At Rebecca Day 360, science isn’t an afterthought — it’s the heartbeat of everything we make. Every single ingredient goes through its own breakdown testing phase, starting long before extraction, because I believe understanding the full story of an ingredient is the only way to make a product that truly works.
From Soil to Science Lab: How the Journey Begins
It all starts in the wild. I personally source ingredients from some of the world’s most extreme and precious ecosystems. Take a twig of Himalayan Juniper, for example — hand-harvested from 4,900 metres above sea level, growing wild on rocky mountain ridges, where the soil and environment are as tough as the terrain.
Before I even extract its properties, I analyse the soil, altitude, climate conditions, and surrounding ecosystem. These variables shape the chemistry of the plant and determine how it will behave when formulated into a balm, gel or rub. I need to know that — intimately — before I begin.
Microscopy: Seeing the Unseen
Once I have the raw material, the next step is precision. I use university Electron Microscopy labs to explore each ingredient at a microscopic level. Using the JEOL 6610 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), I examine its cellular structure to understand how it interacts with the body and with other ingredients in a formula.
How It Works
For accurate imaging and analysis, the plant material must be prepared in specific ways:
- Hydrated samples are frozen using a nitrogen slush and analysed using Cryo-SEM, keeping the ingredient in its near-natural state.
- Fresh plant material goes through a 24-hour freeze-drying process in the lab. This protects the structural integrity of delicate botanicals far better than hot or air drying ever could.
This stage is where I fall in love with the ingredient all over again. Looking at the cellular makeup of plants that have survived some of the harshest environments on Earth is both humbling and inspiring.
Why I Obsess Over the Details
Even the same plant, harvested from the same region, can behave differently based on weather, altitude shifts, or seasonal changes. That’s why every harvest, every blend, every drop is tested, examined and understood before it goes into a product. There are no shortcuts in nature — and there are none in my lab either.
When ingredients are blended, their interaction — their *synergy* — can change depending on microscopic variables. That’s why I push myself to understand not just *what* an ingredient is, but *how* it works, *why* it works, and *what* it’s capable of doing when paired with others.
Every Ingredient Has Character
No two ingredients — or batches — are ever the same. And I treat them with that same level of respect. The final product you receive isn’t just “natural” — it’s informed by research, refined by science, and inspired by nature’s complexity.