ASTRAl Face & Body Intensive Moisturiser Cream, with glycerin and petrolatum, 500ml

Product Information

While it is true that industrial grade mineral oil contains carcinogenic components (so-calledpolycyclic compounds), these are completely removed from cosmetic and food grade mineral oil and there is no scientific data showing that the pure, cosmetic grade version is carcinogenic. So you’ve finally mastered applying fake tan perfectly (our advice: use a barrier cream on dry areas like knees and elbows, and blend, blend, blend with a tanning mitt). Now you’ve got that golden glow, you want it to last, don't you? Celebrity Joanna Lumley has even attributed her youthful looking skin to this anti ageing cream in the famous blue pot.

Here's the thing, according to its makers, well, there's none. It's literally nothing more than a water-oil emulsion. Its main USP is that it’s ‘just’ a moisturiser. ‘Astral cream doesn’t contain any miracle ingredients,’ its makers say proudly. Trust us, if something is used for more than 100 years in cosmeticproducts, it hasadvantages. Chemically speaking, cosmetic grade mineral oil is a complex mixture ofhighly refined saturated hydrocarbons with C15-50 chain length.It is not merely a "by-product" but rather a specifically isolated part of petroleum that is very pure and inert. But that's not all. The clever thing about this wonder cream is that it's even more versatile than how it's marketed. Sure, your grandma might swear by it, but here are eight other uses for your Astral cream that'll take you beyond a simple 'nighttime moisturiser.' To reduce the rate of skin sloughing, you need to keep the skin hydrated. This is where Astral comes in – slather on to the skin to extend the life of your tan, and you can stay bronzed for longer. Because Astral cream is made up of lanolin and glycerin, rather than being oil-based, it won't strip the tan from your skin - like other moisturisers might.If your skin is dry, and you tend to find that your make-up cakes throughout the day - or clings to drier areas of your face - Astral cream is a great makeup primer. It is a great emollient and moisturizer working mainly by occlusivity.Occlusivity is one of the basic mechanisms of how moisturizers work and it means that mineral oilsits on top of the skin and hinders so-called trans-epidermal water loss, i.e water evaporating out of your skin. When compared to heavy-duty plant oil, extra virgin coconut oil, the two of them were equally efficient and safe as moisturizers in treating xerosis, a skin condition connected to very dry skin. When you consider this, it’s no wonder your skin can become tight and uncomfortable on a plane, which is why the 50ml pot of Astral – small enough to take in your hand luggage – can be your in-flight saviour.

Even better, once you reach your destination, it’s excellent for soothing skin after a day in the sun. 6. Use your Astral cream to... Remove makeup You're probably thinking so what other incredible ingredients are in this pot of magic to make it such a hit? This lighter version of the original Astral Cream contains the key ingredients Aloe Vera and Vitamin E and is formulated to support the changing needs of skin. It even works on the most sensitive skin. The two ingredients were specially chosen to help fight moisture loss while protecting the skin from the signs of ageing. But that’s just facts and figures, what’s it like in the real world? Astral is a great option for moisturising the entire body because of ingredients such as glycerin and lanolin, Coleman says.If you want to feel baby soft after the shower, this is your go-to – just remember to apply it to damp skin for optimum results. 4. Use your Astral cream as… a makeup primer The famous or maybe rather infamous mineral oil. The clear oily liquid that is the "cheap by-product" of refining crude oil and the one that gets a lot of heat for its poor provenance. It is a very controversial ingredient with pros and cons and plenty of mythsaround it. So let us see them: But did you know that there is also a lighter version of the famous cream? Astral – Light and Creamy Before, during and after the trial, measures of skin hydration and transepidermal water loss (TWEL) were taken. Improvements were recorded within just six hours of the trials starting.