Our story begins
with our herbalist.
From an early age, I was always fascinated with the power of herbs. I came to West Cork, Ireland, after I fell in love with the area as a child. The Irish coastline is the last defence against the battling Atlantic Ocean. It brings fresh air and a unique environment. Perfect for growing herbs.
In 1987 I made my first creams for clients with skin problems and have been developing my products ever since, working with patients, but also my friends. I began to make my own tinctures and creams using the wildflowers around me. In 1995, I qualified as a medical herbalist and started my own local practice. In years to come, I discovered that my ancestors had practised herbal medicine too. It felt good to learn that the knowledge I had gained was kept going through the generations.
As time passed, and my children grew older, I slowly became disillusioned with the broken skincare industry. Fintan, my son, and I talked at length about the problems which we saw in the industry. Problems such as the lack of circular systems in the industry, the use of single-use plastics as a staple for products, products being pumped with harmful parabens and microplastic fillers, and the overall lack of transparency in the industry.
After 25 years, I decided that it was time to bring my own formulation to people. We began developing our product with the help of Fintan and his partner, Sonia. We decided to work on the principles of human connection, sustainability and effectiveness. This is when Luibh Skincare was born.
Our focus is always on sustainable growth. From the botanicals and raw ingredients we use to our business principles, it is the core philosophy of Luibh - to raise awareness about the impact we have on the environment and how to work with it. As we develop as a brand, we look to explore together, with you, our connection with herbs, our environment, by creating products that make a difference and transform people's lives. We created Luibh Skincare, to embrace our origins, working with the environment and what we have around to ensure purity in all our products. We are truly humbled to include you in this journey.
In my medicine cabinet you'll find roots, berries and bark which I have foraged from the area surround me here in West Cork. The environment here is rugged and untouched - filled with old nutrients. The rain fills the ground and the minerals spread across the land. This allows for the herbs to be hardy and strong - increasing their potency.