Currently Loving: Tropic Tamanu Healing Balm + 10 Ways To Use It

Apologies for the lack of blog posts recently - I've been stuck in bed fighting off the flu, but on a more positive note, it's given me the perfect opportunity to test out a rather intriguing product from Tropic.

I don't know about anyone else, but whenever I have the flu or a really bad cold, my skin likes to play up at the same time. It breaks out, gets incredibly dry and tight, my eczema flares up and I generally look like a complete mess for about two weeks. Not fun. 

Luckily, this wonderful pot of Tamanu Healing Balm from Tropic arrived at just the right time and it has been a real skin saviour for me, so much so, that it's barely left my bedside table. I have been using this practically daily since September started and I can see myself using it on a regular basis all throughout Winter too. 

So what exactly is this strange looking green balm? 

Tropic's Tamanu Healing Balm is a multi-purpose skincare balm that's made from an expert blend which features just twelve natural and effective ingredients: Organic Tamanu Oil, Soy Wax, Coconut Oil, Macadamia Oil, Candelilla Wax, Organic Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E, Blackcurrant Seed Oil, Cranberry Seed Oil, Raspberry Seed Oil, Monoi Oil (Tiare Flower Infused Coconut Oil).

The light green hue of the balm comes from the star ingredient, Tamanu Oil, which has been used for centuries in the Polynesian Islands as a remedy for all manner of skin problems. It's highly revered for its natural abilities to repair damaged and scarred skin, and is combined here with plant-based butters to hydrate and soothe, whilst Blackcurrant Extract and Raspberry Seed Oil are also included for their antioxidant properties.

Tamanu Oil has a rather distinct natural scent to it which is hard to describe - it's kinda earthy and herbal, but it's blended with enough other ingredients here to not be as strongly scented as pure Tamanu Oil on its own, so I don't think it would bother too many people.

The Tamanu Healing Balm comes packaged in a luxurious white frosted glass jar that feels satisfyingly heavy in your hands, and the balm itself has a very thick and rich texture to it. Once the balm makes contact with the skin though, it quickly melts and is easy to rub it without feeling greasy or sticky. As with many products of this nature, you only need to use a tiny amount each time, so expect this jar to last you for a long time (I've been using it for about three weeks every day and have barely made a dent in it, other than to show you a close up of the texture in the photos above).

So what can you use it for? Here are my top 10 ways to use this awesome 'green gold':-

• 1. Apply to it to any dry area on the face and body to instantly soothe and hydrate - I've been using it on my sore nose so it's great if you have a cold or flu!
• 2. Use it on Eczema as a natural emollient barrier to promote skin recovery.
• 3. It can also be used on Psoriasis in the same way.
• 4. Apply to chapped lips before going to bed as an intensitive lip conditioning treatment.
• 5. Thanks to the antibacterial properties in Tamanu Oil, you can dab it onto blemishes and breakouts to help reduce inflammation and redness.
• 6. You can also use it on any old acne scars to speed up the skin's healing process and reduce the appearance of them.
• 7. Going away on holiday? Pack the mini Tamanu Healing Balm and use it as a soothing after-sun.
• 8. It's also perfect for relieving irritation from bug bites too!
• 9. Pregnant ladies can use the balm on any new stretch marks to help them fade.
• 10. Due to the natural green colour of Tamanu, you can apply a little to any red areas on your face before applying makeup to colour correct and balance out your complexion.

Tropic Tamanu Healing Balm* (60ml, £32, link, also available as a mini/travel size - 20ml, £16, link)

Have you tried Tamanu Oil?

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