Our Ingredients

At Black Hills Essence, we believe that what you put on your skin should be as pure and nourishing as what you put in your body. Every ingredient in our products is thoughtfully selected for its natural benefits—soothing, hydrating, cleansing, or restoring your skin with every use. From calming lavender and healing calendula to detoxifying charcoal and moisturizing tallow, our formulations are rooted in nature and backed by purpose. Explore the ingredients below to learn how each one supports healthy, radiant skin—naturally.

Calendula

Calendula is a gentle powerhouse herb prized for its skin-healing abilities. Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, it helps soothe dry, irritated, or damaged skin. It's ideal for sensitive skin types and promotes faster healing of minor cuts, rashes, and blemishes.

Skin Benefits:

  • Calms inflammation and soothes irritation
  • Supports wound healing and skin repair
  • Gentle enough for sensitive or baby skin
  • Hydrates and protects the skin barrier

Lavender

Lavender is a soothing botanical known for its calming scent and gentle skin-loving properties. It helps reduce redness, irritation, and inflammation while promoting a clear, balanced complexion. Its natural antibacterial qualities make it especially beneficial for acne-prone or sensitive skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Calms irritation and soothes inflammation
  • Gently supports acne-prone skin
  • Promotes relaxation and stress relief through aroma
  • Encourages skin healing and renewal

Rosehip

Rosehip is a nutrient-rich botanical packed with vitamins A and C, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. Known for its ability to rejuvenate and brighten skin, it helps improve texture, tone, and overall radiance. It’s especially beneficial for mature, dry, or scarred skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Promotes collagen production and skin elasticity
  • Fades scars, dark spots, and uneven tone
  • Deeply hydrates and softens skin
  • Helps smooth fine lines and improve skin texture

Chamomile

Chamomile is a soothing botanical celebrated for its calming, anti-inflammatory properties. It gently nurtures the skin, making it ideal for sensitive, irritated, or acne-prone complexions. Rich in antioxidants, chamomile helps protect and restore the skin’s natural glow.

Skin Benefits:

  • Reduces redness and inflammation
  • Calms irritated or sensitive skin
  • Supports the healing of minor blemishes and rashes
  • Packed with antioxidants to protect and nourish

Dandelion

Dandelion is a detoxifying botanical treasured for its ability to support clear, healthy-looking skin. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, it helps protect against environmental stressors while gently encouraging skin renewal. Its natural anti-inflammatory and purifying qualities make it especially beneficial for dull, congested, or blemish-prone skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Helps detoxify and purify the skin
  • Supports a clearer, brighter complexion
  • Soothes irritation and inflammation
  • Rich in antioxidants that shield your skin from harmful environmental stressors, reducing signs of aging and keeping your complexion healthy.
  • Encourages gentle skin renewal and balance
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Plantain

Plantain is a soothing, restorative herb known for its ability to calm irritation and support skin repair. Naturally rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, it helps protect against environmental stress while encouraging healing. Its gentle, cooling qualities make it especially beneficial for dry, itchy, or sensitive skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Calms irritation, itching, and redness
  • Promotes healing of minor cuts, scrapes, and blemishes
  • Rich in antioxidants that help protect and restore skin health
  • Supports a smoother, healthier complexion
  • Helps defend against environmental stressors for long-term skin balance

Comfrey

Comfrey is a deeply restorative herb valued for its powerful skin-healing properties. Naturally rich in allantoin and antioxidants, it helps encourage cell regeneration, reduce irritation, and protect against environmental stressors. Its nourishing qualities make it especially beneficial for dry, damaged, or sensitive skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Promotes cell regeneration for faster skin renewal
  • Soothes irritation, redness, and inflammation
  • Supports healing of minor wounds, scrapes, and blemishes
  • Rich in antioxidants that protect and restore skin health
  • Helps maintain a soft, supple, and resilient complexion

Arnica

Arnica is a powerful botanical known for its ability to ease inflammation and support skin recovery. Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, it helps reduce swelling, calm irritation, and encourage healing. Its soothing qualities make it especially beneficial for tired, stressed, or bruised skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Helps reduce swelling, bruising, and soreness
  • Soothes irritation and calms inflamed skin
  • Rich in antioxidants that protect and restore skin health
  • Supports faster healing and skin renewal
  • Refreshes and revitalizes tired or stressed skin

Charcoal

Activated charcoal is a deep-cleansing ingredient known for its powerful ability to draw out impurities, toxins, and excess oils from the skin. It gently exfoliates and purifies, making it a top choice for oily, acne-prone, or congested skin types.

