DRY SKIN NO MORE!
The body butter is a personal project close to my heart. I wanted to create a body skincare range to tackle dry skin, which my children and I suffer from, without using synthetic silicones (e.g., dimethicone) and mineral oil, commonly found in all moisturising products. Petrolatum, Petroleum Jelly, Mineral Oil, Paraffin Oil – are by-products of petroleum refining. I turned to plant-based ingredients and researched all the different plant oils, butters, and waxes to create a more natural, wholesome recipe.
The recipe was first created over two years ago, and in summer 2019, after various modifications, we finally had it. The body butter that would combine the goodness of organic, vegan, and specially selected pure botanical ingredients and where each ingredient compliments each other to tackle scaly, flaky, dry, or itchy skin. Every single ingredient has been carefully considered and chosen to nourish the skin, support the skin’s health, and enhance its overall condition.
Organic shea butter is rich in stearic acid (35-45%) and oleic acid (40-55%) responsible for moisture retention, as well as vitamin E (100 to 300 ppm), that acts as a natural antioxidant for the skin. It contains both phytosterols like cinnamic acid esters as well as polyphenols like catechins, which offer anti-inflammatory and anti-itching benefits. Shea butter will make your skin smoother, softer, and more supple. We combined organic shea butter with food-grade, organic cacao seed butter, which is rich in palmitic acid (25-30%) and is an FDA-approved occlusive ingredient, meaning it will provide a protective layer, preventing moisture from leaving the skin.
When formulating this product, we wanted it to have soothing properties that will alleviate the feeling of dryness and minimise skin damage caused by sun exposure. For this reason, we incorporated aloe vera leaf extract, known for its cooling, repairing, and soothing properties. Aloe Vera has well-documented anti-inflammatory properties and contains vitamins A, B12, C and E, minerals like calcium, chromium, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium, sodium, and zinc.
The plant oils chosen for this butter - coconut, oat kernel, macadamia, castor, and squalane - all have unique properties. Coconut oil has been selected for its lauric acid, which constitutes nearly 50% of coconut’s fatty acid content (also found in human breast milk at approx. 6%) and displays antimicrobial activity. Oat kernel oil is rich in ceramides, which are responsible for strengthening the skin’s barrier function. Macadamia nut oil has been chosen for palmitoleic acid (Omega 7) content, which in the human skin decreases with age. Studies have shown that palmitoleic acid has anti-inflammatory effects, reducing inflammation, and improving wound-healing. Castor oil has the highest content of ricinoleic acid found in oils, approx. 87-90% and has proven analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects on skin. Finally, squalane has both emollient and occlusive properties that soften and soothe the skin, improve its tone and texture, and help to prevent transepidermal water loss.
The Pure Goodness Body Butter was born - replenishing, soothing, and deeply moisturising. It offers the purest and highest concentration of botanicals, fortified with natural vitamin E. It has a beautiful and delicate scent of exotic Monoi de Gardenia Tahitian flower extract.
Cover photo by planetMitch aunger on Unsplash