The story behind Dr. Shannon’s Skin Balm
Every product I have created comes with a story; but not all of them are as special as Dr. Shannon's Skin Balm. If you knew Dr. Michael Shannon, you know how lucky you are. If not, allow me a quick introduction. Dr. Michael Shannon was a beloved pediatrician in Orange County, California and partner at Sea View Pediatrics for much of his career. His confident, calm and caring nature put parents and kids at ease, and no question or concern was too big or small.
Dr. Shannon was our pediatrician for both boys, starting with our first hospital visits. Dr. Shannon took a holistic approach to patient care and often suggested natural remedies for minor issues before conventional products or medication. I'll never forget our first appointment, when he suggested I get a can of Crisco (yes, the cooking oil) to use much like one would use vaseline or a diaper ointment; as a preventative for diaper rash, dry chapped skin, eczema, minor wound healing and more. I thought that was such a strange idea, but he explained how this natural, unscented product was much gentler on the skin than most of the conventional products on the market. This was 2006, before the natural products industry exploded.
One of my boys had really sensitive skin and ended up in Dr. Shanon's office for steroids after having a bad reaction to a "natural" sunscreen. At that point in time, I had started playing around with my own skincare recipes. I wanted more than crisco and plain coconut oil - I was on a mission to create the most clean and modern skincare products for moms and babies.
In 2010, my family moved back up to the Napa Valley and later that year, I launched Zoe Organics. I stayed in touch with Dr. Shannon, who had become a friend and mentor. Then in 2011, Dr. Shannon was in a life-threatening car accident and was pinned in his burning vehicle. You can read more about the touching story about the paramedic who saved his life that day (grab some tissues!). While in the hospital, Dr. Shannon got in touch with me asking about a healing balm to use on the grafted skin on his feet. I got to work. We perfected what became Dr. Shannon's Skin Balm together, and when it worked so well, he wanted to offer it to his patients. A large percentage of his patients suffered from eczema and other sensitive skin issues, but the uses for this balm were seemingly endless. We even created a list of 51 ways to use Dr. Shannon's Skin Balm after hearing from his patients and our customers over the years.
When Dr. Shannon passed from cancer in 2023, we were devastated. When I closed Zoe Organics a year later, it was really difficult to also be taking Dr. Shannon's Skin Balm off the market because it was a small piece of his legacy and our connection.
Now, life has a funny way of surprising us, and if you haven't heard the news, Zoe Organics is making a comeback- because we have the best customers! With a new business partnership, the brand is getting a major overhaul and relaunching late 2025 or early 2026. But the good news is, you don't have to wait to get your hands on some of this balmy goodness! I have decided to release some of Dr. Shannon's favorite Skin Balm to keep you and your family covered. For a limited time, you can purchase Dr. Shannon's Skin Balm fresh right here in the shop. Stock up because Fall is just around the corner and you'll be reaching for this skin soother!
With fond memories and so much love!
Heather