Skin Benefits:

  • Detoxifies by pulling out dirt and toxins
  • Helps reduce breakouts and blackheads
  • Minimizes the appearance of pores
  • Leaves skin feeling clean, fresh, and balanced

Colloidal Oatmeal

Colloidal oatmeal is finely ground oats suspended in liquid to boost absorption and skin protection. Known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, it forms a protective barrier that locks in moisture and calms irritation—perfect for dry, itchy, or sensitive skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Soothes itchiness and calms irritated skin
  • Provides lasting hydration by sealing in moisture
  • Helps relieve eczema, rashes, and dry patches
  • Gentle enough for all skin types, including babies

Kaolin Clay

Kaolin clay is a gentle, mineral-rich clay prized for its ability to purify and balance the skin. Naturally absorbent yet mild, it helps draw out impurities, excess oil, and toxins without stripping the skin of its natural moisture. Its soothing qualities make it especially beneficial for sensitive, oily, or combination skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Gently cleanses and detoxifies by drawing out impurities
  • Absorbs excess oil while maintaining skin’s natural balance
  • Calms irritation and soothes sensitive skin
  • Refines pores for a smoother, clearer complexion
  • Leaves skin feeling fresh, soft, and revitalized

Bentonite Clay

Bentonite clay is a powerful, detoxifying clay known for its ability to draw out impurities and absorb excess oil. Rich in minerals, it helps cleanse and purify while supporting skin clarity and balance. Its deep-cleansing action makes it especially beneficial for oily, congested, or blemish-prone skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Deeply cleanses by pulling out toxins and impurities
  • Absorbs excess oil to reduce shine and congestion
  • Helps clear and minimize the appearance of blemishes
  • Rich in minerals that nourish and strengthen skin
  • Leaves skin feeling clean, refreshed, and revitalized

Himalayan Pink Salt

Himalayan pink salt is a natural exfoliant packed with over 80 trace minerals. It helps cleanse, detoxify, and rejuvenate the skin by gently scrubbing away dead skin cells and stimulating circulation. Its mineral content also supports skin hydration and balance.

Skin Benefits:

  • Gently exfoliates for smoother, softer skin
  • Draws out toxins and impurities
  • Promotes healthy circulation
  • Rich in minerals that support skin balance

Tallow

Tallow is a traditional skincare ingredient made from rendered animal fat, closely resembling the skin’s natural oils. It’s rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, making it deeply nourishing, moisturizing, and supportive of skin barrier repair. Ideal for dry, sensitive, or damaged skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Deeply moisturizes and restores skin elasticity
  • Supports skin regeneration and barrier repair
  • Rich in fat-soluble vitamins that nourish deeply
  • Non-comedogenic and soothing for sensitive skin

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a nourishing moisturizer cherished for its rich blend of fatty acids and vitamins. Naturally antibacterial and deeply hydrating, it helps soften skin, strengthen the skin barrier, and protect against dryness and irritation. Its soothing and replenishing qualities make it especially beneficial for rough, dry, or sensitive skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Provides deep, long-lasting hydration
  • Helps strengthen and protect the skin barrier
  • Naturally antibacterial, supporting clearer skin
  • Soothes irritation, flakiness, and dryness
  • Leaves skin feeling soft, smooth, and supple

Shea Butter

Shea butter is a rich, luxurious moisturizer celebrated for its ability to deeply nourish and protect the skin. Packed with vitamins A, E, and essential fatty acids, it helps restore the skin’s barrier, lock in moisture, and support healing. Its soothing and protective qualities make it especially beneficial for dry, irritated, or sensitive skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Provides intense hydration and locks in moisture
  • Restores and strengthens the skin barrier
  • Naturally rich in vitamins that promote healing and renewal
  • Calms redness, irritation, and inflammation
  • Leaves skin soft, smooth, and resilient

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is a unique skin-loving liquid wax that closely mimics the skin’s natural sebum. Lightweight yet deeply nourishing, it balances oil production, provides lasting hydration, and helps protect against environmental stressors. Naturally rich in vitamins E and B-complex, it supports skin repair and promotes a smooth, healthy complexion.

Skin Benefits:

  • Balances and regulates natural oil production
  • Provides lightweight, non-greasy hydration
  • Rich in vitamins that support repair and renewal
  • Helps protect against environmental stress and free radical damage
  • Leaves skin soft, supple, and well-balanced

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is a rich, deeply penetrating oil loaded with vitamins A, D, and E, plus essential fatty acids. It nourishes and strengthens the skin barrier, making it especially beneficial for dry, mature, or irritated skin. Its soothing and restorative properties support a healthy, radiant complexion.

