Whether you’re new to natural living or a seasoned wellness enthusiast, navigating the world of complementary and alternative approaches can sometimes feel overwhelming. This carefully curated resource defines the terms, ingredients, practices, and concepts you’ll encounter throughout your wellness journey and across our blog.
From DIY skincare ingredients and essential oil applications to mindfulness practices and superfood benefits, this glossary aims to empower you with knowledge as you make informed choices about your health and well-being. Bookmark this page as your go-to reference whenever you encounter unfamiliar terminology in your pursuit of natural, balanced living.
A
Adaptogen: Herbs or plant extracts believed to help the body resist physical, chemical, and biological stressors and promote homeostasis.
Agritourism: Travel experiences centered around agricultural areas, offering activities like farm stays, harvest experiences, and food tastings.
Aloe Vera: A succulent plant species with gel-like substance used topically for skin conditions, burns, and in DIY skincare formulations.
Antioxidants: Compounds that inhibit oxidation and protect cells from damage, found in many superfoods and skincare ingredients.
Aromatherapy: The use of essential oils from plants for therapeutic purposes, including skincare, mood enhancement, and stress relief.
Ayurveda: A traditional Indian holistic healing system based on the belief that health depends on the balance between mind, body, and spirit.
B
Base Oil: Also called carrier oil, used to dilute essential oils for safe application to the skin in DIY formulations.
Bentonite Clay: A healing clay used in facial masks and detoxifying treatments to draw out impurities from the skin.
Bioavailability: The degree to which nutrients are available for absorption and use by the body when consuming superfoods or supplements.
Biodegradable: Products that can decompose naturally without harming the environment, an important consideration in non-toxic product choices.
Body Scrub: An exfoliating product that removes dead skin cells, often made with natural ingredients like sugar, salt, and oils.
Botanical Extract: Concentrated forms of plants used in skincare, herbal remedies, and supplements.
C
Carrier Oil: Natural plant oils used to dilute essential oils and carry them onto the skin, such as coconut, jojoba, or almond oil.
Clay Mask: A facial treatment made with natural clays to cleanse, exfoliate, and detoxify the skin.
Clean Beauty: Products formulated without ingredients shown or suspected to harm human health, often featuring natural, sustainable ingredients.
Cold-Pressed: Extraction method that preserves nutrients by avoiding heat, commonly used for oils in skincare and culinary applications.
Conscious Consumerism: Making purchasing decisions that have positive social, environmental, and health impacts.
Cruelty-Free: Products not tested on animals, an important certification for many non-toxic and natural brands.
D
DIY (Do It Yourself): Creating homemade skincare, wellness products, or remedies using natural ingredients instead of purchasing commercial versions.
Dry Brushing: A skin exfoliation technique using a natural bristle brush on dry skin to remove dead skin cells and stimulate the lymphatic system.
Detoxification: Processes aimed at removing toxins from the body, including skincare practices, dietary approaches, and lifestyle changes.
E
Eco-Tourism: Travel focused on experiencing natural areas while conserving the environment and supporting local communities.
Emollient: Ingredients that soften and soothe the skin, often used in natural moisturizers and DIY skincare.
Essential Fatty Acids: Necessary fats the body cannot produce itself, found in many superfoods and used in skincare.
Essential Oil: Concentrated plant extracts that retain the natural smell and properties of their source, used in aromatherapy, DIY skincare, and natural home products.
Exfoliation: The removal of dead skin cells from the skin’s surface, often achieved through natural ingredients like coffee grounds, sugar, or fruit enzymes.
F
Face Serum: Concentrated skincare products that deliver active ingredients deeper into the skin, often featuring botanical extracts.
Facial Steaming: A treatment involving steam to open pores and hydrate the skin, often enhanced with herbs or essential oils.
Farm-to-Face: Skincare products made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, similar to the farm-to-table concept in food.
Farm Stay: Accommodation on a working farm, allowing visitors to experience agricultural life and connect with food sources.
Forest Bathing: The Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, involving mindful time spent among trees for mental and physical wellness benefits.
Free Radical: Unstable molecules that can damage cells, leading to aging and disease, counteracted by antioxidants in superfoods and skincare.
G
Glow Recipe: Homemade skincare formulations designed to enhance skin radiance using natural ingredients.
Green Beauty: Cosmetic and skincare products formulated with natural, sustainable ingredients and environmentally friendly packaging.
Gua Sha: A traditional Chinese healing technique using a smooth-edged tool to massage the face or body, promoting circulation and lymphatic drainage.
H
Healing Crisis: Temporary worsening of symptoms when beginning natural therapies, believed to be part of the healing process.
Herbal Infusion: The process of extracting healing compounds from herbs using water, oil, or alcohol for skincare or consumption.
Holistic Health: An approach to wellness that considers the whole person—body, mind, spirit, and emotions—in the quest for optimal health.
Hot Springs: Natural springs producing warm to hot water with mineral content, visited for relaxation and therapeutic benefits.
HPA Axis: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, a complex set of interactions between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands that regulate stress response, relevant to mindset and stress management.
Hydrosol: Also called floral water, a byproduct of essential oil distillation used in natural skincare as toners and fresheners.
