As someone who adopted a Goth style in her late teens and early twenties, and who is still obsessed with early American gravestones, I couldn't help being intrigued by Skin & Bones. It's an all-purpose, oil-based moisturizer made entirely from natural ingredients, and it caught my eye because it's packaged in a dark glass bottle with calligraphic lettering on the label (shown below); the company's logo (shown above) is a winged skull of the sort you'd see carved into a very old tombstone.
Skin & Bones' ingredients are jojoba oil and essential oils of ylang-ylang, frankincense, myrrh, grapefruit, jasmine, lemon, rosewood, cedarwood, and sandalwood. As the Skin & Bones website explains, the essential oils were chosen for their aromatherapeutic properties as well as their benefits to skin. The one that dominates the overall fragrance of Skin & Bones is ylang-ylang. I enjoyed Erin's recent post about ylang-ylang fragrances, and I recommend it as a primer on this note's background and characteristics. I'm another person who fell in love with ylang-ylang during my early niche-fragrance sampling days, and I'm still happy to encounter it. Skin & Bones' ylang-ylang has a brightness that is enhanced by the accompanying lemon notes, and a sensuality that is reinforced by the rosewood and sandalwood. It's a linear, versatile blend. Incidentally, the dark purple "Violet-Glass" bottle is functional as well as cool-looking: it shields all these botanically-derived contents from light and thus preserves them longer.
Jojoba (simmondsia chinensis), the carrier oil for Skin & Bones, works beautifully to soften and protect the skin, since it's so similar to the skin's own protective sebum. I've been smoothing Skin & Bones into my elbows and legs to soothe them during the weather's recent mood swings; the oil absorbs quickly and leaves a light fragrance. I've also been using Skin & Bones as a conditioning oil for my hair, which is an unruly wavy-curly hybrid, prone to dryness: I work a nickel-sized amount through my hair in the evening, tie it all back, and leave the oil there overnight. I can enjoy the scent while I'm falling asleep, and I happen to find it somewhat soothing, so that works well. (I haven't yet tested it on my face.)
Strictly speaking, yes, I could purchase some jojoba oil and an assortment of essential oils in order to mix up a similar formula, but by the time I rounded up those ingredients (and some droppers, and a container for the finished blend) and combined them, I'd spend more money and probably make a mess. Plus, I wouldn't have the spookily appealing packaging and product name, so I'm willing to make this purchase instead.
Skin & Bones is available in 50 ($30), 100 ($50) or 200 ($90) ml bottles. It can be purchased at Beautorium, Better Beauty, and the Skin & Bones website.
I’ll have to look out for this line- the scent sounds nice and I like the logo and packaging. Thanks for the heads up, Jessica!
Also, thanks for the link to the gravestone article- as soon as I have a minute I’ll read it it. It looks fascinating!
Enjoy! It’s the preface to a big collection of American gravestone photos. I’m still grateful to the college professor who taught my Colonial American History class about these stones; so interesting!
Having traveled a similar path, the packaging caught my eye immediately. But this also just sounds lovely. Can’t wait to try it. Thanks Jessica.
Hah! Well, if it just had cool packaging, I wouldn’t bother reviewing it, but it really is a good product!
Sounds wonderful. Do you love the scent or just like it? Is it pretty powerful or could you wear perfume with it? Thanks!
Pansy, I love ylang-ylang, so I love this! It’s not overwhelming, and it does disappear after a little while… and it layers well under ylang-y fragrances!
Thanks, Jessica. I look forward to trying this!
If you are interested in gravestones and other funerary art, you might like the four Sweeney St. George mysteries by Sarah Stewart Taylor. I think they are considered “cozies” within the murder mystery genre. Sweeney is a professor of art history in Boston, with a specialty in funerary art customs. You can probably find them at your local library.
What? How have I never heard of these before? Thank you so much for the recommendation, Woodgirl!
I just ordered the first two from my library! Thanks.
I also thank you! Sounds right up my literary alley.
If you are interested in funeral customs, you ought to visit the National Museum of Funeral History if you are ever in Houston. No gravestones, but there is an extensive collection of coffins and hearses, a exhibit about Victorian mourning customs, some presidential artifacts, such as a lock of Lincoln’s hair and the bill for Washington’s funeral (a grand total of $99.75), an exhibit on the history of embalming, the requisite exhibit of Egyptian funeral customs, and the an extensive exhibit on Papal funerals. It is truly one of the most unusual museums I have ever visited, although I tend to get funny looks when I try to tell people about it.
Roses, I would be *very* interested in that place! I’m fascinated by Victorian mourning dress and jewelry, and mourning-related art of that era, and I love to visit old cemeteries when I travel. (Fortunately, Mr. LRose shares that interest!) Thanks for the suggestion!
I’ve always had an interest in history and I’m not sure why I’m so fascinated with death traditions and funerary arts. Even my favorite Greek myth was the Hades/Persephone one. My friends from school used to attribute my fascination with the macabre to the fact that I’m a patholotist’s daughter. I tend to disagree but maybe there is something to it. lol
It was very informative, and not nearly as macabre or ghoulish as people seem to think it would be. I suppose it is not for everyone, but it was fascinating.
I didn’t think it would be grotesque, but I just know a lot of people who find just an interest in burials is macabre. Kind of like those people who thought I was nutty for wanting to “dig up bones” in archaeology. What’s the ol’ chesnut – “takes all kinds”?
For me, the creepiest thing there–not the thing in and of itself, but the thought of what was behind it–was a coffin designed for three people. The story behind it was that a couple had a young child who died, and they were completely distraught. They ordered a specially build coffin to hold all three of them. The idea was that when it was completed, they would have their child exhumed and reburied in the coffin with the two of them after they took their own lives. Apparently, they had a change of heart, because although the coffin was built, they never claimed it and it was never used. What I found truly macabre was not just that they were planning to commit suicide, but that the coffin maker took the order–presumably knowing what they had in mind.
Eeek! Wow. Thankfully they had a change of heart. Just goes to show what a powerful emotion grief is.
You know what I always found creepy were those photographs of dressed-up, propped up dead people that was popular during the early 20th century. Like they featured in the Nicole Kidman movie “The Others”. (Great movie, btw. I need to watch that again, soon!)
Omg, so many good suggestions! Thank you 50_roses. I should have known fragrance fanatics would also have other similar “odd” interests in common.
Ditto! I’m glad I broached the subject!
Wow! I logged in to simply comment on the moisturizer, only to find this fascinating discussion! I love NST!!
The oil sounds wonderful – I also love ylang ylang – but as an aromatherapist, I would never put lemon in something to be used on the skin. Lemon is very caustic; a drop of lemon e.o. will remove a wart, so be careful people if you have sensitive skin. Also, the combination of grapefruit and lemon will make this photosensitive, so also be careful about going out into the sun after applying.
I’ll quit worrying now….