Lyonsleaf - Our Story

We believe the quality of skincare begins long before it's made.

It begins in the field.

In healthy soil. In vibrant herbs. In taking the time to do things properly.

That's the philosophy Lyonsleaf was founded on over 15 years ago, and it's still the philosophy that guides every balm we make today.

It Started With Herbs

Before Lyonsleaf was a skincare company, we were herb growers.

Back in 2010 we rescued a collection of herb plants from a local farm that was closing down. We grew vegetables, culinary herbs and medicinal plants on our small farm in the beautiful Somerset countryside, selling them to local restaurants and at farmers' markets.

At the same time, I had become fascinated by the connection between plants, food and wellbeing. I began experimenting with ways to use the herbs we were growing to create simple, truly natural skincare.

I wasn't trying to build a skincare company.

I just wanted to make products that I would happily use on my own skin.

An Unexpected Beginning

I've always had sensitive skin and have experienced eczema from time to time.

While experimenting with calendula formulations, I had a severe reaction to a prescription steroid cream. My skin became swollen, sore and incredibly uncomfortable. In desperation I tried one of my own experimental calendula balms.

The first thing I noticed was that it didn't sting.

My skin didn't recover overnight, but over the following weeks it gradually became calmer and healthier.

That experience changed everything.

It made me want to understand skin better. It led me to study herbs, plant oils and the skin barrier. It also confirmed something I'd already begun to suspect—that nature often provides wonderfully simple solutions, if we're prepared to listen and learn.

Calendula has been at the heart of Lyonsleaf ever since.

Learning From Our Customers

When we first started selling our balms at local markets, I knew people liked them because they came back for another pot.

What I didn't expect was how much our customers would shape the future of Lyonsleaf.

Every product we make today exists because someone shared a story, asked a question or needed something we didn't yet make.

Parents asked for a gentle balm suitable for babies.

Customers with very sensitive skin wanted an unfragranced alternative.

People living with problem skin told us what had helped them and what hadn't.

Those conversations inspired new formulations, new ideas and, eventually, an entire range of award-winning products.

We don't have a team of cosmetic chemists dreaming up products because a marketing department says there's a gap in the market.

We've simply spent the last 15 years listening.

Our customers have taught us as much as any textbook ever could.

Why Our Products Are Different

As Lyonsleaf grew, we realised something that has become central to everything we do.

The quality of skincare doesn't begin in the mixing bowl.

It begins with the quality of the ingredients.

Over the years we've learned that commercially available herbs can vary enormously. Flowers that have spent months in storage often lose their vibrant colour as delicate plant compounds gradually oxidise.

We wanted something better.

So we've always believed in keeping as much control as possible over how our herbs are grown, harvested and prepared.

It's also why every Lyonsleaf balm is water-free.

By removing water, we don't need the preservatives or emulsifiers that conventional creams rely on. Instead, every jar is packed with nourishing plant oils and herbal infusions, creating simple formulations with remarkably few ingredients.

We call our approach Field to Oil.

Harvest the herbs at their best.

Dry them gently.

Infuse them into oil while they're still vibrant.

Keep the journey from field to oil as short as possible.

It's not the easiest way to make skincare.

But we believe it's the best.

A New Chapter

Like all small businesses, Lyonsleaf has evolved over the years.

In 2023 the business moved away from the family farm and began a new chapter.

Today Lyonsleaf is run by a small team of women, most of us mums, who formulate, make, pack and send every order with enormous care.

I couldn't be more grateful to the incredible team who stood beside me through that transition. Their determination, kindness and belief in Lyonsleaf ensured that the values we'd built the business on remained firmly intact.

Although our circumstances changed, our philosophy didn't.

If anything, it became even stronger.

Today we work with carefully chosen local growers who share our standards for producing exceptional herbs, while also growing calendula ourselves and developing the Lyonsleaf Herb Growing Collective—a growing network of local growers and community farms committed to cultivating herbs without herbicides or synthetic fertilisers.

For us, this isn't simply about sourcing ingredients.

It's about protecting the quality of our herbs, supporting local growers and building a more resilient future for truly natural skincare.

Looking Forward

We're incredibly proud that Lyonsleaf products have won numerous awards over the years.

But if we're honest, the emails from customers often mean even more.

The parent whose baby's skin is finally comfortable.

The gardener whose hands no longer crack every winter.

The customer who tells us they've found confidence again after years of struggling with problem skin.

Those are the moments that remind us why we do what we do.

Fifteen years ago I could never have imagined where a handful of rescued herb plants would lead.

Today, every product we make, every herb we grow and every conversation we have continues to reinforce one simple belief:

Great skincare begins in the field.

Thank you for being part of our story.

Welcome to the Republic of Natural Skincare.