I
Intuitive Eating: A mindful approach to food consumption based on physical hunger and satiety cues rather than external rules.
Intentional Living: Making conscious choices that align with one’s values and goals, rather than acting on autopilot or following conventions.
J
Jade Roller: A facial massage tool made from jade stone, used to reduce puffiness and promote lymphatic drainage.
Jojoba Oil: A liquid plant wax that closely resembles human sebum, making it an excellent moisturizer in DIY skincare.
K
Kaolin Clay: A gentle clay used in facial masks, suitable for sensitive skin types.
Kombucha: A fermented tea drink rich in probiotics, often used as a base for DIY facial toners.
L
Lymphatic Drainage: Gentle massage techniques designed to stimulate the flow of lymph fluid, reducing puffiness and supporting detoxification.
Local Harvest: Sourcing ingredients or products from nearby producers to ensure freshness and support local economies.
M
Meditation: A practice involving focused attention or awareness to achieve mental clarity and emotional calm.
Microbiome: The community of microorganisms living on and in the human body, important for skin health and digestion.
Mindfulness: A mental state achieved by focusing awareness on the present moment while acknowledging and accepting feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.
Mindset Work: Practices aimed at developing positive thought patterns and beliefs to support personal growth and wellness.
Moringa: A nutrient-dense plant used in smoothies and skincare for its high vitamin and mineral content.
N
Natural Preservatives: Plant-based ingredients that extend shelf life of DIY skincare products, such as vitamin E oil, rosemary extract, or grapefruit seed extract.
Nature Therapy: Structured activities in natural environments to promote physical and mental health.
Non-Comedogenic: Products or ingredients that don’t clog pores, important for facial skincare formulations.
Non-Toxic: Products formulated without ingredients known or suspected to cause harm to human health or the environment.
O
OCM (Oil Cleansing Method): A skincare approach using oils to cleanse the face based on the principle that oil dissolves oil.
Organic Certification: Verification that products meet specific standards for organic production, processing, and handling.
P
Patch Test: Testing a small amount of a skincare product on a limited area of skin to check for adverse reactions before wider application.
pH Balance: The level of acidity or alkalinity in skincare products, ideally matching the skin’s natural pH level of about 5.5.
Phytonutrients: Plant compounds that provide health benefits, found in many superfoods and botanical skincare ingredients.
Plant-Based: Diet or products derived primarily or entirely from plants, often used in reference to sustainable, health-conscious lifestyles.
Positive Psychology: The scientific study of optimal human functioning and the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive.
Postbiotics: Beneficial compounds produced by probiotics, emerging as ingredients in advanced natural skincare.
R
Raw Honey: Unprocessed honey with preserved enzymes and nutrients, used in DIY face masks and as a natural sweetener.
Regenerative Agriculture: Farming practices that restore soil health and biodiversity, producing more nutrient-dense foods and herbs.
Retreat: A period of group or solitary reflection away from normal life, often in nature or wellness-centered facilities.
Rose Water: A hydrosol made from rose petals, used as a toner and soothing agent in natural skincare.
S
Self-Care: Activities and practices undertaken to promote personal well-being and health.
Shea Butter: A fat extracted from the nuts of the shea tree, used as a rich moisturizer in DIY skincare formulations.
Shelf Life: The length of time a product remains effective and safe to use, particularly relevant for preservative-free DIY skincare.
Slow Beauty: An approach to skincare and self-care that emphasizes quality over quantity, mindfulness, and sustainable practices.
Superfoods: Nutrient-rich foods considered especially beneficial for health and well-being, often featured in smoothies and wellness recipes.
Sustainability: Practices that avoid depleting natural resources to maintain ecological balance, important in product selection and lifestyle choices.
T
Tincture: A concentrated herbal extract made by soaking herbs in alcohol or glycerin, used in natural remedies.
Toner: A skincare product that helps remove remaining impurities and balance skin pH after cleansing, often made with natural ingredients like witch hazel or rose water.
Trail Therapy: The mental health benefits derived from hiking and spending time on nature trails.
U
Upcycling: Repurposing waste materials into new products of greater value, a sustainable practice in DIY projects.
V
Vegan Skincare: Products formulated without animal-derived ingredients like beeswax, lanolin, or collagen.
Visualization: A mind-body technique where mental images are used to affect physical, emotional, or spiritual well-being.
Vitamin C Serum: A skincare product rich in vitamin C, often made with natural ingredients like rosehip oil or powdered vitamin C in DIY formulations.
W
Wellness Tourism: Travel associated with maintaining or enhancing personal well-being and health, including visits to hot springs, hiking retreats, and farm stays.
Witch Hazel: A plant extract used as a natural astringent in skincare preparations.
Whipped Body Butter: A fluffy, moisturizing product made by whipping solid oils like shea or cocoa butter with liquid oils for skin hydration.
Y
Yoga: A Hindu spiritual and body practice combining physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation, often practiced during wellness travel and retreats.
Z
Zero Waste: A philosophy focused on waste prevention by reusing and repurposing materials, reflected in sustainable product choices and DIY practices.
Zinc Oxide: A mineral sun protection ingredient used in natural sunscreens and DIY sun protection formulations.
This glossary is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition. Always consult with qualified healthcare providers before starting any new health regimen.
