Allison Audrey Weldon on Canadian Clean Beauty

“A product that gets rid of wrinkles doesn’t inspire me,” Weldon tells Culture Trip. “But thinking about beauty as a balance of medicine and magic—that’s inspiring.”

In 2016, Weldon launched her line, Sangre de Fruta, from her kitchen. She’s just one of many skincare gurus–like May Lindstrom or Tata Harper–building a clean beauty empire from domestic beginnings. In fact, that’s part of what distinguishes clean, non-toxic beauty products from mass-produced ones. “All my ingredients are food-grade,” explains Weldon. “But I have moved on from mixing in my kitchen. We now have a studio. I still package everything at home and initial each product.”

In the tradition of harvesting what’s readily abundant, Weldon sources wildflowers and plants native to Vancouver, like lavender from an organic, sustainable farm on Salt Spring Island.

In ancient Egypt, beauty was an alchemy of magic and medicine. Along the Silk Road, “botanicals were coveted like gold,” Weldon says, “Right now I’m experimenting with lotus root and lotus leaf, which is such a mystical flower. The Egyptians used the weeds that grew around them for their healing properties, like horsetail and red clover. Most famously, they used charcoal beneath their eyes to protect from the sun. But they also used shea butter and essential oils for a variety of therapeutic purposes.”

Weldon says the name Sangre de Fruta was inspired by Pablo Neruda’s poetry, known for its unbridled sensuality. “Blood relates our DNA; still our blood is mystical and inexplicable. In the same way, the essence of plants are inexplicable and magic,” says Weldon. Neruda is also a connection to Weldon’s mentor, a family friend from Chile who had an apothecary in the 1970s, and taught Weldon everything she knows.

Products in the Sangre de Fruta line work synergistically, as different formulations of botanicals and oils offer a balanced beauty routine to address needs like eczema and acne (correctly sourced, botanical oils are therapeutic to congested skin). Face oils and creams infused with plant botanicals also improve hydration and skin texture, note dermatologists in an article on the benefits of botanical face oils in Everyday Health.

Dermatologists agree that the most important aspect of skincare is consistency, so the more enjoyable a self-care ritual is, the more likely you are to stick with it. The calming scents of rose, lavender, and frankincense used in Weldon’s line make the products sensually appealing, and therefore more effective.

“The symbol on the Sangre de Fruta packaging is from ancient Egypt,” says Weldon, “and it stands for rebirth.” With that in mind, Weldon’s label does what a self-care line should do: energize you to put your best face forward.