By now, I’m sure you’re aware that what you put on your body is just as significant as what you put in your body. Your skin is, in a literal sense, your bodyguard, comprised of several layers of cells and glands that protect you from infection and harmful bacteria. And while your skin has the miraculous ability to absorb moisture, vitamins, and minerals (hello sunshine and Tonic baths) it’s also porous. It has pores...get it? Which means your skin can also lose moisture just as easily — especially in cold, dry environments, or if you weaken your skin’s protective lipid barrier from over exfoliating or excessive exposure to UV rays.
So how can you help repair and protect your skin to maximize the amount of moisture it retains? Hydrating humectants like lotions and serums draw water from the environment and bind it to the skin, dousing it with a proverbial glass of water. But what good is hydration if it immediately evaporates?
We turn to moisturizing occlusives, or natural oils to lock in said hydration. We like to think of plant oils as nature’s plastic wrap — but the nice kind that supports a healthy moisture barrier.
YOU SHOULD KNOW When your skin lacks water, it’s dehydrated, and you’ll notice itchy, dull skin, and an increase in fine lines. But when your skin is chronically dry (scaly, flaky, easily irritated) it lacks sebum, or oil.
Use Body Oil for Mineral Rich Moisture
Mindfulness and multitasking aren't mutually exclusive and it’s possible (and encouraged) that your skincare routine is not only highly efficient, but a relaxing ritual that nurtures your skin and your soul.
We’ve been working on bottling pure gold to brighten up your self-care routine and we’re pleased and proud to introduce Body Oil, a versatile botanical body oil for every body, everywhere, everyday.
This ultra hydrating bottle of bliss is a luxurious blend of cold pressed Jojoba, Argan, and Sweet Almond that seals in mineral rich moisture loaded with naturally occurring vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids for moisture that lasts all day year long. The silky formula quickly sinks into skin for a dewy finish that leaves you nourished, hydrated, and protected from head to heels.
SHOP BODY OIL left photo by @alexandra__sage
The Ritual
If the Salve, Tonic and Hydrosol are the holy trinity of vulvovaginal care, Body Oil is the godhead. Deliver yourself from dry skin purgatory and ceremoniously confer this divine unguent as part of your morning routines and evening rituals. Apply everywhere. Bathe in it if you must and be reborn from the ash(y skin).
Gently awaken the senses with an earthy and uplifting symphony of scents grounded in Sandalwood, warmed with Sea Buckthorn, and brightened with Grapefruit.
Massage a generous amount on damp skin after a shower, or in a sauna in broad, upward strokes to boost circulation and seal in mineral rich moisture from head to heels. Caress your partner with a sensual touch. Throw your feet up and massage your sacral chakras to soothe pelvic pain and period cramps. Smooth it on your hands, heels, and cuticles. Gloss it over the ends of your hair. Dab it on your temples and pulse points for a subtle, uplifting scent throughout the day. Because it smells like heaven, if heaven could be bottled.
PRO TIP Because of their occlusive nature, oils work better when your skin is damp to help lock in the maximum amount of moisture
The Vessel
Admire the rich, golden hue (courtesy of sustainably sourced Sea Buckthorn berries) on your nightstand or vanity and bring it with you to the bath. The 100% recyclable bottle is safe to use in slippery conditions and won’t break on impact.
To properly recycle, remove the label and rinse the bottle to get rid of any residue. This is a very important step! Only clean bottles can be reused to make new bottles, building materials, and even clothes, so use it ‘til the very last golden drop!
Send us a photo of you reusing your Momotaro Apotheca bottle or jar for 10% off your next order.
The Elements
We take sourcing seriously, tracing raw ingredients to their origins and ensuring that their cultivation and production are sustainable for the environment and for your skin. Every ingredient we use is responsibly sourced to preserve the health of the soil, certified organic, and minimally processed to retain as many nutrients, flavonoids, and essential fatty acids found in nature.
All of our products are free from fillers and harsh chemicals that can irritate skin including sulfates, silicone, parabens, phthalates, fragrance, artificial dyes, alcohol, and animal byproducts.
Body Oil is a smooth blend of cold pressed plant oils and steam distilled essential oil for your daily dose of vitamins, minerals, and nourishing fatty acids.
Sweet Almond Oil (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis)
Extraction: cold pressed
Sweet Almond Oil is a gentle emollient high in olein, which enhances the skin barrier. Naturally rich in skin nourishing fatty acids, Sweet Almond Oil is packed with proteins, Omega 6 and 9, and Vitamin E that nourishes and revitalizes skin, hair, and scalp. Studies show that this moisturizing powerhouse can help prevent the structural damage caused by UV irradiation and reduce stretch marks caused by pregnancy (striae gravidarum).
Argan Oil (Argania spinosa)
Extraction: cold pressed
Dubbed the “liquid gold of Morocco,” Argan Oil is 80% unsaturated fatty acids that moisturize skin and enhance the skin barrier. It also contains a relatively large amount of antioxidant vitamin Em and smaller amounts of antioxidant phenols (including caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and epicatechin), as well as some rare sterols, which have soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies show that Argan Oil can revitalize and increase skin elasticity, and it's claimed to help neutralize collagen-damaging free radicals, and reduce and prevent scars or hyperpigmentation, although more studies are needed.
Jojoba Seed Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis)
Extraction: responsibly grown, cold pressed
While it appears to be an emollient oil, Jojoba is actually a wax ester, molecularly similar to the sebum (oil) your skin naturally produces. Jojoba Oil conditions skin with essential vitamins and moisturizes skin with a unique dual action: it mixes with sebum to form a non-greasy protective layer, but also absorbs into the skin and diffuses into the intercellular spaces of the skin to make it soft and supple.
Black Pepper Essential Oil (Piper Nigrum)
Extraction: Steam distilled
Scent: spicy, woody
High in antioxidants, Black Pepper Oil fights free radicals that can harm your skin and it has been shown to boost circulation and improve blood flow.
Sandalwood (Santalum album)
Extraction: responsibly grown and harvested in Australia; cold pressed
Scent: deep, woody
Sandalwood is a powerful antiseptic, emollient, and anti-inflammatory agent rich in antioxidants that help fight the damage caused by free radicals to help prevent loss of collagen.
Grapefruit Oil (Citrus Paradisi)
Extraction: Cold pressed
Scent: bright, citrusy, uplifting
Applied topically, Grapefruit Oil offers potent antioxidant, antibacterial and antimicrobial effects, which can help balance sebum production, as well as provide protection against the color-oxidizing effects of UV rays. (Just please note that it is not a substitute for sunscreen.) Research also suggests that Grapefruit Oil may also help alleviate anxiety and balance your mood with aromatherapy.
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae Rhamnoides)
Extraction: Cold pressed
Scent: nutty, grounded, warm
Known to be a rich natural source of Beta Carotene, flavonoids, and the rare Omega 7, Sea Buckthorn is a rich and deeply hydrating oil that nourishes dull, dry skin. Studies indicate that Sea Buckthorn is a natural inflammatory that promotes wound healing.
Patch test a small area on your wrist or forearm. If irritation occurs, discontinue use. Please note that Body Oil contains nut derivatives and should not be used if you have a nut allergy. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, we advise speaking with your trusted healthcare provider prior to applying botanical extracts.
Momotaro Apotheca and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on Momotaro Apotheca is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition.