When Flesh Flares

Dear Friend,

It started out with rashes, first from simple hand weights, then from my yoga mat. Soon it was the clothes I wore, the bed I slept in, the pillow for my head.

Then came the fatigue from the common, everyday things on my shelves—a daily pill or a carton from my kitchen shelf. But when it meant I could no longer brush my hair, I felt my world cave in.

It’s all part of chemical sensitivity—and what led me to build a home called Darwin’s Mistress. And it’s from this place of refuge I learned to rise up from the ashes.

If you suffer from sensitivities or seek gentler ways of living, I hope you find the following tools helpful.
Yours Truly,
Darwin’s Mistress

Or feel free to jump to the next story in
Hearts Mend.

Coping with Sensitivity

Does This Apply to You?

This section is for anyone seeking gentler ways of living and especially those who are sensitive to everyday things, like these.

Material Sensitivity
Your skin reacts to elastic, wool, polyester, or certain fabrics.

Product Sensitivity
Everyday items like shampoo, detergent, or household cleaners make your body flare.

Skin Irritation
You have chronic or occasional rashes, itching, or redness.

Food Reactions
You feel sick, off, or unwell after a meal,
even when the food seems normal.

Medication/Supplement Intolerance
You react to medications, supplements, OTC remedies, or even eyedrops.

If this sounds familiar, continue below or see:
Compounded Medicines‍
Cotton Essentials
Specialty Items
Community of Friends

Everyday Tools for Sensitivity

Using SkinSAFE to Find Safe Products

If you have skin sensitivities—or simply prefer products with fewer additives—let me introduce you to SkinSAFE, a free app created in collaboration with Mayo Clinic.

Mayo Clinic describes SkinSAFE as a tool for people with skin allergies, contact dermatitis, or sensitivities who want to avoid common allergens in everyday products. The app can even generate personalized “Safe for Me” lists when used with chemical patch‑test results.

SkinSAFE covers categories like Skin Care, Household, Hair, and Personal Care, and it lets you evaluate product safety—whether or not the app is personalized for you.

As someone with chemical allergies
I can tell you this app has saved me hours of research and prevented many messy patch tests on my skin.

Real-Time Help Reading Food Labels

If you were to run into me at the grocery store, you’d find me talking to my phone on every isle. I use the same AI helper at the grocery (and other stores) that I use at home to decode the contents of food and other products.

Basically, my tool evaluates the contents of not just the food item but—just as important—the packaging. And in most cases, it’s the packaging that contains additives, like anti-browning agents and preservatives, that are harmful for me.

I simply speak the name and maker of the product into my device and learn whether it’s safe for me. No more reading labels, no more scanning barcodes and finally, more foods inside my basket!

Continue with Compounding Medicines below or see:
Cotton Essentials
Specialty Items
Community of Friends

Compounded Medicines

Medication Intolerance and Sensitivity

The dangers of preservatives and other additives aren’t limited to the grocery store. They’re what led to countless days chained to my bed from everyday pills and supplements.

They’re also what led to debilitating depression and other psychological effects from blood pressure medicine described below in My Hollow Self.

But it was that total sense of hopelessness that led me to discover compounding medicines. These are formulated by hand by licensed pharmacists specifically for you. They are free of additives, such as dyes and preservatives, and eliminate all harmful side effects for me.

Continue reading below or see
Cotton Essentials
Specialty Items
Community of Friends

My Hollow Self
~~~
My Scarlet S

When Medicine Causes Depression

Every morning when I wake, his voice is first to greet me with these words.
“How’s your mental health?” he jests.

Then once I take my daily pill, Depression is next to greet the dawn and fade my world to black and gray. On the outside, the world is flat and dull; on the inside, there’s nothing but an empty shell. And so begins my descent each day, searching for my hollow self.

It’s like searching for yourself in the House of Mirrors. I look in one mirror, and no, that vacant face doesn’t resemble me. I try another and see someone else who doesn’t look like me. 

And as I struggle through the day, my head spins in circles with self-doubt. I try to stop this roller coaster ride, but it keeps on roaring down the tracks.

And when I visit the House of Horrors late at night, I recall all the hurtful words I heard throughout the day. I go from one room to the next, replaying every line. But the basest part of me insists I sling them back. “Surely you aren’t going to let them get away with that!” And so, I say nasty words and push away the ones I love.
~~~
To learn how I was able to step off the roller coaster and regain my true self, return to Compounded Medicines.

Continue below with more tools for sensitivity. Or see Hearts Mend.

Cotton Essentials

Welcome to Cotton Essentials—a space for sensitive skin and sustainable living. Here, you'll learn why cotton is the only fabric I wear and the names of the merchants I trust to carry it. Let's begin with why cotton matters—and what to watch out for.

