Every single place you can use the Everywhere Balm.

Spoiler: it's a lot. A complete guide to everyday use — from babies to brows, heels to eyelashes.

The Everywhere Balm is not trying to be your entire skincare routine. It's a treatment-grade balm in a 60g tin. It absorbs in 90 seconds and leaves a soft-matte finish. It has 15 plant-based ingredients, all with a job.

What it does: barrier repair, moisture retention, anti-inflammatory support, cell regeneration, and antimicrobial protection. What it doesn't do: add water to skin that's dehydrated, stand in for a moisturiser on very dry skin that needs a humectant layer first, or act as a friction barrier during sustained movement.

For everything else — here is every use case we've found, tested, and can stand behind.

One tin. No off limits. Use it everywhere.

Everyday body

1. Winter skin and cold weather dryness

Cold air strips lipids from the skin surface faster than your barrier can replace them. The result is tightness, flaking, and that raw feeling on exposed skin. NOOKS replaces those lipids directly — squalane and jojoba integrate into the stratum corneum rather than just sitting on top. Applied after your shower while skin is still slightly damp, it seals surface moisture in before it can evaporate.

Particularly good on shins, forearms, and the backs of hands where cold-weather dryness hits hardest and fastest.

2. Air conditioning and travel dehydration

Recycled cabin air and office air conditioning both drive TEWL — the rate at which moisture leaves your skin. Neither adds humidity back. NOOKS applied to exposed skin (face, neck, hands) before or during a long-haul flight or a day in a cold office significantly reduces the tight, papery feeling that accumulates over hours. Tin format is carry-on safe.

3. Post-swimming and chlorine exposure

Chlorine is a stripping agent. It removes the lipid layer from the skin surface, compromising barrier function and leaving skin rough, dry, and sometimes itchy. Applied immediately after showering post-swim, NOOKS replenishes the lipid layer that chlorine removed. The antimicrobial profile (monolaurin, manuka) also provides cover for the minor skin disruption that pool water creates.

4. After-sun skin repair

Sun exposure damages the stratum corneum lipid matrix and increases TEWL. The heat and inflammation that follow degrade barrier function further. NOOKS applied after sun exposure (once skin has cooled) provides lipid replenishment, anti-inflammatory support via bisabolol, and antioxidant protection via vitamin E. Not a sunscreen. Not a treatment for sunburn. A recovery product for after.

For active sunburn — red, hot, painful — wait until the acute phase has resolved. Then apply.

5. Post-workout skin recovery

Exercise generates heat, sweat, and in some cases, skin friction at high-contact areas — inner thighs, underarms, underboob, anywhere skin meets fabric or skin repeatedly. NOOKS is not designed for application before or during sustained movement — it absorbs too quickly to function as a friction barrier. Applied after exercise on irritated, reddened skin, it reduces inflammation, supports barrier recovery, and provides antimicrobial cover for areas where skin integrity has been disrupted.

Honest note: For friction prevention during activity, you need a product designed to stay on skin under movement. That's not this product. This is what you reach for after.

6. Overnight barrier repair — slugging

Slugging is the practice of applying an occlusive product as the last step of a night routine to lock in everything underneath. Most people use petroleum jelly. NOOKS does the same job — without the petroleum, with the added benefit of active repair ingredients working overnight. Bakuchiol stimulates collagen synthesis while you sleep. Helichrysum CO2 supports tissue regeneration. Bisabolol calms residual inflammation from the day.

Applied as the final step over your existing routine. A thin layer is enough — it absorbs, so you won't wake up with a greasy pillow.

One important caveat: NOOKS cannot rebuild your skin barrier through a petroleum layer. If any product in your routine contains petroleum jelly, petrolatum, mineral oil, or paraffin, those ingredients create an impermeable film that blocks lipid absorption entirely. Apply NOOKS before those products — or better yet, replace them. Not sure if your products contain petroleum? We have a guide to spotting petroleum derivatives in your skincare.

For daytime slugging: the matte finish makes it wearable under makeup or alone, but it works hardest overnight when your skin is in repair mode and not fighting environmental exposure. Reserve heavy application for night use. A lighter touch works fine during the day on very dry patches.

