We understand that cancer treatment can have a significant impact on the body, including the skin. At Brave Crab, our mission is to create skincare that feels gentle, nourishing, and supportive for sensitive, dry, and treatment-affected skin.
Our Bee-loved skincare range is built around one core formulation approach: balms.
In this article, we explore why balm-based skincare is at the heart of our collection and how these waterless formulations can help support comfort and skin barrier care during and after cancer treatment.
Why balms? The benefits of waterless skincare
Many Brave Crab products are formulated as balms for a clear reason: they are waterless, concentrated formulations designed to deliver rich, targeted nourishment.
Without water as a base, balms allow a higher concentration of plant oils, butters, and botanical extracts that help support dry and sensitive skin.
Concentrated nourishment
Waterless formulations allow for a higher proportion of nourishing ingredients, providing rich, targeted care for skin that feels dry, sensitive, or compromised.
Occlusive barrier support
Balms are naturally occlusive, meaning they form a protective layer on the skin’s surface. This helps reduce moisture loss and supports comfort when the skin feels dry or fragile.
The role of occlusives in skincare
Occlusive ingredients are an important part of balm formulations. They sit on the skin’s surface and help support moisture retention and barrier comfort.
Occlusives are known to help:
- Reduce transepidermal water loss (moisture loss from the skin)
- Support the skin’s natural barrier function
- Help protect the skin from external environmental irritants
- Maintain comfort in dry or sensitive skin
The skin’s barrier plays an essential role in maintaining comfort and resilience, particularly when the skin feels more sensitive or reactive. During cancer treatment, supporting this barrier through gentle, nourishing skincare can help maintain everyday skin comfort.
During periods when skin may feel more delicate or easily dehydrated, occlusive balm textures can provide a comforting layer that helps reduce moisture loss.
Shea butter in balm formulations
Shea butter is one of the key ingredients used across Brave Crab balm formulations. It is a naturally derived butter, widely used in skincare for dry and sensitive skin.
It is commonly valued for its ability to support skin softness, comfort, and barrier function, making it particularly suitable for balm-based skincare designed for delicate or dry skin.
Why Brave Crab focuses on balms
Balms are at the centre of Brave Crab formulations because they offer rich nourishment and strong skin barrier support in a concentrated, waterless format.
Without water in the base, balm formulations allow a higher proportion of plant oils, butters, and botanical extracts that help support dry, sensitive, and treatment-affected skin.
Their occlusive nature also helps reduce moisture loss by forming a protective layer on the skin’s surface, supporting comfort when the skin feels more fragile or reactive.
For these reasons, we believe balms provide an especially suitable base for skincare during and after cancer treatment, when skin often requires gentle, consistent barrier support.
Our balm collection
Our balms are used across the Brave Crab Bee-loved range, including:
- Embrace Face & Body Balm
- Cocoon Hand & Foot Balm
- Nurture Face Cleanser
- Strength Nail & Cuticle Balm
- Silk Touch Scalp Balm
Each formulation is designed to support comfort-focused skincare for sensitive and dry skin.
Final thoughts
Balms provide a concentrated, nourishing, and supportive approach to skincare that is especially suited to sensitive and treatment-affected skin.
While every individual’s skin experience is unique, balm-based skincare can offer a gentle way to support comfort and skin barrier care during and after cancer treatment.
At Brave Crab, we believe skincare should feel supportive, reassuring, and considered—especially when skin feels at its most vulnerable.
REFERENCES
[1] Lüftner, D., Dell’Acqua, V., Selle, F., Khalil, A., Leonardi, M. C., De La Torre Tomás, A., … Seité, S. (2018). Evaluation of supportive and barrier-protective skin care products in the daily prevention and treatment of cutaneous toxicity during systemic chemotherapy. OncoTargets and Therapy, 11, 5865–5872.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/OTT.S155438#media-abstract
[2] Maanikuu, P. M. I., & Peker, K. (2017). Medicinal and nutritional benefits from the shea tree-(Vitellaria Paradoxa). Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 7(22), 51-57.
[3] Dreno, B., Khosrotehrani, K., De Barros Silva, G., Wolf, J. R., Kerob, D., Trombetta, M., ... & Lacouture, M. (2023). The role of dermocosmetics in the management of cancer-related skin toxicities: international expert consensus. Supportive Care in Cancer, 31(12), 672.