Skin Benefits:

  • Intensely hydrates and softens dry skin
  • Boosts collagen production and skin elasticity
  • Calms inflammation and supports healing
  • Rich in antioxidants that protect and renew

Castor Oil

Castor oil is a deeply conditioning oil valued for its rich concentration of ricinoleic acid. Known for its humectant properties, it helps draw moisture into the skin while soothing dryness and irritation. Its nourishing and protective qualities make it especially beneficial for rough patches, dehydrated skin, and promoting overall skin health.

Skin Benefits:

  • Draws and locks in moisture for lasting hydration
  • Softens rough, dry, or cracked areas of skin
  • Supports a healthy, balanced skin barrier
  • Naturally soothing, helping calm irritation
  • Leaves skin smoother, plumper, and well-nourished
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Olive Oil

Olive oil is a time-honored moisturizer cherished for its rich content of vitamins, antioxidants, and healthy fats. Deeply nourishing and protective, it helps strengthen the skin barrier, lock in hydration, and guard against environmental stressors. Its gentle, soothing qualities make it especially beneficial for dry, sensitive, or mature skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Provides deep, lasting hydration
  • Strengthens and protects the skin’s natural barrier
  • Rich in antioxidants that defend against premature aging
  • Calms irritation and supports skin healing
  • Leaves skin soft, supple, and radiant

Sweet Almond Oil

Sweet almond oil is a gentle, nutrient-rich moisturizer loved for its lightweight feel and skin-softening benefits. Packed with vitamins A, E, and essential fatty acids, it helps nourish and protect the skin while supporting repair and renewal. Its soothing qualities make it especially beneficial for dry, irritated, or sensitive skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Provides lightweight, easily absorbed hydration
  • Softens and smooths rough, dry skin
  • Rich in vitamins that support healing and skin renewal
  • Helps calm irritation and reduce inflammation
  • Promotes a healthy, radiant, and even-toned complexion

White Beeswax

White beeswax is a natural skin protector valued for its ability to lock in moisture and shield against dryness. Acting as a breathable barrier, it helps soften and smooth the skin while allowing it to stay hydrated. Rich in natural compounds with soothing and antibacterial properties, beeswax supports healing and long-lasting skin health.

Skin Benefits:

  • Locks in moisture and prevents dryness
  • Creates a protective, breathable barrier on the skin
  • Softens and smooths rough or chapped areas
  • Naturally soothing and supportive of skin healing
  • Helps protect against environmental irritants and pollutants

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a soothing botanical prized for its cooling, hydrating, and healing properties. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it helps calm irritation, reduce inflammation, and replenish moisture. Its restorative qualities make it especially beneficial for sun-exposed, dry, or sensitive skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Provides lightweight, refreshing hydration
  • Soothes redness, burns, and irritation
  • Helps reduce inflammation and support healing
  • Rich in antioxidants that protect and rejuvenate skin
  • Promotes a calm, balanced, and refreshed complexion

Honey

Honey is a natural humectant, drawing moisture into the skin and locking it in for lasting hydration. Its antibacterial and antioxidant properties help cleanse, heal, and protect, making it perfect for dry, sensitive, or acne-prone skin.

Skin Benefits:

  • Deeply hydrates and softens the skin
  • Naturally antibacterial—great for acne-prone skin
  • Helps heal minor wounds and soothe irritation
  • Rich in antioxidants to support a healthy glow

Lanolin

Lanolin is a deeply moisturizing, protective wax derived from sheep’s wool. Known for its powerful emollient qualities, it locks in hydration and helps repair the skin’s natural barrier. Rich in lipids that closely resemble those found in human skin, lanolin is especially effective at soothing dryness, softening rough patches, and protecting against moisture loss.

Skin Benefits:

  • Provides intense, long-lasting hydration
  • Locks in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss
  • Softens rough, chapped, or cracked skin
  • Helps repair and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier
  • Leaves skin supple, smooth, and deeply nourished

Spirulina Powder

Blue and green spirulina powders are nutrient-rich superfoods celebrated for their powerful antioxidant and skin-protective properties. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids, they help defend against environmental stress while supporting skin renewal and vitality. Their natural pigments not only lend a vibrant hue to products but also deliver skin-loving benefits that promote a healthy, radiant complexion.

Skin Benefits:

  • Rich in antioxidants that protect against free radical damage
  • Helps brighten and even out skin tone
  • Supports skin renewal and promotes a youthful glow
  • Provides natural vitamins and minerals that nourish and strengthen skin
  • Contributes vibrant natural color while enhancing skin health