Our Calendula Remedy would be a perfect first product to try on the affected areas, it comes in a mini size too which would be perfect for trial. Our Gotu Kola & Calendula Rich Cream Salve is often paired with it as an all-over rich lotion. The other product I'd recommend looking at is our Baby Wash or Calendula Wash as most washes are too harsh on the skin with eczema since the common ingredients used work more like detergents and they're usually high on fragrance and preservatives.
Eczema can be an exhausting cycle for parents and child (we've been there!) and unfortunately the one thing which is needed most is also probably the hardest to find in situations like this - patience! Taking the natural route may not have the dramatic short-term results that steroid creams do but the long-term advantages definitely outweigh the wait!
As most mums know, your skin goes through quite a bit as it prepares for your growing bub, and deals with the aftermath! Hormonal changes often mean it can be a lot more sensitive (to protect both you and your little one) but that also means it can be more prone to eczema or acne. Those hormonal changes can also create darker patches and lines, as well as spider veins, all of which are usually temporary (thank goodness!).
On top of all that, the skin is our largest organ and can absorb lots of the usual dyes, fragrances and chemicals in most skincare. Something most mums want to avoid for both themselves and their little
ones! So where do you start?
Our Top Three Tips for Mums
1. First off, the absolute no-nos. Acne treatments with Vitamin A, hair dyes containing ammonia, nail polishes (toluene, formaldehyde and DBP), skin lightening creams or peels which contain salicylic acid, BHA or hydroquinone. These can all seriously affect pregnant mums and the little ones they’re
carrying, so avoid at all costs.
2. Next off, avoid fragrances (especially synthetic ones, which are a big source of phthalates, a class of chemicals which is now under a lot of scrutinies for its effects on how children develop) and strong essential oils. Though natural, the wrong essential oils can trigger a whole host of unintended side effects in pregnant mums as they were, after all, originally meant for medicinal use!
3. Lastly, get to know a product’s ingredients! Harsh preservatives (such as parabens, benzyl alcohol, methylchloroisothiazolinone or phenoxyethanol), strong detergent ingredients (such as cocamidopropyl betaine or sulphates) and petroleum ingredients (such as mineral oil and propylene glycol) can wreak havoc on sensitive pregnant skin. If in doubt, do your research!
Our Mother’s All-Natural Range
Mother’s All-Natural Castile Hair & Body Wash
A handmade 100% extra virgin cold-pressed olive oil wash, infused with organic pomegranate extract, with no preservatives or fragrances. Perfect for gently soothing stressed hair and skin.
Mother’s All-Natural Daily Rich Cream Salve
A nourishing trio of extra virgin cold-pressed organic rosehip, camellia and olive oils. Excellent as an all-natural daily salve for stressed, stretching or tired skin on the face or body.
Mother’s All-Natural Intensive Restorative Oil
A rich and luxurious oil booster serum made with extra virgin cold-pressed organic rosehip and camellia oils fortified with olive squalane and natural vitamin E. Best used in conjunction with our Mother’s Salve.
Founded by a former midwife and grandmother, our family-owned business – situated in the lush Blackall Range Mountains of Queensland, Australia (our view above!) – began as a maker of the finest quality baby creams and balms using only the purest, natural ingredients and nothing else.
Our traditionally handcrafted range continues to be made on the farm to this day and has since grown to include a small range of carefully created products for mothers, mothers-to-be and the family.
]]>(A Skincare Regimen for Eczema-Affected Skin)
STEP 1 : SELECT PRODUCTS WITH GENTLE & NATURAL INGREDIENTS
Avoid petroleum derivatives such as mineral oil (a.k.a. liquid paraffin, paraffinum liquidum), petrolatum, propylene glycol and PEGs if possible. Avoid shampoos and soaps containing harsh synthetic detergents such as sulphates or cocamidopropyl betaine. Look for moisturisers containing natural oils (rather than oil derivatives such as triglycerides) as they’ll contain more of the natural vitamins and fatty acids which are beneficial for the skin. Avoid skincare containing added fragrances, multiple essential oils and strong preservatives (if in doubt, use your nose and check the expiry date!).
