Balms Go Where Moisturisers Fear To Tread In Winter

It's that time of year again, the nights are chilly and the days are short. Cold wind and rain outside and air conditioning inside can play havoc with skin, causing dryness, chaffing and redness in the winter months.

'Cold weather means there is less moisture in the air outside which can cause the skin to dehydrate. Moving from air conditioning inside to cold weather outside can affect the natural moisture levels in the skin which can become dry and chapped," says Mr Michael Wu, general manager, Nature's Care Australia.

Mr Wu says that balms, as opposed to moisturisers can often be more effective in maintaining the natural moisture in the skin, helping to prevent dryness and sooth redness in colder weather.

'Moisturisers often tend to contain more humectants which draw water from the lower levels of the skin to rehydrate the upper levels of the skin. Balms on the other hand, tend to contain a higher level of occlusives which help seal in the natural moisture in the skin, acting as a barrier against external conditions," he said.

In an all-natural base of beeswax, sunflower seed oil and Vitamin E, Nature's Care Paw Paw Balm (30g, price $5.99), delivers superb hydration and helps to protect skin from the drying effects of the elements.

'Paw paw is a wonderful skin healer. It is packed with the classic -skin vitamins' A, E and C and when combined in a rich premium base, it makes a wonderfully soothing balm to keep skin looking and feeling great during the colder months," said Mr Wu.

Use Nature's Care Paw Paw balm all over after the bath or shower and on exposed skin when out and about to keep skin soft and hydrated from top to toe.

Mr Wu said that lips are often the first to see the affects of winter de-hydration.

'The skin on our lips is much thinner than on the rest of our face and body and they do not contain sweat glands so they are more vulnerable to the drying effects of cold wind and air conditioning,"'

Winter Skin

Mr Michael Wu, general manager of leading Australian natural products company, Nature's Care shares some of their most frequent customer questions – and provides the answers – on how to keep skin looking and feeling great during winter – the natural way.

Why does skin dry out in winter?
Cold wind and air conditioning mean there is less moisture in the atmosphere than in the warmer months which can cause the skin to look and feel dry.

Why does my regular moisturiser appear not to work?
Depending on what type of moisturiser you have, you may need to choose a richer type of moisturiser or switch to a balm. Moisturisers often tend to contain more humectants which draw water from the lower levels of the skin to rehydrate the upper levels of the skin. Balms tend to contain a higher level of occlusives which help seal in the natural moisture in the skin, acting as a barrier against external conditions.

Why do my lips always get dry first when the weather gets colder?

Our skin has three layers, the epidermis, the dermis and a subcutaneous fat layer. The straum corneum tops the epidermis as a protective layer (against bacteria, moisture loss, heat and light).

On our lips, the protective layer is four to five times thinner compared to the skin on our face which means they are more vulnerable to becoming dry, sore and chapped when exposed to harsh weather and air conditioning.

What can I do to prevent my lips getting so dry and sore?
Protect your lips from the elements with a hydrating lip balm – preferably containing natural ingredients, with no harsh chemicals. Use it freely and re-apply often. Look for rich soothing ingredients such as beeswax, Vitamin E and sunflower seed.

Why is Paw Paw so good for skin?
Paw Paw (papaya) has been used for years since ancient times as a natural skin healer. It is rich in antioxidants and classic -skin vitamins' such as Vitamin E and C.

Paw Paw is rich in Omega 9, an essential fatty acid that is actually made by our skin glands. In cold weather, as moisture is lost from the skin, using skin care that contains Omega 9, such as Nature's Care Paw Paw Balm, can help skin stay hydrated.

This winter, Nature's Care Paw Paw Lip Balm (30g, $3.99), can come to the rescue and revive dry, sore lips. The all-natural rich base provides nourishment and protection. It has a fresh fruity natural paw paw flavour and glides smoothly onto lips with the built-in applicator. Lips will look glossy and feel smooth and soft.

Nature's Care Lip Balm, 10g Price $3.99 and Nature's Care Balm, 30g Price $5.99. Available from Woolworths and Priceline stores.

Nature's Care is an Australian company that develops, manufactures and distributes a range of nutritional and natural skin care products throughout Australia from their headquarters in Sydney. www.pawpawaustralia.com.au and www.naturescare.com.au for more information.

 

Review: this little lifesaver is great in winter & summer, healing dry, irritated skin.