By Melissa, formulation chemist, Lone Tree Tallow
Short answer: Yarrow is a prairie wildflower people have reached for over thousands of years. We hand-infuse it into sunflower oil for our Wild Yarrow Lip Balm, which keeps lips soft and protected through wind, cold and dry indoor air.
Part of our Ancient Remedies series.
What is yarrow?
Achillea millefolium. Feathery leaves. Flat clusters of small white flowers.
It grows wild along South Dakota roadsides and pastures.
Why is yarrow named after Achilles?
Greek legend says Achilles carried yarrow for his soldiers' wounds. The name stuck.
Old folk names tell the same story: soldier's woundwort, herb of the field.
How old is the use of yarrow?
- Prehistory: traces of yarrow compounds were found in the dental remains of Neanderthals in northern Spain.
- Europe and Asia: a staple of folk herbals for centuries.
- North America: used by many Native nations.
What does yarrow do for lips?
- Lips stay soft.
- Comfort for chapped, wind-stung lips.
- Protection through wind, sun and dry indoor air.
The because: yarrow has long been valued as a calming botanical. We carry it in high-linoleic sunflower oil, then build the balm on tallow, shea, jojoba and sunflower wax.
Why is there no beeswax in our lip balm?
Sunflower wax gives breathable structure without the waxy drag. The full story: Why Our Lip Balm Has No Beeswax.
What flavors does Wild Yarrow come in?
Prairie Mint. Sweet Orange + Sage. Roman Chamomile. Green Apple/Honey. Grapefruit & Basil. Chocolate Mint. Vanilla Creme. Cucumber Melon.
Mix any three or five in a set. Perfect stocking stuffers.
Frequently asked questions
What is yarrow good for on skin? It has long been valued as a calming botanical for dry, wind-stung skin and lips.
Why is yarrow called Achillea? Greek legend says Achilles used it for his soldiers.
Is yarrow safe for lips? For most people, yes. Yarrow is in the daisy family, so if you react to ragweed or daisies, patch test first.
Is the Wild Yarrow Lip Balm vegan? No. It is made with pasture-raised beef tallow.
Does it have beeswax? No. We use sunflower wax.
Honoring the balance of nature, craft, and chemistry.
Lone Tree products are cosmetics intended to support the look and feel of skin. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
