Did you know? Astral Intensive Moisturiser Original is now available in a new flavour, Shea Butter.
I love this new version so much more. Don’t get me wrong. The original formula is still a trusted staple that keeps my drier-than-the-Sahara body skin soft and supple all day long.
But the Shea Butter version has a couple of things going for it that won over my heart. Here’s why:
What’s In Astral Intensive Moisturiser?
Let’s start with the ingredients Astral Intensive Moisturiser Original and Astral Intensive Moisturiser With Shea Butter have in common, shall we?
GLYCERIN TO HYDRATE SKIN
Glycerin is a moisture magnet. Literally.
Like a magnet, it attracts water from the air and dumps it into the skin. Your skin then uses the extra moisture for, well… everything.
It plumps up so fine lines and wrinkles look smaller. It gets softer to the touch. And it takes on a dewy glow.
Related: Why Is Glycerin In Every Skincare Product?
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that banishes dryness and makes your skin supple and dewy? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM (MINERAL OIL), PARAFFIN & PETROLATUM TO MOISTURISE SKIN
Wait, does Astral Intensive Moisturiser contains not one, but ALL 3, oil-derived nasties?!
Not so fast. These moisturizing ingredients aren’t as bad as you think. Yes, they’re derived from petroleum. But they’re NOT petroleum. Before they’re put into the cream, they undergo a strict purifying process to remove all toxins. So, no, they won’t give you cancer.
They won’t clog your pores either. At least not when used alone. They work by creating a protective barrier on the skin that slows down water loss.
It also traps any other ingredients that’s on your skin. So if you’re slathering on a cream or serum with comedogenic ingredients beforehand, you may get a pimple or two. Avoid those and your skin will be fine.
But why are they here anyway? Mineral oil, paraffin and petrolatum are super moisturising. The barrier they create strengthens your skin’s protective barrier, keeps moisture in and makes your skin soft and smooth for hours.
Related: 5 Myths About Mineral Oil You Need To Stop Believing Right Now
LANOLIN TO PROTECT AND MOISTURISE SKIN
Lanolin is another ingredient with an undeserved bad rep. Back in the day, it’d be contaminated with pesticides that gave people bad allergic reactions.
These days, things have changed. Lanolin undergoes a purification process that removes all pesticides and other impurities. Phew!
But what the heck is lanolin anyway? The greasy, yellow substance sheep naturally produce to protect themselves from harsh weather. (FYI, no sheep are hurt in the making of lanolin for skincare purposes).
Lanolin is another great moisturiser. It locks in moisture, preventing it from evaporating into thin air. Now forced into the skin, all that moisture makes even the driest of skin all soft and smooth.
Related: Is Lanolin Good For Skin?
Astral Intensive Moisturiser Original
Let’s start with the original version, shall we?
Astral Intensive Moisturiser Original is THICK. It takes a while to absorb even on dry skin. But when it does…
I’ve already told you my skin is super dry, right? It gets better in summer, but during the cold winter, I need to apply a heavy body butter every single day to keep it happy.
This one fits the bill. It’s super moisturising and keeps my skin soft and supple for hours. I put it on in the morning and when I go to bed at night, my skin’s still soft.
Astral says you can use it as a face moisturizer or makeup remover. I personally find it too thick for that, but that’s just personal preference.
If you have very dry skin on your face or like cleansing with heavy butters, this will do the job just fine.
One more thing: the Original version has a fresh, clean scent. I prefer my skincare products fragrance-free, but this one is pretty innocuous and pleasant.
Astral Intensive Moisturiser With Shea Butter
What makes Astral Intensive Moisturiser With Shea Butter different from the original?
For starters, it smells like shea butter. Duh! It’s such a small thing, but I’ve come to love the smell over the years. For me, this is more pleasant to use.
The texture’s just a smidgen less thick than the Original. It still takes a while to absorb, but again, if you have dry skin you’ll hardly mind that. It’s a sign of how moisturising it is.
This takes me to the formula. The main difference here is the addition of shea butter, one of the most moisturising substances on this planet. Studies show, it’s even more moisturising than mineral oil (which is here, too!).
It also has less fillers (think preservatives and thickeners) than the Original, so it’s less likely to cause irritations to sensitive skin.
I’m totally switching. What about you?
Price & Availability
£9.99 at Amazon and Superdrug
Astral Intensive Moisturiser Original Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Paraffin, Lanolin, Ozokerite, Lanolin Alcohol, Petrolatum, Isopropyl Myristate, Magnesium Sulfate, Parfum (Fragrance), Propylparaben, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Amyl Cinnamon, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Coumarin, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Linalool.
Astral Intensive Moisturiser With Shea Butter Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Paraffin, Lanolin, Ozokerite, Lanolin Alcohol, Petrolatum, Shea Butter, Isopropyl Myristate, Magnesium Sulfate, Parfum (Fragrance), Propylparaben, Hexyl Cinnamal, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Coumarin, Limonene.
