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Tropic Tamanu Balm is a rich, concentrated multipurpose balm created to soothe and care for dry, sensitive, reactive or damaged areas of skin.

Its hero ingredient is tamanu oil, a naturally rich green oil obtained from the nuts of the tamanu tree.

The formula also contains blackcurrant extract, rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids, to help soothe irritation and calm redness. Cupuaçu butter provides deep hydration and helps support the skin barrier.

Each 60ml pot contains the freshly pressed goodness of 50 tamanu nuts, 21 shea nuts and one-third of a coconut, which gives you some idea of just how concentrated and nourishing the formula is.

An independent clinical study found an average 16% improvement in skin barrier function after two weeks.

The texture is thick and rich.

This isn’t a light body lotion that you casually sweep over your arms and legs. It’s intended to stay where you put it, so you can apply it directly to the particular area asking for attention.

One reason Tamanu Balm has become such a useful product to keep at home is the number of ordinary situations in which it can be used.

According to Tropic’s product information, Tamanu Balm is suitable for:

• Dry patches and eczema-prone areas

• Insect bites, stings and irritated rashes

• Minor burns and heat irritation

• Minor cuts, scrapes and grazes

• Blisters and chafed skin

• Post-shave discomfort, razor bumps and ingrown hairs

• Scars and stretch marks

• Areas of friction, including heels and delicate underarms

• Fresh tattoos, where it supports the skin’s natural renewal process

I’ve personally used mine for bites, minor burns, grazes, irritation and chafing.

That distinction matters to me.

I’ll always tell you what the product information says, but I also want to be clear about what I’ve actually experienced myself.

It’s why I think of Tamanu Balm as something useful to keep in the house rather than simply another body-care product.

You may not use it at exactly the same time every day.

But when you need it, you’re very pleased you know where the pot is.

Apply it generously to the affected area as frequently as required. It should not be used on an open wound.

And it is, of course, a skincare product rather than a replacement for appropriate first aid or medical care. A serious burn, deep or infected wound, severe allergic reaction or persistent skin problem needs professional advice.

For those smaller, everyday skin dramas, though, I find it wonderfully useful to have nearby.

If I’m going to give you honest skincare advice, I need to tell you this.

Tamanu Balm has a smell.

Quite a smell, actually.

Strong and earthy is probably the best description.

It comes from the naturally aromatic tamanu oil, and this is absolutely not a balm that has been created to smell sweet, floral or conventionally luxurious.

If you open the pot expecting something delicate and perfumed, you might be in for a surprise.

But something interesting has happened for me over time.

I now associate that smell with the product being “good for me”.

I open the pot, smell that distinctive earthy scent and have this sense that I’m putting something comforting and restorative onto my skin.

That is my personal association with the smell, not a skincare claim.

And would I tell you that everybody is going to fall in love with the fragrance at first sniff?

Absolutely not.

But do I care what it smells like when I have six bites itching on the same arm?

Also no.

Its usefulness matters far more to me than whether it smells pretty.

And I rather like that about it.

Not everything that earns a place in our bathroom cupboard has to be glamorous.

This is probably one of the most useful things to understand because Tamanu Balm and Tamanu Cream both contain tamanu oil but have quite different roles.

The simplest way to remember it is:

Tamanu Balm is concentrated, heavier and targeted.

Tamanu Cream is lighter, more spreadable and suitable for everyday use over larger areas of the body.

Choose Tamanu Balm when...

You have one particular area that needs more intensive care.

That might be a bite, graze, dry patch, minor burn, blister, area of chafing or irritated skin.

Its dense balm texture creates a nourishing layer over the area and allows you to apply it exactly where you need it.

It comes in a 60ml pot for home and a smaller 20ml pot that can be useful for your handbag, travel bag or family first-aid kit.

Choose Tamanu Cream when...

You want a rich but less heavy-duty product that can be massaged over larger areas.

Tamanu Cream is designed to provide daily moisture and comfort from top to toe.

It combines tamanu oil with illipe butter for lasting hydration and vitamin E to help calm and care for dry, flaky skin.

According to the product information, it is particularly suitable for sensitive or reactive skin, eczema-prone skin and areas affected by dryness or sensitivity. It can also be used during pregnancy and after birth on stretched or delicate areas, and it is suitable for children and babies from two weeks old.

The 200ml tube makes sense for regular all-over use in a way that a small pot of concentrated balm doesn't.

So if your skin generally feels dry or uncomfortable and you want a daily body cream, Tamanu Cream may be the more practical choice.

If one particular patch needs focused attention, that’s where I’d look towards Tamanu Balm.

And you don't automatically need both.

It comes back to something I say a lot: I’d rather help you find the product that works for you than convince you that you need more products.

“My skin just isn’t the same anymore.”

If you’ve found yourself saying that, you’re certainly not alone.

Skin can behave differently during perimenopause, menopause and beyond. Hormonal changes can reduce the amount of oil our skin naturally produces, and skin that once felt fairly balanced may become drier, more sensitive or more easily irritated.

You might notice flaky areas, more redness or simply a feeling that your skin isn’t as comfortable as it used to be.

It doesn’t mean your skin has suddenly become a problem to solve.

And it certainly doesn't mean you need to reinvent your entire routine.

Sometimes what worked for you before simply doesn’t work for you now.

That might mean gentler cleansing.

More consistent moisture.

Or having something targeted nearby for those areas that need a little extra care.

Tamanu Cream may suit someone who needs regular moisture over the body.

Tamanu Balm may suit someone who wants targeted care within easy reach.

Healthy skin isn't about owning the largest number of products.

It’s about understanding what you’re using, why you’re using it and whether it actually works for your skin.

