Skin Anarchy Podcast

Episode: Herbalism and Botanicals in Skincare Ft. Leaf People

Host: Dr. Ekta
Guest: Julie Williams (Founder, Leaf People)
Date: August 27, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Dr. Ekta explores the intersection of herbalism, traditional wisdom, and modern skincare science. Julie Williams, founder of Leaf People, shares her journey from an upbringing in rural Alaska to becoming a student and practitioner of global herbalist traditions. The discussion delves deeply into the art and science of formulating skincare products rooted in the vitality of whole plants, focusing on energetic properties, community-based approaches, sustainability, and the search for authenticity amid current beauty industry trends.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Julie's Herbalist Journey

[00:42-03:32]

• Early Life & Family Influences: Grew up in rural Alaska, immersed in nature and self-sustaining practices with medicinal wild plants.
• Global Exploration: Traveled post-college to study botanical medicine in Australia, South America, Hong Kong, Europe, and the US.
• Mentorship: Studied western herbalism formally and apprenticed for 20 years under master herbalist Lillian McCracken, blending traditional and academic approaches to herbal wisdom.
  • "It was a beautiful weaving between both having education in the old world style... and then also being in a proper classroom, with books and studying chemical constituents." [02:30 - Julie]

2. Complexity and Energetics of Plant Medicine

[04:42-06:15]

• Beyond the Chemistry: Initial studies focused on functional uses ("nuts and bolts"), but later was exposed to the energetics—meditating with plants, learning about warming/cooling/drying properties.
• Herbal Energetics: Understanding plants requires more than knowing their constituents; it's about tuning into their "soul essence" and how plants synergize.
  • "You start getting to this whole, like, fabric of these different properties that they have." [05:50 - Julie]

3. Clean Beauty & Broader Botanical Inclusion

[07:10-09:50]

• Pioneering Pre-Trend: Leaf People launched before 'clean beauty' was mainstream, aiming to diversify the limited array of herbs in typical US skincare.
• Community Integration: Mirrored plant communities in nature by emphasizing human and local community connections (e.g., through farmers markets).
  • "Just as plants grow in community, and they really need each other... we mimicked that aspect of community with the company." [08:10 - Julie]

4. Botanical Formulation Insights

[10:36-12:44]

• Favorite Plants for Skin:
  • Burdock root: Balances skin oil production for all types.
  • Horsetail: Supports collagen/elastin, alignment of skin fibers.
  • Stellaria (Chickweed): Enhances communication between plants in a formula and body absorption.
  • "Stellaria is called the great communicator... it helps the plants communicate to your body." [12:10 - Julie]
• Internal/External Crossover: Many chosen herbs are effective both topically and when ingested.

5. Plant-to-Bottle vs. Lab-to-Label

[12:44-16:39]

• Whole Plant Emphasis: All extractions start with whole plants to preserve their full spectrum of nutrients, energies, and synergistic effects.
  • "It's kind of like cooking from scratch. Starting from that whole plant and all its chemical constituents..." [13:10 - Julie]
• Contrast with Lab Formulation: Lab-to-label typically uses pre-processed extracts and synthetic actives, missing plant vitality and micro-synergies.
• Harmony of Constituents: Keeping all chemical components together is believed to help the body recognize and utilize plant benefits more fully.
  • "When the plant extract comes in with showcasing like all the components of the plant together, then your body like understands that better." [15:25 - Julie]

6. The 'Therapeutic Intelligence' of Plants

[18:43-20:54]

• Definition: More than a sum of ingredients; it’s the energetic intelligence and "soul" of the plant, preserved through careful harvesting and processing.
• Spiritual and Energetic Practices: Use of Reiki, Medicine Buddha protocols, regular meditation, and annual blessings from Tibetan Buddhist monks to sustain plant energy and quality.
  • "There’s a lot of guidance... to keep that energy in the plant that holds that intelligence intact." [19:50 - Julie]

7. Energy, Nature, and Human Connection

[21:54-25:33]

• Grounding and Community: Merging our energy fields with those of plants/nature is healing and restorative. Regular, mindful connection with both wild and domestic plants can support emotional and physiological well-being.
  • "It's healing your own energy field, it's balancing your own energy field... you can set your intentions as to what that interaction... will be." [23:00-24:00 - Julie]
• Examples: Observing circadian patterns in nocturnal vs. diurnal plants can help humans tune into plant energy cycles for deeper benefits.

