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Why It's Good:
Dehydrated skin guzzles the moisture found in this so-natural-it-only-contains-two-ingredients—shea butter and vitamin E—unscented face balm (the Aloe with African Cape Rose version also has organic aloe vera and organic cape rose geranium essential oil, for a soothing and fragrant boost). Its slight size makes the jar super portable and airport security-friendly, making it my skin's new favorite in-flight companion.
Why It's Green:
This balm bears the USDA certified organic seal, which means its ingredients were cultivated, harvested and processed without the use of pesticides or other chemical contaminants. Plant Botanicals also obtains their East African shea butter directly from local producers in Africa: This offers local women an incentive to protect and care for the shea trees and provides them with a fair income for collecting and harvesting the nuts. Be sure to recycle the amber glass jar when it’s empty—or find a clever new use for it instead.
Where To Get It:
To purchase Planet Botanicals Organic Face Balm directly, click here.
More Moisturized in Minutes
Maybe it's because of the spring-break trips my parents (who were teachers) used to take my sister and me on each April as kids, or the lingering memory of a trek through Spain and France a few springs back, but every year, as the weather gets warmer, I'm bit by the travel bug. Next on my list of places to visit is Africa. For years, I've been dreaming of going on safari in Kenya, exploring Marrakech and Cape Town, and even volunteering to build homes on Madagascar. My African adventure will have to wait, though; this year, the farthest I'll be flying is to Texas, which is much better for my carbon footprint—and for my skin. It's amazing how parched my complexion gets after even a 4-hour flight. This spring, and all those following, I'll be traveling with Planet Botanicals Organic Face Balm in my carry-on. The one-ounce jar is FAA-approved and is full of nothing but shea butter and vitamin E, nature's most natural moisturizers. Though the cream feels light, it does make your face look somewhat greasy for a few minutes, which I think is a small price to pay for the lasting hydration it imparts. Thanks to this moisturizer, I know I'll arrive at my destination (no matter how far from home) looking radiant. And I love knowing that buying the balm brings economic aid to the African women who harvest and produce the shea butter that goes into the product. Because if I can't get to Africa this year, at least I can help support its inhabitants—and bring a small piece of the continent with me wherever I do go.—Megan O'Neill
