“The skin is a mirror of our internal environment, and what we place upon it is absorbed into our very life force.” — Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, Nobel Laureate in Physiology

Finding clean skincare shouldn’t feel like you’re navigating through a complex maze of certain synthetic ingredients, fake trends, and false promises. Every ingredient used by Leah Ashley’s Organics™ tells a story. Some begin in laboratories. Others begin in gardens, beehives, and family kitchens. Leah Ashley’s Organics was built on the belief that skincare shouldn’t require decoding ingredient labels or wondering whether what’s safe for you could harm the animal curled up beside you.

A Living Legacy: How a Brave Battle with Cancer Created Ryder’s Fund

Their story is one that is deeply personal. It is rooted in healing, resilience, and a bond with a dearly beloved pet. The founder was recovering from trauma and managing complex post-traumatic stress disorder when she found a sense of both safety and comfort in her dog, Ryder. At around five years old, Ryder began struggling with chronic skin issues, which uncovered the hidden dangers of low-quality ingredients, plastic-stage contamination, and the potential benefits of clean, whole-food nutrition in supporting overall wellness.

When Ryder was diagnosed with a neck tumor, the stakes became even higher. Faced with expensive vet bills, the founder started building this business, especially to be able to afford the care that Ryder needed. Sadly, in March 2026, Ryder passed away after a brave battle with cancer. However, the company still remains a living legacy, named in honor of him and the founder’s late aunt.

Every single purchase that is made honors Ryder’s memory by donating $1.11 to animal shelters and rescues through Ryder’s Fund. This ensures that other pet owners can afford vital medical care in the moments when they need it the most.

The Best Organic Lip Balm for Chapped Lips: Say Goodbye to Petroleum

The skin on your lips is much thinner than the rest of your face. This means that your lips can easily become dry, chapped, and irritated. Traditional lip balms often utilize a base of petroleum that is combined with cheap, synthetic fragrances that can make this irritation worse over time.

To address these issues, Leah Ashley’s Organics™ has created the Lip Balm made with Organic Ingredients, which is a deeply moisturizing balm that is made from organic, plant-based ingredients. While many brands often focus on utilizing certain synthetic ingredients, this brand relies on nature’s natural softeners and moisture-lockers to protect your lips from wind, cold, and dryness.

• Organic Beeswax: Acts as a natural, breathable physical barrier that locks in moisture while protecting lips from harsh environmental elements.
• Pure Coconut Oil: Rich in medium-chain fatty acids that deeply penetrate the skin to provide lasting hydration and help support skin comfort.
• Premium Manuka Honey: A powerhouse humectant known for its natural antibacterial properties, helping to moisturize dry, rough areas and support the skin’s natural barrier function.
• Zero Synthetic Fragrances: Entirely free from hidden chemical perfumes, reducing the risk of contact dermatitis or cumulative toxic exposure.
• Clean and Clear Pricing: Available through Leah Ashley’s Organics™ online store.

The Best Lick-Safe Organic Balm for Dogs: Multi-Use Relief for Sensitive Skin

What you might not know is that a dog’s skin is actually thinner and more sensitive than human skin. Dogs have a more alkaline skin pH than humans, which influences how their skin barrier responds to cleansers, topical products, and environmental irritants.

To offer dogs safe, non-toxic relief, the brand has created a multi-use balm bar: Ryder’s Doggie Balm made with Organic Ingredients™. This bar is made with pure and organic ingredients and is specifically designed to soothe sensitive areas, cracked paw pads, dry snouts, and minor skin irritations. It aims to create a gentle protective layer that helps support the skin’s natural recovery process. And here’s the best part: because it is made with completely clean ingredients, it is made with ingredients selected to be dog-friendly if incidental licking occurs.

• Multi-Use Support: Expertly formulated for use on dry snouts, cracked paw pads, and other areas prone to dryness or environmental irritation.
• 100% Lick-Safe: Free from toxic essential oils, artificial dyes, and chemical preservatives, making it suitable for dogs that may lick the area after application.
• Convenient Bar Format: Designed as a targeted balm bar for easy, mess-free application directly onto targeted areas without wasting product.
• Durable Skin Support: Helps rebuild the delicate canine skin barrier that gets stripped by urban pavements, ice melts, and lawn chemicals.
• Mission-Driven Value: A portion of sales supports Ryder’s Fund and animal rescue initiatives.

The Connection Between Cosmetic Ingredients and Endocrine Disruption

Although the skin is an effective barrier, certain cosmetic ingredients can penetrate the outer layers and contribute to cumulative exposure depending on the ingredient, formulation, and frequency of use.

A landmark study published in Environmental Health Perspectives sheds a little light on this problem. Researchers suggest that common cosmetic ingredients such as parabens and synthetic phthalates do far more than simply linger on the surface of the skin. These ingredients may pass through the skin barrier through topical application. Some research suggests that certain cosmetic ingredients may be absorbed through the skin, contributing to overall cumulative exposure over time.

Concerns have been raised that repeated exposure to certain synthetic compounds may contribute to endocrine disruption in some circumstances. Your endocrine system helps regulate your hormones, which means that it controls everything from your metabolism and mood to your reproductive health. Some synthetic compounds have been studied for their potential to interact with hormone pathways, although the degree of impact can vary depending on the ingredient and level of exposure.

By choosing clean skincare, you’re making a choice that stems far beyond superficial beauty trends. For many consumers, choosing products with simpler ingredient lists is part of a broader wellness-focused lifestyle.

Thinner Skin, Bigger Risks: Understanding the Canine Skin Barrier

While synthetic chemicals pose a risk to humans, the danger is amplified when it comes to our pets.

Comparative studies on the stratum corneum indicate that a dog’s skin barrier is fundamentally thinner than ours. Human skin relies on a number of robust cell layers that work to block out irritants, but a dog’s barrier has fewer layers. This means that potentially irritating ingredients, artificial fragrances, and chemical additives may be absorbed through a dog’s skin more readily than through human skin.

Canine skin is highly alkaline compared to human skin, which is far more acidic. They have a very specific pH balance, which means that using harsh synthetic topicals can easily strip your dog’s skin of its natural defenses. This often leaves dogs prone to chronic inflammation, raw patches, and systemic exposure.

By replacing certain synthetic ingredients with pure, biocompatible ingredients like organic beeswax and unrefined coconut oil, Leah Ashley’s Organics™ is helping support the skin’s natural moisture barrier. These organic ingredients contain lipids that are similar to those naturally found in the skin, helping support moisture retention and overall skin barrier function. Veterinary sciences teach a simple yet very important lesson: clean, whole-food ingredients are just as important when they’re being applied to our dog’s skin.

Ultimately, veterinary science highlights an important lesson: clean, thoughtfully sourced ingredients matter just as much when they’re applied to our dogs as when they’re used on our own skin.