Why Cotton Over Other Fabrics

If your skin is sensitive, may I recommend 100% organic cotton fabrics. From personal experience and research, I’ve learned that harsh chemicals are used in creating synthetic fabrics and even in creating fabrics from natural fibers such as these.
Caution:
• Bamboo  
• Silk  
• Linen  

Cotton is the only fiber that does not require harsh chemicals to turn it into fabric and in turn irritate the skin.

Linen
If you love linen but have sensitive skin, look for items that meet these standards:
• 100% organic linen  
• No added chemicals
• No anti-wrinkle and other finishes
• No harsh dyes

The Fine Print: What to Avoid

Not all cotton essentials are created equal. If you have sensitive skin, the following criteria are critical to your safe selection and care of cotton items:

Avoid harsh dyes
• These can irritate sensitive skin.
• My trusted retailers don’t use them.

Avoid synthetic linings
• Watch out for synthetic lining in clothing.
• My trusted retailers avoid them, except occasionally in coat linings.

Avoid synthetic thread
• It undermines the benefits of cotton fabric.
• Important: Thick fabric or trim may require more sturdy, synthetic thread.
• My trusted retailers use cotton thread exclusively, unless the fabric or trim is too thick.
• The Customer Service Agents at my trusted retailers gladly research items, such as the thread.

Alterations
• Bring your own 100% cotton thread (Amazon).
• Do not use the seamstress’s thread—it will compromise your cotton clothing.

Tip: Start building a supply of cotton thread in your essentials kit.

Trusted Cotton Retailers

Clothing

• Peruvian Connection
• Cottonique
• Pact
(at Amazon and WearPact)
• J. Jill
(Pure Jill Collection)
• Jockey
(Search on 100% cotton)

On a Personal Note,
The pretty blue blouse in my photo on the Home page is a soft Pima cotton blouse from Peruvian Connection. (No, it’s not silk!)
The silky-smooth cotton leggings are from J. Jill.
And the cotton throw is from Cottonique.

Home

• Boll and Branch
(Heavenly cotton pillows & bedding)
• Company Store
• Garnet Hill
(I cover upholstery with throws)

See Specialty Items below or see:
Terms that Trigger ‍
Community of Friends

Specialty Items

Below are various specialty products I use and recommend for sensitivity or gentler living. These items are unique, hard‑to‑find products I trust and use frequently.

For cosmetics, personal care, and household items, I recommend the SkinSAFE app. If you want to know which brands I use, please Contact me or ask in this Community. I’m more than happy to share them.

Wool Alternative

Baby Alpaca
• See the selection at Peruvian Connection
• I wear Peruvian Connection baby alpaca coats

Skin-Protective Items

Cottonique Eye Masks
• 100% cotton
• Contain no elastic

Cottonique Face Masks
• 100% cotton
• Contain no elastic

Cottonique Neck Guards
• 100% cotton
• Protect the neck from irritants
• Fold over to look like a turtleneck

Cottonique Shawls
• 100% cotton
• Contain no elastic
• Use as a shawl, protective layer, or throw

MediGuard Vinyl Uncoated Gloves
• Alternative to medical gloves
• Take to doctor and dentist appointments

Monxiery Cotton Socks
• 100% cotton
• Contain no elastic
• Ribbed stitching grips well
• Amazon

Pact Double Scoop Coffee Bra
• Practically no elastic
• For zero elastic, wear inside out
• For a low-cut option, wear the back in front
• Amazon, Target.com, WearPact.com

Preservative-Free Coffee Options

Ground Coffee

Jo Coffee
• Organic ground coffee
• Fair Trade Certified
• Amazon

Canned Cold Brew Coffee

Buddy Brew
• Organic cold brew coffee
• Black canned coffee
• Amazon, Sprout’s, Others

Stumptown
• Organic cold brew coffee
• Black canned coffee
• Amazon, Sprout’s, Other

Trader Joe’s
• Organic cold brew coffee
• Black canned coffee
• Amazon and Trader Joe’s

See Terms that Trigger below or
or jump to the next story in Hearts Mend.

Terms that Trigger

If you have chemical sensitivities, here are some common terms to avoid and reasons why.

Anti-
• Indicates treated surfaces
• Examples: antifungal, antimicrobial, antistatic, antiwrinkle

De-
• Implies extraction or conversion
• Examples: de-ice, deodorize

Non-
• Suggests engineered alteration
• Examples: non-slip, non-stick

Resistant
• Often implies chemical or synthetic treatment
• Examples: stain-resistant, water-resistant

Retardant
• Signals flame retardants or barrier chemicals

Please join this Community of Friends
or jump to the next story in Hearts Mend.