This idea began in Antarctica, and it’s a wild story. I met Jane Golubev in South Africa, on my way to the South Pole. She’s a superhuman. We were on the same plane — a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 that was flying from Cape Town, and landing on the ice runway at the Russian base on the edge of Antarctica. From there, we were to set out towards the center of the continent — the South Pole. It’s thousands of miles of ice and snow, where the cold slaps you in the face like a drunk ex. Also in our group was another Russian guy named Igor, who looked like a villain from a James Bond movie. He walked behind me on the ice and never spoke much. We were all tied to each other in case one of us fell through the ice to the water below. Sure enough, big and tall Igor did fall through the ice into the freezing water underneath — almost dragging us with him. Worried that the hyperthermia would kill him, we carried Igor to the Russian Base before he froze to death. Once we arrived, they threw us into a small Banya (a Russian steam bath with a wood stove) at the edge of the base. We warmed our cold bodies and relaxed our muscles. We soaked into the hot tub with sea salts and oils, and got a few vodka shots under our belt. I’ve thought a lot about that Banya. And how lucky I was to meet Jane, who motivated me to get there. About the joy of thst muscle soak. My lips were chapped too, and I wished I had a better salve for my lips and skin. My skin was dry, and I wanted something for them. So this Winter we started to experiment. It’s why we developed our Ski Chalet collection — which features a Skin Strength Salve, Skin Strength Serum, and a Skin Strength Muscle Soak. Our microbiome-strengthening serum and salve are made with regenerative, vitamin-rich hemp oil. Our muscle soak and exfoliating bar soap contain powerful sea salt harvested off the coast of Big Sur. When they come into contact with your skin they turn on electrical receptors — giving you an energetic jolt, helping to balance your body’s pH, and soothing acne, eczema, psoriasis, and softening your skin and hair. Thanks Jane, this was all because of you. X Richard