Why Ghastly

Ghastly Good was created from a simple belief: skin care should work with the body, not against it.

We use ethically sourced, sustainable, organic, and gluten‑free plant ingredients, with as many hand‑picked or home‑grown botanicals as possible. At the heart of every tonic is our proprietary herbal vinegar base—an old‑world approach to cleansing, balancing, and nourishing the skin.

Every batch of Miracle Facial Tonic is handmade, personally tested, and used by the maker. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is outsourced. Your skin deserves intention.

Let’s Redefine Skin Care

Before choosing products, it helps to define what skin care actually means.

For the last century, we’ve been taught that skincare requires many steps, many bottles, foaming cleansers, and thick white creams. We were told soap was essential and moisturizer had to be heavy and opaque.

But skin is an organ that breathes, defends, and repairs itself—when it’s not constantly disrupted.

The Problem With Soap (Yes, Even the “Good” Ones)

Soap has its place—but not everywhere, and not every day.

Soap is useful when you’re truly dirty, handling oils, cooking, or washing odor‑producing areas. But frequent use on the face and extremities can strip the skin’s natural oils and weaken its protective barrier.

Many soaps rely on foam boosters like DEA, MEA, and TEA, which can irritate the skin and are easily absorbed into the body. These ingredients, along with lye, create a high‑pH environment that repels your natural oils.

This disruption damages the skin’s acid mantle—a delicate balance of ceramides, cholesterol, and essential fatty acids that forms your first line of immune defense. The acid mantle also helps protect against water loss, UV exposure, and environmental stress.

If your skin leaves white lines when scratched, it’s often a sign that this barrier is compromised.

Simply put: your skin needs its oils.

A Simpler Alternative

A gentle alternative to soap is using a small amount of coconut oil with a warm washcloth. Coconut oil is antimicrobial, non‑comedogenic, and effective at removing dirt, excess oils, and even waterproof makeup—without disrupting the skin barrier.

Skin doesn’t need to be scrubbed into submission to be clean.

Why Most Skincare Products Need Chemicals

Most skincare products—large and small—are designed for long shelf life and retail display. To achieve this, manufacturers rely on:

• Preservatives
• Emulsifiers
• Chemical humectants
• Synthetic fragrances

Ingredients like PEGs, triclosan, parabens, DMDM urea, and methyl compounds are commonly used to prevent bacterial growth and keep products stable. Many of these ingredients have been linked to irritation, dermatitis, hormonal disruption, and long‑term sensitivity—especially with repeated exposure.

If you struggle with eczema, dandruff, dermatitis, or chronic irritation, these ingredients may be part of the problem.

Emulsifiers: The Hidden Issue

To force oils and water to mix, skincare products rely on emulsifiers. These chemicals create the familiar white lotion texture—but they can interfere with cellular respiration and clog pores.

Common emulsifiers include polysorbates, stearates, carrageenan, and phthalates. Some are plant‑based, others petroleum‑derived, but many are comedogenic or irritating.

Carrageenan, a red seaweed often labeled as “natural,” can increase inflammation in both skin and digestive tissue. Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors and are banned in several countries.

Ghastly products are not emulsified. That’s why you shake them before use—and why they stay alive, functional, and nutrient‑rich.

Humectants: We Chose Nature

Many products rely on chemical humectants like glycols to attract moisture. These are petroleum‑derived and commonly trigger dermatitis reactions.

We use vinegar and organic aloe vera—time‑tested, skin‑compatible humectants that hydrate without irritation. No glycols. No plastics. No shortcuts.

Fragrance Isn’t Harmless

Synthetic fragrances are not designed for ingestion—but the skin absorbs most of what we apply. Once ingredients penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis, they enter the bloodstream.

This is why skincare ingredients have been found in organs, glands, lymph systems, and even brain tissue.

Ghastly products contain no added fragrances—only the natural aroma of plants, herbs, and resins.

Why Ghastly Exists

I created Ghastly because I was tired of hearing about cancers, hormonal disruption, and chronic skin conditions linked to topical ingredients.

When major companies admitted awareness of asbestos contamination in baby powder, I was done.

I grew up watching my mother care for her skin using simple, natural methods passed down through generations. Her family captured rainwater or snow, infused it with vinegar and flowers, and relied on nature for hygiene and health.

That wisdom sent me deep into research—old books, herbal medicine, ancestral practices, and modern studies.

Ancestral Knowledge Meets Modern Research

My great‑grandparents immigrated from Eastern Europe, from the Carpathian Mountains of Bucovina. They were mountain people—self‑reliant, herbal‑literate, and deeply connected to the land. My great‑grandmother was even a town healer in northern Minnesota.

I believe the body can heal itself when supported properly—with nutrition, movement, stress management, and care. Skin is no different.

I set out to create skin food.

The Birth of Miracle Facial Tonic

In 2010, I began adding organic, cold‑pressed oils to my herbal vinegar base. These oils are processed below 90°F, preserving their micronutrients and making them highly compatible with the skin.

Steeping the tonic was simple—like making cold tea from my garden and the forest. The challenge was perfecting the formula through years of research, testing, and refinement.

Finding truly high‑quality organic aloe vera took even longer.

Over seven years, I cross‑referenced herbal medicine with research from institutions like the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and the National Institutes of Health. Eventually, the ratios clicked.

I created formulas for different skin types—and people noticed.

From Kitchen to Community

In 2017, after persistent encouragement from friends and family, I made Ghastly Good available to the public.

I started selling alongside my 82‑year‑old father, a wildlife artist, at art shows and festivals. We danced more than we sold—especially at German Fest—but it was joyful, grounding, and real.

I designed the Ghastly Good logo myself to reflect the plants and ingredients inside every bottle.

Today, I’m still growing this brand with intention. I’m an accountant by day, an herbalist by heart, and happiest outdoors.

Thank You

Thank you for taking the time to learn about Ghastly Good.

My hope is that you feel empowered to read labels, question ingredients, and choose skincare that truly supports your health.

With gratitude,

Tara