Brooklyn Herborium

Visited yesterday for a facial with Melanie. Love everything about this place. It’s relaxing and homey without any pretension. The treatment is the best I’ve ever had. My skin has been glowing. I will definitely be back.

Words cannot describe how wonderful this place really is. Emma is a beautiful, warm-​hearted, sincere genius, and because of her and her amazing products my skin has never looked or felt better. Ever. In my life. And I’m not just saying that.
I should also mention that my previous background working in magazines and at several skincare/​beauty companies means that I have tried basically every product under the sun. A skincare junkie from my acne-​prone preteen years and on, I get excited trying new things, but now 99.999% of what’s out there completely pales in comparison. I’m hooked on their products and they are literally all that I use.
Once, my skin was combo/​oily T-​zone with blackheads, milia, open comedones, etc… never really severe, but bad enough to cause embarrassment and discomfort. Now I don’t need to wear makeup– at all. Or use oil blotting sheets. It feels glorious. My skin feels balanced and healthy and strong, and people constantly think I’m about 7 years younger than I actually am. My face glows and it smells amazing from all of the wonderful hydrosols (Sense & Sensitivity and Holy Cow are my favorites) and Nourish & Replenish. My boyfriend tells me how good I smell all the time, and I’ve gotten compliments from friends too. Also the Stress Bump Teas really do help.
Seriously, do your skin a massive favor and get over to the Herborium. Take one of their skincare classes, get a facial, and LISTEN to EVERY word they say about what your skin wants and needs. You’ll be so glad you did.

Got a facial 2 months ago after my face was acting up. The products were so gentle and hydrating. I ended up buying the oil cleanser, moisturizer and and hydrating mist. My face hasn’t had a single breakout since. And the products are all natural which was my main concern.

I got a Level 1 facial with Melanie a week and a half ago and it was an incredible experience. I have been having problems with my skin lately and Melanie asked me all the relevant questions to help me find some solutions. When I told her I was getting married in 6 weeks, she explained how the stress from planning and thinking about it constantly has most likely manifested through my skin in the form of stress bumps on my forehead, directly related to the location of the chaos: in my brain! Fascinating and informative. She also offered great advice on how to change my diet to benefit my skin. It was truly a holistic experience.
They don’t push products here which I love. I ended up buying what I had budgeted for, forehead stress bump tea, a good oil moisturizer, and hydrating misting spray that smells so amazing, I could just eat it up. For the things I wanted but couldn’t get right then and there, Melanie gave me thorough instructions on how I can use ingredients in my own kitchen to get similar benefits. I’ve been doing everything she advised, plus drinking the delicious tea, and my skin has been improving daily.
The facial itself was refreshing and relaxing, including a chest and back massage, thorough extractions, comfortable steam, a mask, and ending with a facial massage that felt like heaven. I will definitely be going back to Melanie for another facial. The skincare products are wonderful as well, they have won me over as a customer.

I had a wonderful facial with Melanie and was completely impressed by how relaxing the experience was. I’ve had several facials elsewhere that weren’t super pleasant and left me feeling worn, but my time with Melanie left me relaxed and rejuvinated with my skin looking and feeling great. I loved the cozy little space and shop up front and loved the all natural products made by the Herborium folks themselves. And I appreciated Melanie’s thoughtful suggestions on products and routines, without any crazy hard-​sell. If you’re looking for a facial, Melanie and the Herborium are definitely worth the trip!

I had a level one facial with Melanie and I can very highly recommend her. Gentle, caring and nurturing, my facial with her was relaxing, informative and restorative. Melanie cares deeply about offering the best possible experience and meeting her clients needs. I look forward to more facials in her care!

Full disclosure — I am a friend and neighbor of Emma, and have long raved about her products to all who would listen. However, I write this to celebrate my son’s healthy bottom! After two trips to the pediatrician and no relief for his diaper rash despite constant attention, the products I received from the Brooklyn Herborium had him fixed up in 12 hours. It is one thing to use products that make my skin look great. It is quite another to have a terribly unhappy child quickly feeling better. My highest recommendation!

