A journalist-turned-natural skincare product entrepreneur works with nature to create a range of soothing and healing skin balms, bringing relief for allergy sufferers.

Sarah Taylor lives near the southern tip of Africa in Hermanus, where she works as a freelance journalist, editor and an entrepreneur producing natural balms. Her entrepreneurial journey started as a result of both her own and her husband’s families being prone to allergies. Cortisone and antihistamines were a mainstay of their well-being for decades. About a year ago, Sarah woke up to what the family were using on their skin – mostly mineral oil/petroleum-based, hydrocarbonproducts containing preservatives, such as parabens. While the jury is still out on whether exposure to such synthetic compounds is linked to cancer or endocrine-system disruption, Sarah decided she didn’t want to take the risk and wanted to know what she was putting on her own skin, and that of her children. She started looking into natural, non-toxic alternatives that she could make at home. A friend gave her a basic ‘baby balm’ recipe, which she had made and sold under her Earth Nurse label, and which was based on olive and grape seed oils and beeswax. It was at that point that Sarah’s own personal journey into making natural skincare products began.

The plant and animal-based ingredients used by Sarah in her balms have special properties for the skin and have been used by healers and herbalists for centuries

A few weeks after using her Bee Balmy, made from olive, grape seed and apricot kernel oils, beeswax, lavender and calendula essential oils, Sarah’s husband experienced great relief from the eczema on his face, neck and arms. Her own dry skin loved the balm, which also brought their daughter’s eczema under control. If their son had any rashes or mosquito bites, the balm sorted it out in no time. Soon, Sarah started giving her Bee Balmy product to friends and family, who praised its healing and soothing effects in relieving allergic, dry and itchy skin conditions; nappy rash; sunburn; stretch marks; chapped lips; cracked heels; bites; cuts and scrapes, and burns. Even itchy skin conditions on dogs were healed after a few applications of Bee Balmy.

Since those early days, Sarah has since adapted the balm formula through numerous trials, and now adds sweet almond and jojoba oils to the olive, grape seed and apricot kernel oils, beeswax, and extracted oils of lavender and calendula. The plant- and animal-based ingredients used in her balms,have special properties for the skin and have been used by healers and herbalists for centuries:

Olive (Olea europaea) oil has moisturising properties and is quickly absorbed into the skin. It is packed with anti-oxidants to help repair cellular damage caused by the natural process of ageing. Olive oil also has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 8.

Grape (Vitis Vinifera) seed oil is a non-greasy and light skin oil. It is packed with anti-oxidants, has regenerative and restructuring properties, and is effective in wound, anti-ageing and acne treatments. It has mild astringent properties that help to tighten and tone the skin, and can reduce swelling. It is rich in essential fatty acids, especially linoleic acid, which strengthens cell membranes. Its anti-oxidant properties also prevent pores from becoming clogged.

Sweet almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis) oil contains Vitamins A, B1, B2 and B6, and is extremely rich in Vitamin E, which makes it an excellent moisturiser for dry or inflamed skin. It is easily absorbed into the skin and has an SPF of 5.

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) oil is also a very light, non-greasy oil with anti-inflammatory properties. It has a similar molecular structure to sebum, the oil which the skin produces, and has proven effective in acne treatments as it dissolves the sebum clogging the skin’s pores. It has an SPF of 4.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) oil is anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, reducing skin itching, swelling and redness. It has a soothing scent and is used to promote calmness and relaxation.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis), also known as marigold, is renowned for its healing and detoxifying effects. It is particularly effective in treating rashes, fungal infections and burns.

Beeswax (Cera alba) has natural barrier properties. It is non-allergenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, and is a moisturising and healing substance.

The cold-pressed olive oil used in Sarah’s wonderful balms is sourced locally from Rio Largo, an award-winning olive farm on the Breede River, Western Cape, owned by another Lioness of Africa, Brenda Wilkinson. The grape seed oil comes from Seed Oils SA in Somerset West. The beeswax used comes from local suppliers in the Overberg, while the lavender and calendula flowers and other oils are bought from certified and reputable South African suppliers. Sarah makes a range of balms and her products have been guided by what she personally likes and needs in a balm, as well as what her customers request. Alongside the classic Baby Bee Balmy, which is a gentle but very effective skin balm for all ages, she also make balms with various essential oils, such as citronella (for an anti-mosquito balm), tea tea (an effective healing balm with anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties), rose, spearmint, orange and lemon verbena, among many others and in a range of combinations. Sarah’s balms don’t contain preservatives so they have a limited shelf life of six months from the date of manufacture. Consistency varies from product to product, and is very dependent on the ambient temperature. In cooler climates, Sarah recommends heating a small amount of balm in the palm of your hand before applying to the skin.

To find out more about Bee Balmy skincare products, contact Sarah Taylor via e-mail at sarah.taylor@mweb.co.za or call her on +27 (0) 72 505 2707.

Why LoA loves it....

We just love these skin balms, and for anyone who suffers from skin allergies, they are an absolute must have. If you want to support a small entrepreneurial producer of totally natural skin products, where the ingredients are all sourced locally, then Sarah at Bee Balmy is someone to talk to. --- Melanie