100% Organic Skincare FAQ
Q: "I have oily acne-prone skin and have been using balms and serums, but 'Oil Free' products don't seem to help at all. Any suggestions?"
A: Oily skin is an issue for lots of people and the use of oils as a remedy can be confusing. Good quality, cold pressed vegetable oils as used in Balm Balm products are easily absorbed into the skin, rather like watering a plant. Mineral oils used in mainstream beauty products are not easily absorbed and sit on the surface of the skin, which makes it look oily. Interestingly, oily skin is often a result of over-stimulation by products which claim to "dry it out", instead the pores react by over-producing sebum/oil!
Most mainstream creams are made from a combination of oils and waxes to which water is added to give it a 'creamy' texture. To stop these from separating or developing bacteria, emulsifiers and preservatives need to be used to stabilise the product. It is often these added stabilisers that cause problems.
Our balms and serums on the other hand are creams without the added stabilisers - they don't need them because they do not contain water. If you want a more creamy texture from your balms or serum simply apply them to damp skin. You will only need a little to begin with and once your skin gets accustomed to the more natural combination, it will absorb more efficiently and start to look just peachy!
Q: I have used your lip balm before, and used this on my grandchildren's scars (when they fall etc). Can you tell me which would be the best product to buy for this purpose?
A: Either the Rose Geranium or Tea Tree Balm Balms are best for grazes, cuts etc. The Tea Tree one in particular would be good as it is antibacterial, however, it smells medicinal, while the Rose Geranium one smells beautiful and can thus also help on a more subtle level. It doesn't matter whether you go for the Lip, Face, Hand or Foot Balms as they are all made from the same ingredients and have the same efficacy, they only differ in consistency.
Q: "Can I ask if your tea tree face balm can be used on 3 year old kids? I was told that I can apply it on the nappy area as well?"
A: Yes, the Tea Tree Face Balm can be used on a 3 year old and would work well for the nappy area. Our Tea Tree Balms are best for problem skin so if the three year old has chapped or broken skin the Tea Tree will help to clear it. However, if you are just looking for a general moisturiser and skin conditioner you can use the fragrance Free or Rose Geranium balms and save the Tea Tree one for emergencies.
Q: I am just wondering whether your fragrance free face balm would be suitable to use if you have acne-prone skin?
A: Our Fragrance Free Balm would be fine for acne prone skin. You might find that the Tea Tree one is even better as the Tea Tree will work on any bacteria that is present. You could try your Lip Balm as a moisturiser for a couple of days. Either one will feel 'oily' to begin with, but you can combat this by using it on damp skin. Either way it will absorb in a few minutes. People are often tempted to use products which dry out the skin to help with problem skin, but often the best results come from 'feeding' it - like a plant, your skin will flourish under the right conditions. So don't be put off by the oily texture, after a few days you will love it!
Q: My five year old daughter has a cold and the subsequent sore nose. We usually use vaseline but I am keen to find a natural alternative.
A: I think you need two of our lip balms. I imagine a 5 year old little girl would best like the Rose Geranium lip balm, but the very best for her at this moment would be the Tea Tree one. Once the problem has cleared up, she can use the Rose Geranium.
Q: Can Tea Tree Foot Balm can be used for athlete's foot?
A: If the athlete's foot is in full bloom something to dry it up is required and neat Tea Tree essential oil is wonderful at this. If someone is prone to athlete's foot, then daily application of our Tea Tree Foot Balm is a good deterrent. It is also good to use when the condition is almost gone to recondition the skin and to keep it from coming back.
Q: Isn’t coconut oil supposed to be highly comedogenic?
A: Virgin coconut oil, which is solid and has a high fat content ,has had some adverse press in regards to being comedogenic (blocking pores), but also some wonderful press with regards to its effect on skin, especially delicate skins. The word comedogenic could really be applied to just about any oil with a fat / wax content. However, our cleanser is made from fractionated coconut oil, which means that it only contains the non-fatty part of the oil, making it lighter than any other vegetable oil available. You can feel this just by touching it. This also makes it easily removable with water, which is what it is designed to do, which makes it unlikely that it will clog the pores.