One day, I was talking with a colleague whose mother was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer. The side effects of these modes of treatment can be abusive, causing dry, itchy, and irritated skin, often roughened to the point of wearing away. Another common side effect of chemotherapy is hair loss, or dry and lifeless hair, depending upon which chemotherapeutic drugs are used. Exposure to scents and chemicals aggravate these conditions. I wasn't surprised when my co-worker complained that her mom was experiencing these problems. I was surprised that she couldn't find chemical-free, dye-free, unscented, natural bath products. Sparked with curiosity and enthusiasm, I read, researched, and experimented in the kitchen. In order to develop a soap, lotion, and shampoo that would help this woman, it was clear that I needed to use unscented ingredients of only the finest and purest quality. The result was a product line well suited not only for skin conditions related to the side effects of therapy for cancer, but also for a variety of other skin problems.

To ensure maximum vitamin, mineral, and nutrient content, only the highest-grade base oils are used at Hummingbird. Olive, sweet almond, wheat germ, jojoba. hazelnut, avocado, and black currant seed oils, each with its own healing tradition and unique properties, are the foundation of our Tender Touch line of products. Emu oil, used by aborigines for thousands of years for its medicinal qualities, is an added nutrient that permeates all three dermal layers. Also acting as a carrier oil, emu oil pulls all the other ingredients through these skin layers to give you the combined qualities of all these oils that are reputed to help heal and moisturize the skin.