Christmas and Research in Kenya

I’m now back in Kenya for Christmas, combining time spent with family and friends with some new botanical ingredient research in the New Year too. One species our botanist Anna Macleod and I have been investigating for several years now is the fascinating ‘sausage tree’, so-called because of the long sausage-shaped pods that hang from its tall branches, not unlike salamis hanging in an Italian deli’s window. The sausage tree (real name Kigelia africana) has some very unusual and interesting skin-tightening and firming properties, as well as being a useful local antiseptic and anti-inflammatory ingredient used here in herbal medicine. It’s also a very attractive tree, with large, dark green, fig-like leaves that provide useful shade cover in very hot climates. We have an extensive tree planting programme here on our small farm and one of the first things we do on arrival is to check on their progress. I spent the best part of today in thick-soled, thorn-proof boots walking the boundaries to make sure that all our newly planted trees are being regularly watered and protected from marauding giraffe, who like nothing better than to nibble out the tasty central crown shoots of a young thorn tree. I was especially keen to check on the progress of the three small Kigelia africana planted last time I was here. We chose a hot, dry, dusty area at the back of our boundary for these, in the hope that they will one day provide a useful respite from the relentless sun. Fortunately, they don’t seem to be to the giraffe’s liking and they all look healthy and strong, with lots of shiny green leaves sprouting.

There’s no doubt that extreme sun exposure causes many problems for the skin, especially in tropical countries or locations close to the Equator. The arid desert plains of Kenya are especially harsh as there is low humidity and little moisture in the air, so the sun over-dries the face in an instant. I’ve been especially pleased that I packed several jars of our Superskin Moisturiser, as its high levels of skin-repairing Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) and plant oils are fantastically re-moisturising without being in the slightest bit sticky. It’s so rich and nourishing that I can feel my skin being instantly replenished and soothed after a long day in the extreme heat. I’m obviously using our Sunshade SPF25 when outside too, but the additional antioxidant benefits of the pomegranate and natural-source Vitamin E are especially soothing and repairing. By contrast, I’ve just received the last instalment from Dr Amy Rogers, the researcher we helped sponsor for new research into climate change on an Antarctic expedition. There are probably not many skin creams currently being exposed to two such climatic extremes so many thousands of miles apart – and it’s good to know that Superskin’s botanical formulation holds up well under pressure! Here is Dr Roger’s last journal entry:

Dr Amy Rogers writes:
“I’ve now been in Antarctica for about 5 weeks. We were due to fly out last week, on December 10th. Unfortunately an Antarctic snowstorm has meant that we have been stranded here with no possibility of an aircraft landing to pick us up. We haven't seen the sun for nine days now and have had total whiteout conditions. At the moment visibility is down to a few metres. We've also had snow drifts up to six feet high, so we have been busy digging our tent out of the snow each day to ensure we don’t end up buried. The weather has cleared and we are hoping that it will be possible to clear the ice runway of over 6000 tonnes of snow by tomorrow morning. If the plane from Punta Arenas can’t land tomorrow, then we will most likely be stuck in Antarctica for another week. This means that we could be spending Christmas in Antarctica. We’ve all got our fingers crossed that the snow-blowers will be able to move the snow off the runaway before the weather closes in again. This last week has brought some new challenges to test my Superskin moisturiser. Now back at the main basecamp we spend a lot of time moving between mess tents and the outdoors. This can involve temperature changes of 30-40 degrees. Moving between these different temperatures doesn’t seem to have presented too many problems. I’ve been really pleased with the way that the Superskin moisturiser has worked at protecting my face in such extreme conditions. It’s made my Antarctic expedition a lot more comfortable. Instead of the lasting skin damage that I was worried I would get from being here, I think that my skin feels better than it did before I went away.”

Heavy Frost

The weather has finally turned wintry and this morning there was a thick layer of heavy frost dusting the lawn, bushes and tree branches – very Christmassy! Although it might look pretty, unfortunately the colder temperatures outside, combined with the fast-forward of the central heating thermostat inside, are just about the fastest ways to dry out the skin. At this time of the year, I usually start to double-dose my Skin Repair Moisturiser, applying a second layer once the first has sunk in. This year however, I have switched to our new Superskin Moisturiser (UK), (US), and am very impressed with its powers of rehydration – even in this weather. No more double-layering required! And I’m not the only one to be getting good results in a colder climate either. Earlier this year, we helped to sponsor Dr Amy Rogers, a teacher taking part in a research expedition to the Antarctic to study the effects of climate change. In return for our help with her sponsorship, she offered to take some supplies of our new Superskin Moisturiser amongst her polar rations - and report back on how well it performs under extremely cold conditions (down to minus 65 degrees!!). I’m very pleased to report that, so far, all seems to be going well – both with Dr Amy’s research and her cold-climate skincare studies. Here are a few fascinating extracts from her journals:

Dr Amy Rogers writes:
28 November
“I’ve now been in Antarctica for 17 days carrying out science research into Antarctic lichens and sending back daily updates to my pupils back in the UK. We’ve had a great week with lots of exciting lichen finds although the weather has been a bit frustrating and has seen us tent bound for a couple of days. For the last 10 days I have been using Liz Earle Superskin Moisturiser.  I don’t know what I would do without it! It has become the highlight of my day to apply it and the other Liz Earle products I have been using. If nothing else at least the tent smells more pleasant. Which I can tell you after 17 days of myself and my tent partner not washing is no small thing! I’m always amazed at how non greasy it is and, as long as it is defrosted, how easy it is to apply. My skin seems to be faring quite well to the extreme conditions here so far. We have another few weeks to go yet though!”

11th December
“I’ve now spent 30 days in Antarctica, carrying out science research on lichen and interacting with my pupils back in the UK, through the internet and satellite phone conversations. It has been fantastic although very hardwork at times. We’ve just completed a 17 hour man-haul back to our basecamp, getting back at 5am this morning. For the last 21 days I’ve been enjoying using my Superskin moisturiser. I can genuinely say that I have been astounded by the results and it’s quickly become one of my favourite items of kit. In the driest continent on earth I’m amazed at how well my skin has coped. The worst I have had is a small amount of nose peeling-which has been quickly restored with Superbalm. With constant winds and temperatures down to -65 degrees, the skin of some of my other expedition members has really suffered. Used in combination with my Liz Earle sunscreen I haven’t been burnt (despite the lack of ozone and hours spent outside), my skin is quite smooth, non-greasy and comfortable. In fact-despite the conditions and not washing for 30 days - my face probably looks better than it did before I left.  I usually suffer from eczema patches on my face, these have now disappeared. Now I am back at the basecamp a few people have commented on the fact that it doesn’t look like I’ve spent a month man-hauling through Antarctica! No goggle marks, no signs of sun or wind damage. People at home won’t believe I’ve done anything. My expedition members have been highly recommending the sunscreen to other expedition teams and have been popping round to my tent for Superbalm fixes for their worst skin problems.”

Superskin in Antarctica