From the Iron Range to Your Skin: The Story Behind Our Vermilion Honey Mask
- Laura Hallen
- Aug 6
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 11
For 46 years, I’ve been traveling to “the farm” on Minnesota’s Iron Range. Homesteaded by my dear friend’s family when they emigrated from Finland in the late 1800s, this land inspired the name Maatila Beauty (“maatila” being Finnish for farm). The setting is authentically rustic: no running water, no electricity, just an outhouse and a wood-burning wet sauna for bathing.
This place holds a special piece of my heart—a sanctuary that honors decades of deep friendship and grounds me in my own Scandinavian and Nordic heritage. From my childhood memories and rich family histories to the quiet appreciation for simple pleasures hard work brings. Though it’s no longer an active farm, the land retains its magic, tucked into Norway and Jack Pine forests dotted with chanterelles and wild blueberries.
As kids, we weren’t interested in the blueberries. But for the last decade, we’ve been foraging these abundant wild gems in secret bogs, along roadsides, and beneath black spruce trees under the power lines. My friend is a true expert, scouting out the best patches while the berries are still green.
While I use our harvest for jams, galettes, smoothies, and pies, my favorite creation is our Vermilion Honey Mask.
This versatile formula acts as a mask, gentle cleanser, and exfoliator. The base blends raw honey with wild blueberries and raspberries foraged directly from the farm, which we dry and mill into a skin-safe powder. We infuse olive oil with rosehip, blueberry, and chaga (also foraged from the land) to add a layer of deep nourishment, then finish the formula with blue tansy essential oil to balance both dry and oily complexions.
If you’ve never used honey in your skincare, it’s a transformative experience. Emollient raw honey works alongside the vitamin C, natural fruit acids, and active enzymes in wild berries while gently exfoliating without compromising your skin barrier.
How to Use the Vermilion Honey Mask:
Prep: Mist your face with our Oasis Elixir (or plain water), then make sure your hands are dry.
Apply: Scoop out a quarter-sized amount. Thanks to the milled berries, it glides across damp skin with a thin, textured, jam-like feel.
Rest: Leave it on for 15–20 minutes. I love letting it sit while relaxing in the bath or showering.
Exfoliate & Rinse: Wet your hands with warm water, gently massage the mask in circular motions to exfoliate, then rinse thoroughly.
Your skin will feel instantly softer and deeply hydrated. To seal in the benefits, follow with the Oasis Elixir, Lux Serum, and Canopy Balm. Clearing away dead skin cells allows these follow-up products to penetrate far more effectively.
Experience the magic of small-batch botanical skincare for yourself—shop the Vermilion Honey Mask today.
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Warmly,
Laura, Founder Maatila Beauty
