NOOKS KNOWLEDGE BASE
NOOKS knowledge base
What NOOKS is
NOOKS is barrier care, not skincare. We make anhydrous, petroleum-free formulations for skin under pressure. Skin that stings, thins, chafes, dries out, or loses water faster than it can hold it.
Our position is simple. Visible skin distress is usually downstream of barrier lipid loss and elevated transepidermal water loss. Most products chase the symptom. We work on the mechanism.
What The Everywhere Balm is
The Everywhere Balm is a waterless, fragrance-free barrier balm for sensitive, reactive, overwashed, overtreated, or friction-prone skin. It supports the skin barrier, reduces transepidermal water loss, and forms a soft protective layer without the petroleum feel.
It is a cosmetic. It does not treat, cure, or diagnose any skin condition. It is for external use only.
This is not a moisturiser. Most creams are water-based. They can feel soothing at first, then evaporate, or sting when the barrier is compromised. The Everywhere Balm is anhydrous. There is no water phase to evaporate and no need for many common preservatives. It supports the barrier with oils, waxes, butters, and skin-compatible lipids.
Where it goes
Everyday use, on intact external skin:
Lips, especially cracked or chronically dry.
Hands, especially overwashed or sanitiser-worn.
Dry patches on face or body.
Chafing and friction. Thighs, bra lines, waistbands.
Post-shave or post-wax skin.
Cuticles, elbows, heels.
External intimate skin when dry, irritated, or friction-prone. Yes, even there.
Tattoos from week two onward, once the skin has closed.
It suits skin that reacts to most creams, barrier-weakened skin, perimenopausal and menopausal dryness, retinoid or acid overuse, weather-stressed skin, and hands worn down by healthcare, hospitality, cleaning, gardening, ceramics, or hairdressing.
Where it does not go
Not internally. External use only, always.
Not on broken, bleeding, weeping, infected, or severely inflamed skin.
Not on post-surgical wounds or fresh tattoos. Skin needs to be closed first.
Not as a sexual lubricant, and not with latex condoms. Oil-based balms may degrade latex.
Not on nipples while breastfeeding. Anything on a nipple can reach a feeding baby, and one of our ingredients has no long-term data in infants. Details below.
If skin is severely painful, bleeding, discharging, swollen, or showing signs of infection or allergic reaction, that is a healthcare professional's job, not a balm's.
Age, pregnancy, and breastfeeding
The Everywhere Balm is for ages 5 and up. That line we can stand behind comfortably.
The reason for the line is one ingredient. The balm contains bakuchiol at 0.5 percent. Bakuchiol is a plant-derived active from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, the babchi plant, best known as a gentle, clinically studied alternative to retinol. It is well tolerated in adults and used within its clinically studied range.
For pregnancy, breastfeeding, conception, and children under 5, the position is this. There is no evidence of harm. There is also no long-term safety data specifically clearing bakuchiol for these groups. That is a data gap, not a danger sign. Absence of data is not the same as presence of risk. Until those studies exist, we simply do not recommend the balm during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, while trying to conceive or during IVF, or for children under 5. We would rather you have a quick chat with your GP, OBGYN, paediatrician, or lactation consultant than take a skincare brand's word for it.
For everyone aged 5 and up, this one is yours.
Ingredients
Every ingredient is there to work, not to fill space.
MCT oil. Fast-absorbing carrier. Lightweight glide.
Shea butter. Cushion, softness, barrier support.
Jojoba oil. Skin-compatible wax ester. Keeps the finish from going greasy.
Calendula-infused sunflower oil. Botanical comfort for stressed skin.
Beeswax. Structure. Helps reduce water loss.
Olive-derived squalane. The elegance molecule. Slip and a soft-matte finish.
Marshmallow root infused oil. Comfort on delicate-feeling skin.
Plantain leaf infused oil. Traditional skin-supporting botanical.
Vitamin E. Antioxidant support for the oils.
Monolaurin. Supports formula integrity and skin feel.
