Organic Skin Care Interview with Lily Organics

Like your eggs and milk farm fresh? How about your skin care?

Lily Organics is in the business of making farm fresh skin care. That’s right, they grow, process, and create their organic skin care products all right on the Lily Organics premises. And they have recently taken their purity one step further – Lily Organics are the first skin care manufacturers to become USDA Certified Organic in three areas: farming, processing and laboratory, and skin care.

I caught up with Lily Organics founder and Head Farm Hand, Lily Morgan. Here is what she had to say:

Organic Beauty Source: How big an impact do you feel herbal therapy and natural living have had on your health and general well-being?

Lily Morgan: I am a type A personality, without all of these practices and healthful ways of living in my life I would be insane. I have to really practice relaxation, I have to work out, do yoga, and meditate and walk every day just to keep myself normal. It is not an option for me to not do these things every day of my life. So, to answer your question, I would say this lifestyle I have embraced IS my general well-being.  I have to work very hard to keep my well being, it has not come easy for me. It is everything to my well being, and it doesn't take a lot of money or anything else to bring it into your life.  It does take the discipline to do it everyday.

OBS: You have trademarked, "Purely Botanical," what exactly do you hope the phrase conveys to consumers?

LM: I would hope everything we do and say would convey to consumers that plants are where quality ingredients come from, and that ingredients are everything in a skin care product. All the pretty packaging, all the hype and clever words will not clear up your acne or diminish your wrinkles!

OBS: You do a lot of community and global work. Tell us about that.

LM: When I was 22 I founded the Association for Senior Citizens in Denver, since that time, it has helped over 1,000,000 Senior Citizens in poverty. We provide eviction prevention and heat assistance, a food bank, as well as many other services to Denver's elderly poor. It is a wonderful organization. I served as Founding Executive Director and I was on the Board of Directors for 28 years.

Lily Organics has been very involved over the last 24 years in supporting Tibetans, relocating in camps in Southern India, we support 5 Tibetans every month, and Lily Organics was a major sponsor in bringing the Dalai Lama to Colorado. Now, I am most interested in helping foster kids. After adopting my son when he was nine years old from the foster care system, and mentoring another young man, I can see so clearly how difficult life is for these kids. There are over one million older kids, over 7, waiting to be adopted in the foster care system. Another area of my interest is to help foster kids that are aging out of the system. The just are put out on the streets at 18 years old. I would like to see Lily Organics provide housing for these young people and job training, to help them transition into adulthood, when we make enough money.

OBS: Can you share any skincare tips with us?

LM: Yes, in my book (Beauty, Health, and Happiness – A Way of Life) I have over 100 recipes on how to make your own kitchen and garden cosmetics.  That would be my best tip, is experiment, have fun and make your own! It is very empowering to make your own skin care products. Additionally, I would not buy any skin care products that have any synthetic chemicals in them. I would only buy skin care products from companies that actually make their own products in their own facilities. The best tip I can give to looking good is being happy.  Make sure you do a lot of what you love!

OBS: Could you please share product info with us, which products are best for what and why?

LM: We have products split up into 3 different skin types: Sensitive, Dry, and Normal/Oily. Due to all the toxic chemicals in skin care products, many people have developed chemical sensitivities.  Some people are also highly allergic to many plants.  In our sensitive skin cream, I put as few ingredients as possible. Our Kukui Facial Oil for wrinkles, is U.S.D.A. certified organic and a wonderful light treatment oil. Our dry skin line is wonderful, my favorite product in that line is our Seven Rejuvenating Facial Oil.  It is super rich, with primrose oil and rose hip seed oil.

OBS: If you went away for one week and could only take one skincare product with you, which would it be?

LM: That is a tough one! If I could only bring two, it would be the balancing facial toner, so I could simply clean my skin with a cotton ball, and the Seven Facial Rejuvenating Oil, so I can moisturize my skin.  I will be 52, so I have got to have my moisturizer!

Thanks Lily!

I tried several products from Lily Organics: Sensitive Facial Cleanser, Balancing Toner, Moisturizing Cream, Rejuvenating Enzyme Mask, and Kukui Facial Oil Treatment.

Sensitive Facial Cleanser – This fluid, unscented facial cleanser rids skin of dirt and impurities without stripping away natural oils. Perfect for dry or sensitive skin.

Balancing Toner – Freshens and refines skin, again without stripping away natural oils.

Moisturizing Cream – We all love a great moisturizer, right? This unscented moisturizer for sensitive skin does not disappoint. Light yet hydrating and leaves skin unbelievably soft and smooth. For extra hydration, apply over Kukui oil.

Rejuvenating Enzyme Mask – Papaya and Pineapple enzymes dissolve dry, dead skin cells to reveal healthy skin, while soothing honey repairs and helps skin to retain moisture. I love using this product. Left my skin so smooth and healthy, and my skin tone was fabulous after use.

Kukui Facial Oil Treatment – I am a firm believer in the restorative power of facial oils, but not all oils behave the same. I have found that the lighter oils still provide adequate hydration, but do not clog pores or make skin look sallow. Admittedly, I had not yet tried, or even heard of, Kukui (pronounced koo-KOO-ee) oil. This oil is perfect as a wrinkle treatment at night, but I like to use a bit under the moisturizer during the day too. So light it sinks right into skin and leaves the complexion glowing.