This bank holiday weekend ARDERE was supposed to be heading to the beautiful rolling hills of Tuscany for the Maia Well Co Retreat, where we would be providing holistic facials for all of the wonderful guests along with a natural skincare-making workshop.

However, due to the current climate we’ve had to reschedule for months to come. We’re not disheartened in the slightest, as it’s something special to look forward to and instead we’re going to be bringing a dose of the retreat to you online.

Join ARDERE co-founder and holistic facialist Nicole Windas this Sunday on our IG Live at 3pm for a natural skincare-making workshop, where you will learn how to make an entirely natural lip balm from scratch.

Why a natural lip balm?

Some lips balms contain butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) which tend to be used as preservatives and synthetic antioxidants. There are circulating health concerns linked to these compounds which include endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, organ-system toxicity, cancer and respiratory irritation (Report of Carcinogens). Whilst much of the results indicated are demonstrated in animals when they are exposed to these compounds, there need to be more extensive studies done on humans.

As with anything we put onto our skin, the components sink into our bloodstream. The same goes for when we use lip-care products and is absorbed even more so because the skin on our lips has three to five cellular layers, and is very thin compared to your typical face skin, which has up to 16 layers.

Applying products to our lips also presents an opportunity for us to inevitably end up swallowing some ingredients, therefore we want to know for certain that what we are using is natural and safe.

Why do we get chapped and dry lips?

Your lips are naturally dry. Unlike the rest of your skin, your lips don’t contain any sweat or sebaceous (oil) glands and therefore are unable to keep themselves moisturised and so tend to dry out easily.

We know that dry lips can be painful, I’m sure you’ve all experienced them drying out and either cracking or sometimes bleeding under certain conditions.

They tend to dry out from the weather, particularly in the winter, but they can also dry out from sun exposure, chemicals you apply to your lips and certain medications you may be taking.

Why licking your lips dries them out even more

The natural bodily response is to lick your lips when you feel they are dry or chapped in an attempt to soothe and moisturise them, however, this tends to do the very opposite.

Saliva contains enzymes that are devised to break down proteins and fats, but your lips are also made of this, therefore it’s no surprise that this will irritate and dry them out.

Therefore you need to break the habit. Become aware of your desire to lick your lips and swap the urge by reaching out for your natural lip balm.

Why make your own?

You know exactly what’s going into it and there is something special about making your own product. You’ll find yourself reaching for it that little bit more and get that sense of accomplishment from using something you created with your own hands!

Now it’s time to make you own. Join me this Sunday at 3pm GMT on our @arderelife IG for a live tutorial with Maia Well Co on how to make your very own natural lip balm.

What you will need:

• Beeswax
• Coconut oil
• Shea butter/mango butter or cacao butter
• Vitamin e oil or sunflower oil
• (Optional) 1 or 2 of your favourite essential oils

Equipment:

• Small glass bowl
• Pan
• Boiling water
• A small container with a lid to put your lip balm in
• Measuring spoons (one’s that can measure in ¼ and ½ tsp)

See you online this Sunday for the workshop.