Let’s talk about drawing salves! These mysterious, often black, and usually thick concoctions were the original skin magicians. For centuries, people swore by them to “pull things out”—splinters, boils and all sorts of other tiny troubles brewing under the skin. Men and women alike knew their power.

The secret sauce for these historical remedies often came from ichthammol. This isn’t just any old ingredient; it’s a sulfonated shale oil. Think of shale as a sedimentary rock holding ancient organic matter called kerogen, which is basically immature crude oil. To get ichthammol, the shale rock is first mined, then put through a fiery, oxygen-free process called dry distillation. This intense heat converts the kerogen into shale oil. From that, through sulfonation and other processes, comes our star, ichthammol. 

Dr. Alan S. Boyd, from Vanderbilt University, even noted in his 2010 paper, “Ichthammol revisited,” published in the International Journal of Dermatology, that this compound “has been employed in the therapy of psoriasis, eczematous dermatitis, leg ulcers, seborrheic dermatitis and furuncles for over a century and remains a useful topical medicament.” Talk about a tried-and-true hero!

The Great Ingredient Face-Off: Old oil vs. pine power

Now, this is where the conversation gets interesting: the choice of ingredients. Historically, the reliance on some mineral-oil by-products, including good old petroleum jelly (petrolatum), brings a different kind of discussion. Petrolatum hails from crude oil refining. Both it and ichthammol come from ancient organic matter and both involve hydrocarbons. But here’s the kicker: petrolatum is fully formed and inert. It’s a barrier. It seals. It does not nourish. It stifles. It’s a surface solution, nothing more.

Contrast this with pine tar, a truly sustainable alternative. It comes directly from pine trees and is made by carbonizing (heating) pine wood. This process, a distillation of wood, yields the tar. Its history is incredibly long—more than 2,000 years. Even Hippocrates himself wrote about it. Modern research confirms its efficacy. As documented by Barnes and Greive in their 2017 review “Topical pine tar: a review of its properties with a focus on its use in psoriasis” in the Australasian Journal of Dermatology, pine tar is antipruritic (stops that annoying itch), anti-inflammatory and antifungal. It also helps reduce DNA synthesis and mitotic activity, which promotes normal keratinization. This is a material that works with the skin, not just on it.

The unchanging skin troubles (and how salves kick ‘em out)

Some problems never change, and drawing salves have been put to work for countless skin issues:

Splinters and slivers: Whether wood, metal, or glass, these tiny invaders under the flesh are a sharp fight to remove. Salves help them out.

Boils and abscesses: Hot, festering lumps? The salve helped them break and facilitated their drainage.

Ingrown hairs: Hair gone rogue, refusing to surface? The salve helped bring it out.

Minor skin irritations: From plants like poison ivy or nettles, salves were used to soothe inflamed skin.

Insect bites and stings: Mosquitoes, spiders, bees, it doesn’t matter—for relief and to draw out stingers.

Minor skin infections: Like an ingrown toenail, for its antiseptic action.

Eczema and psoriasis: To reduce irritation, calm inflammation and break the dreaded itch-scratch cycle.

Acne and acne rosacea: To lessen the skin’s anger and inflammation.

Minor cuts and scrapes: To aid in the healing process.

Bringing the old ways into the new light

At illumia Skincare, we deeply respect the old ways. We believe they hold fundamental truths. My job is to bring that truth forward, but to make it clean, modern, and to choose sustainable, truly beneficial ingredients.

That’s why we call our creation illumia’s Skin Fix: A drawing salve. It’s a clearer name, but it does the same work—only better.

Every single ingredient is chosen with a clear purpose:

Pine tar: This is our original “puller.” It’s strong and documented for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, helping to soothe and treat various skin conditions.

Raw beeswax: This isn’t just a thickener; it holds the salve to the skin, making sure it stays put. More importantly, raw beeswax provides a protective, breathable barrier. It contains natural humectant properties, drawing moisture to the skin, and has inherent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities, supporting overall skin health.

Unrefined coconut oil: Our soft, smooth base. Unrefined coconut oil retains more of its natural nutrients. It’s rich in fatty acids, including lauric acid, which offers fantastic moisturizing and antimicrobial benefits. It supports the skin’s barrier function and can help soothe irritated skin.

Willow bark extract: This cleans gently. It contains natural salicylates for mild exfoliation.

Frankincense: Chosen specifically for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic benefits in skin health.

Calendula extract: This soothes the skin after the pulling. It’s known for its calming and healing effects.

Urea: This helps loosen the top skin, getting it ready so things can move right out.

Tea tree oil: A powerful antiseptic to clean and kill what shouldn’t be there.

Kaolin clay: Draws out dirt and impurities, and helps dry the area.

Zinc oxide: Protects the skin like a shield. It offers calming and protective properties.

These ingredients don’t just sit there; they work together as a team, for the skin. They’re here to do the old job with new knowledge, and with much better, more conscious choices.

illumia’s Skin Fix: A Drawing Salve is ready. It will work. It will pull. The job is done, dear reader.