When Every Ingredient Matters

By: Chinonye Akunne

How many times have you looked at the back of your personal care items and saw ingredients that caused you to ask the question “how in the world does this benefit my skin?”. Most people chalk it up and accept it because they think that’s how skincare works since it’s been like that for years.

Since you are reading this blog on the BLK+GRN platform, I’ll say with confidence you’re not that person. You want to know what you put on your skin and your families. You are also concerned when your best girlfriend pulls out the bottle of chemicals from her purse to “moisturize her hands”.

Luckily for us all, the beauty industry is being exposed for it toxic secrets that include unsustainable sourcing practices, poor packaging selection and including ingredients that do more harm than good. Skin moisturizers range from oils to lotion to butters. Today, we’re talking about the butter.

What's In Your Body Butter?

Many body butters in the BLK + GRN marketplace contain the best ingredients for your skin and the environment. For example, ILERA Apothecary body butters contain the following ingredients:

• Shea Butter increases skin's moisture and helps to protect it from the environmental toxins swimming in the atmosphere. Derived from the nuts of African Shea (Karite) tree. Regular use of this can treat many skin & hair problems. It also offers UV protection, can be used to treat a wound and even eczema.

• Cocoa Butter fights signs of aging in skin. This pale-yellow, edible vegetable fat is extracted from the cocoa bean. It is used to make a variety of items including; chocolate, ointments, and pharmaceuticals.

• Coconut Oil is an anti-inflammatory and prevents moisture loss from the surface of the skin by creating a barrier. This edible oil is extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm and forms the base ingredient of various body care products.

• Jojoba Oil prevents the growth of bacteria on skin. It’s a liquid plant wax and comes from the seeds of a shrub-like plant. The oil appears to be clear golden liquid at room temperature with a slightly nutty odor.

• Vitamin E Oil reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is a fat-soluble compound mainly found in certain plant oils and also in the leaves of green vegetables. It has both nutrient and antioxidant properties that protect the skin.

"Body butters are an excellent choice for year round moisture. Since a little bit goes a long way the amount you use can be adjusted without losing nutritional benefits and effectiveness. Dermatologists have hailed it for treating skin ailments like very dry skin, eczema and psoriasis. Beauty bloggers love it for its versatility on the skin and hair. Parents love it because they can use it on the entire family without worrying about adverse reactions." - Chinonye Akunne (Founder and CEO, ILERA Apothecary)

Top 4 Benefits of Body Butter

Reduces the appearance of stretch marks and scars

• Shea butter heals and repairs the skin. Shea butter is abundant in Vitamin A which aids in skin elasticity and cell production, allowing the skin to turn over more rapidly, keeping it healthy and firm. Cocoa butter aids in the balance and evenness in skin's appearance. This combination promotes the cells of the skin to heal and repair itself, reducing the appearance of stretch marks and other scars.

Locks in moisture

• Shea butter penetrates the skin providing oleic acids to the cells which replenish moisture without clogging the pores. Coconut oil locks moisture on the skin by creating a surface barrier. Coconut oil acts as an external barrier that allows the skin to stay moisturized without actually penetrating the skin. This is the reason coconut oil on its own is not the best for people who are acne prone. However when combined with butters like shea and cocoa, it provides that extra boost in protection, making the butters effective for a longer period of time.

Promotes healthy skin

• The combination of oils such as jojoba and vitamin e oil protect the skin from external environmental toxins and free radicals that proliferate the rate of aging. The antioxidant properties in Vitamin E heal wounds and as noted earlier, jojoba oil is a great anti-microbe, preventing bacteria growth reducing the rate of acne occurrence.

Packed with vitamins

• Every ingredient listed has a skin benefit and vitamin to go along with it. Top vitamins found in body butters include fatty acids such as oleic acid that promotes moisture retention and replenishment, Vitamin A that prevents acne, Vitamin E which fights environmental toxins and more.

The Verdict

If you haven't already come to the conclusion, body butter is the superfood and fountain of youth your body has been craving. It gives you that year round Hollywood glow and vitality. Its simple ingredients give the comfort and security of using the best ingredients on your skin that you can share with your family. Check out the different body butters featured and get a jar or two today.