This review comes from being offered a free sample of Colorado Aromatics Knuckle Balm in exchange for an opinion about my experience using it. I have no financial connection to Colorado Aromatics and will receive no compensation for this review.
The Old Me
Were you one of those Bath and Body junkies like me? Turning to a paleo lifestyle meant wanting to reduce the amount of artificial substances I was putting into my body and having contact with my skin. I had a shelf filled with all sorts of lotions, sprays and gels of various scents. Lime Coconut or Gardenia anyone?
Over time, however, I found that reducing the amount of artificial I put into my body left me with less tolerance for artificial on the outside of my body. It was all too overpowering (sickening really). Even the better lotions felt sticky, goopy, and for lack of a better word, gross.
And we know that what we put on our skin or breathe in is absorbed just as much if not more so than what we eat. Many of those who are looking for a healthier lifestyle overall are in search of more natural choices in skin care products.
The New Me
Now, I pretty much use coconut oil with essential oils for everything. From lotion to lip protection, I try to keep things as simple as possible or purchase products with ingredients I recognize. Just like my food.
One of the things that I love most about Must Hike Must Eat and having an online presence is connecting with small business products that I would not otherwise know about. I have an opportunity to learn and support healthier options for taking care myself. Colorado Aromatics has turned out to be one such company!
Colorado Aromatics
Located in Longmont, Colorado Aromatics is owned by Dr. Cindi Jones who is a leader in the farm-to-skin movement. She is a biochemist and herb farmer with extensive experience in physiology, toxicology, microbiology, cancer research and cosmetic science. She is also a hiker, gardener and farmer!
When Cindi contacted me about trying her products, she offered me several choices to sample. So, I did a little research on her website to help me decide which one I would like to try.
From their website:
We offer high performance, natural skin care products made in Colorado. The Colorado climate and the outdoor lifestyle can have damaging effects on the skin. Our products combine the best of traditional herbal remedies with modern scientific discoveries that result in healthy, beautiful, vibrant skin care for outdoor enthusiasts.
Our rich, earthy aromas are light, refreshing and rejuvenating. We use all natural, plant-based ingredients grounded in well-studied, fact-based science to create products that are safe for you and the environment, highly effective and provide the results you need and want. You can use green products without compromising quality.
We do not test our products on animals and do not use animal byproducts other than beeswax.
Colorado Aromatics Knuckle Balm
After reading up on the various skin care products by Colorado Aromatics, I settled on the Knuckle Balm. It was offered as a solution to a variety of needs, from being an antiseptic to promoting wound healing. I could see myself using it often, especially on my hands during the summer.
It has two key ingredients, calendula extract and plantain, that are both grown on their organic practices farm. Calendula has been shown in medical studies to offer anti-infammatory, anti-irritant, astringent, antiseptic and healing properties. Plantain is a common weed used to sooth the skin and help cells regenerate.
Here is the list of all the ingredients:
Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Beeswax, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Plantago Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Commiphora Myrrha Oil.
How I Am Using It
My knuckles are in pretty good shape at the moment but my cuticles are prone to dryness and cracking year round. Once trail work season revs up, my knuckles will be, too. It is amazing how much muck still gets into the nails and grooves of the skin through gloves. Between the wear of work and washing hands constantly (and scrubbing with a brush), my hands can take a beating. Gardening and scrambling up mountains doesn’t help either.
My husband who is so rough on himself so I am also sharing the knuckle balm with him. Callouses on knees and palms and a gnarly gash from a month ago that is still healing. He is not near as consistent as I am at applying so I can’t say the balm is having a great effect yet but I’m keeping my eye out on it.
What Do I Think?
I like how the balm not only keeps my cuticles soft, it also lessened the sting of hang nails I had. Despite the initial feeling of greasiness, the balm absorbs quickly and leaves my skin soft in a similar way to when I use coconut oil as lotion. A subtle citrus pine scent results from the orange peel oil and myrrh, perfect for the outdoors person I am.
The 2 ounce Knuckle Balm weighs 2.3 ounces with the container (the same as a Clif bar) and measures 2.5 inches across. If using it for lotion, antibiotic ointment, chapstick, etc. I feel the weight is worth it on day hikes. I can always transfer a small amount to another container if wanted for longer trips when I need to keep my pack weight down.
I have found myself carrying it everywhere I go, whether in my backpack or my purse, for any number of spot treatments when my hands, elbows and lips have felt dry.
You can find out more about Colorado Aromatics and their products on the their website here. And don’t just take my word for the quality of their products. You can also read reviews from some of my fellow women bloggers:
Hiking For Her: Sole Pleasure Foot Butter
Inside The Mountain’s Skin: Springtide Gold Face Cream
Colorado Mountain Mom: Colorado Facial Set
Nobody Hikes In LA: Sole Pleasure Foot Butter
What do you like to use for you personal skin care? Do you have favorite products? Share in the comments below!
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