The Wilder North Backbar
in Practice

The Wilder North core backbar consists of our full range of cleansers, hydrating mists, oil-based serums, and balms — the same living formulas your clients can take home. This module covers each product in detail: what it contains, what it does, which skin concerns it addresses, and how to select and sequence it within a treatment.

The Apothecary Backbar — our deeper collection of raw botanical ingredients, honeys, powders, plant extracts, and custom compounding bases — is a separate and more advanced system covered in Module 5. If you are an Apothecary partner, Module 5 is your next step. If you are working with the core backbar only, everything you need is right here.

The Wilder North core backbar consists of our full range of cleansers, hydrating mists, oil-based serums, and balms — the same living formulas your clients can take home. This module covers each product in detail: what it contains, what it does, which skin concerns it addresses, and how to select and sequence it within a treatment.

The Apothecary Backbar — our deeper collection of raw botanical ingredients, honeys, powders, plant extracts, and custom compounding bases — is a separate and more advanced system covered in Module 5. If you are an Apothecary partner, Module 5 is your next step. If you are working with the core backbar only, everything you need is right here.

The vast majority of our cleansers are formulated without surfactants, foaming agents, or emulsifiers — preserving the skin barrier and acid mantle while removing impurities and leaving skin ready to receive rather than in recovery. A note on transparency: two of our cleansers — Atone Cleansing Balm and the Ethereal Oil to Milk Cleanser — contain a light plant-derived emulsifier, which allows them to rinse cleanly with water. These are deliberate, considered formulations disclosed fully on our ingredient labels. We offer four distinct cleansing formulas, each suited to a different skin condition and treatment context.

• Primrose Cleansing Oil — All Skin Types A silky, lipid-rich cleansing oil built on a base of argan, rosehip, evening primrose, castor, and grape seed oils. Works on the principle of like-dissolves-like — plant oil attracts and binds to oil-based impurities without stripping the barrier lipids your client's skin needs. Applied to dry skin, massaged in, and removed with a warm steamy cloth. The ideal daily cleanser for most skin types, and an exceptional choice for dry, sensitive, acneic, and barrier-compromised skin. The warmth of the cloth opens pores naturally — no chemical help needed. Leaves skin dewy and nourished, never tight or squeaky clean.
• Cambria Cream Cleanser — All Skin Types, especially Sensitive & Acneic A super-hydrating cream cleanser built on coconut milk, soothing oats, Blue Cambrian clay, and a proprietary blend of blue essential oils known to calm inflammation. The coconut milk delivers four key acids that soothe and cleanse skin of harmful bacteria without stripping. Antioxidant-rich and replenishing with Vitamin C. The blue clay gently draws impurities while the blue essential oil blend — including Blue Tansy — calms signs of inflammation in real time. An excellent choice for clients who prefer a more traditional cream-style cleanser, for those transitioning from conventional cleansers, and for acneic or reactive skin that benefits from the calming blue oil complex.
• Atone Cleansing Balm — Dry, Mature, & Compromised Barrier Skin A rich, nourishing cleansing balm that melts into skin on contact and rinses cleanly with water thanks to a light plant-derived emulsifier — one of two cleansers in our line where this is used. Atone is our most luxurious cleansing experience — deeply moisturizing, never stripping, and exceptionally soothing for skin that needs gentle handling. The balm texture warms in the hands, transforms to a milky emulsion on contact with water, and leaves even the most parched skin feeling genuinely nourished after cleansing. An exceptional choice for dry, mature, and barrier-compromised clients who find traditional cleansing oils too heavy to remove comfortably.
• Melina Enzymatic Cleansing Oil — Mature, Dull, Congested, & UV-Damaged Skin A targeted cleansing oil infused with whole plants of pro-aging hibiscus and immortelle, blended with antioxidant-rich berry seed oils — blueberry, blackberry, and acerola. Rejuvenating rosehip extract, nourishing seabuckthorn, and gentle papaya and strawberry enzymes boost free radical defense, promote collagen synthesis, and shield skin from the damaging effects of UV. Melina offers everything Primrose does — barrier-preserving lipid-rich cleansing — with an additional layer of active pro-aging and brightening chemistry delivered at the cleansing step. Ideal for mature clients, those with a history of significant UV exposure, and anyone whose skin needs more than standard cleansing can offer.

