About Forage & Soothe Botanicals
About Forage & Soothe
Forage & Soothe was born from the meeting of science and sensitivity — a botanically intelligent approach to self-care created by food scientist and formulator Sylvia Chong. Each product is designed to calm, nourish, and restore balance — supporting everyday resilience through foundational care, targeted support, and thoughtful rituals.
From Forage to Soothe — wellness guided by botanical intelligence.
Sylvia: Professional Agrologist, Food Scientist, Formulator, Nature-Led Maker![]()
Hi, I’m Syl, founder of Forage & Soothe.
I started Forage & Soothe because I needed skincare that didn’t make me react. Living with an autoimmune condition has meant living with a body that is sensitive — to foods, fragrances, and even many so-called “natural” ingredients. I learned early that “gentle” and “natural” are not the same as well-tolerated.
So I did what I know how to do: I looked closely.
With a background in food science and product development, I began examining what I was putting on my body with the same rigor I applied to what I put into it. What I found were ingredients that, while common and well-marketed, quietly contributed to imbalance for bodies like mine. Removing them was not simple — and finding products that truly respected physiological sensitivity proved harder than it should have been.
Forage & Soothe grew out of that gap.
I’m a research nerd at heart. With a Master’s in Food Science and years of formulation experience, I dig deeply into the chemistry, function, and tolerability of every botanical and ingredient before it earns a place in a product. Nothing is included unless it is well-researched, purposeful, and aligned with how the body actually functions. Each product is crafted in small batches, with the same care I use for my own skin.
People often ask whether my products are natural. The truth is, “natural” can mean many things. To me, it means selecting ingredients of natural origin with discernment — guided by evidence, not ideology. I make products that support health in practice, not just in principle.
Every component must earn its place: chosen with respect for the body, informed by science, and grounded in the ecological context of the plants themselves.
Forage & Soothe is about more than skincare. It’s about supporting well-being from the inside out — helping the body return to its own rhythm of resilience through thoughtful formulation and botanical intelligence.
Why Forage & Soothe
I create botanically intelligent products that turn self-care into lived science — evidence-based, purposeful, and designed to restore calm and support health.
Mission
To bridge the science of wellness with the lived, sensory experience of self-care — transforming knowledge into daily practices that help people feel nourished, balanced, and connected to the natural world.
Vision
A world where self-care is guided by curiosity and evidence rather than hype — where people understand their bodies as ecosystems and choose nourishment over quick fixes.
Values
Botanical Intelligence
Each formulation begins with curiosity about nature’s chemistry and respect for its complexity, bridging traditional knowledge and modern science.
The Body as an Ecosystem
Health is relational, not isolated. Skin, gut, nervous system, and environment are treated as an interconnected whole.
The Culture of Care
Care is a practice — how we treat ourselves, our communities, and the materials we work with. Transparency, empathy, and respect guide every decision.
Restoration as a Process
Health is not a destination but an ongoing dialogue between body and world, supported through thoughtful, grounded formulation.