Green packaging. Budget friendly. Celebrity endorsed.
Weleda Skin Food isn’t a new kid on the block. In fact, this cream has been around since the 1920s and like any good cult cream, it has all the claims. This cream is billed as the ultimate cure to dry skin – think cracked lips, flakiness, irritation, dry areas of any sort – hands, feet, elbows, and this stuff is thick. I’ve heard it used as a lip balm, a moisturiser, a primer, an overnight face mask, a cuticle cream, a hand cream, even a post-shave cream.
The original Skin Food is a rich, heavy-going moisturiser that is ideal for very dry skin. It’s had somewhat of a revival recently as an Instagram makeup base, but on my skin it is way too greasy for that. While the original has it’s place, I wanted to test out the new guy, Skin Food Light.
The green tube is still there, but it’s, you guessed it – lighter, this time. The light green shade doesn’t give me any sort of luxury feels but this isn’t a luxury product. It’s not La Mer and it’s not trying to be. This is an apothecary style, skincare prioritising potion. The fragrance is unsurprisingly green and herby but not offensive, and the texture is lush. This cream smooths on so easily I end up slathering it over my dry hands and arms as well as my pre-makeup face. It also absorbs beautifully but leaves a slight protective satin residue on the top of the skin so you continue to feel hydrated long after application.
This product is also certified natural skincare – if you’re feeling weary, I have a future post coming up about the differences between ‘natural’, ‘green’ and ‘clean’ as the industry seems awash with claims and confusion.
Combining organic sunflower oil with extracts of calendula, pansy and chamomile this cream feels soothing, calming and protecting. If you’ve tried out the original Skin Food and found it far too rich for your skin, this may be a winner however it is still oil-heavy and nourishing so if you react poorly to oils, proceed with caution. It’s a joy when a cult product comes not from the top shelf, costing hundreds and unattainable to most, but from the humble shelves of a pharmacy or supermarket. Attainability, affordability and performability – perhaps this is why Weleda has been around since 1921, enjoyed cult status and may just stick around for decades to come.