Why Now Is The Time To Get Natural Moisturisers

People who probably don’t use moisturisers much may sometimes get the misconception that they are used more in summer than at other times of the year, on the basis that hot weather will dry out the skin more.

However, the reality is rather more complicated than that. Warm weather will usually cause the skin to produce more oil and sweat more. Moreover, if you are exposed to the sun a lot and have fair skin, it is likely you will be slapping on plenty of sun cream, which adds more moisture.

At the same time, however, there are ways in which you can get dry skin in summer. This is partly because some people sweat more than others and/or have oilier skin, but also due to the effects of factors such as the use of air conditioning in the home or workplace, which removes moisture from the air.  

Why Autumn Is Dry Skin Season

Nonetheless, the fact remains that autumn and winter are the seasons when skin gets driest. Because there is less heat to evaporate water, the air is less humid and thus makes everything around it drier. In addition, it starts to get windier in autumn and this blows moisture off your skin.  

Hot showers can also be harsh on your skin, as might some of the fabrics you wear. And after that summer air conditioning, it will be indoor heaters that fill rooms with dry air instead. This will have an even greater impact as most people will stay indoors more.

All this means that with the end of summer not far away, it is time to prepare for autumn. But for anyone who wants to use natural moisturisers that are vegan, not tested on animals and incorporate organic chemicals, shopping around for the right products can be testing. This is why you should check out our range.

Common Animal Products In Moisturisers

If you have only recently decided to seek out organic, cruelty-free and vegan moisturisers, you may be surprised to learn just what animal products can go into the items you see on the shelf and may have used in the past.

Firstly, there are lots of animal oils and fats in creams and lotions. They are not always labelled as such, of course; some use terms like ‘collagen’ rather than animal collagen, but it is there nonetheless.

A common substance used in moisturisers is tallow. Once used in candles, it is a fat extracted from cows and sheep when they are slaughtered. So while you might not be consuming the produce of the slaughterhouse when you sit down for your Sunday dinner, you could well have been using the by-product of the same process.

Stearic acid is another animal fat product, used to blend chemicals that do not mix easily, like oil and water. Amino acids also do this, with these making up proteins like elastin and collagen, which work as emollients.

It isn’t just sheep and cattle whose lives are being sacrificed for oils used in moisturisers. So too are mink, fish and even turtles.

Even bees, at least those who survive the excess use of poisonous fertilisers in agriculture, give up substances used in moisturisers, such as beeswax and royal jelly.

No Need For A Trade-Off

Some might claim that there is a trade-off here. Some might not like the idea of ingredients from the slaughterhouse being used in creams, lotions and soaps, but would claim this is a necessary evil if we are to enjoy moist skin amid the drying winds of autumn. However, the reality is we don’t actually need these ingredients at all.

Yes, they do work, but the fact is there are effective alternatives that those who want to live in a more animal-friendly world can turn to without having to suffer dry and flaky skin as a result.

Good examples of this include our men’s moisturisers, using organic, plant-based ingredients like calendula, jojoba and shea butter.

These may not be familiar ingredients to many people, not least because so many of the moisturisers (both for men and women) that you will see on the shelves use animal products. But they are plant based and, importantly, they do the job just as well.

For instance, shea butter comes from the nuts of the shea tree. It is full of vitamins and fatty acids, as well as havening moisturising qualities. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and doesn’t make skin oily.

This is just one of many examples of an ingredient that is not just animal-free, but is so good that even a non-vegan would benefit from using products containing it. It just goes to show you can have the best of both worlds: skin as moist as anyone else’s, while staying animal-free.