under the radar

Goe Oil: The All-Natural Miracle Balm

The tedious hunt for an all-natural beauty product that doesn’t smell like old herbs often requires deciphering bad packaging and wondering what was made in someone’s kitchen. Jao Brand’s Goe Oil is a favorite amongst beauty purists who won’t put anything on their skin that they wouldn’t put in their mouths. Jao’s founders, David and Gail Mayron, a father-daughter duo known to whip up products out of necessity, launched this little all-in-one balm back in 2009. But don’t search for it at Whole Foods because this niche brand is only available at small boutiques, specialty shops, and their own website. Made with 28 natural oils and extracts, the ultrahydrating ingredients include rosehip, jojoba butter, jojoba oil, avocado butter, beeswax, shea butter, rosemary extract, vitamin E, chamomile oil, and many more.

Packaged in a surfer-cool aluminum tube, the oil squeezes out with a thick, balmlike consistency. Once warmed between hands, it melts into an absorbent liquid. Scented with Monoi, (an oil lightly perfumed with Tahitian gardenias), the oil instantly soothes anything from cuticles to elbows and even minor cuts. A cure-all that works well on many skin types, jojoba oil is the one ingredient that mimics the body’s natural sebum. So when applied to the face, you won’t have to worry about breaking out because the brain will think the pores have had enough hydration. Use it like old-fashioned cold cream to remove makeup and stubborn waterproof mascaras. Massage it into hair to protect and condition follicles against sun, pool, and ocean water. That’s a whole lot of bang in one three-ounce squeeze tube.

Goe Oil: The All-Natural Miracle Balm