If you find yourself looking at your moisturiser the way you look at a dodgy processed food ingredient list, then this blog is for you. Behind the pretty packaging and clever slogans, most conventional moisturisers are filled with synthetic ingredients that are harming your skin and potentially even your health. 

In this blog, we will go over:

• What makes most conventional moisturisers so bad
• Why that matters more than you might think
• What makes tallow-based skincare a great alternative.

What’s Inside Store-Bought Moisturisers?

Turn over almost any commercial cream and you’ll find a long list of hard-to-pronounce names. These ingredients either coat, preserve, perfume, or stabilise the product and do nothing for your skin.

Some common offenders to look out for:

1. Petrolatum and Mineral Oil
   By-products of petroleum refining. They form a slick barrier on the skin, trapping moisture, but also trapping toxins and preventing your skin from breathing properly. 
2. Parabens (Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben)
   Preservatives used to extend shelf life, but studies found parabens present in breast cancer tissue samples. While correlation doesn’t prove causation, it’s enough for many people to rethink daily exposure.
3. Synthetic Fragrance
   ‘Fragrance’ on a label can legally hide hundreds of undisclosed chemicals, some are known allergens, hormone disruptors, or even linked to respiratory issues. 
4. Phenoxyethanol
   A synthetic preservative that’s considered safer than parabens, but still linked to allergic reactions and nervous system effects in high concentrations.
5. PEGs (Polyethylene Glycols)
   Used as thickeners or softeners, PEGs can be contaminated with carcinogenic compounds like 1,4-dioxane during manufacturing.
6. Alcohols (like Denatured Alcohol or Ethanol)
   Often used to create that "quick-dry" feeling. They can seriously dehydrate and compromise your skin barrier, leading to irritation and faster aging over time.

Why Does It Matter What Goes on Your Skin?

Your skin is not a wall, it is your bodies largest living, breathing organ. What you put on it can, and often does, get absorbed into your bloodstream.

Research has shown that once you apply certain chemicals to your skin, they can enter your bloodstream. When moisturisers are filled with manmade ingredients, they introduce unnecessary chemical exposure into your body. Many of us are applying multiple of these products to our skin daily, which accumulate over time. 

Choosing what you put on your skin is just as important as choosing what you put in your body. 

What Makes Tallow-Based Skincare Different?

Grass-fed tallow and organic African botanicals are compatible with your body’s natural design.

Tallow is very similar to human sebum, which is your skin’s natural oil. It is rich in bioavailable nutrients including vitamins A, D, E, and K,  all important for maintaining skin health, supporting cellular repair, and strengthening the skin barrier.

Unlike synthetic moisturisers, tallow:

• Is instantly recognised and utilised by the skin
• Feeds the skin at a cellular level rather than just coating it
• Strengthens and restores the skin barrier naturally

At Bear Skincare, we blend tallow with organic, wild-harvested African ingredients:

• Marula Oil — Improves elasticity and boosts natural radiance
• Kalahari Melon Seed Oil — Deeply hydrates while offering antioxidant protection
• Mafura Butter — Soothes dry, inflamed, and sensitive skin
• Baobab Oil — Enhances skin repair and supports long-term moisture balance

Each ingredient is carefully chosen, to nourish and strengthen your skin. No fillers or unnecessary toxic chemicals. 

Making the Switch to Natural Skincare

If you decide to make the change to natural skincare, your skin might need time to adjust, especially if you have been coating your skin with synthetic ingredients. 
But within a few weeks, most people notice:

• Stronger, healthier skin barrier
• Fewer dry patches and flare-ups
• More even texture and tone
• A natural, healthy glow (not just a fake ‘film’ over your skin)
  

Skincare That’s Actually Skin Care

Good skincare does not come from a laboratory.
It comes from understanding the skin’s needs, trusting nature, and choosing honest recipes that support your health.

Were not trying to reinvent skincare, we are bringing back real ingredients and time-honoured traditions that our ancestors have trusted for centuries.