A badge many thru-hikers wear with honor is being considered “hiker-trash.” This isn’t a derogatory phrase in the hiking community. Instead, it nods to the bummy lifestyle many hikers embrace while on long trails. Part of that lifestyle comes from the lack of showers and personal hygiene we’re able to indulge in. Most hikers aren’t carrying luxury items like shampoo or even deodorant (even though we desperately need it).
When you’re carrying everything you need to survive on your back, every item has to earn its place. Hikers meticulously weigh an item’s usefulness against the extra ounces it adds to their pack, and because of that weight factor, many of us skip things that might make us feel a little more comfortable or cared for.
This has always been true of what’s in my pack. My first-aid supplies are usually limited to some Band-Aids, a few alcohol swabs, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and Benadryl. I never carried bug spray or itch-relieving cream until we were swarmed by bloodthirsty mosquitoes on the PCT. At that point, I would have added almost any amount of weight to my pack to get relief from the constant stings and bites. When we were in town at the height of mosquito season, I hastily bought bug spray and hydrocortisone cream at a drugstore.
Thru-hiking is a deep immersion in the natural world, and I didn’t love having to apply all these extra products to my skin just to ease irritation from bug bites. It felt counterintuitive to live so in tune with nature while relying on manufactured products for comfort.
That’s why I was excited when Janice, founder of InVine Botanicals, reached out to me. InVine Botanicals is a plant-based skincare brand created to “bring balance, comfort, and gentle support for everyday life, just as nature intended.” In conversation with Janice, I learned about InVine Botanicals’ Whole Herb Infusion process and their line of natural balms.
Circumstances for Review
I was sent the Premium Gift Set – Nature’s Finest Trio for review. The set contains three full-size 2-ounce balms packaged in a pine wood gift box: the Bug Bite Balm, Breathe Free Balm, and Muscle Revive Balm.
About the Products
InVine Botanicals is passionate about creating products that are truly plant-based. Each product uses herbs, flowers, and plants from the company’s garden in Tallahassee, Florida, which are slow-infused with organic oils for 6–8 weeks before being blended with local beeswax and Vitamin E. According to their website, InVine Botanicals’ formulas contain no additional chemicals, emulsifiers, or preservatives.
The ingredient lists for the Bug Bite Balm, Breathe Free Balm, and Muscle Revive Balm are simple and easy to understand. Organic extra virgin olive oil, organic virgin coconut oil, beeswax, and tocopherol (Vitamin E) form the base, while blends of herbs like ginger, peppermint, spearmint, rosemary, sweet basil, and lemon thyme give each balm its unique properties. Essential oils add to those properties while giving each balm a distinct, calming scent.
Nature’s Finest Trio Pros
Natural Remedy
I truly value having a plant-based option to reach for instead of always defaulting to conventional products. I do think conventional treatments have their place, but when I’m looking for something gentler, it’s nice to have another option.
When reminiscing about my time being eaten alive by mosquitoes on the PCT, the Bug Bite Balm would have been a great product to have alongside hydrocortisone cream. This summer, I’ve reached for the Breathe Free Balm in the mornings to help me feel more open and clear instead of immediately using my allergy-relief nasal spray. For the past few months, I’ve also been training for my first ultramarathon, and after long runs I’ve applied the Muscle Revive Balm to my tired and aching legs instead of using Icy Hot.
I’ve found that the InVine Botanicals products don’t necessarily provide the same level of relief as some of the conventional products I’ve used, but they work well alongside them. I appreciate having options when it comes to what I put on my skin, rather than feeling like I have to rely on the same treatments every time a familiar issue comes up.
Indulgent Self-Care
I think a lot of the “relief” our society seeks is instantaneous. We want to take a pill and have our aches and pains disappear immediately. Often, we aren’t willing to take the time to actually care for ourselves in ways that require more patience. I’m guilty of this, especially when it comes to my physical well-being. While training for my ultramarathon, I’ve learned the hard way that not prioritizing recovery and self-care comes with consequences.
