NATURAL SKINCARE: LEGIT OR GREENWASHED?!

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When Rachel and Daniel Olvera found themselves in the high desert of Joshua Tree during the pandemic, they never imagined their homemade skincare formulations would evolve into Xēba Botánica – a brand now championing truly non-toxic, plant-based products that prioritize both human health and environmental sustainability. By the way, the SDS podcast is an absolutely no way sponsored by Xēba Botánica.

On this revealing episode, the couple shares their remarkable journey from backpackers to skincare entrepreneurs, bringing along their adorable baby who steals the spotlight more than once. Rachel's background as a chemist provides fascinating insights into what's really happening when we slather commercial products on our largest organ – our skin. From frankincense benefits to the dangers of "forever chemicals" in waterproof sunscreens, this conversation will transform how you evaluate what touches your body.

The discussion takes a hard look at industry greenwashing, particularly the meaningless "natural" label that appears on countless toxic products. Daniel explains why they refuse to use this term, preferring specific descriptors like "non-toxic" and "plant-based" instead. You'll learn why glass packaging matters (hint: plastic leaches chemicals into your products), why water shouldn't be the first ingredient in your expensive moisturizer, and what essential oils you should never apply directly to skin.