GET TO KNOW US
GET TO KNOW US
OUR STORY
Madeline Grace, Founder
Born in a suburb of Chicago, my family relocated to a small town when I was just four. It was an amazing opportunity to leave the suburbs and live in the middle of the woods. We thrived with the new found ability to spend our days in the woods and foster meaningful connections with environment. Being immersed in Mother Nature in this way from a young age was extremely formative and inspiring to me. It felt special to me at the time and I still hold that sentiment today. In many ways those experiences shaped me into who I am today.
Flora x Fauna is a passion project born from years spent tending to skin struggles while being conscious of the fact that what is used on my skin has the potential to negatively impact my whole body's health in the long-term. Throughout this deep evolution of my health, I have spent countless hours studying the body and how to support it in a way that is aligned with the wisdom of ancestral practices.
Growing up I always had 'sensitive' skin. In my teen years, I had hormonal acne which lasted through my early 20s. This resolved itself when I dove into a journey of healing my reproductive system. It was a phase of re-remembering, tuning in, and honoring myself. I rediscovered how to heal hormones by reconnecting to my inner voice, using herbs, listening to wise women, and implementing a cyclical lifestyle.
Upon finally discovering balance with that part of my journey, I had a period of homeostasis with my skin before unknowingly being exposed to mold in my home for several years which triggered both eczema, hives, and cystic acne. I only discovered the cause after taking some minerals that caused a herzheimer like reaction due to my mold exposure. It took me a long time to figure out the cause. I am still healing from that and it has been an overall intense experience.
My journey and the experiences within it reaffirmed that skin is a mirror to what is happening within our bodies. Creams and salves (pharmaceutical or medicinal) do not magically fix the deeper issues. I say this because I know it can feel like a fruitless effort when you are constantly trying something new, hoping for relief, and then it does not seem to fully resolve the issue at hand. Prolonged skin struggles not caused by topicals, or skin barrier damage from the products being used, can often be traced to an internal and/or psychosomatic imbalance.
Even though it is painful at times it is quite incredible that our skin can be a window to what is going on within, both physically and emotionally.
Through all of this, pure ingredients and formulations are an extremely important aspect in healing compromised skin — while still being aware of the fact that there are other facets to the healing journey that require going deeper. Even so, there is hope on the other side when we are conscious of what we are applying and putting in our sacred temples.
My life's purpose and intention outside of Flora x Fauna comes from the desire to connect with women who share the awareness and curiosity around the fact that there is freedom in moving through life from an embodied place. Holding space to rediscover the access we all have to our innate, divine feminine energy. I have found solace and healing in the power of principles surrounding self responsibility, exploration, and connection to these parts of ourselves and I think it is incredibly important to share with each other.