7. Post-chafe repair

After a long walk, a hot day, or any extended period where skin has been in friction — inner thighs, underarms, underboob — the skin is inflamed, raw, and sometimes broken. Bisabolol reduces the inflammatory response. Calendula and plantain leaf support wound healing for broken skin. Monolaurin provides antimicrobial protection for disrupted skin that's vulnerable to secondary infection. Applied after showering once the friction event is over.

Honest note: This is a repair product for after friction damage. It is not designed to prevent chafe during sustained movement.

8. Dry, rough elbows and knees

The skin over bony prominences like elbows and knees is naturally thicker, slower to turn over, and prone to dryness and darkening with friction. Regular application of NOOKS supports lipid replenishment and barrier function in these areas. The bakuchiol and helichrysum provide active skin renewal support that most body lotions don't have.

9. Cracked heels

Heel fissures develop when the thickened skin of the heel becomes brittle and splits — a combination of dryness, pressure, and lipid deficiency. NOOKS applied to clean, dry heels and covered with socks overnight provides concentrated barrier repair. The anhydrous format means no water phase to evaporate — the lipids stay in contact with the skin throughout the night. Consistent nightly application resolves most superficial heel cracking within one to two weeks.

For deep or bleeding fissures: get them assessed. Use this once healing skin is re-established.

10. Hands after repeated washing

Anyone who washes their hands many times a day — medical workers, parents, food handlers, anyone in hospitality — understands that hand cream applied in the morning is gone by 10am. NOOKS applied to hands after washing and drying provides a lipid barrier that is more durable than water-containing hand creams because there is no water phase to evaporate. The matte finish means it doesn't feel greasy while working. Particularly effective applied overnight under cotton gloves.

11. Cuticles and nail folds

Cuticle skin is the first place many people notice dryness — it peels, cracks, and bleeds with repeated water and soap exposure. Jojoba's wax ester structure integrates directly into this tight skin. Squalane's sebum-mimicking properties restore flexibility. Applied directly to cuticles and massaged in, it resolves peeling and prevents tearing more effectively than standard cuticle oils because of the full active profile it carries alongside the carrier oils.

12. Underarm skin — post-shave and post-depilatory

Underarm skin is thin, folded, frequently shaved or waxed, and regularly exposed to deodorant ingredients that sensitise over time. Post-shave or post-depilatory, the skin is freshly traumatised and reactive. Bisabolol reduces the inflammatory razor-rash response. Monolaurin provides antimicrobial cover for open follicles. No fragrance, no essential oils, no preservatives to aggravate skin that's already been through something.

Face

13. Dry patches

The dry patch beside the nose, the flaky bit on the chin, the tight skin across the cheekbones in winter. These are localised lipid-deficiency moments. NOOKS applied directly to dry patches as a spot treatment replenishes barrier lipids without adding a heavy layer over the rest of the face. The matte finish means it can be applied under or over makeup without disrupting the rest of the routine.

14. Under-makeup base layer

Applied to dry, tight, or flaky skin before foundation, NOOKS absorbs in 90 seconds and leaves a matte velvet finish that makeup sits on cleanly. Not a primer in the traditional sense — it doesn't create a film for makeup to grip. What it does is resolve the dry-skin problem that causes foundation to cling to flakes, separate at dry patches, and look uneven. Eliminate the problem rather than layer over it.

Thin layer, wait 90 seconds, apply makeup as normal.

15. Overnight face repair

A very small amount applied to the face as the final step of an evening routine functions as a low-occlusion overnight barrier seal. Not a heavy sleeping mask — a finishing layer. Bakuchiol and helichrysum do their active work overnight. Bisabolol reduces residual inflammation. Squalane drives the soft skin feel that's there in the morning. The amount needed is genuinely small — a rice grain quantity spread across the whole face.

16. Brow grooming

Applied to brows with a clean spoolie or fingertip, NOOKS conditions the brow hair and the skin underneath. Jojoba and squalane condition both hair and skin. No fragrance, no essential oils near the eye. The matte finish means no shine or greasiness. It won't provide structured hold for brow shaping — for that you need a dedicated brow product — but for taming flyaway brow hairs and conditioning the skin underneath, it works well.

17. Eyelash conditioning

Applied to lashes with a clean mascara wand or the tip of a clean finger, the lipid profile of NOOKS — jojoba, squalane, castor-adjacent wax structure — conditions lash hair and the lash line skin. Safe near the eye (no preservatives, no fragrance, no essential oils). Not a lash growth product. A conditioning product for dry, brittle, or extension-damaged lashes.