STEP 2 : BATHE WITH A GENTLE NATURAL SOAP IN COOL WATER
Always bathe in cool or slightly warm water, and limit baths and showers to 10-15 minutes. Be conservative in the amount of soap used (therefore choose a good one!) and remember, lots of foam is a sign of a harsh soap or wash. When the skin needs an even gentler wash, mix your natural soap with an equal amount of a natural oil for a soothing bath soak. But again, don’t sit in for too long.
STEP 3 : THE AFTER BATH ROUTINE
Pat skin gently with a soft towel, never rub! And apply a good natural moisturiser or lotion onto damp skin immediately. Follow-up with a balm or cream on the eczema-affected areas. And remember to choose clothing which uses gentle and all-natural fibres - such as cotton - which are gentle on the skin and allow it to breathe.
STEP 4 : MOISTURISE REGULARLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Every dermatologist agrees that regular, repeated moisturising is key for skin affected by eczema so remember to apply your chosen moisturiser or balm to affected areas regularly throughout the day. For added comfort, keep your lotion or balm in the fridge. Where using Four Cow Farm balms, apply first Calendula Remedy followed by Tea Tree Remedy together to soothe and protect when skin is particularly dry.
STEP 5 : HELP THE SKIN LEARN TO FUNCTION ON ITS OWN
The skin is a living organ, our largest in fact! So, every now and then, let the skin learn to function on its own by giving it a half-day break from all products.
All Four Cow Farm products are handcrafted on our very own family farm using only the highest quality natural food-grade ingredients, even our emulsifiers and preservatives! All products are meticulously researched, tested and formulated to be safe and beneficial for long-term use. For eczema, we recommend Four Cow Farm’s Baby Wash (the only 100% traditional extra virgin olive oil wash), Four Cow Farm Baby Lotion (the finest blend of oils for daily use on maintaining sensitive skin), Four Cow Farm Calendula Remedy (the only calendula balm made from over 80% organic calendula-infused olive oil), Four Cow Farm Gotu Kola & Calendula Rich Cream Salve (a rich cream for particularly sensitive and dry skin).
You may check out our Dry Skin Trio Set which includes Baby Wash, Baby Lotion and Calendula Remedy.
]]>The itching, the rashes, the redness, the scratching. Every parent who’s had to deal with a little one with eczema knows those symptoms all too well. The cycle can be stressful and upsetting for both parent and tot. Here’s Four Cow Farm’s five-step guide to understanding and living with eczema.
Step 1 : Understand what’s happening under the skin of a little one with eczema
The word ‘eczema’ actually covers a very wide range of symptoms and conditions and many types of eczema exist. So, the best first step to take is to try and identify the type of eczema your little one has.
There are two broad groups of eczema - eczema which is triggered by direct skin contact with an irritant; and eczema which is caused by an increased sensitivity in the way your child’s immune system reacts with their environment. The latter is known as atopic eczema and is the fastest growing type of eczema.
A genetic twist of fate means that those with atopic eczema have skin that is unable to retain its own moisture (making it particularly prone to extreme dryness and itch) as well as particularly over-active immune systems that react to a variety of external influences (including the bacteria and yeast which live on all our kins!).
Step 2 : Discover the key triggers (not as easy as you might think!)
The next step is to begin whittling down the potential triggers of the symptoms - and there may be a few! An easy place to start is with the 3 ‘E’s of eczema :
(a) Edible – the most common trigger foods are cow’s milk, eggs, soya, wheat, fish and nuts.
(b) Environmental – the most common culprits are clothing, harsh soaps and detergents, perfumes and preservatives in skincare products, fabric softeners, extreme temperatures, humidity, dust mites, pollen and pets.
(c) Emotional – strong emotions such as stress and anger may trigger a worsening of the symptoms, as well as illness.