Tamanu oil also appears in other Tropic products, but that doesn't make those products interchangeable.

They each have a different job.

Super Greens Nutrient Boost Oil

Super Greens is the one I personally use.

It’s a concentrated green facial oil made with tamanu oil, kale and broccoli seed oils, and a vitamin C derivative.

It is designed to nourish the skin, support the skin barrier and help dull or dehydrated skin appear more radiant and resilient.

Despite being an oil, its lightweight, non-occlusive formula is also suitable for blemish-prone and oily skin.

An independent clinical study found an average 34% improvement in skin barrier function after 28 days.

I alternate Super Greens with Tropic Elixir as the final step in my nighttime skincare routine.

After cleansing, toning, applying my serums and moisturiser, I press a few drops onto my skin.

And I love that moment.

There’s something about the deep green colour and rich oil texture that makes me feel as though I’m adding goodness to my skin.

Tropic describes Super Greens as a wellness shot for your face, and that captures how it feels to me within my evening routine.

It’s my final nourishing layer before bed.

To use it, apply three to six drops after moisturiser and gently massage the oil into your skin, concentrating on areas that need additional nourishment.

Rinse and Retreat Sensitive Body Wash

Rinse and Retreat is a fragrance-free, pH-balanced body wash for sensitive, eczema-prone and intimate areas of skin.

It contains gentle coconut-derived cleansers alongside guava and bamboo water, with organic tamanu oil to soothe and support the skin barrier.

This isn't a targeted product like the balm.

It’s a gentle daily cleanser for someone who needs to wash delicate skin without leaving it feeling stripped.

So although these products share tamanu oil, they do different jobs:

Tamanu Balm provides concentrated, targeted care.

Tamanu Cream provides everyday moisture over larger areas.

Super Greens is a nourishing facial oil used at the end of a skincare routine.

Rinse and Retreat is a gentle, fragrance-free body and intimate wash.

The common thread is skin comfort.

The right choice depends on your skin, where you're using the product and what you actually need it to do.

The larger pot naturally makes sense at home, perhaps in the bathroom cabinet or wherever you keep those useful everyday essentials.

The smaller pot can be handy for:

• Your handbag

• A holiday washbag

• A walking or hiking bag

• Days out

• The gym or Pilates bag

• Weekends away

I like products to live where I'm actually going to use them.

Because the most useful skincare product in the world isn't particularly useful when it's sitting forgotten at the back of a cupboard.

A small pot in your bag means it’s there when you discover a bite, feel a shoe beginning to rub or notice a small area of irritation.

Simple.

Useful.

There when you need it.

Can Tamanu Balm be used on insect bites?

According to Tropic's product information, Tamanu Balm is recommended for insect bites and stings.

I used it on six bites on my arm and personally found that it helped stop the itching and seemed to help my skin recover more quickly.

Can I use Tamanu Balm on a burn?

The product information says it can be applied to minor burns and heat irritation.

Do not apply it to an open wound or use it in place of appropriate first aid. More serious burns require prompt medical attention.

Is Tamanu Balm suitable for eczema-prone skin?

The product information recommends it for dry skin, eczema-prone areas and reactive skin.

Individual sensitivities vary, so patch testing is sensible if you're unsure. Persistent, severe or worsening symptoms should be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional.

Can I put Tamanu Balm on an open cut?

No.

Tropic's usage instructions specifically state that Tamanu Balm should not be used on open wounds.

Is Tamanu Balm the same as Tamanu Cream?

No.

Both contain tamanu oil, but their textures and purposes are different.

Tamanu Balm is the heavier, concentrated option for targeted areas. Tamanu Cream is less heavy-duty and can be massaged over larger areas for regular body moisture and comfort.

Does Tamanu Balm smell strong?

Yes.

It has a distinctive, naturally earthy scent and isn't designed to smell like a conventional fragranced body product.

I now associate that smell with putting something “good for me” onto my skin, but I won't pretend it's subtle.

Can Tamanu Balm be used every day?

It can be applied to the relevant area as frequently as required.

If you want a product for regular, all-over body moisturising, Tamanu Cream is likely to be the more practical choice.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been talking about the rituals we choose.

Looking after the delicate skin around our eyes.

Caring for the skin on our bodies.

The shower that gets us moving in the morning and the bath that gives us permission to stop at night.

But skin doesn't only need us when we've scheduled time to look after it.

Sometimes you simply wake up with six bites because apparently something found your arm particularly delicious during the night.

Sometimes the shoe rubs.

The oven tray wins.

Or your skin simply says, “I’m not comfortable.”

And perhaps there’s something in that.

Looking after ourselves doesn’t always have to be a big event.

Sometimes care is simply noticing.

Something feels different.

Something feels uncomfortable.

Something needs attention.

And instead of ignoring it because there are seventeen other things to do, we respond.

For me, sometimes that response is reaching for the little green pot.

It's practical.

It's useful.

It smells extremely earthy.

And it has earned its place in my home.

If you're wondering whether Tamanu Balm, Tamanu Cream or another Tropic product would work best for what your skin is experiencing, send me a message and tell me what's going on.

I’ll listen before I recommend.

Healthy Skin. Honest Advice.

If you're a woman over 50 navigating changing skin, I'd love to support you.

💚 Join my Facebook community, where we chat about skincare, wellbeing and the simple rituals that help us look after ourselves.

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Before you go....

Your body has been with you through every chapter of your life.

It deserves more than being an afterthought.

Perhaps tomorrow morning, instead of rushing straight into the day, you could spend just five minutes looking after yourself.

Because healthy skin has never been about perfection.

It's about creating small rituals that remind us we matter too. 💚

Take care of yourself.

You deserve it.

Natalie x

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