The mist is the water step of the WildBiome Ritual — the living botanical water that hydrates skin before the serum, plumps the surface for better oil absorption, and engages the olfactory system in a way that deepens your client's relaxation response. We offer two categories of mists: our artisan-distilled Rare Native Hydrosols, and our formulated Hydrating Mists.

Rare Native Hydrosols are singular distilled botanical waters — one plant, distilled using our copper alembic still, solar energy, and New Hampshire aquifer water. Lighter and more suited to sensitive skin. Formulated Hydrating Mists are blends of hydrosols, in-house plant extracts, and light essential oils — more complex, with a broader spectrum of benefits.

• Frankincense Hydrosol — Aging, Congested, Acneic Skin Artisan-distilled from sustainable frankincense resin using our copper alembic still. Frankincense has been used medicinally for thousands of years — it is a powerful astringent that speeds the resolution of acne, protects skin from bacteria, encourages tightened pores, fades scars, regulates sebum, tones uneven skin, and minimizes fine lines. One of our most versatile and beloved hydrosols. Suitable for almost any skin type, with particular affinity for congested, acneic, aging, and uneven skin.
• Strawberry Hydrosol — Brightening, Hyperpigmented, & Aging Skin Artisan-distilled from fresh strawberry. Strawberry fruit has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties with high Vitamin C content to keep skin looking youthful and calm. Packed with alpha-hydroxylic acid that helps turnover skin cells, revealing brighter, more even-toned skin over time. A beautiful choice for hyperpigmented, dull, and early-aging skin types.
• Cucumber Hydrosol — Sensitive, Reactive, & Inflamed Skin Artisan-distilled from fresh cucumber. Deeply cooling and de-puffing, cucumber hydrosol is rich in antioxidants and skin-firming actives. Gentle enough for the most reactive and sensitive skin, and a lovely addition to any treatment where heat, extractions, or inflammation are present. Soothing on contact.
• Herb Garden Hydrosol — All Skin Types, Balancing A seasonal blend of New England herbs distilled together to create a calming, balancing botanical water suited to all skin types. The exact botanical blend varies by season and harvest — reflecting the living nature of our distillation practice. A versatile mist for practitioners who want a dependable all-skin option with a meadow-fresh aromatic quality.
• Boreala Hydrating Mist — Acneic, Inflamed, Congested Skin A formulated hydrating mist blending cedar forest hydrosol with complementary botanical waters and light essential oils. Cedar Forest soothes and stimulates skin, calming inflammation while promoting circulation and flow of vital fluids. It gently treats acne, redness, and swelling without drying or irritating. A gentle sigh of relief for skin experiencing chronic congestion or inflammation.
• Enfleurage Hydrating Mist — Dry, Dehydrated, Aging, & Brightening Skin A luxurious floral hydrating mist rich in antioxidants that restore and protect while nourishing parched skin. Rose — the hero ingredient — is known for its rejuvenating properties. Plumping and preparing the skin creates a smooth, conditioned surface for better serum absorption and superior gua sha results. An ideal pre-serum mist for mature, dry, and dull skin types.
• Verbena Hydrating Mist — Refreshing, Balancing, All Skin Types A light, refreshing botanical mist with the bright, clean aromatic quality of lemon verbena. Balancing and uplifting, suitable for all skin types. A beautiful choice for warmer months or for clients who prefer a citrus-forward sensory experience during their ritual.

Our oil-based serums are the heart of Wilder North and the most powerful tool in your backbar. Each one begins with a slow maceration of organic whole plants — most sourced from New England farms — finished with a low dilution of essential oils and potent CO₂ plant extracts chosen to work synergistically with the whole plant infusion. The result is a living formula that absorbs completely, leaves no residue, and delivers botanical intelligence at a depth no conventional serum can replicate.

