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Welcome to Skincarma.

These are the musings of Carmine Montalto, NYC-based writer, skincare junkie and brand guru. The former copywriter at Kiehl’s, Carmine has more than 25 years of experience in beauty. Through the Skincarma Blog, he puts all of his product wisdom to work demystifying the ever-evolving world of skin care. 

You can change your skin’s destiny.™

PRODUCT REVIEW: SUPERGOOP! CLOUD 9 100% MINERAL SUN BALM SPF 40 – BEST ANTI-AGING SUNSCREEN, BEST MINERAL SUNSCREEN FOR DRY SKIN

SUPERGOOP! | CLOUD 9 100% MINERAL SUN BALM SPF 40 

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If you haven’t had the chance to check out my latest blog article on cold weather skinxadre, Winter Moisturizers Part I – Some of the Best Face Creams for Dry Skin and All Skin Types in Cold Weather, you can catch it here.

While I’ve been immersing myself in cold weather moisturizers for my top ten recommendations, I’ve been paying attention to the kinds of sunscreens I’ll want to be using on those cold winter days ahead.

I’ve got five-six picks ready and one of them really stands above the rest. The new Supergoop Cloud 9 100% Mineral Sun Balm! First of all, anything called a “sun balm” sounds like it would be perfect for the cold, right? And guess what! Cloud 9 is perfect for the cold!

Supergoop has some of the best mineral sunscreens for face that I’ve come across. In fact, the Supergoop! Bright-Eyed 100% Mineral Eye Cream is one of my favorite sunscreens for the eye area ever. It’s simply the best sunscreen for eyes, a pretty much perfect formula.

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The texture of Cloud 9 is amazing. It’s a thick, emollient balm that melts on skin to become more of a light and creamy oil. I’ve never experienced anything like it. Supergoop’s Cloud 9 reminds me of really cold butter when it first comes out of the fridge. You know, when it’s too hard to butter toast with — when it breaks the toast. That’s Cloud 9.

It’s a 100% mineral formula comprised of  20.4% Zinc Oxide and 1.14% Titanium Dioxide. But the very first ingredient in the Cloud 9 formula is Baobab Seed Oil — which very likely gives it its otherworldly texture.

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How many products have you tried where Baobab oil is the first ingredient? I’ve encountered exactly zero products with that high a concentration of oil from the ancient African tree. If you don’t know much about the baobab tree, it’s really quite fascinating.


What is baobab oil?

I found a cool article on what of my favorite beauty websites, Byrdie, titled, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Baobab.

While beauty trends may come and go, many are rooted in centuries of routine. That's certainly the case with baobab, a trendy ingredient with a lengthy history. Often referred to as the “tree of life,” the baobab tree is native to Africa, and the nickname certainly makes sense, considering that a single tree can live for over 500 years. Part of its appeal is that the pulp of baobab fruit—extracted from baobab pods and then transformed into raw powder—has been a favorite ingredient in wellness and beauty treatments for millennia. 

Arguably the biggest benefit of baobab is its many uses. "You can mix the oil in with products in your skincare routine, such as your moisturizer, or you can use it alone, in small amounts," notes Zain Husain, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of New Jersey Dermatology & Aesthetics Center. Husain adds that the efficacy of the product depends on its strength. "You can find baobab oil in health shops or your local beauty store, but make sure that the ingredients contain a high amount of the product itself."

Benefits of Baobab 

Lightens dark spots: Baobab offers so many potential benefits to the hair, skin, and nails due to the vitamins and minerals it contains. "Vitamin C is commonly found in baobab, which helps relieve the skin of dullness and can lighten dark spots," notes Husain.

Boosts antioxidants: Believe it or not, baobab boasts the highest antioxidant content of all superfoods per serving (even surpassing goji berries and matcha). This, along with its ability to fight free radicals, makes it a perfect ingredient for aging skin.

Heals dry skin: Baobab’s moisturizing properties have been well-documented in scientific research. As a result, body oils and lotions formulated with baobab are the ideal addition to a skincare routine for those looking for a little added moisture.

Promotes a healthy skin barrier: "[Baobab] does contain skin friendly fatty acids such as omega 3, 6, 9 and a handful of vitamins," notes Ho. "Due to its omega content, it's considered a great ingredient for maintaining a healthy skin barrier."


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Baobab has been around for millennia! Baobab is rich in vitamins B and C as well as Omega 3 fatty acids — a common ingredient in my winter moisturizers. Skin loves fatty acids. And my skin loves Cloud 9!

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Supergoop Cloud 9 100% Mineral Sun Balm for $26.00 here.



WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF

COOL CLEAN FACIAL SUNSCREENS TO KEEP US SAFE AND SMILING IN THE SUN

ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.**



The Ingredient List of the Supergoop Cloud 9 100% Mineral Sun Balm:

Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide 20.4%, Titanium Dioxide 1.14%, Inactive ingredients: Andansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, C9-12 Alkane, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Esters, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa (Buriti) Fruit Oil, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Rosa Alba (White Rose) Leaf Cell Extract, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Oil, Silica, Stearic Acid.


WINTER MOISTURIZERS PART 2 – SOME OF THE BEST FACE CREAMS FOR DRY SKIN AND ALL SKIN TYPES IN COLD WEATHER

WINTER MOISTURIZERS PART 2 – SOME OF THE BEST FACE CREAMS FOR DRY SKIN AND ALL SKIN TYPES IN COLD WEATHER

PRODUCT REVIEW: SKINCEUTICALS TRIPLE LIPID RESTORE 2:4:2 - BEST MOISTURIZER FOR DRY SKIN, BEST FACE CREAM FOR VERY DRY SKIN

PRODUCT REVIEW: SKINCEUTICALS TRIPLE LIPID RESTORE 2:4:2 - BEST MOISTURIZER FOR DRY SKIN, BEST FACE CREAM FOR VERY DRY SKIN