Base Layer

An intensive moisture balm with a dry-touch finish.

Base Layer is built around kokum butter, an Ayurvedic ingredient that's been used for centuries and that most people have never heard of. Here's why it matters: kokum is unusually high in stearic acid, which is one of the fatty acids your skin barrier is actually made of. That's why Base Layer sinks in instead of sitting on top, why it supports your skin barrier instead of just coating it, and why the moisture lasts instead of evaporating the second the product does.

The result is a dense, concentrated balm that melts on contact, absorbs without residue, and leaves a dry-touch finish. Your skin feels soft and protected, not greasy, not slippery. Basically, it just feels like your skin, but a little better and a little softer. Nothing transfers to your phone, your clothes, or everything you touch.

Non-comedogenic (which is just fancy skin words to say it won't clog your pores) and fragrance free. No petroleum byproducts, just plant-based butters and oils that earn their place.

"My skin looks and feels better than it has in years, and for once I actually like how it feels — smooth and slick, not heavy or sticky." -Mark H.

Benefits

• Dry-touch finish that sinks in cleanly instead of sitting greasy on top of the skin
• Non-comedogenic and breathable so skin feels protected, not smothered (every ingredient sits at 0 to 2 on the standard comedogenicity scale)
• Strengthens and supports the skin barrier
• Deeply hydrating
• Lightweight enough for the face, rich enough for hands, elbows, and dry patches
• Fragrance-free and essential-oil-free for reactive, easily irritated skin (and people)
• Rich in antioxidants that help defend against oxidative and environmental stress

Base Layer is your...

All-over body moisturizer

Whether it's hands, legs, arms, anywhere that's dry. Use it after a shower, before bed, whenever the dryness hits. It lasts all day. Rich enough for elbows and rough patches, light enough not to transfer onto your sleeves.

"Base Layer has completely transformed my skin from dry to smooth and supple like never before. It absorbs quickly and fully, with no greasy or sticky feel. Even better, a little goes a long way!" -Lynda B.

Daily face moisturizer

You'll feel a light, soft layer that keeps your face glowy without feeling weighed down. Non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and barrier-supporting, and helps reduce the look of redness and uneven skin tone. Great choice for skin that's used to reacting to face products.

"I use Base Layer as a part of my daily cosmetic routine to prepare me for the day. The pure, 'clean' ingredients make this a prized product for replenishing dry skin. It penetrates easily and quickly with no oily feeling. It gives my skin a silky feel." -Margaret H.

Overnight under-eye treatment

The dry-touch finish means no greasy pillow, no product in your eyes, and you wake up looking less tired thanks to the overnight hydration. Squalane has been studied for the look of fine lines around the eye, which makes Base Layer a natural fit for this spot.

"Incredible for locking in moisture and hydrating overnight, I use it under my eyes in the AM look more awake & for a dewy makeup look, and love it on my hands." -Erin O.

Natural slugging alternative

All the barrier-sealing benefits with none of the petroleum byproducts, none of the greasiness, none of the suffocating layer that traps everything underneath. Layer it over your serums and actives to seal them in without clogging your pores.

"It's great to layer over topicals, really seals them in without totally clogging my pores, allowing my skin to breathe while sealing the moisturizer in." -Josh B.

Anywhere else that needs some extra moisture

(And if you find a unique use, tell us!)

How to use

Scoop a small amount and apply to damp or dry skin. It may feel firm in the jar, but will melt when it touches the skin. A little goes further than you'd expect. Use daily for consistent moisture support, or whenever the dryness hits.

Ingredients

Kokum butter is our superstar and the main structural butter in the balm. Helps form a breathable layer that keeps moisture in the skin without leaving a greasy film.

Mango butter softens rough or tight-feeling skin and improves overall skin texture.

Squalane is a lightweight oil that absorbs easily and is similar to components of the skin’s natural oils, helping the balm spread comfortably instead of sitting heavy on the surface.

Meadowfoam seed oil helps the balm glide smoothly and stay stable on the skin.

Jojoba oil closely resembles the skin’s natural oils, helping the formula feel immediately compatible with the skin barrier.

Candelilla wax provides structure and helps create a thin protective layer that shields skin from moisture loss.

Vitamin E helps keep the oils in the formula stable and fresh.

Handmade in small batches in Austin, TX.

Legal things

For external use only. Patch test recommended. See Product Use Policy for details.