Vegan Skincare: Natural Face Balm & Body Balm for Dewy Skin

As vegan skincare continues to make strides, plant-based options are growing in popularity.

Natural plant-based butters, like organic shea butter, kokum butter, and kpangnan butter, are rich in antioxidants. They also have anti-inflammatory properties.

One of the best ways to begin incorporating botanicals into your skincare regimen is by adding balms!

In this article, we’ll explore botanical ingredients, their role in vegan skincare, and how to achieve beautiful dewy skin.

The Benefits of Plant-Based Butters in Vegan Skincare

Among the most potent natural moisturizers are face balms and body balms, which provide occlusive and emollient benefits. These products commonly feature unrefined shea butter, kokum butter, and kpangnan butter. Each butter possesses distinct properties that cater to diverse skin needs.

Raw Shea Butter

Brands across the cosmetic industry widely use raw shea butter for its natural moisturizing capabilities. Rich in vitamins A and E, it is also an essential fatty acid that helps repair and protect the skin barrier.

Shea Butter Classification System:

While shea butter is often used as a blanket term, not all shea butter is equal.

Skincare products that don’t specify the use of raw or organic, unrefined shea butter are often not made with Grade A quality. Refined shea butter is more commonly used because it eliminates the natural aroma and color—though in doing so, it also strips away many of the beneficial nutrients and compounds.

Kokum Butter

Kokum butter contains a high level of oleic acid, which the skin naturally produces. This fatty acid offers hydration, skin soothing, and textural enhancement. Unlike shea butter, kokum butter enhances skin elasticity without a greasy residue. It’s also used as an alternative to cocoa butter because of its hardness.

Kpangnan Butter

Kpangnan butter is a lesser-known plant butter from West Africa. Rich in vitamins A, E, and F, stigmasterol and tocopherols. It also offers anti-inflammatory properties, excellent for calming irritated skin. Kpangnan is a semi-soft butter with a beautiful texture and finish.

Bakuchiol: A Plant-Based Retinol Alternative

Bakuchiol has emerged as a viable retinol alternative, offering comparable benefits without the side effects and irritation commonly caused by retinols. Bakuchiol boosts collagen production, smooths fine lines, and brightens skin. Unlike retinol however, it does not induce photosensitivity, making it suitable for daytime application.

Bakuchiol serum is the most popular form of this powerful vegan skincare active. We use bakuchiol extract. It is the strongest form of bakuchiol. This extract comes from the leaves and seeds of the babchi plant.

If you’re curious about this natural retinol alternative, check out our article: Bakuchiol Serum: A Natural Alternatives to Retinol.

Traditional Ayurveda practitioners prepared bakuchiol in oil-based formulations. In honor of that tradition, we craft our ORI Bakuchiol Face Balm with unrefined plant butters and nutrient-rich oils. 

Pure Vitamin E Oil: A Natural Skin Protector

Pure vitamin E oil is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect skin from environmental damage. It also speeds up skin healing, making it great for treating scars, dryness, and irritation. When combined with plant-based butters, it provides long-lasting moisture and skin repair.

Balms vs. Lotions

Balms differ from lotion in that they are water free. Lotion, however, uses water as the base of the product’s formulation. Balms are thick and rich in texture, some of which may contain wax. 

Lotions are lighter and quicker to absorb into the skin.

While both lotions and balms moisturize the skin, they do so using a different approach. Lotions hydrate the skin by providing water and humectants (glycerin, aloe vera gel, hyaluronic acid etc). They also moisturize the skin with the use of emollients (dimethicone, cetyl alchol, lanolin etc.).

Balms form a protective barrier on the skin to prevent trans epidemal water loss (tewl). Translation, balms don’t use water, they consist of fats… these fats are essentially oils in a solid state. When you apply the balm, the layer of oil on top traps the water in the skin, thus preventing water loss.

Face Balm: Moisturizing Delicate Skin

Face balm should be worn at night and as the last step in your skincare routine. Because balms are waterless skincare products, they don’t offer hydration as a benefit. They do, however, seal the moisture that is present within the skin.

Wearing face balm at night offers a deeply moisturizing glow. While a face balm is beneficial for most skin types, it’s best for the following:

• Dry Skin
• Sensitive Skin
• Damaged Skin

Our waterless skincare products are made with 100% organic, unrefined plant butters and cold-pressed oils—never waxes or animal derivatives. We source our ingredients through fair trade initiatives, ensuring that every jar is crafted with care: holistically, sustainably, and ethically.

Body Butter: The Best Natural Moisturizer

Body balm and body butter are often used interchangeably, but the key difference lies in the presence of wax. Body balms are salve-like moisturizers, ideal for targeted application on dry patches, cracked skin, or irritation.

Traditional body butters contain only rich plant butters, unlike the water-based versions found in beauty stores. Classic examples include pure shea butter, used alone for its powerful moisturizing properties. To improve both texture and efficacy, however, butters are commonly blended with oils.

Explore our collection to experience how thoughtfully paired butters and oils can transform your skincare ritual.

Final Thoughts: The Power of Vegan Skincare

The integration of vegan skincare principles can provide a holistic approach while adhering to ethical and sustainable beauty standards. The switch to plant-based skin care doesn’t mean sacrificing effectiveness either. Natural ingredients can moisturize and deliver active ingredients that encourage hydrated skin and promote a healthy barrier.