A good balm is an all natural blend of butters and waxes typically applied to the skin as a base for moisturizing the skin. Often, such moisturizing products have some form of fragrance, but there are those with no fragrance at all. In this article, we will discuss the three main categories of moisturizing balms, including paraffin-based and paraben-free. Creams with no fragrance are also commonly called body and face balms and are typically used to soothe irritated skin that is constantly exposed to dry air, wind, cold weather, and the sun.
Balm is a mixture of butters, scents, oils and waxes typically used in skincare to be applied to the skin to help retain moisture. Many moisturizing creams have the same ingredients, but they also have water in them as well. These creams are often called lotions and the active ingredients may be alcohol, paraffin, glycerin, petrolatum, mineral oil or silicone. In this article, we will discuss the two types of balms.
The first type of balm is the most popular because it contains the most active ingredients. The ingredients include a variety of plant based compounds and minerals, usually from a soybean extract. These ingredients will most likely be alcohol or paraffin, but the alcohol may also be a derivative of paraffin or another petroleum byproduct. Such compounds will include plant sterols and lignans and they will provide moisture to the skin by allowing it to trap in moisture from the air, which it then can use to replenish its own lost moisture.
The second type of balm includes emu oil, which is derived from the kernels of the Emu bush, a native species of New Zealand. Emu oil, being the closest naturally available substitute for the vitamin A that humans actually need, has been shown to penetrate deep into the dermis. It can penetrate the epidermis and the dermal layer, where it is able to deliver its nutrients.
The third type is known as the water-based balm because it is water-based. In this type of balm, the moisturizing agents are often oil-based but not necessarily based on petroleum.
So whether you want to use a cream or a balmish to soothe your skin and keep it soft and smooth, you need to find a good quality moisturizer that contains the active ingredients listed above. such as plant-based ones. There is nothing better than spending time in the sun bathing with a natural balm that does not contain alcohol or petroleum products and doing nothing else because your skin will thank you for it.