One of the best ways of identifying triggers is to remove them, one at a time, to see if your little one’s eczema improves. 4-6 weeks per trigger is best for certainty so patience, patience, patience…
Another approach is allergy testing which can be helpful if a specific allergy is suspected, though those with atopic eczema may test positive for none or many of the allergens tested. And all this will do will be to merely confirm that the form of eczema is atopic eczema (which, as described above, has its basis in the immune system), and not other forms of eczema whose main triggers are external.
Where the primary cause of eczema is an external irritant, identifying the culprit or culprits will see an immediate and marked improvement in your little one’s skin, or the disappearance of eczema entirely.
With atopic eczema, removing those key triggers will reduce the number of ‘flare-ups’ which take place, but the dryness and itchiness is likely to continue for a while, and helping your little one’s skin to cope with both on an ongoing basis will be absolutely crucial (we’ll tackle this in the next section).
Step 3 : Put in place a disciplined skincare regime (and we mean really disciplined!)
With atopic eczema, the skin is unable to hold onto its own moisture. This consistent dryness is a primary trigger of itching, which can often lead to flare-ups, so helping the skin retain its own moisture is absolutely key. One crucial period at which to protect the skin from loss of moisture is bath-time.
So be extremely careful and selective with shampoos, soaps and washes. Avoid products containing harsh synthetic detergents (such as sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate or cocamidopropyl betaine) and harsh preservatives (such as phenoxyethanol or benzyl alcohol).
Replenishing the skin’s moisture is key. And dermatologists all agree that regular, repeated moisturising is crucial to managing eczema. By helping the skin maintain its moisture, we help maintain the health of the skin, and its ability to defend itself against external triggers and allergens. So if there’s one mantra every parent needs to repeat when dealing with eczema, it’s ‘moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!’.
Parents and carers should, therefore, help the child to moisturise at regular intervals during the day, And as you’ll be applying your chosen moisturiser very, very often, make sure it’s made from the very best natural ingredients. Skin with eczema is often thinner and more likely to absorb and react to the substances placed on it, so avoid anything containing synthetic nasties, artificial chemicals, added fragrances or petroleum derivatives (see the Four Cow Farm Guide on Baby Skincare for more on selecting safe skincare).
Step 4 : Get your little one involved
The good news in all of this? Many children often see the symptoms lessen with age although many will continue to have sensitive skin. So what better time than now to begin teaching him or her to start looking after their own skin? Involve them in applying moisturisers or creams, allow them to be part of making up the bath and using the (gentle) soap or bath oil you’ve chosen. And teach your little one to manage the itchiness that comes with eczema. Whether it’s a cool compress, or putting on a soothing lotion, or tickling or patting as alternatives to scratching, there are a myriad of techniques that will help those little fingers find gentler ways of soothing their skin.
Being the parent of a child with eczema can be a frustrating, nerve-wracking and exhausting ride. And perhaps one thing to remember is that being a child with atopic eczema has its ups and its downs, its good days and its bad, and that’s all part of the whole experience. Sometimes, the real challenge of eczema is earning to manage you and your little one’s journey through it with a few tips, some discipline and a lot of love and patience!
For more information, you may continue How to Care for Skin with Eczema.
]]>Avoid This Stuff In ANY Skincare!
