Carrie Ellers, founder of Kind Mother Botanicals, started her business making CBD tinctures, salves and muscle balms in her kitchen. “I have always created my own medicinal salves and ointments, for over 25 years, for different ailments – from diaper rash to burn cream,” Carrie says. “One day, my friend gave me some CBD flower to experiment with and I fell in love with the process and how well CBD works for people.” The rest is history, as they say. Kind Mother Botanicals produces three kinds of full-spectrum CBD tinctures, several CBD creams and salves for the muscles, and even a CBD tincture for pets. CBD (cannabidiol) oil is the essential oil produced from the hemp plant, extracted from the leaves, buds and stem. The extract contains cannabinoids, which are antioxidant and neuroprotective. “Our salves and muscle balms contain organic cottonwood bud oil, shown to reduce inflammation and resulting pain, especially in combination with other anti-inflammatories, like CBD,” Carrie says. Added essential oils also create pleasing aromas in every Kinder Mother Botanicals product.

Essance Skincare has a mission to source only the best organic, sustainable and fair-trade ingredients to make its natural skincare products. Each of these products is free of artificial color, artificial fragrance, and harmful sulfates and phthalates. That’s by design, says owner Jasmine Tran of her Portland-based business. “Each product is a powerhouse of organic and medicinal plant ingredients intended to revitalize, heal and protect the skin,” she says. Essance Skincare’s unique herbal formulations contain chaga mushrooms, rooibos teas, ginseng, dragon’s blood, frankincense and much more, says Jasmine, whose mother taught her at a young age about Chinese medicine benefits and remedies.