The School of UnLearning

Turn on and log-in, class is about to start! SOUL is our blog where we review and rethink conversations about our bodies, our social lives, and our planet. We’re tackling everything from skin disease and the beauty industry’s ugly side to environmental justice and community care. Feed your SOUL at The School of UnLearning.

Skin
Your Clean Curriculum
We're covering the foundations of skinimalism and unlearning the beauty myths that keep our skin and flora from thriving.
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Wellness
Your Skin’s Favorite Wellness Tip? Get Dirty.
The Microbial Magic of the Outdoors Your body isn’t just human—it’s home to trillions of microb...
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Skin
Unf*ck Your Skincare Routine
When it comes to getting clean, there’s a lot of misinformation out there and even more missing i...
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Skin
Skincare for Life
By J.T. Alvarez When it comes to skincare, we're often bombarded with the hottest hypes, newest ...
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Skin
Bacteria, Acne, & You
The Key to Your Skin's Health During and immediately after birth, we are exposed to a wide variet...
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All Posts

Lesson 2 Part 2: Peels Schmeels

Skin
Lesson 2: Reactive Skin is No Accident

Skin
Lesson 1 Part 2: The Dirt on Soap

Skin
Lesson 1: Stop trying to make soap happen

Skin
Your Clean Curriculum

We're covering the foundations of skinimalism and unlearning the beauty myths that keep our skin and flora from thriving.
Skin
12 Years (and we almost didn’t make it)

CRUDE turned 12 this week! And I am feeling so many feelings. This birthday feels different, largely because we almost didn't make it here. I start...
Live CRUDE
Bacteria: Finding Balance

By Judé Alvarez During and immediately after birth, we are exposed to a wide variety of microbiota which colonize our bodies and integrate with do...
Skin
Halfway to Spring | Choosing the Long Game

On ecological crisis, national shutdown, and choosing the long game
Live CRUDE
Not All Fiber Is Created Equal: The Three Types Your Gut Needs

Fiber is one of the most underrated nutrients out there—and it’s also one of the most essential for your gut microbiome. Our microbiomes evolved on...
Wellness
Fiber > Probiotics: Why Feeding Your Flora Matters More Than Adding Bacteria

You’ve probably heard the buzz about probiotics and fermented foods. Yogurt, kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut—they're everywhere. And while these foods...
Wellness
Why We Love Sunflower Oil for Skin Health (And Science Does Too)

If you’ve ever used CRUDE, chances are you’ve already experienced the magic of sunflower oil—one of our favorite ingredients and a foundational par...
Skin
Microbiome-Friendly Skincare for the Whole Family

When it comes to skincare, gentleness is often mistaken for ineffectiveness. But in reality, the most effective products are the ones that support ...
Skin
Your Skin’s Favorite Wellness Tip? Get Dirty.

The Microbial Magic of the Outdoors Your body isn’t just human—it’s home to trillions of microbes that work around the clock to protect, regulate...
Wellness
Your Skin’s Invisible Superpower

Your skin is home to a bustling, invisible world—a living ecosystem called the microbiome. And it’s not just along for the ride. Your microbiome is...
Skin
Ungredients—Why Less Is More for Your Skin

Your Skin Is Smart. Let It Work. We’ve been told that skincare is about adding—more steps, more products, more ingredients. But the truth? Great s...
Skin
The Beauty Industry’s Pay-to-Play Problem (and why I chose another way)

By Denise Cartwright, CRUDE Founder/CEO On Vox’s Today, Explained podcast, former Sephora executive Artemis Patrick breaks down the pay-to-pla...
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Is Your Skincare Disrupting Your Microbiome? Here’s What You Need to Know

What Is the Skin’s Microbiome and Why Does It Matter? Your skin is home to a thriving ecosystem of beneficial bacteria, fungi, and microorganis...
Skin
Now in Salt Lake City: The CRUDE Facial

Unf*ck your facial Get in on the ultimate CRUDE experience with a 60 minute facial and consultation with our Founder, Denise Cartwright. Book your...
Skin
Now Hiring: Preferred Esthetician in Salt Lake City

Since 2014, CRUDE has helped thousands of people around the world bring their skin into homeostasis with our flora-friendly products. This spring, ...
Skin
Soap is wrecking our skin. So why do we use it everyday?

It's time to quit soap and defoam your biome. When you think of people who don't use soap we know what you're imagining. Burning Man, 'barefoot is ...
Skin
Skincare for Life

By J.T. Alvarez When it comes to skincare, we're often bombarded with the hottest hypes, newest trends, and revolutionary technology that promises...
Skin
Let Your Nature Thrive with Curiosity

Curiosity is Salt Lake City's first zero proof (read: alcohol-free) bottle shop and bar, mixing up cool and tasty spins on 'mocktails' that anyone ...
Wellness
3 Simple Ways to Support Your Microbiome (Without Spending a Dime)

by Denise Cartwright, CRUDE Founder and CEO ‘Microbiome’ is a hot new wellness buzzword — and pro, pre, and post-biotic drinks, supplements, and pe...
Wellness
Healthy Soil for a Healthy Planet