Honest note: Avoid direct eye contact. For the lash line and lashes, not the eyeball.

18. Lip balm — daily maintenance

The anhydrous format means no water to evaporate — longer-lasting lip hydration than any water-containing lip product. Food-grade throughout. Matte finish rather than the glossy wet look of most lip balms. Bakuchiol and helichrysum provide active lip skin support that no standard lip balm has. One product, no separate lip balm needed.

19. Beard and moustache conditioning

Beard hair is coarser than scalp hair and grows through skin that often becomes dry and flaky beneath it — beard dandruff, technically seborrhoeic dermatitis in many cases. Monolaurin's antifungal profile is relevant here. Jojoba's sebum-mimicking wax ester structure conditions both the beard hair and the skin underneath. Squalane reduces the flakiness. Applied to a clean, dry beard and worked through with fingers.

Hair

20. Flyaways and frizz

A very small amount of NOOKS applied to dry hair smooths flyaways and frizz without the silicone or alcohol-based ingredients that most hair serums rely on. The lipid profile — jojoba's wax ester structure in particular — coats the hair shaft and reduces static. The amount needed is very small. Start with less than you think. It absorbs into hair rather than sitting on top, so it doesn't leave a visible residue.

Honest note: A little goes a long way. Warm a tiny amount between your fingers before applying.

21. Dry hair ends

Split ends and dry tips are a lipid deficiency problem at the hair fibre level. Applied to damp or dry ends — not the roots — NOOKS conditions without weighing hair down or leaving greasiness. Not a deep conditioning treatment. A maintenance product for the ends that bear the most damage.

Babies, toddlers, and kids

The entire formula is food-grade. No synthetic preservatives, no fragrance, no essential oils above trace levels. Every ingredient is safe for infant skin and infant oral contact. This is the same safety profile as edible-grade beeswax and food-grade coconut-derived monolaurin — not a coincidence.

For paediatric skin conditions requiring medical management — severe eczema, infected skin, anything with open wounds — use prescribed treatment first. NOOKS works as a maintenance and barrier-support product alongside medical care, not instead of it.

22. Nappy rash — prevention and mild irritation

Nappy rash has more than one cause and the distinction matters. Irritant contact dermatitis — the most common type, caused by prolonged contact with urine and faeces — is a barrier problem. NOOKS applied to clean, dry nappy area before each nappy change provides a lipid barrier that reduces direct moisture contact with the skin. Monolaurin provides some antimicrobial protection in an area vulnerable to bacterial overgrowth.

Fungal nappy rash (candidal) is a different situation. It typically presents as a bright red rash with small satellite spots around the edges. For fungal nappy rash, NOOKS is not the right product. The formula contains monolaurin and manuka oil with documented antifungal activity, but not at concentrations sufficient to treat an active candidal infection — and the occlusive nature of any balm in a warm, sealed nappy environment can trap moisture and make fungal conditions worse. Fungal nappy rash needs an antifungal treatment — see your GP or pharmacist.

If you're not sure which type your baby has: see your GP or pharmacist first. NOOKS is appropriate for prevention and mild irritant rash on intact skin only.

For established, weeping, or infected nappy rash — see your GP or pharmacist first.

Honest note: User-tested on infant skin — zero reported reactions. Food-grade throughout.

23. Drool rash and chapped baby cheeks

Babies in the teething months produce a lot of saliva. Constant contact with drool strips the lipid layer from the skin around the mouth, chin, and neck folds, causing the raw red rash that parents recognise immediately. NOOKS applied to clean dry skin in these areas before sleep or before outings — when drool production peaks — provides barrier protection. Bisabolol reduces the inflammatory component. Food-grade and oral-safe.

24. After-bath dryness in babies and toddlers

Baby skin is thinner than adult skin and loses moisture faster after bathing. Applied immediately after patting dry — while skin is still very slightly damp — NOOKS seals surface moisture in before it evaporates. The absorption is fast enough that by the time you've got a wriggling toddler into pyjamas, it's absorbed. No greasy residue on clothes or bedding.

25. Eczema-prone baby and toddler skin

Infant eczema is one of the most common presentations in paediatric dermatology and one of the most poorly served by existing products — most emollients contain preservatives that are documented sensitisers in eczema populations. NOOKS is preservative-free, fragrance-free, and contains no known infant skin sensitisers. The ceramide-precursor linoleic acid in the calendula-infused sunflower oil base directly addresses the lipid deficiency documented in atopic skin.

