About my Nature Balm
I am not making any medicinal claims! Everything that I have written here has come from research papers & my own experience & feedback I have been given from those who have used my Nature Balm! I would always encourage anyone to test any product they buy on a small patch of skin first.
What is a balm?!?
A balm is an oil-based skin product.
Why a balm rather than a moisturiser or cream?
I chose to make a balm because they do not need any added ingredients to preserve them, because bacteria cannot grow without water they are as natural and as simple as possible. The only preservatives in my balms are those naturally occurring in the essential oils and the natural preservative antioxodant vitamin E oil. Unlike balms, creams/moisturisures contain water as well as oil, meaning they also require an emulsifying agent to allow the water and oil to mix. Due to creams containing water, they also require preservatives to prevent bacterial growth. They do hydrate the skin, however, because water evaporates off your skin you end up getting through creams a lot quicker than you'd get through a balm which is much more concentrated.
A few years ago I gave up using any kind of hair and skin products in general, however, I really missed the self-care and ritual of doing something kind and gentle for myself. After standing and staring at shelves and shelves full of plastic bottles with unfamiliar chemical names I thought, if I make it myself I will know exactly what is in it, where each ingredient comes from & how I could make it kinder for my skin & kinder to the planet! I started to reseach into plant oils, essential oils, carrier oils & started to plan what would be the perfect balm for me. I ended up combining these ingredients...
Raw unrefined shea butter - Shea butter is one of the best moisturisers for all skin types, helping to hydrate dry skin and protect the skin from outside pollutants. I chose unrefined shea butter (rather than refined) as it has not been chemically refined in any way, it retains it's natural colour, natural texture and more of the naturally occuring properties that can be lost during the refining process.
Sweet almond oil - My aim was to create an everyday balm that could become a part of my daily ritual, sweet almond oil is made from cold-pressed sweet almond kernels, which is rich in vitamin E and D and it doesn't clog your pores so is a perfect choice for a natural everyday moisturiser.
Organic Beeswax - The organic beeswax locks in all the moisture from the shea butter, sweet almond oil and the blend of essential oils. It helps create a barrier between the goodness in your skin and outside pollutants.
Natural Vitamin E oil: Vitamin E oil helps to lock in moisture and reduce discomfort in dry, itchy or irritated skin. It is is also a great natural preservative. As an antioxidant, it helps to repair and fortify the skin against environmental damage. It's kind and gentle & provides so much moisture to your skin - it adds to this balms luxurious silky feeling and is also good for your cuticles, just massage some of this balm into dry cuticles (before bed is a good time to do this).
Essential oil blend:
Frankincense - Known as "king of the essential oils", frankincese has shown potential to improve wound healing and may have anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce redness & help with fine lines, allowing skin to appear more toned! Read more about Frankincense here!
Lavender - Lavender has been used for a long time to promote relaxation and sleep, using this balm before bed can become a relaxing bedtime ritual due to the relaxing scent. Lavender is another oil that can combat against inflammation. Read more about this here!
Rosemary - Rosemary oil may help reduce tissue inflammation and stimulate healing, allowing your complexion to appear bright and clear. Read more about Rosemary here.
Chamomile - Chamomile oil has excellent calming and soothing properties, helping to reduce redness and inflammation. Read more here.
After creating this balm, I gifted them to all my friends, family & people within my community, the feedback was overwhelming & I decided to refine my recipe & went through the process of attaining a CPSR (cosmetic product safety report) allowing me to legally sell my balm. The kind feedback kept coming & I have a lot of pride in this balm. A luxurious balm for all skin types that won't break the bank - I am not making this balm to make money as much as I am to provide a luxury balm for those within my community - this balm has been handmade in small batches with people & the planet always on my mind. Everyone deserves a self-care ritual, using natural skin care that is genuinely kind to your skin.
I use amber jars as they help to filter UV light, this prolongs the life of the balm - they can also be re-used! I sterilise the jars by first washing them with warm, soapy water then putting them into a hot oven to fully dry. This way the glass jars can be re-used, which is more sustainable (score!) So if you have/buy this balm & you cannot re-use the jar yourself then feel free to send the jar back to me.
To use this balm....
Scoop a pea-sized amount of balm and warm it up between your fingertips, before massaging into clean, dry skin. It is perfect as an everyday face moisturiser, a soothing balm for stings & bites or it can also be used as a massage balm - for aches, pains & even cuticles
A little goes a long way - so use sparingly!
Care instructions
Keep out of direct sunlight - This will prevent the balm from melting in the heat. If your balm does melt in the sun, it is still perfectly good and safe to use but I recommend popping it somewhere cool to return to it's usual consistancy.
Keep somewhere dry - Due to balms being an oil-based product, it is best to keep them away from water so that they do not mix.
Keep the lid on - It's important to keep the lid on when you are not using the balm to avoid any water or other contaminats getting in.
Clean hands, clean face - This helps to keep the balm clean and is also good for general skin health.
Thank you for taking some time to read about my Nature Balm, even if you don't buy my balm, I hope you have learnt a little something about what balms are and some of the properties of essential oils. I also hope that you choose to use natural products, to help your skin and our beautiful planet.
