All of the botanical elements in our products are grown and/or wild-harvested on our land, are dried here and processed here. We work with plants intuitively and in synchrony with the vitalistic approach to herbalism. We do not relate to plants in strictly bio-chemical, ‘active ingredient’ terms. We relate to plants in more subtle and essential ways, noting and celebrating key bio-chemical components, and honoring the spiritual, holistic, adaptive and mystical natures of the plants themselves. It is our assertion that the reductive approach to plants is the same reductive and fragmented approach erroneously applied to the human body, and to the planet and her resources at large.

We are greater than the sum of our organs and processes, honoring the spirit is essential to the work of truly knowing ourselves, and of transforming our collective experience of reality from separateness to connectedness. As with one aspect of Life, so with all. As with animals, so with plants. As above, so below; as within, so without. 

I (Jo) created the Finca Maravilla range of products one by one, as I needed them in my own life for my own skin and hair, and in response to the needs of my growing family of humans and animals. The range has now grown to include a skin and hair moisturizing polish, a body and hair shampoo bar, a refreshing spritz for face and hair, a treatment balm for sore skin and fine lines, and the lusciously sparkling and indulgent range of natural glitter butters. I love and use them all. I do not use anything else on my skin or hair. The many returning happy customers are testament to the fact that I am not alone in my happy dance at the existence of this range of skincare goodies. It is truly satisfying to make products that people find to be so beneficial, products that I make according to my own nit-pickingly high standards and with such love and care.

The main plants in our skincare range are Ylang Ylang, Nettle, Neem, and Noni leaf. We work with some essential oils – all sourced here in Puerto Rico, though not made by us. Our teas and medicines use a wider range of botanicals, working with guanabana leaf, local ferns, papaya leaf and seed, orange and grapefruit, phyllanthus niruri, mimosa, tulsi, hibiscus, turmeric, bay, noni juice, mint, capsicum, and jasmine, among others.

I began working with skincare products over a decade ago, when I qualified as a skincare specialist for a small, independent organic skincare range that was launching its products at Whole Foods. I learned a lot while working with them and took much of what I learned with me into my herbal folk practice.

Here are a few things I have realized:

1 – The majority of ‘regular’ skincare products are junk. They are full of chemicals and stabilizers and perfume, skin drying and thinning agents (which are ultimately aging), and industrial by-products that do not belong in or on the body.

2 – Everyone has way more similar skin needs than the majority of companies would have you believe in their frantic desire to sell enormous ranges of products. 

3 – We should not use a problematic product to correct problematic skin that has developed its problems through problematic products and poor lifestyle or dietary choices. 

4 – Skin is skin. Healthy skin requires two things in balance – oil, and water, and not much else, although well-chosen botanical ingredients can penetrate into problem areas for healing, and a carefully balanced natural aroma can have therapeutic effects for mood and emotional or spiritual aspects. 

5 – Skin has a mildly acidic pH, and anything we put on our skin must reflect this. 

6 – Skin is as nourished from within as it is from without, we can tell a lot about the way a person lives and how well their body is functioning by looking at their skin.

7 – Most advertised additives are little more than ‘buzz’ generators to drive sales. Companies often jump on a trend bandwagon buzzing about the internet, and will then cut considerable cost corners by using the least pure or lowest grade of the ingredient (or merely trace amounts), while leading with the ingredient in their marketing, and capitalizing on the free press offered by the buzz, and turning this into huge sales figures. It is an enormous industry.

That said, there are some truly incredible products out there, and increasingly, the internet affords us access to small, independent producers with high standards and small batch sizes. These methods allow for true, quality products and a loyalty from customers that is mutually beneficial and nourishing for both customer and producer alike. 

I – along with the whole 2 and 4 legged crew at Finca Maravilla – am grateful to be in this position, among fellow makers of handmade products who are creative, earth-focused, and community-driven. We are part of a valuable collective of makers, whose integrity is high, and for whom sustainability, excellence and effectiveness come before profits every time. 

We are happy you are visiting our site and learning more about the products we make. To view our range, click here.