For active eczema flares: use prescribed treatment. NOOKS works alongside prescribed care as a maintenance product between flares, applied to intact skin.

26. Cradle cap — barrier support

Cradle cap (seborrhoeic dermatitis of the scalp) is driven by Malassezia yeast on a newborn scalp producing inflammatory lipid metabolites. Monolaurin's antifungal activity is relevant here. Applied to the scalp and worked in gently before bath time, it provides both barrier support and antifungal cover.

Cradle cap typically resolves on its own. This is supportive care, not a treatment. If it persists or spreads, see your paediatrician.

27. Chapped lips in toddlers and kids

Children lick their lips. It is a fact of childhood and it creates a stripping cycle identical to adult lip licker's dermatitis. Most children's lip balms are flavoured — which encourages more licking. NOOKS is unflavoured and food-grade. No incentive to lick. No ingredients that are a problem if swallowed in small amounts. Applied to dry lips in kids the same way as adults.

28. Post-swim skin in children

Kids who swim regularly accumulate the same chlorine damage as adults — just faster because their skin barrier is thinner. Applied after the post-swim shower while skin is still slightly damp, it replenishes the lipid layer chlorine stripped. The fast absorption means no greasy skin in the car on the way home.

29. Minor skin irritation and redness in kids

The general-purpose answer to: sand rash, minor grass irritation, dry patches behind the knees, rough skin on cheeks in winter. Bisabolol reduces redness and inflammation. Barrier lipids replenish what friction or environment removed. Food-grade and safe for all the places kids will inevitably put their hands after you've applied it.

Specific moments

30. Long-haul flights

Cabin air is pressurised, recycled, and extremely dry — humidity inside a plane cabin typically runs at 10-20% compared to the 40-60% most people are used to. Skin TEWL increases significantly over a long flight. Applied before boarding and reapplied mid-flight to face, neck, lips, and hands, NOOKS reduces the moisture loss that accumulates over 10 to 14 hours in a dry metal tube. Tin format is 60g — carry-on compliant under the 100ml liquid rule.

31. Post-procedure skin (at-home)

After at-home exfoliation, retinol, AHA, or any active treatment that temporarily compromises the barrier, NOOKS applied as the final step supports recovery. The anhydrous format means no water-phase ingredients making direct contact with freshly sensitised skin. The active profile supports the regenerative work the treatment started. Matte finish means it can be applied before bed without disrupting sleep.

32. The everything drawer — travel kit

One tin replaces: lip balm, cuticle oil, hand cream for the plane, after-sun, foot balm for the hotel room, face balm for the morning, intimate balm, nipple balm if breastfeeding. Sixty grams in a carry-on. Aluminium tin survives being sat on, dropped, and going through X-ray. The 30g Lips and Bits is the carry-on version if 60g feels big.

33. Camping and road trips

Away from a bathroom, without your usual routine, in conditions that are hot, dry, dusty, or all three — the Everywhere Balm is the one product worth packing. Lips, dry patches, after-sun, cracked knuckles from cold nights, post-swim, kids' irritated skin, nappy area for babies. Aluminium tin doesn't leak, doesn't melt below 35 degrees, and survives a bag being thrown in a car boot. One 60g tin for the whole trip — or the whole family.

What it doesn't do

Honest about the limits:

• It doesn't prevent chafe during sustained movement. It absorbs too quickly. For friction prevention during running, cycling, or any extended physical activity, you need a product designed to stay on skin. This isn't that product.
• It doesn't add water to dehydrated skin. It's anhydrous — no humectants. If your skin is genuinely water-deficient (not just lipid-deficient), apply a humectant product first and use NOOKS to seal it in.
• It doesn't replace a full skincare routine for everyone. If your skin needs vitamin C, niacinamide, SPF, or retinol in a water-based format, those are different jobs.
• It doesn't treat active infections. Monolaurin and manuka provide antimicrobial support for compromised skin, but an infected wound, abscess, or clinically infected eczema needs medical treatment.
• It doesn't strip or exfoliate. No lactic acid, no AHAs, no enzymes. By design.

Every ingredient has a job. No ingredient is decorative.

If you've found a use case not on this list, we want to know about it. That's how the list grows.