Why you should care about regenerative farming By Cattie Khoury, Toodaloo Founder Ever heard the saying “as above, so below”? This expression’s me...
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Flying High with Jing Gao

With CRUDE Founder & CEO Denise Cartwright It’s Founder Friday! I’m writing my interview questions for Jing Gao, founder of Fly By Jing, as I e...
Wellness
Julia Collins: What She Brings to the Table

WHO WE’RE ROOTING FOR Julia Collins - Foodie, Earth Mama, Founder & CEO of Planet FWD & Moonshot Snacks. Her passion for food has driven i...
Wellness
Four-twenty 411: Endocannabinoidome

Endocannabinoidome: Interconnectedness of the endocannabinoid system and the microbiota and their role in modulating the gut, inflammation, mental ...
Wellness
Bacteria, Acne, & You

The Key to Your Skin's Health During and immediately after birth, we are exposed to a wide variety of microbiota which colonize our bodies and inte...
Skin
Back to Basics

Why Minimalism is the Best Move for Your Skin By J.T. Alvarez The ‘more is more’ mentality isn’t doing anything for your skin. Elaborate regimens ...
Skin
Movement for Mental Health: Dancorcism with Piera

A Fundraiser for The Loveland Foundation In Partnership with CRUDE x Humble Bloom You’re invited to a joyful recharge with Piera Gelardi! Join u...
Wellness
International Women's Day

Happy International Women's Day! For over 100 years, women across the world have joined together in the fight for equality and justice. Initially o...
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Meet the Microbialites

Great Salt Lake's Living Rocks at Risk By J.T. Alvarez They’re not fuzzy, cuddly, or adorably helpless, but these endangered organisms still dese...
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Introducing Amber Tamm

Amber Tamm is ready to share her bounty We’re thrilled to introduce Amber Tamm, the newest contributor to the School of UnLearning! Amber Tamm is a...
Wellness
Weatherproof Your Skin with a Winterized Routine

Seasons greetings! It's that time of year again: cozy knits, hot cocoa by the fire...dry, chapped hands. Winter can do a number on your largest org...
Skin
Oil-Cleansing Guide

Finally, a suds-free, plant-based, flora-focused cleansing system that works. Sudsing cleansers and exfoliants strip and inflame the skin, disrupti...
Skin
Save Our Great Salt Lake

The Eco Crisis Threatening CRUDE’s Home The Great Salt Lake is drying up. As it does, an increasing amount of decades’ worth of industrial waste an...
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Unf*ck Your Skincare Routine

When it comes to getting clean, there’s a lot of misinformation out there and even more missing information yet to be addressed. That's why we’re t...
Skin
Routine Reset

Taking self-hate out of skincare By Sage Adams I think somewhere along the way I got things really backwards. At some point I decided that self-ca...
Skin
(micro)Biome Break with Dr. Neumann

Our Health Depends on Homeostasis By Dr. Kristin Neumann, PhD Think of our planet with all its diverse ecosystems. There are wild forests, deserts...
Skin
Honoring an Inclusive Father's Day

Thinking of and breathing for all of you this Father’s Day By Eric Mosley According to retail advertising companies, Father’s Day is the summer ho...
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The Dirt on Soap

Coming Clean on a Dirty History By J.T. Alvarez No one can dispute soap's value in hand-washing, a critical step in stopping the spread of disease...
Skin
Rethinking Skincare

Trusting the wisdom of nature By Denise Cartwright Skincare is more advanced than ever, so why is our skin getting worse? Despite increasingly com...
Skin
Thriving with Accessible Skincare

Social media and the influx of self-care culture By Julian Gavino Over the years, we’ve been barraged with advice on how to dress, how to make you...
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Restoring Communities with Return to the Heart

All proceeds of the Balancing the Biome Summit support Return to the Heart Foundation. Read on for more information on their vital mission transfor...
Live CRUDE
The History of Skin

The untold story of our largest organ By J.T. Alvarez Some two million years ago, early hominids - the family of primates that includes extinct ea...
Skin
A Letter from our Founder

A Rebrand for Reconnection By Denise Cartwright, CRUDE Founder/CEO "All flourishing is mutual. Soil, fungus, tree, squirrel, boy—all are the benef...
Skin
Oils are the New Soap

Why it’s time to ditch your cleanser By Dr. Caroline Lewis, MSc ND There’s a new wave of skincare to level-up your skin routine. Want to boost you...
Wellness
CRUDE Cares: The Floret Coalition

CRUDE is a proud member of The Floret Coalition, an anti-racist collective of small businesses supporting and funding equity-oriented actions via m...
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Beyond Recyclable

The Big Idea Behind Staying Small CRUDE has been told time and time again that we should add this, that, or the other thing to expand our product o...
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(micro)Biome Break: Probiotics

The best probiotic you've never heard of... Okay, maybe you have heard of it, but you probably haven't heard that they beat out supplements and syn...
Wellness
LET YOUR NATURE THRIVE | JoJo Bluemel

In 2018 we featured a lovely model — JoJo Bluemel — on our homepage and all over our marketing. I was so excited to feature JoJo, who is trans, and...
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