Ursa Major slaps “100% natural” on this balm like it’s a badge of honor. But flip the tube — there’s a synthetic preservative hiding in the last ingredient slot.
It’s phenoxyethanol. Most “clean” brands silently use it because it’s cheap and effective. The irony? This balm is otherwise gorgeous — but that loophole matters if you’re truly avoiding synthetics.
A thick, waxy balm in a squeeze tube — $38 for 2 oz. It claims to “fortify” dry, stressed skin with nothing but plant magic. I bought it because the marketing is beautiful and I’m a sucker for a mountain aesthetic.
Texture is a solid butter
Scoops out like chilled coconut oil — melts on contact.
Scent is pure forest
Pine + cedar. No fake lavender nonsense.
Absorption is slow
Takes 3-4 minutes to fully sink in. Not for rushed mornings.
Photo: Soheil Kmp / Unsplash
Hero ingredients are jojoba, shea, and sea buckthorn — all legit for barrier repair. But the preservative sits right next to them, which makes the “100% natural” claim feel like a stretch.
- Jojoba Oil: Closest to skin’s natural sebum — sinks in fast
- Shea Butter: Heavy-duty moisture, but can clog pores if you’re acne-prone
- Sea Buckthorn: Brightening + anti-inflammatory — gives that orange tint
- Phenoxyethanol: Synthetic preservative — safe but not natural
Photo: Mockup Free / Unsplash
First touch: like spreading cold butter on bread. Thick. Greasy. I almost washed it off. Then 60 seconds passed and my skin felt… padded. Like a quilt for my face.
Week three: My dry patches on my chin actually stopped flaking. But I broke out one small whitehead on my cheek — the shea might be too heavy for oily zones.
My forehead stopped feeling tight by day two. My nose? Still normal-oily. The balm didn’t transform my life — it just fixed one specific dry patch.
It’s a good balm that’s 98% natural — just don’t believe the 100% hype. Buy it for winter, not for purity.