New Year, New You?

A new year is upon us and resolutions are in everyone's thoughts! Now's the time for taking stock, looking at the year that’s gone, and working out what would make 2020 a better one.

So why not turn over a new leaf this January, and ditch the irritants in your skincare? You can simplify your skincare routine - and be more eco-friendly - by using just a few great natural products that can multitask, rather than dozens of different synthetic-laden toiletries. It's a pretty simple win!

(For more info about what might be lurking in your moisturisers, see our guide to irritating ingredients in high street skincare here.)

The four basics!

So what does your skin actually need to stay soft, clean and healthy? Well, as an absolute minimum, we’d suggest an ointment, an oil, a cream and a wash. These four natural products cover all the basics, and mean that you’re being kind to the earth (and your wallet), as well as your skin!

Skin Salvation Ointment

100% natural and made with oils and beeswax, Skin Salvation is an essential skincare all-rounder! Ointments have been used for thousands of years to look after skin, and they don’t tend to contain the skin-irritant preservatives that water-based creams need. Oil-based balms are also much less likely to sting on open skin, which is great if you need to look after any itchy, raw, scratchy patches.

Use Skin Salvation to:

• remove stubborn makeup, such as mascara
• soften and smooth rough skin
• treat minor skin emergencies like cuts and scratches
• hydrate sore or sensitive areas (ie around the nose and under the eyes)
• smooth brows
• primer under foundation
• soften cuticles
• moisturise dry hands
• moisturise chapped lips 

Balmonds Bath & Body Oil

Face and body oils can also be 100% natural, unfragranced and blended from skin-kind plant-based oils that will protect and hydrate as they nourish. Oils have the advantage of being able to cover large areas of skin very quickly, which makes them a good choice for post-shower emollients.

Use Balmonds Bath & Body Oil as a:

• bath oil added to warm water
• ‘soak-and-seal’ emollient after bathing
• shaving oil
• facial cleanser
• makeup remover
• massage oil

Daily Moisturising Cream

Skin on the face is especially delicate and sensitive, so choosing a cream that is as free as possible from all unnecessary additives means you’re decreasing your chance of reactions, dryness and breakouts. While all water-based formulations need a preservation system to restrict microbe growth, it’s worth checking ingredient lists for creams that only use one or two naturally-derived or nature-identical preservatives that are less likely to disrupt the skin’s natural functions.

Creams are more easily absorbed than oils or ointments, and are good if you're going to be applying them quickly and frequently throughout a busy day.

Use Balmonds Daily Moisturising Cream as a:

• face cream
• body lotion
• hand cream
• cleansing lotion
• makeup remover

Natural Shampoo & Body Wash

Finally, you need a cleanser to take off the grime and grease of the day! Not as often as you’d think, and not as soapy or harsh as is traditional, but occasionally only a foaming wash will cut it. If you have sensitive or allergy-prone skin, it’s sensible to completely avoid soap or washes which use sulphates (also spelled sulfates) such as sodium lauryl sulphate, known as SLS for short. As detergents which bind to oils, these can strip the skin of its natural oils as well as grease and dirt, leaving it vulnerable to irritation and damage. Instead, find washes that use mild, plant-based non-ionic surfactants instead, and use them less often and only on strategic areas of the body! 

You can use Balmonds 2-in-1 Natural Shampoo & Body Wash for hair, face, hands and body; it’s over 99% natural, which beats just about every other shampoo on the market!

Use our natural SLS-free hair & body wash as:

• shampoo
• shower gel
• hand wash
• facial cleanser

We’ve got your ‘New Year New You!’ journey covered: get our All-Natural Starter Set for just £39.00, saving £14.97 on full priced products! (Full price when bought separately £53.97)