Howobeel Crafter's Care: Taking Care of those Hands in Handcrafted

An artisan's hands are the most valuable tools of their trade. The hands go to work from the time the morning alarm rings and until the final specs of dust are swept away, they are constantly in action. Furthermore, we wash our hands with soap and water for sanitary purposes, however washing our hands throughout the day reduces the natural oils in our skin that is important to keep it moisturized. If our craft has chemical materials that may come in to contact during the creation of a masterpiece, the constant exposure to chemicals makes the hands age faster than normal. Yet, seldom do artisans think to take care of those hands in our primary value proposition - handcrafted (or handmade). I was guilty of the same for quite a long time until recently when I concocted an all-natural balm that moisturizes and protects the skin. 

Leathercrafting even though we may not realize it is very tough on our hands. Cutting, dyeing, and stitching takes a big toll at the end of the day. So, the formula I experimented and settled with was mainly to take care of my hands. As I kept using the balm once in the morning and once before I go to bed, I soon realized that the ingredients I use made the balm versatile in its use. I found myself applying it on my face, lips, elbows, knees, soles and heels, beard, and even to style my hair. As a matter of fact, I use it on any part of my body that I wanted to nourish, moisturize and restore. Here in Mississauga (Ontario, Canada), the cold weather is upon us. I couldn't resist testing whether it will shield my hands from the cold weather. At 5 degrees Celsius, I didn't feel the chill at all. That means, a balm that was made especially for artisans who primarily use their hands can be used by anyone to moisturize and protect their skin.

It is now available on our online store for purchase as 'Howobeel Crafter's Care' in 3 fragrant variations; (1) Lavender, (2) Spearmint and (3) Unscented.

Beeswax (Cera alba): Secreted by honeybees, it has a plethora of naturally formed chemicals including fatty acids, fatty acid esters and fatty alcohols. Beeswax also acts as a waterproofing agent and a protective layer for the skin from the environmental elements and weather. When combined with the following ingredients, it becomes an excellent skin care ingredient. 

Coco Butter (Theobroma cacao): This butter is extracted from the cocoa seed. Coco Butter prevents the skin from drying and wrinkles and it is high in Vitamin E, antioxidants, and fatty acids. Coco butter is a hot favourite for the production of skin care products.

Shea Butter (Vitellaria paradoxa): This butter is extracted from the Shea Nut. Shea butter is used in cosmetic products due to its re-hydration and restoration qualitie. It is rich in Vitamins A and B, and fatty acids. It has a soothing effect on the skin and does a good job of softening and moisturizing beard and hair.

Castor Oil (Ricinus communis): This is the carrier oil and is extracted by pressing the seeds from the Castor Bean plant. It is used in many beauty products as well as in lip balms. Two of the many reasons I chose Castor specifically is (1) for its benefits to beard and hair, and (2) it stays on the surface of the skin as a protective barrier for the skin from the environmental elements and weather. 

Essential Oils: You have the option of choosing either from the 'lavender' (Lavandula angustifolia) or 'spearmint' (Mentha spicata) essential oil infused variations (also available unscented). I love both. Yet, I personally find myself using the spearmint mainly because of its fresh minty fragrance uplifting me with every inhale. I notice that it improves my mood throughout the day. The lavender is a great option if you are using it as a night balm because of the calming effect of the lavender fragrance.

If you are reading this article because your purchase brought you here, I hope you can appreciate the thought behind the ingredients and how it helps to keep your skin moisturized and protected. If this article piqued your interest and you are yet to grab your own balm, click here to order.

If you happen to use our product, please share your thoughts on Instagram on how it worked out for you. Including videos and images would be awesome. Our handle is @ChapterOneLeather and the hashtag #ChapterOneLeather

See you in the next blog everyone.

Cheers,