8. Sustainability and Avoiding Trend-Driven Harm

[31:44-35:22]

• Bucking the Trends: Julie avoids trend-chasing in favor of plant-led, meditation-informed formulation, aiming for longevity and efficacy.
  • "They lead, I follow. I'll do a lot of meditation… then a formula is developed." [32:10 - Julie]
• Trend Risks: Widespread industry adoption of “hot” ingredients can devastate wild plant populations and degrade sustainability efforts.
  • "You can do some serious damage to the botanical population if something like that hits..." [34:17 - Julie]
• Sustainable Formulation: Considers efficacy overlap in herbs to avoid overharvesting and to foster environmental balance.

9. Formulation Philosophy: Ally Pairing and Community

[26:44-30:41]

• Ally Pairing Explained: Mimics how plants grow in natural communities. Pairs plants that naturally support one another’s growth and effectiveness in formulas. Example: Ginkgo and Gotu Kola.
  • "It brings harmony to the formula. They help each other be stronger..." [27:18 - Julie]
• Human-Plant Symbiosis: Human communities and plant communities mirror and support each other; holistic wellness arises from acknowledging this interdependence.

10. The Future for Leaf People

[36:39-37:17]

• Upcoming Podcast: Julie is launching a new podcast focusing on communication with plants—going deeper into their messaging, energy, and how to interact with them for well-being.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Julie Williams:

• On Energetic Herbalism
  • "You can start getting to this whole, like, fabric of these different properties that they have." [05:50]
• On Whole Plant Synergy
  • "All the constituents in the plant are like in harmony...they serve different purposes." [14:47]
• On Nature and Community
  • "We are that...it's all communities. We live in community between ourselves as humans. Our body itself is this very complex community." [29:41]
• On Sustainability and Trends
  • "Trends can also put a lot of stress on a particular plant...and you can do some serious damage to the botanical population if something like that hits." [34:17]

Dr. Ekta:

• On Clean Beauty Trends
  • "I feel like when I look at clean beauty...a lot of times you keep seeing the same things come up over and over and over again." [09:50]
• On Plant Community Wisdom
  • "A lot of the things that were discovered were because people spent so much time with plants...it's this community mindset of, this is an ecosystem, you are part of that system." [30:41]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | [00:42] | Julie’s background and global herbal learning journey | | [04:42] | Energetics, plant meditation, and deep herbal wisdom | | [07:10] | Clean beauty movement and expanding ingredients | | [10:36] | Most impactful plant species for skin and why | | [12:58] | “Plant to bottle” process explained | | [18:43] | Preserving plant ‘therapeutic intelligence’ and energy work | | [21:54] | Human-plant energetic connection and being present in nature | | [26:44] | Ally pairing—mimicking natural plant communities in formulas | | [31:44] | Thoughts on trend-driven beauty vs. plant-led formulation | | [34:17] | Sustainability concerns with trending botanicals | | [36:39] | Julie’s new podcast on plant communication announced |

Conclusion

Julie Williams offers a unique, deeply-rooted philosophy on integrating herbalism and botanicals into skincare, standing apart from a trend-driven industry by advocating plant intelligence, community, sustainability, and authentic connection. For listeners seeking a richer understanding of holistic beauty and the real potential of plants in skincare, this episode provides thoughtful insights, actionable wisdom, and encouragement to reconnect with the energy of the botanical world.