌼 Summer Skin Favorites from Willow Moon

🧼 Jewelweed Soap

Let the wild work its magic. This summer essential is crafted with a rich infusion of Jewelweed and Plantain, plus calendula, aloe, and soothing oatmeal. A gentle blend of olive, coconut, avocado, palm, and hemp seed oils provides a creamy, nourishing lather, while a touch of spearmint and lavender essential oils adds a cool, refreshing scent.

Botanical Vibes: Soothing, gentle, wildcrafted skin support
Perfect for: Daily use after outdoor adventures or time in the garden

 

🌿 Jewelweed Salve

Your scratchy skin’s best friend. This small-but-mighty salve is infused with Jewelweed, Plantain, Calendula, and St. John’s Wort in nourishing olive oil, then finished with lavender essential oil, vitamin E, and rosemary anti

oxidant for freshness.

It’s ideal for relieving the itch and irritation caused by poison ivy, bug bites, or mystery rashes picked up while roaming the woods (or weeding the backyard).

Botanical Vibes: Calming, anti-itch, healing

Perfect for: On-the-go herbal first aid

 

 

🛡️ Happy Camper Spray

Trusted for over 25 years, Happy Camper Spray is your botanical shield for outdoor adventures. Light, non-greasy, and crafted with a wild yarrow infusion and a carefully selected blend of essential oils traditionally used to discourage insects, this refreshing mist is a clean, chemical-free alternative to harsh repellents.

No DEET. No synthetic fragrance. No nonsense.
Just pure, plant-powered protection for camping, gardening, festivals, and porch nights.

Botanical Vibes: Fresh, herbal, protective
Perfect for: Anyone who’d rather not be dinner for the bugs

🦶 Peppermint & Tea Tree Foot Therapy Lotion

Soothe your summer-worn soles with this ultra-refreshing lotion. Peppermint cools and energizes, while tea tree cleanses and supports skin health. Rich in nourishing plant oils, it softens dry heels, reduces foot odor, and revives tired toes.

Botanical Vibes: Minty, clean, revitalizing
Perfect for: Sandal days, post-garden showers, and evening foot rubs

 

🌞 St. John’s Wort Infused Oil

A ray of sunshine in a bottle, this golden red oil is crafted from freshly infused wild St. John’s Wort blossoms, a beloved herb traditionally used to ease nerve discomfort, sore muscles, minor burns, and sun-stressed skin.

When used topically, St. John’s Wort has even been noted for its gentle, natural sun-protective qualities, thanks to compounds like hyperforin and flavonoids that help support skin exposed to the elements.

Use it as a daily body oil, massage into tension spots, or apply after a long day in the sun.

Botanical Vibes: Warm, reparative, grounding
Perfect for: Post-sun skin care, neck and shoulder tension, sore tired muscles or simply winding down after a full summer day

🍃 Quick DIY: Cooling Herbal After-Sun Mist

Keep your skin cool and comforted with this easy herbal spray:

You’ll Need:

• ½ cup strong peppermint tea, cooled

• ¼ cup aloe vera juice or gel

• 1 tsp witch hazel (alcohol-free, optional)

• 3 drops lavender essential oil (optional)

To Make:
Mix all ingredients in a clean spray bottle. Shake gently. Store in the fridge and use within 5-7 days.Mist over sun warmed skin, bug bitten legs, or anywhere that needs a refreshing herbal hug.

🦶 Cooling Herbal Foot Soak for Tired Summer Feet

After long barefoot days, garden chores, or dancing under the stars, your feet deserve some herbal love. This easy foot soak helps soften rough skin, reduce swelling, and refresh tired soles naturally.

🌿 Ingredients:

• ¼ cup dried peppermint - Cools, energizes, and reduces foot fatigue

• ¼ cup Epsom salt - Eases sore muscles and softens skin

• 1 tablespoon dried rosemary or thyme - Gently antimicrobial and revitalizing

• Optional: a few drops tea tree or lavender essential oil

• Optional: 2 tablespoons baking soda - Helps deodorize and soften

🛁 Instructions:

1. Combine herbs and salts in a bowl or jar.

2. Bring 4-6 cups of water to a boil and pour over the herbs in a large basin or tub.

3. Cover and steep 10-15 minutes, then let cool to a comfortable temperature.

4. Soak feet for 15-20 minutes. Breathe deeply, unwind, and enjoy.

Follow up with Peppermint & Tea Tree Foot Lotion for silky-smooth soles and a finishing tingle.

 

 

✨ Benefits at a Glance:

✨ Final Thoughts: Slow Down & Soak It In

Herbal summer skin care isn’t just about healing, it’s about harmony. These handcrafted, plant-powered essentials offer gentle ways to support your skin and your connection to the season.

Let nature’s wisdom guide your summer. Soak in the sunlight, breathe deep, and carry a little plant magic with you wherever you roam.