Up until a year ago I had pretty great skin but over the past year I have been vexed with a number of problems– patchy dryness, sensitivity, rosacea… Lets just face it, having skin problems sucks. It’s depressing to look at your skin and not be happy with how it looks or feels.
This all started to change the moment I set foot at the Brooklyn Herborium and had a chat with Melanie. After a cup of tea and a conversation about my skin regimen and lifestyle Melanie recommended I use rose hip oil to clean my skin and use a hydrasol and oil, not face cream, for hydrating. I’ve always been into natural skin products but cleaning with oil has always seemed weird for some reason. But I was desperate and after one look at Melanie’s glowing skin I decided to give it a try. I am not kidding when I say that I noticed a slight difference within a day and then, of course, as the weeks went by my skin just got better and better.
About a month into my new skin routine I was a complete convert.
I recently went back for more products and a facial. I’ve always been a big fan of facials. This one was something else. During my visit I saw Melanie once again. First let me say, not only is she knowledgeable but her demeanor and energy are so soothing. I was relaxed right away. All the products smell amazing I just had this overall sense of well being and like I was in good, attentive caring hands.
I loved my facial from Melanie. She is truly magical. Both times I have been to see her I have felt like she is really invested in me and my skin.
I can’t wait to get another facial!

I waited a week after my facial to give a review to see how my broken-​out skin settled into its new holistic routine, and well… I have to agree with every other five star review on here: this shi#%@ works!
New to NY, I was on the hunt for a new organic skin guru who formulated their own scary-​ingredient-​free products, and I was thrilled to find Brooklyn Herborium. And then I was not so thrilled to see their facials were $ 80 more than my place in SF. But the philosophy of the company and the quality of the ingredients were what I was looking for, so I took the plunge.
AND THANK GOD I DID. Emma is officially my new skin sherpa. She educates you on the intelligence of your skin (I have mid 30s skin), and how it is a powerful self-​regulating organ that we are confusing with all of our acids, zit meds, wrinkle erasers etc. She informed me that what was strewn across my forehead was in fact not acne, but stress bumps, and to stop picking them and let them run their course. That I need to fix them from the inside out, and to let them be if they appear.
It’s been a week, and I fought not to squeeze the red bumps that remained after my extractions, and fought not to kill them with Mario Bedescu zit ointment. I was doubtful her natural products were going to clear up the whiteheads that were beginning to form here and there (which I secretly squeezed a little). And low and behold! A week later my skin is crystal clear and the smoothest it’s ever been in my life. Ever. She said my skin was really dry and that just moisturizing it properly would make a world of difference in a few months. It’s been a week and I’m already shocked at how great my skin looks.
Who knew such a simple routine of the simplest of ingredients was all my face needed. The products are a bit pricy, but they are organic and they effing work. Aka worth all the money in the world to me.
If you aren’t ready to plunk down money for the facial, at least have a consultation with her and try her products. You’ll be amazed.

Let me first start by saying Emma is great and kind and does care, and the products all smell amazing. I also really loved that it was a small business, because I prefer supporting them.
That said, for my particular skin type, converting to this method was a disaster. I have always had very clear skin, with the occasional forehead breakout. Prior to going to Emma, I started doing some oil cleansing on my own and was breaking out a bit more than usual so I decided to see someone who knew what they were doing.
I went to see Emma for a facial and started using her line of products exactly as directed. Within a month, I had a whole face full of awful acne. It clogged all my pores, and I did it PERFECTLY — I wiped off every last bit of oil, used a different clean towel every night, massaged trouble areas, etc.
Emma was VERY sweet and when I said I thought I had a problem, I went in and she gave me different products free of charge, and encouraged me to keep going as this was a «purging period.» Prior to oil cleansing, I had just been using a simple cleanser and moisturizer — nothing extremely suppressive that was holding acne at bay or anything. Again, I have always had naturally clear skin.
After six weeks of using the products, I finally stopped believing in the purging period when I started getting large breakouts on my cheeks and jawline (where I have never had breakouts in my life and just couldn’t believe it was a purge). It took 3 to 4 months of facials elsewhere and seeing a dermatologist and finally reverting back to my pre-​oil-​cleansing face care routine and my face is finally clearing up with minor scarring, but this ended up costing me hundreds and hundreds of dollars, time, and a lot of trauma! I think it will be another 3 or 4 months before the pigmentation fades.
This post is NOTHING against Emma, who is sweet and was kind and helpful and seems to know her stuff, but it’s a warning that the product — for me, at least — really messed up my skin and I’m frustrated at 1) the amount of money I’ve had to spend to correct it, and 2) the minor scars I did not have before.