I know that habits like stretching each morning and night can help my body feel its best. Do I do this daily like I want to? No. But I notice a difference on the days that I do versus the days that I don’t. Taking a few extra minutes to practice habits that make me feel my best can be challenging with a demanding schedule. That’s why we gravitate toward quick fixes like popping a pill, or simply push through and live with discomfort.
Using InVine Botanicals’ products has given me a reason to slow down and indulge in a little self-care. While training for my ultramarathon, I’ve added the Muscle Revive Balm to my recovery routine, and it has made a noticeable difference in how I wind down after difficult workouts. At night after long runs or hard training sessions, I massage the balm into my calves. I also like to massage my neck and shoulders with it before bed, and I’ve noticed that I sleep better on the nights when I take the extra time to do this.
This simple routine has helped me feel less achy and sore the following morning, but just as importantly, it has encouraged me to be more intentional about recovery.
Proper solutions take time, and the same can be said of healing and recovery. Taking a few extra moments to massage one of InVine Botanicals’ balms into my skin forces me to slow down and connect with myself. The Breathe Free Balm gives me a reason to pause and focus on my breath, while using the Bug Bite Balm draws my attention to the sensations on my skin. Even the slow-infusion process behind each formula feels like a reminder that good things take time.
Nature’s Finest Trio Cons
2-Ounce Glass Containers Aren’t Packable
If I were packing for a backpacking trip, I would have a hard time justifying adding a 2-ounce glass container to my pack. Carrying anything glass into the backcountry can be risky, and I don’t think these balms would make the cut for a thru-hike. The jars are made of thick glass, but I would still worry about them cracking or being crushed in my pack. I’d also be concerned about the balm melting in hot conditions and leaking inside my pack.
InVine Botanicals recently released a new product, the Travel Trio, that alleviates some of my concerns. Instead of the 2-ounce glass jars, the same three balms are packaged in small 0.5-ounce tins. These smaller, durable tins would work much better inside a backpack, and I think they would be worth the weight for a backpacking trip.
Cost
True to my hiker-trash nature, I wouldn’t necessarily want to pay $98 for the Nature’s Finest Trio set. On their own, each 2-ounce balm ranges from $32–$39. When purchased as the Nature’s Finest Trio, all three balms come together for $98. The balms are nice to have, but the price point is part of why I called them “indulgent” earlier.
We all spend our money on the things that are important to us, and I think investing in our health and well-being is worthwhile. While the Nature’s Finest Trio may feel like a splurge, the balms could be a worthwhile purchase for someone who prioritizes using natural products. According to the company, each 2-ounce jar is good for 12 months, which makes the cost easier to justify for me. The set would also make a thoughtful gift for someone who enjoys natural skincare and self-care products.
If the price point is the biggest deterrent, I’d again recommend the Travel Trio. For $30, you receive the Bug Bite Balm, Breathe Free Balm, and Muscle Revive Balm, each in a 0.5-ounce tin. Plus, the smaller size and lower price point make it possible to try all three products before committing to the larger 2-ounce versions.
Conclusion
I’ve really enjoyed using all three of the balms included in the Nature’s Finest Trio. My favorite is the Muscle Revive Balm, which has become a regular part of my post-run recovery routine and helps me relax at the end of a long day.
I also appreciate InVine Botanicals’ slow creation process and the thought that goes into making products from whole herbs and plants. While I don’t think these balms completely replace the conventional products I’ve used in the past, I appreciate having a more natural option that I can incorporate into my routine.
The Nature’s Finest Trio comes with a relatively high price tag, and the glass containers aren’t practical for backpacking. For me, those are the biggest drawbacks. But if you’re looking for an indulgent addition to your self-care routine, or a thoughtful gift for someone who enjoys natural products, I think the trio is worth considering. And for hikers like me who are always trying to balance comfort with pack weight, the Travel Trio may be the better option.
InVine Botanicals Premium Gift Set – Nature’s Finest Trio was gifted for this review.
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