• Astera — Harmonize · Sensitive, Eczema, Reactive, Rosacea Three azulene-rich essential oils — Blue Tansy, German Blue Chamomile, and Blue Yarrow — at a 0.63% dilution, one of the lowest in the line. The blue color of this serum is diagnostic: it comes from azulene, a potent anti-inflammatory compound produced when chamomile is steam-distilled. Azulene neutralizes histamine reactions, reduces visible redness, and calms inflamed, allergen-reactive skin on contact. Also contains evening primrose oil — native to eastern North America — for its exceptional gamma-linolenic acid content, which is essential for barrier repair in eczema-prone skin. Visible redness reduction during a facial is often immediate. An exceptional choice for clients with diagnosed eczema, rosacea, contact dermatitis, or highly reactive skin.
• Perennia — Radiance · All Skin Types, Dynamic A luxury floral powerhouse — an in-house extraction of jasmine, hibiscus, rose, calendula, honeysuckle, and additional florals in a base of argan and peony seed oil. Addresses acne, aging, sensitivity, and moisture imbalance simultaneously. The most versatile formula in the line and an excellent first choice for a new client whose skin you are still reading. The full-spectrum floral extraction produces a layered, complex scent that clients consistently describe as the most memorable in the line. A genuine all-in-one for practitioners who want one serum that does everything.
• Peony — Illuminate · Dull, Hyperpigmented, Dark Spots, Early Aging Pairs nutrient-rich fruit oils of strawberry and papaya with cacay oil — which contains three times the natural retinol of rosehip — to gently resurface, brighten, fade dark spots, and amplify collagen synthesis without aggression. The enzymatic action of the fruit oils works at the surface while the cacay oil and white peony root extract work deeper. No purging. No sensitivity. Just gradual, genuine luminosity. Layer beneath Honest Elixir for an intensive brightening protocol on clients with significant hyperpigmentation.
• Thorn — Protect · Day Serum, Mature, Photoaged, UV-Exposed Our most nutrient-dense day serum — a slow infusion of hawthorn berry, scullcap, hibiscus, rosehips, rose flower, and marshmallow root from New England farms into raspberry seed oil, which carries a reported SPF of 28-50 against UVB rays. A potent floral powerhouse that amplifies the skin's biological defense against UV damage and elemental disruptors. Promotes renewal, defends against environmental aging, and lessens the appearance of fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Dry-oil finish — absorbs in seconds, leaving a barely-there luminosity that works beautifully under mineral sun protection.
• Thaea — Repair · Night Serum, Mature, Damaged Barrier, Dry, Post-Treatment Named for the healing genus of marshmallow root, Thaea delivers seven plant therapies overnight: helichrysum, hibiscus, rooibos, marshmallow root, elderflower, elderberry, and gotu kola — each one chosen for its specific role in overnight cellular repair. Gotu kola specifically supports collagen synthesis and wound healing, making Thaea exceptional after extractions, microdermabrasion, or any treatment that has worked the skin hard. The richest and most reparative serum in the line. Your post-treatment finishing serum of choice.
• Rivae — Clarify · Acne, Hormonal Breakouts, Congested Pores, Blemish-Prone Our most powerful acne-focused formula. Two medicinal types of whole frankincense resin are slow-infused to preserve Boswellic acid — a compound with documented anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that does not survive conventional extraction. Hemp seed oil provides high linoleic acid content that naturally regulates sebum flow. Clears blemishes, fades existing scars, and tightens pores without ever drying or stripping skin. Clients with active breakouts often notice visible inflammation reduction within 24-48 hours of first use. The Boswellic acid preserved through whole-plant maceration is a genuine differentiator — it is not available in any standardized frankincense extract on the market.
• Liv — Support · All Skin, Sensitive, Fragrance-Free, Simplifying A fragrance-free minimalist masterpiece — argan, marula, and prickly pear seed oils with olive-derived squalane and brightening white peony root extract. No essential oils. No added fragrance of any kind. The most accessible formula in the line, appropriate for any client regardless of skin type or sensitivity level. An exceptional retail recommendation for clients who want to simplify their home routine without sacrificing efficacy. Low-comedogenic and ultra-lightweight — will never clog pores.
• Sativa — Nourish · Extremely Sensitive, Compromised Barrier, Fragrance-Free, Eczema Our purest formula. A 100% fragrance-free, essential oil-free in-house extraction of organic chamomile and calendula from New England farms, suspended in a base of replenishing carrier oils. No essential oils. No aromatic compounds of any kind. For skin that has been significantly compromised by previous product use, for clients with diagnosed eczema or contact dermatitis, or for anyone presenting with a barrier so disrupted that even low dilutions of essential oils could be irritating. The scent is barely perceptible — just the faintest whisper of chamomile. The simplest formula we make, and one of the most profound.
• Honest Elixir — Pro-Age · Mature, All Skin, Pro-Aging Booster Begins with a slow whole-plant maceration of six certified organic botanicals — Marshmallow Root, Horsetail, Rosehips, Rose Flower, Helichrysum, and Hibiscus Flower — each chosen for their specific role in cellular renewal, collagen support, and deep skin nourishment. These are whole plants, slow-infused so the full spectrum of each botanical's chemistry transfers intact into the formula. A pro-aging booster designed to be blended with or layered beneath any other serum in the line for an intensified anti-aging and repair effect. Best retail recommendation for clients who want to age on their own terms with the deepest available whole-plant support.

