Soft, moisturized, glowing, and healthy skin, it's something we all love. At Zents, we’re often asked about the best ways to keep your skin looking and feeling its best.

Hydration, Healing, + Luxury in Every Swipe: What's Most Hydrating for Skin?

While all forms of moisturizers can be effective, the difference between lotions—the lights option—to creams—lower in water content—and balms, we're breaking down the differences:

• Lotions are the lightest on the moisturizer scale and usually contain water as a main ingredient. They are shorter lasting than their heavier counterparts but can still moisturize your skin as often as needed. 
  
• Creams are thicker than lotions, meaning they usually have a lower water content, will typically last longer on the skin than lotions, and also offer all the benefits you look for in a moisturizer. 
  
• Balms are thicker and denser than lotions and creams (having very little—if any—water included), tend to sit on the skin—providing a barrier that locks in moisture, and provide nourishment and protection to extra dry skin and especially to those areas that take the brunt of life: your hands, elbows, and feet. Balms have the longest staying power of the moisturizer lineup, ensuring your skin gets what it needs for hours and hours every day.

Explore Our Hydrating Collection of Products

Should You Add Balm to Your Skincare Routine?

When it comes to choosing a skincare product that will serve you and your precious skin through those rough patches we all face, shea butter balm is a great option.

At Zents, it's all about Concreta, our multi-purpose balm created to give your skin the TLC it needs and craves day after day and year after year, no matter what.

First of all, let’s dive deeper into the benefits of using a balm. As we mentioned before, a balm can help to treat those areas that often need some extra care (hands, elbows, and feet) and, depending on the ingredients, balms can also offer antioxidant protection, extra hydration and moisture, soothing comfort for any skin irritation, and more.

What are the Benefits of Using Shea Butter in Your Skincare Routine?

Not only does Concreta offer all the benefits of using a balm, but the ingredients we use to create all of our Concreta products make our balms a Zents-ational option to keep your skin healthy and happy. Here’s what you can find in every single one of our Concreta balms:

Shea butter. We know shea butter is your skin’s BFF simply because of all it can do to keep your skin feeling and looking moist, glowing, and healthy now and far into the future. The rich emollients in shea butter trap moisture, promote elasticity, and protect against sun damage and age spots. Shea butter also has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties, and it may also offer your skin some other pretty amazing benefits: prevent acne, help with cell regeneration, increase collagen production, help minimize wrinkles and fine lines, support wound healing, help skin conditions (like psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema), reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks, protect your skin against sun damage, and even soothe sun-damaged skin. Another plus is that it’s safe for all skin types, even the most sensitive skin. Our organic shea butter is ethically sourced and hand-harvested by women’s cooperatives, supporting sustainable practices and empowering communities.

Paracress extract. Helps support elasticity while also promoting smooth skin, offers antioxidant benefits, can help with inflammation, can serve as an antibacterial (offering even more protection for your skin!), and can add firmness while also minimizing wrinkles and fine lines—those parts of aging we are SO not fond of!

Plant botanicals. Depending on the type of plant botanical used in skincare products, these all-natural skin care additives can offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits as well as benefits for skin conditions like skin cancer, photoaging, and rosacea.

Your Skin Wants This + You Need the Science behind Concreta:

Not only do we know our line of Concreta balms will show your beautiful skin some love, but the science also backs us up. If you’re in a science-y mood, here’s the research behind the ingredients we use to create our Concreta balms:

• Healthline: Discusses all the benefits of shea butter we shared above plus more ways you can include shea butter in your healthcare routine.
  
• National Library of Medicine: This article shares how paracress extract offers antioxidant and anti-inflammation benefits, and this article discusses how paracress extract can serve as an antibacterial. Finally, go here to learn about the science behind including plant botanicals in skincare products, especially in balms like Concreta.
  
• Science Direct: Shares research behind how paracress extract can add firmness to your skin and minimize fine lines and wrinkles.

Concreta comes in TEN—dare we say, delicious—scents, making it super easy to find your favorite, or most likely, your favorites. Choose your new favorites here!

Taking care of your skin is a daily task that never ends, but with the right products—like our Concreta balms, this daily task can be super simple and even enjoyable. After all, you and your skin will be spending a lot of time together...for decades to come.