Manuka oil. Trace level. There for the formula, not the nose.
Bakuchiol, 0.5 percent. Plant-derived active from babchi seeds, discussed in peer-reviewed literature as comparable to retinol. Used within the clinically studied range. See the age and pregnancy guidance above.
Bisabolol. Calming-feeling botanical.
Helichrysum CO₂. Low-level botanical extract for skin comfort.
We do not publish full formula percentages. Bakuchiol at 0.5 percent is the exception, disclosed deliberately because the guidance around it matters.
What is not in it
No petroleum. No added fragrance. No essential oil blends. No water. No lanolin. No menthol. No peppermint. No lavender. No citrus. No acids. No exfoliating actives. No tingle ingredients. No filler.
On petroleum: protect is the ceiling for petroleum. For us it is the floor.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Dry or barrier-compromised areas, a tiny amount, avoid the eyes.
Yes. It is called The Everywhere Balm for a reason.
Externally, yes. A small amount on intact external skin. Not internally. Stop if stinging or irritation occurs.
It can support external friction-prone skin, but it is not a lubricant and it is not compatible with latex condoms.
No. Oil-based balms may degrade latex.
It is suitable for eczema-prone skin and supports the barrier. It is not an eczema treatment. For flares, broken skin, or persistent symptoms, a GP or dermatologist is the right move.
We do not recommend it during pregnancy. Not because anything has gone wrong, but because bakuchiol has not been studied long-term in pregnancy, and we do not guess on your behalf. Your GP or OBGYN can give you a real answer for your situation. We will be here after.
We do not recommend it while breastfeeding, and specifically not on nipples. Anything on a nipple can end up in a feeding baby, and bakuchiol has no long-term data in infants. Your GP, lactation consultant, or paediatrician is the right call.
It is formulated for ages 5 and up. Under 5, bakuchiol simply has not been studied long-term in young children, so we hold the line at a data gap rather than an assumption. Your paediatrician or GP can point you to something age-appropriate.
No. Bakuchiol is one of the better tolerated actives in skincare, which is why we chose it. The precaution exists because long-term studies in pregnancy and young children have not been done, not because anything concerning has been found.
Same principle. No data specific to conception or IVF, so we do not recommend it during that window. Your fertility specialist or GP is the right person to clear it for you.
From week two, once the skin has closed. Not on fresh or open tattoo skin.
It is designed not to. No fragrance, no acids, no tingle ingredients. Skin is individual, so patch test first and stop if irritation occurs.
Water-based creams evaporate, need preservative systems, and can sting on compromised skin. A waterless balm supports the barrier and reduces water loss instead. Different job. Better job.
Because balm belongs in a tin. It also suits an anhydrous formula and travels across lips, hands, body, and friction zones without complaint.
Less than you think. Warm a small amount between fingers, press or glide on. It sinks in fast when warmed.
Moisturiser first if you use one. NOOKS last. Avoid layering with petroleum-based products.
Natural waxes, oils, and butters soften when warm. Let it reset at room temperature. If smell, colour, or texture seems genuinely off, stop using it and email us.
Cool, dry, closed, out of direct sun and hot cars.
No. It contains beeswax. If you would like to hear about a future vegan formula, join the list and we will let you know.
A concentrated, waterless balm goes a long way. One tin replaces several single-purpose balms across lips, hands, dry patches, friction zones, and external intimate skin.
SUPPORT
When to talk to a person instead
Some questions deserve a human or a healthcare professional, not a balm and not a chatbot. Reach us at hi@nooksbalm.com for anything involving:
- Severe pain, bleeding, open wounds, discharge, fever, or swelling.
- A suspected infection or condition of any kind.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or children under 5, beyond the guidance above.
- A suspected allergic reaction or a product that seems off.
- Refunds, damaged orders, or anything about your order we have not already fixed.
- Wholesale, media, or legal questions.
If the balm is not working for your skin, tell us. We will sort you out.