When the temperature rises, it can be tough for people with sensitive skin. Hot weather tends to cause more redness, dryness, and discomfort for our skin. The heat, humidity, and too much sun exposure can really irritate skin that's already sensitive.
Did you know that your skin is a living thing in more ways than one? The skin microbiome, a diverse community of microorganisms that reside on the skin's surface, plays a crucial role in maintaining skin health.
We all know that our skin secretes sebum. For those of us with eczema, too little of it. For those of us with acne, too much. Sebum contains all sorts of amazing substances which help fight bacteria, infection and anything harmful that could threaten to enter our bodies. It also lubricates our skin without which we literally wouldn’t be able to move, and every day would be a bad hair day.
It might sound odd for a skincare company to tell its customers not to buy skincare but with an ever increasing number of products out there, more definitely does not mean better - especially when it comes to your skin. Your skin is a living thing, and a lot of what's being marketed only serves to overwhelm or pile on ingredients your skin justdoesn’t need. Fewer products with fewer ingredients, and a lighter touch is always wise.
Have you ever heard of using Castile wash as a shampoo? It's a natural and gentle alternative to traditional shampoos that could leave your hair feeling moisturised and healthy. Our Castile washesare made from only natural cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil and doesn't have any harsh chemicals like sulfates or parabens that could irritate your scalp or strip your hair of its natural oils.
We’re very fortunate to be located in a particularly beautiful part of the world (google ‘Maleny’). We have wonderful wildlife, valleys and rich pastures which surround Four Cow Farm and that makes us especially mindful of how important it is to make products which don’t harm the environment. So it’s an interesting benefit that, because we make our skincare on our farm, we need to take extra care in making sure there is nothing harmful in our skincare.
At Four Cow Farm, we believe in keeping skincare simple and choosing ingredients wisely. We carefully select every ingredient that goes into our products, from the water we use (all collected at the farm and filtered and processed right here) to the oils we use (all extra virgin cold-pressed and of the highest food grade quality) to the preservatives we use (always food grade, always in the lowest possible amounts).
Did you know that the skin on your face is the thinnest on your body? In fact, the skin around your eyes is 80 times thinner than the thickest skin on your body (which happens to be the soles of your feet). Despite this, your face is exposed to more skincare and cosmetic products than any other part of your body, including washes, moisturizers, toners, peels, lipstick, foundation, blush, and eyeshadow.
Have you noticed the variety of plant and vegetable oils used in skincare products these days? From olive to rosehip, coconut, soybean, and even palm, there seems to be an endless range of oils available. However, it's crucial to consider the quality of the oils being used in these products.
Eczema is a common skin condition that affects children, and there are two types that are most commonly seen - atopic eczema and irritant eczema. Atopic eczema is more common in urban areas, likely because of the lack of exposure to microbes in the environment. The skin with atopic eczema is also less able to retain moisture, making it more reactive to the environment and susceptible to the itch-scratch cycle. It's crucial to keep the affected skin moisturized with products that don't contain fragrances, fillers, colors, or preservatives, as they can trigger the itch-scratch cycle.
Perhaps unusually for a skincare brand, we don’t market our moisturisers as being for a particular part of your body. We don’t position our lotions as face or neck or hand moisturisers. Why not? Because we believe that understanding your skin’s condition and matching it with the right natural ingredients is key - not all facial skin is the same, so what makes a facial moisturiser work for one person might make it worse for another.
Essential oils are found in so many natural skincare products these days yet, despite their widespread use, they are often used in ways which are far from safe :(