This is a way long overdue review. (I’m sorry Emma!). I came upon Emma and her line of products in early 2012. I’d just gone off of birth control pills and at the age of 32, dear God, my skin was a war zone. It was the first time in my life (aside for a few bouts in my early 20s) that I had trouble with my skin. When I had problems in my 20s, it was all hormonal chin stuff. Flash forward 10 years, and 6 years of oral contraceptives later (+ lots of dermatologist prescribed harsh medicine and oral treatments), here I was with horrific cystic acne and things I had never seen on my face before.
A good friend recommended Emma because she doesn’t treat the symptoms, she treats the problems. We talked a lot about diet, my hormones, my menstrual cycle and how all of those things contributed.
Emma suggested I try a whole slew of things until I figure out what worked. It was frustrating as hell, and I had my moments of doubt. I would go to her for my regular facial visits, and ask, «Emma, will I have acne for the rest of my life? Do I just have bad skin?» Almost always, she was optimistic and confident that my skin needed time to heal (one month, in fact, for every year that I was ‘suppressing’ my skin with birth control, and harsh topical treatments, and even some everyday stuff like basic moisturizer). There were a couple of times that we both looked at each other and wondered, why isn’t this going away?
I’d had tried everything– I cut out soy, sugar, dairy. Reduced caffeine. Tried herbal tea concoctions. Kombucha. Green Juice. Liver cleanses. Yes, those all helped to a degree. But they were only part of the puzzle. It was about giving my skin time to recover and do what it needed to do to rebalance and get back to its natural state. I needed to let my skin reboot and my system flush itself of the hormones that were lingering from the pill.
That time period was filled with doubt and wonder (and temptation to run out and order Proactiv), but when all was said and done, Emma was right. It was almost 6 months on the nose (one month for every year) when my skin started coming around. Not perfectly, and not entirely, but it improved. Breakouts become less severe. And I could control them with my diet, amazingly.
It’s been 2.5 years since I started with Emma, and I seriously never thought the day would come that I could walk around without makeup on. She always said it would, and no joke, it is finally here!
Yes, I still have my breakouts (usually around my period) but nothing, (and I mean NOTHING) like the ones I had back when I started with Emma.
The products are all natural, and smell yummy, and everything about Emma and the Brooklyn Herborium is just the absolute best. I seriously cannot say enough good things.

I am literally obsessed with the Brooklyn Herborium.
The first product I discovered was the Cow Fart Juice, and I have been using it religiously since 2011. I use it for everything. Breakout? Break out the CFJ. Burn? Throw some CFJ on it. Bug bite? Sure. Cut, scrape, or wound? Definitely. Its antibacterial properties are amazingly healing — there have been times when I’ve put CFJ on a breakout, gone to bed, and woken up the next morning with clear skin.
I had terrible skin growing up and tried everything out there, including lots of prescriptions and chemical peels. Discovering Cow Fart Juice was one of the best things that ever happened to me. It completely turned my skin around.
I thought my skin couldn’t get any better, but then I went to Emma for my first facial earlier this year. My CFJ routine was good, but she set me up with a personalized plan that was more tailored to my skin’s needs. Now I use the See No Evil to oil cleanse at night and the Holy Basil hydrosol mixed with the Nourish and Replenish oil in the morning to moisturize. I use the Sow Your Wild Oats to exfoliate twice a week and then I use my good old CFJ as necessary.
I’ve now had two facials from Emma and am going back for my third soon. My skin is reacting beautifully to her treatments. She warned me that it would feel different and not like the skin I’m used to, and that is very true — in the best way possible!
I’m planning a facial from Emma the week before my wedding, not only because her treatments make my skin glow, but also because it’s incredibly relaxing to see her. The space smells good and is peaceful, and Emma herself is full of wisdom about skincare and nutrition.
I cannot recommend the Brooklyn Herborium highly enough. Check it out and get ready to become a convert!

First of all, I have several skin related issues (hormonal acne) and I have tried endless over the counter and Rx products, birth control, antibiotics… you name it! I got to a point in my life where I wanted to live a more holistic natural lifestyle (not just skin care), and that’s when I found Brooklyn Herborium. I’ve tried some of their products including Sow your Wild Oats, Nourishing Oil, Clarifying mist, LOMAH and the Vita-​C. All the products are amazing and my skin has been really receptive to the holistic skin care approach. Please note that if you have used a lot of suppressive skin care, it takes about 1 month of holistic skincare to get rid of 1 year of suppressive skin care.
It has been about 6 months of using BH products and my skin has improved significantly even though I still have a lot of issues. Unfortunately, they are located in New York and I live in Orlando which makes it difficult to visit and receive a personalized consultation. However, I’ve personally spoken to Emma (skin care specialist) on the phone and she is such a caring person that truly cares about skin care and she was extremely helpful since I had several questions regarding the holistic skin care approach and the best routine for my skin needs. Their prices are a bit high but you have to live in your skin for all your life! And you ultimately you get what you pay for and in the long term your skin will thank you!
If you are looking to change your skin care routine to a more holistic, nourishing approach then I strongly recommend trying out their products for at least 6 months! Anything worth having takes time! Check them out if you are in NY or surrounding areas!

