What’s the difference between this body balm and (e.g.) a moisturiser?
- For starters, Neal’s Yard mainly use organic ingredients (and hence they are more expensive).
- The body balm has no water (i.e., its anhydrous). Such a product is more intense than a moisturiser because a moisturiser blends together in a single emulsion, both oil and water. Through no fault of its own, the chemical composition of a moisturiser contains typically 60%+ water, an emulsifier (bring water and oil phase together) and preservatives. Separate preservatives maybe necessary for both the water and oil components.
- Body balm’s tend to be more expensive because they have greater quantities of the good stuff (i.e. oils, vitamins, extracts).
- Finally, body balm’s invariable have some form of wax (usually beeswax), which makes them not vegan. However, there are many non-vegan alternative waxes, which are more or less a nightmare to work with 🙂
Ingredients in this product?
- Oils (Olive fruit oil and pumpkin seed oil)
- Butter (shea)
- Essential oils (geranium flower and orange peel)
Pumpkin seed oil has a high % of Linoleic Acid (a fatty acid that has been implicated in skin barrier repair). Its also high in vitamins and minerals (Manganese, Copper and Zinc). Finally, it helps reduce redness, itchiness, and is anti-inflammatory.
I am not sure about Olive oil, because its not great for the skin and honestly, I always ask myself why its in any product. Textbook reasons are its anti-inflammatory and softens the skin. Also, it has a high Vitamin E content and is cheaper than Argan Oil (which also has high Vitamin E content).
Shea butter is high in anti-oxidants and allantoin (skin healing properties) and is much loved by skin (as its readily absorbed and is moisturising). It also plays well with other ingredients such as Olive fruit and pumpkin seed.
What do I think of this product?
This balm is for dry skin and I have recently been spending a lot of time (not through choice) outside in 40 C at about mid-day. I have completely wrecked the skin on my arms which is really dry. No amount of moisturising works. Its a nightmare.
This balm is helping. It is very shiny on application; is a bit sticky and has a strong smell, but it is helping my skin, which doesn’t feel as if it needs to be moisturised every 3 hours. So, this product definitely gets my vote.
Would I use this product, if my skin was normal to combination?
Probably not – it would be too oily.
Available for sale at Neal’s Yard for £30 (US$42, INR3,100 excluding taxes and shipping ) for 200g
**
Source: Handbook of Natural Ingredients by Anthony Dweck