Our Story

Welcome to our little slice of heaven.....

This story begins 5 years ago with two empty nesters leaving the city and heading to the country in search of a slower paced and simpler life.

The rather unconventional-looking bright blue pole barn home sitting on 6 acres immediately stole our hearts from the moment we set eyes upon it.

As we settled in, I began to discover the wild roses bushes whose faded blooms turned into ripened rose hips in the late summer, the white Queen Anne’s Lace flowers (also known as wild carrot) with their signature little red flower dot in the center, the blackberry brambles, the beautiful goldenrod that paints our field a yellow hue each year as Autumn approaches, the bountiful dandelions, and the bees, butterflies, and birds that happily buzz around all of it. 

I became inherently curious and began researching these plants and discovered what a remarkable herbal resource we had at our fingertips.

I harvested the wild rose hips and started growing calendula and chamomile. I made my first infused face oil with that trio of flowers and noticed that my perimenopausal breakouts improved, my pores were smaller, and my face smoother. I was amazed how the first calendula infused salve I crafted helped tame itchy mosquito bites and soothed a friend’s eczema. I was hooked on this plant magic.

 And it’s with that spirit and spark of wonder, The Blue Barnstead journey began.

From a very young age, I was whipping up natural concoctions for my skin and hair from books that I found at the library or recipes that I found in my mom’s beauty magazines. I became even more interested in natural skincare after my mom lost her battle to breast cancer at only age 49. It made me more aware of the importance of what we put in and on our bodies.

This journey of my life and the serendipity of ending up on this barnstead, has ignited a passion in me to craft slow natural skincare that not only nurtures the skin but provides a connection to nature.

Over the past few years, I have immersed myself in herbalist studies and completed an in-depth program in natural skincare formulation as well as The Herbal Academy's Botanical Skincare Course, Natural Perfumery Course, and Natural Emulsifiers & Preservatives in Botanical Skincare Workshop. I am focused on learning how to use herbs both topically and internally for a holistic approach to skincare (and health). 

I’m thrilled to share my products with you. Each bottle and jar is filled with a big hug from our gardens to you + a wind-blown kiss from mother nature.

If you have read this far - thank you.

Cheers to chasing dreams and magical plant stuff,

Stephanie