With the world of beauty products constantly evolving around new technologies and ingredients, a product would certainly have to be the best of the best to have remained a much-loved beauty product for say, over 90 years. Sounds crazy right? Well, those are exactly the credentials that Weleda’s Skin Food can boast.
Yep, with one of these original green tubes selling every 11 seconds, Skin Food has set the precedent for what a cult beauty product actually is, with everyone wanting a piece of the action.
Wondering what makes this humble-looking moisturiser the skincare equivalent of Pete Davidson? Let me explain…
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What is Weleda Skin Food?
Weleda’s Skin Food is a bit of an enigma. Sitting somewhere between a moisturiser and a balm, it has a thick, emollient texture that leaves your skin with a super dewy finish.
How does it impart this immediately striking glow to your skin you might ask? Well, the formula is packed full of natural oils and extracts which feed your skin (get it?) with nutrients, while also acting to restore the skin barrier. Restorative and conditioning ingredients such as lanolin, glycerin, rosemary extract, sweet almond oil and sunflower seed oil are all present in this deliciously soothing balm.
I’ve been a Weleda convert for a few years and continue to return to it, especially in the winter months, when my skin is feeling dry or in need of a super restorative treatment, or when I want to achieve a super glowy skin-based look.
I have typically dry and dehydrated skin, so the original formula is ideal for protecting my skin and locking in my hyaluronic acid serum. When you first pop the cap on a tube of Weleda, you’ll probably be surprised by its texture. It’s thick, with a sort of ointment texture that you might liken to some more medicinal topical applications, but I promise that’s where that comparison ends.
The most important thing I learnt when applying this product is to warm it up before you apply it onto your face; I do this by rubbing it between my fingers so it melts into my skin quickly. In the summer months, I’ll swap to using the Light version, which gives me the same signature glow but with a more lightweight feel. The light version is ideal for oilier skin types for those who want something featherweight.
The aromatic scent is also a big win for me. On application, Skin Food imparts uplifting notes of lavender and sweet orange, which is refreshing but doesn’t outstay its welcome.
But don’t just take my word for it, because this multi-use miracle balm has a whole host of A-Listers who keep it in their beauty stash too…
Why is Weleda Skin Food so popular?
The list of celebrities and makeup artists that claim Skin Food as their ride-or-die product has become almost as famous as the product itself.
I discovered Skin Food while watching Katie Jane Hughes’ makeup tutorials: she swears by using it under makeup for a glowy, slightly tacky base which makeup adheres to like dream, and if you’ve seen her makeup looks, you’ll understand why I ran out to buy it immediately.
Beyond being a staple in MUA kits, Skin Food’s celebrity fanbase includes Victoria Beckham, Rosie-Huntington Whitely, Alexa Chung, Priyanka Chopra, and Julia Roberts, who have all lauded its moisturising skincare abilities.
“It keeps your skin so hydrated and moisturised. It’s really, really thick and I love how it feels all over the body,” said Victoria Beckham on Instagram.
The moisturiser has had another recent boost to its popularity, with the current reigning queen of viral glow Hailey Bieber using Skin Food to achieve her luminous skin in a recent Tiktok video.
“My final step with skin prep for makeup is that I like to get like a richer, heavier cream and just put that in some spots where I feel like I get more dry,” she says, while showing the iconic green tube to the camera.
“I’ve had a lot of makeup artists use this on me and I love it. I just use like the tiniest bit, I feel like it does the trick that I’m wanting of just adding a little bit more hydration and sheen in the areas where I want it,” she adds while patting Skin Food onto the high points of her face.
While we still might not be able to get our hands on Rhode skincare, at least we can access this not-so-secret glow ingredient.
What are the different ways you can use Weleda Skin Food?
Skin Food is one of the best multi-use skincare products out there, hands down. Depending on your skin type, you can benefit from using Skin Food in a few different ways:
- As a moisturiser
- As an overnight mask or to ‘slug’
- As a hand cream or body treatment (especially for dry patches)
- As an eyebrow tamer
- As a highlighter
- To elongate your tan (many thanks to VB for this tip)
Is Weleda Skin Food suitable for all skin types?
If dry skin is your main concern, I cannot recommend Skin Food enough. It will nourish your skin, protect your skin barrier and give you a glowing sheen like nothing else I’ve tried. Those with combination skin will also get these benefits from using it, but just be sure to only apply on the areas that need it (normally avoiding the t-zone where oiliness tends to strike).
If you have oilier skin, this probably isn’t the first product you’re going to reach for. However, that’s not to say you should completely avoid it: if you are using active ingredients such as retinol and acids and find they are drying out your skin, try using Skin Food at night a couple of times a week to give your skin barrier some TLC. Or as mentioned, give the Light version a go.
Since Ms.Bieber’s skin prep video, this super balm has been selling out everywhere, so we recommend stocking up while you can!
Happy glowing.