1. No parabens (methyl-/butyl-/ethyl-/propyl-paraben)
Linked to lowered reproductive functions and malignant cell growth
2. No propylene glycol
Linked to increased risk of respiratory and immune disorders in children
3. No sulphates (including sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate)
A known irritant, extremely harsh and linked to eye/corneal damage
4. No cocamidopropyl betaine
Linked to allergic reactions and skin sensitivities, a foam-boosting ingredient
5. No artificial or unnecessary fragrances
Most common source of irritants, phthalates, skin sensitisers and toxins
6. No artificial colours
Some are known carcinogens, causes of skin sensitivity and irritation
7. No synthetic detergents (eg, cocamide DEA/MEA)
Skin irritants, may contain carcinogens from the manufacturing process
8. No petrochemicals (eg, petrolatum, polysorbates, PEG)
Potential role as carcinogens, concern over long-term effects on the skin
9. No mineral oils (a.k.a. paraffinum liquidum)
Toxic if ingested, also a skin irritant and allergen with links to cancer
10. No lanolin
Liable to be toxic if ingested, often adulterated with pesticides and fertilisers
11. No chlorinated water
A skin irritant, linked to skin dryness and aging
12. No phthalates (often found in fragrances)
Linked to developmental and reproductive abnormalities as well as allergies
TIP 1 : READ THE FIRST FEW INGREDIENTS
In both skincare and food, ingredients are listed from most to least (a good thing to remember!) so always look at the first few ingredients on the ingredients list. Are they truly natural? Or are they ‘natural derivatives’? Then find out how they are processed and treated! If the product says it’s made from olive oil, is it amongst the first few ingredients? It should be!
TIP 2 : CHECK THE EXPIRY DATE
Look for an expiry date. No expiry date? Red alert! It’s probably not a natural product. A long expiry date (i.e. two-and-a-half-years or more)? Then it’s likely to contain non-natural ingredients or may be a natural product that’s high on preservatives or processed ingredients (which last longer than truly natural ones).
TIP 3 : THE FEWER THE INGREDIENTS, THE BETTER
We’re big believers of less is more. As Nanna always says, great recipes always focus on using a few, great ingredients. Longer lists may be a sign that fillers or cheaper ingredients are being used. Too many extracts and essential oils can also overwhelm the skin, especially sensitive or baby skin.
TIP 4 : GIVE IT A SNIFF!
It’s often the first thing most people do. But instead of looking for a fragrance, look for something which has a very light or no fragrance. The heavier the fragrance, the more likely it is that synthetic fragrances are being used or a high concentration of essential oils (which can often act like preservatives because of their potency). Both things to avoid since both synthetic fragrances and strong essential oils can release potent chemicals and irritate sensitive and young skins.
TIP 5 : CHECK OUR ‘NO LIST’
It’s a dirty dozen of ingredients you wouldn’t want to find in your or your little one’s skincare. We apply these products to our skin every single day and choosing safe, natural skin care is a must. After all, it’s your largest organ!
Our handcrafted, all-natural skincare is very special. Like good wine the natural ingredients that give our skincare it's amazing qualities benefit greatly by the way they are handled and stored. A few simple tips on how to look after our skincare can go a long way to maintaining the efficacy of their ingredients and extending their shelf life.
1. Clean hands and fingers are a must when handling.
2. Keep the lid or cap tightly closed when not in use. As it’s filled with only natural ingredients, keeping contaminants out will greatly extend our skincare's life.
3. Heat or direct sunlight can damage natural ingredients and shorten shelf life. A cool place away from the sun is where they’re happiest :) Try not to leave them by a sunny window, in a hot room or in a hot car. Just like food, keeping our skincare refrigerated will keep them fresh for longer and extend their life.
4. As much as possible, keep your product’s container clean and moisture-free, as that reduces the chance of introducing contaminants many of which love natural ingredients! Wipe your container dry with a clean tissue if it gets dirty or moist.
5. Our natural skincare will serve you long and well if well cared for. Like unprocessed food and all truly natural products, your eyes and nose will tell you when it’s time to replace it!
If you have any questions or have a specific skin care requirement, please reach out to us at admin@fourcowfarm.com.my , we’d love to help!
We hope you enjoy our range as much as we enjoyed making them!
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Have you ever wondered what goes into the bottles of lotion, oil and wash we pour onto the skins of our little ones on a daily basis? From washes to lotions to oils, most babies have their skins slathered with baby skincare products from the day they are born.
Yet, read almost any listing of skincare ingredients at the back of a bottle, and it’s enough to make anyone’s head swim! How can mums and dads make sense of it all? Here’s a start. Welcome to Four Cow Farm’s guide to deciphering what actually goes into baby skincare and how to make the best choices for your little ones. Because when it comes to caring for baby skin, our motto is always to keep it simple, natural and safe. That’s all baby skin (or any skin) needs!
