The Story Behind the Ingredients in Heal Heal
Long before Raiza Naturals existed, Heal Heal was already part of my family's routine.
For more than fifteen years, I refined and reworked a formula I used with my family, testing ingredients, adjusting ratios, and learning from the people who used it every day.
Eventually, family and friends began asking for their own jars, and what started as a personal formula became the foundation for Raiza Naturals.
The goal was never to start a skincare company.
The goal was much simpler.
I wanted something my family would actually use.
What began as a personal formulation evolved slowly over time through everyday use, observation, and feedback from the people I care about most.
Over the years, the formula changed again and again.
Not because the ingredients were trendy.
Not because a new skincare trend appeared.
Because I was constantly listening.
Family Feedback Shaped the Formula
One of the most important parts of Heal Heal's story is that it was never developed in isolation.
The formula evolved through real-world use and honest feedback from family and friends.
My husband quickly let me know when something wasn't working. He didn't like products that felt heavy on his skin and would quickly stop using anything that left a greasy residue behind.
Our kids were equally honest. If something felt sticky, greasy, or had a strong smell, they wanted nothing to do with it.
What began as a personal formulation evolved slowly over time through everyday use, observation, and feedback from family, friends, and the people I care about most.
That feedback became part of the formulation process.
Every time someone commented that a version felt too heavy, too greasy, too waxy, or too noticeable on the skin, I went back to work refining the formula.
The goal wasn't simply to choose good ingredients.
The goal was to create something people genuinely enjoyed using.
Over time, those small adjustments added up to the formula that eventually became Heal Heal.
Why Formulation Matters
When people look at skincare products, they often focus on the ingredient list.
But ingredients are only part of the story.
The ratio of those ingredients can completely change how a product feels on the skin.
Two products can contain many of the same ingredients and deliver very different experiences.
Over the years, I continually adjusted the formula to find the balance I was looking for: a balm that spread easily, absorbed cleanly, and felt comfortable enough to use every day.
That process took far longer than selecting ingredients.
It required patience, experimentation, and a willingness to keep improving until it felt right.
Shea Butter
Shea butter has been used for generations as a skin-conditioning ingredient and remains one of the most widely used botanical ingredients in skincare today.
Research has identified a variety of naturally occurring compounds in shea butter, including fatty acids and plant-derived compounds that contribute to its popularity in skincare formulations. Studies have explored its role in supporting skin hydration, skin barrier function, and overall skin comfort.[1][2]
Shea butter forms the foundation of Heal Heal and helps create the rich, comforting feel that many people associate with a traditional skin balm.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is known for its ability to spread easily across the skin and create a smooth application experience.
Research has examined coconut oil's moisturizing properties and its ability to help support the skin barrier. Its unique composition of fatty acids has made it a popular ingredient in skincare products designed for dry skin.[3][4]
In Heal Heal, coconut oil helps the balm glide smoothly during application and contributes to its easy-to-use texture.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is unique because its composition closely resembles the natural oils found on human skin.
Researchers have studied jojoba oil for its moisturizing and skin-conditioning properties, as well as its long history of use in cosmetic formulations.[5][6]
I chose jojoba oil because it helps create a balanced feel on the skin and supports the lightweight, comfortable experience I wanted Heal Heal to provide.
Rosemary
Rosemary has a long history in traditional wellness practices and has recently gained attention in modern skincare research.
Studies have explored rosemary's antioxidant properties and its potential role in supporting healthy-looking skin.[7][8]
I chose rosemary because I wanted familiar botanical ingredients that had a long history of use and growing scientific interest.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is one of the most widely studied ingredients in skincare.
Researchers have examined its antioxidant properties and its role in helping protect the skin from environmental stressors. Vitamin E is commonly included in skincare products because of its skin-conditioning qualities and long history of cosmetic use.[9]
It also helps support the overall stability of botanical formulations.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has been used for decades in personal care products and has been the subject of extensive scientific research.
Researchers have explored its properties and its role in cosmetic and skincare formulations.[10][11]
Because of its strong botanical profile, it remains a popular ingredient in products designed to support healthy-looking skin.
In Heal Heal, tea tree oil is used thoughtfully as part of the overall formulation.
Honey
Honey has been valued for centuries and continues to be a popular ingredient in natural skincare products.
Research has explored honey's ability to help maintain moisture and support skin comfort. Its long history of traditional use made it a natural fit for Heal Heal.
Beeswax
Beeswax plays an important role in the structure and consistency of the balm.
While it often receives less attention than other ingredients, beeswax helps create the texture that allows Heal Heal to stay solid in the tin while softening on contact with the skin.
Why I Added Arrowroot Powder
One of the most common complaints I heard about skin balms was simple:
"It feels too greasy."
I heard it again and again from family and friends.
Eventually, I realized that if people didn't enjoy using a product, they wouldn't keep reaching for it.
That feedback became one of the most important influences on the formula.
Arrowroot powder was included because it helps create the soft, comfortable finish that many customers notice when using Heal Heal. Rather than leaving a heavy feeling behind, I wanted a balm that felt natural enough to become part of an everyday routine.
For me, this ingredient helped bridge the gap between nourishment and comfort.
Thoughtful Formulation Matters
Every ingredient in Heal Heal serves a purpose.
Not because I wanted a longer ingredient list.
Not because I wanted to follow trends.
Because I wanted to create something my family would actually use.
What started as a family formula evolved over more than fifteen years through research, experimentation, and feedback from the people who used it most.
Looking back, I'm grateful for every suggestion, every criticism, and every adjustment along the way because they all helped shape what Heal Heal has become today.
As we continue to grow Raiza Naturals, that philosophy remains the same: thoughtful ingredients, intentional formulation, and everyday comfort for your skin.
If you'd like to experience the formula that emerged from those fifteen years of refinement, you can learn more about Heal Heal here.
— Saray Fitzhenry
Important Note
Heal Heal is a cosmetic skincare product. The research discussed in this article relates to individual ingredients and should not be interpreted as claims about Heal Heal itself.
Sources
[1] Shea Butter Benefits – Cleveland Clinic
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/shea-butter-benefits
[2] Shea Butter Research Review – NIH
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7830171/
[3] Coconut Oil for Skin – Cleveland Clinic
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/coconut-oil-for-skin
[4] Coconut Oil Research Review – NIH
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6335493/
[5] Jojoba in Dermatology and Skin Care – NIH
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8197201/
[6] Jojoba Research – ScienceDirect
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874110009189
[7] Rosemary in Skincare – Penn Medicine
https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/study-says-rosemary-in-skincare-trend-is-worth-the-hype
[8] Health Benefits of Rosemary – WebMD
https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-rosemary
[9] Vitamin E and Skin Health – Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute
https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-E
[10] Tea Tree Oil – Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-tea-tree-oil/art-20364246
[11] Tea Tree Oil – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/tea-tree-oil
Saray Fitzhenry is the co-founder of Raiza Naturals, creator of Heal Heal, a certified yoga instructor, an optician, and a classically trained French chef who graduated from The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College. Her passion for natural wellness, thoughtful formulation, and the careful balance of ingredients led her to spend more than fifteen years refining the formula behind Heal Heal through research, experimentation, and everyday use with her family before bringing it to customers through Raiza Naturals.