Our balms are the final act of the WildBiome Ritual — the occlusive seal that locks in hydration and protects the skin from the elements. Formulated like our serums — beginning with whole-plant macerations in premium oils — and finished with plant butters or New Hampshire beeswax that form a breathable protective layer over treated skin. A balm is ideal as a finishing step in any treatment, and an exceptional retail recommendation for clients in cold climates, dry conditions, or any skin that needs a little more.

• Nectar Manuka Honey Beauty Balm — Healing, Post-Treatment, Damaged Barrier, Acneic Built on a base of UMF-certified raw Manuka honey from New Zealand Honey Co., plant-infused with healing botanicals, and sealed with New Hampshire beeswax from Granite State Apiaries. Manuka's unique antimicrobial properties come from methylglyoxal — a compound not present in other honeys — making it exceptional for post-extraction skin, active blemishes, and compromised barrier conditions. Heals and restores in a way that plant oils alone cannot replicate. Apply a small amount directly to active blemishes, post-extraction sites, or as an occlusive finishing balm over a repair serum. Your most medicinal finishing product.
• Astera Sensitive Balm — Reactive, Eczema-Prone, Sensitive, Redness The balm counterpart to Astera Serum — the same three azulene-rich oils (Blue Tansy, German Blue Chamomile, Blue Yarrow) in a richer, more occlusive base of plant butters and beeswax. Exceptional for clients with eczema, rosacea, or chronic skin reactivity who need both the calming chemistry of the blue oils and the protective seal of a balm. Apply over Astera Serum as a finishing step for maximum barrier protection on the most reactive skin.
• Resin Concentrate — Very Dry, Barrier-Compromised, Winter Skin, Deep Repair A deeply nourishing resin-based balm — our most intensive moisture treatment. Rich in protective plant resins and botanical waxes that create a powerful occlusive barrier against moisture loss while delivering deep repair chemistry to parched, barrier-compromised skin. The choice for clients experiencing extreme dryness, cold-climate skin stress, or significant barrier compromise. A little goes a long way — warm a very small amount between fingertips before pressing gently into skin.

Use these as starting points. Every client is a unique biological system and your intuition as a practitioner is always the final word. These guides reflect the formulas most likely to serve each condition well — not a fixed protocol.

Oil-based whole-plant serums are compatible with one another because they share the same carrier base. There is no risk of destabilization or adverse interaction between two Wilder North serums applied in sequence.

General principle: apply the lighter, more targeted serum first — Rivae for acne or Peony for brightening — allow it to partially absorb for thirty seconds, then apply the richer repair or nourishing serum second. Honest Elixir should always go last or be blended into a richer serum before application. A warm palm press locks in each layer before the next is applied.

The core backbar covered in this module is your foundation — the products your clients use at home and that form the backbone of every Wilder North facial. But for Apothecary partners, there is a deeper layer.