I am a self-​confessed skincare junkie and over the past few years I have resorted to stuff like retinols, lighteners and other chemical skincare products to deal with sun damage and aging. My rationale — despite being completely dedicated to all things natural in all other aspects of my life was that natural stuff just didn’t cut it for some of my skin issues. I was totally blown away by Emma’s knowledge when I wandered into the Herborium that had opened up down the street from my Columbia Street apartment. Her glowing and flawless skin didn’t hurt, either.
I decided to try her totally different system of an herbal mist + oil (no fillers, preservatives, etc). For 3 weeks, my skin was dry and patchy, which wasn’t all that abnormal for my dry, often flakey skin. By week 4, I could actually not put moisturizer on my face without it feeling like it was going to crack off. It was dewey looking and better than it had looked in ages. I also got the zinc stick which I LOVE. LOVE. It’s a little white, but it provides awesome sun protection, doesn’t run in your eyes even with profuse sweat and it smells like essential oil.
Total convert here. The natural component is a bonus, but really, the products speak for themselves.

Great natural skincare products. A few things I’ve tried are, Magick Potion Lotion, Vita-​C 10 Day Wild Berry Treatment, DMAE Firming Eye Gel, Orange Blossom Body Lotion (lovely scent!), Pore Refining Mineral Mist.
I make some of my own skincare products and their products use ingredients I know work, are natural and won’t harm the skin. I also love that they emphasize eating right and general health on their site, and facial massage (which is one of the best things for your skin).
I’ve only used the products but I imagine the services (facials) are outstanding as well.
Love this place. And you’re supporting a local business!

I received Between You and the Moon products in a Monthly Express subscription gift box and let me say that I am OBSESSED! I’ve always been a little skeptical of applying oil to my combination skin type face, but since I am pregnant, thought I would try some natural products. I received the Sense and Sensitivity Mineral Mist and the Nourish and Replenish Oil and have been using them together at night, after washing my face. My skin looks blemish free and radiant! I will definitely be reordering when I use these up and am eager to try the rest of their products as well. Everything smells wonderful and the aesthetic and philosophy are so refreshing.

Don’t be fooled by cheap imitations. Brooklyn Herborium is the real deal. In addition to really fixing people’s skin issues, they have a multitude of other amazing home made products, herbs, tea blends, and more. I particularly love their men’s line, Between a Rock and a Hard Face. The models are so handsome too. :)

I found Emma after an extensive search for a holistic esthetician with a clean skincare line. I’m and esthetician myself, transitioning over to non-​toxic skincare and Emma was definitely THEE best person to help me get my skin out of the chemical pool and onto the right path.
The shop is small but cozy, and her products line some walls and shelves along with beautiful jars full of herbs and bits n bobs. She has a small treatment room where she works her magic and she definitely does NOT rush with getting the job done. She told me my options with the facial and was not pushy at all, gave me thorough extractions and answered all my questions, sharing a bit of knowledge with each step on the treatment.
She wasn’t pushy on the product front either. She was willing to work with me with what I already had but my mentality is go hard or go home! She then showed me her recommendations for me and I chose to take it all, including a wonderful tea to boost my immune system and help my skin. Her regimen for me is actually way more simple than what I was already doing at home, she recommended 5 products for me, one of which I use only 3 times a week and another of which I bought 2 of so really she only recommended 4 items. I’ve been sticking hardcore to her regimen and drinking my tea and my skin has completely transformed in a very short period of time. It really is the best I’ve seen my skin probably in my whole life, and it feels nourished and comfortable. I used to use all types of treatments and washes and retinol to maintain my skin and keep congestion away but now I will exclusively only use Emma’s products on my skin! Run, don’t walk over to her spot in Brooklyn. Someone in another review said Emma’s products are the future of skincare and they truly are. Emma, you’ve totally saved me and changed my life, thank you for your care and keep doing what you’re doing! I’ll be seeing you soon ;)

I came here for a facial consultation. Emma is very knowledgeable and just has a cool spirit all around. I bought some products but will give it some time to see if it’ll actually help.
I love the fact that she makes it all and the products are pure and not full of preservatives!
I will return for another service as soon as I can. Prices are a bit high for my pockets.

This company has literally changed my life! I live in Cali. and heard about Emma and Between You and the Moon from my sister in NYC. I suffer from perioral dermatitis and have always suppressed the itchy redness with steroids and other creams. I am very much into natural approaches– including with my diet, health prevention and now with my skin treatment. Emma has helped me formulate a skin care régime which is in balance with my organic approach to life and living an overall clean life style. I LOVE everything I have tried and swear by the See No Evil oil and Cow Fart! Holy moly! These products have freed me from nasty steroids– which really never healed my skin… Amazing company and wonderful products! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND BETWEEN YOU AND THE MOON!!!