A Teulon-based entrepreneur that specializes in making herbal beauty products and remedies is branching out with a new product line and continuing to attract buyers from across Canada.
Lisa Barnes, a wildcrafting herbalist, launched Forest Mama during the COVID-19 pandemic to help support her family through a tough economic time.
After treating her own children’s colds and other ailments with natural ingredients, she realized the benefits of getting away from consumer products containing harsh industrial ingredients, additives, preservatives and chemical fragrances.
When she started offering her products to consumers, Forest Mama really took off and has been “amazing” since then.
“More and more people I talk to say they’re wanting to get away from artificial fragrances, synthetic ingredients and preservatives,” said Barnes. “I don’t use any preservatives except natural preservatives such as honey and tallow, which are pretty shelf stable.”
Barnes and her family head out to the forest to forage for plants, berries and mushrooms that she uses in a variety of her products that range from tinctures and creams to body butters and sprays. She forages for plants primarily in Manitoba but has gone to British Columbia for things such as mushrooms and other plants Manitoba doesn’t have.
“My family and I forage for 95 per cent of the ingredients I use, and then I make all the products,” she said. “I make elderberry products, body oils, magnesium sprays and a magnesium body butter that’s good for minor aches and pains.”
She said she’s been working with herbs for 12 years and is primarily self-taught, but she has taken some courses.
And she’s branching out with a line of products containing tallow, which is a fat derived from cattle and contains vitamins such as A, K, E and B12.
“I’m always making new products. Recently, I just released my tallow line. I’ve had a lot of people asking me to make it so I decided to come with this amazing skincare line.”
Some of her tallow-containing products include the Cuts & Bruises Salve (for 13 years and older) to use on minor injuries to promote new cell growth and prevent infection. It contains tallow, coconut oil, wild plantain, comfrey and yarrow among other ingredients. The Cracked Hands & Feet Salve contains ingredients such as cocoa butter, tallow and peppermint.
“I’m in contact with a farm that has grass-fed cows and are only fed organic feed. I get the tallow from them. I render it down myself and add it in to my skin care products” she said. “It’s a moisturizer and it also helps with skin issues such as acne, eczema and other skin conditions.”
Studies suggest that tallow can help with moisturizing and hydrating the skin and has anti-inflammatory properties that can potentially improve skin conditions.
Barnes also makes Hibiscus Rose Whipped Face Tallow, Frankincense and Manuka Honey, Chamomile, and Vanilla Whipped Tallow.
She said a family member told her that the smell of the Vanilla Whipped Tallow “takes away her donut craving.”
For those who burn the midnight oil, Barnes’ Bye Bye Under Eye treatment can help reverse fine lines, bags or age spots. It contains hexane-free castor oil and organic frankincense essential oil. It can also be used as a topical pain reliever for conditions such as carpal tunnel.
Barnes said she ships her products to people across Canada, including Yukon, and has sent some orders to America. With U.S. president Donal Trump’s tariff and annexation threats, though, she’s unsure if that may affect her business in future.
“I don’t know if I will be affected at all. I’m assuming that when I ship to the U.S., it will cost a little more. But I’ll eat that cost myself,” she said.
Forest Mama’s website encourages people to do their own research on products and advises that herbal products are not intended to cure, treat or prevent disease. If people have a specific medical condition or are pregnant or nursing, they should first speak to their doctor before taking any herbal product.
Barnes said people can also contact her if they have questions about her products.
“I know sometimes people find natural products a little overwhelming and don’t know where to start,” she said. “So they can contact me or message me on any of my social media sites.”
People can place orders for Barnes’ products via her online store. They can also check out her products in person in Teulon at Lori Benn Massage Therapy, in Selkirk at the Cozy Fox, and in Winnipeg at CG Pure Wash on Ness Avenue.
Lisa Barnes can be contacted via social media sites, her website’s contact form, by emailing: forestmama204@gmail.com or calling (204) 999-8724.