Step 1. Know which claims are regulated (and which are not) ‘Hypoallergenic’, ‘dermatologically tested’, ‘clinically tested’, ‘no-tears formula’, ‘fragrance-free’ - many of the claims on the lotions and washes we buy are just that, claims. Claims which aren’t regulated, investigated or substantiated by governments or regulatory authorities. Even the terms ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ are regulated in their use only in certain countries and their application (according to each country’s laws) often allows for loopholes and gaps in a product’s ingredients, which can allow suspicious chemicals and synthetic ingredients in. So your best bet? The ingredients list - the only thing that (almost) never lies!
Step 2. Learn to identify the most commonly used petroleum ingredients The vast majority of commercial brands of baby skincare contain petroleum derivatives. Yes, you read that right - petroleum derivatives, i.e. from crude oil. Some of the more common ones are Mineral Oil a.k.a. Paraffinum Liquidum (which most baby oils are made from, with a bit of synthetic fragrance thrown in; read on to learn more about fragrances), Petrolatum a.k.a. Petroleum Jelly, Propylene Glycol, PEGs (Polyethylene Glycol), Polysorbates (usually followed by a number) and DEA/MEA/ TEA. The reason they’re used? They’re cheap, abundant and can last pretty much forever on the shelf. The downside? At best, they’re at risk of being contaminated with carcinogens during manufacturing and are linked to the rise in allergies. At worse, they are themselves carcinogens and are known toxins which are applied direct to the skin on a daily basis. And if that’s not enough, they’re terrible for our earth!
Step 3. Be concerned about the types of preservatives used
Preservatives are necessary to extend a product’s shelf life but there is a huge spectrum of preservatives used (from natural to synthetic) and some have come under a cloud of suspicion. Parabens (such as methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben and propylparaben) have been linked to tumours in the breast and skin, and a possible role as ‘endocrine disruptors’ in mimicking hormones. Phenoxyethanol - a preservative commonly used in natural and organic products - is known to depress the central nervous system and cause vomiting and diarrhoea when ingested by infants. Benzyl Alcohol - another commonly used preservative in mainstream and natural products is known to be toxic to newborns. The worrying thing? These preservatives are commonly found in products meant for babies. If in doubt, always check the expiry date! The longer the expiry date (more than 2-and-a-half years is a clue) and it’s likely what you’re holding contains strong preservatives!
Step 4. Avoid unnecessary fragrances
Let’s begin with synthetic fragrances - which make up most of the fragrance ingredients in skincare products. The vast majority are synthetic compounds derived from - you guessed it - petroleum, as well as coal tar. These include VOCs (volatile organic compounds) linked to cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. Research has shown that these airborne chemicals have direct access to the brain and our internal systems through the nasal passages. Essential oils, used in many natural products for their fragrance, have been shown to emit similar chemicals when overused. The worst thing? Fragrances are protected as ‘trade secrets’ so manufacturers aren’t required to list what goes into them!
Step 5. Start reading labels and choose ingredients you recognise
A good rule of thumb is if it doesn’t sound like something you’d like to put in your mouth, it’s probably better off not on your or your little one’s skin. We apply lotions, washes and creams to our skin (our single largest organ!) every single day and these often contain ingredients that are questionable at best. Even some naturally-derived ingredients are less beneficial than they appear. Sulphates (such as sodium or ammonium lauryl/laureth sulphate) and cocamidopropyl betaine, both derived from coconut oil, are known to irritate the skin and cause allergic reactions. Cocamide DEA/MEA are known skin irritants and potential carcinogens. Lauryl glucoside and decyl glucoside (both derived from vegetable sources) have only recently been tested for safety. The best test of all? Do your own searching (www.cosmeticsdatabase.com is a great start, funded by the Environmental Working Group, an independent body). After all, the more you know about what goes into your skincare, the more you know about what’s going into your little ones, and you.
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