The festive season is fast approaching, and we know what a struggle it can be to find the perfect Christmas gift! To help, we’ve put together a gift guide of ideas for each of your loved ones that they are sure to adore. Don’t worry – you can take the credit for this one!

Gifts for ‘Gentle & Sensitive Skin’

We all have that loved one who is so hard to buy for because they only use certain products and special ingredients that won’t irritate their skin. For this loved one, you can’t go wrong with the Happy Hands Duo which offers the perfect regime to help relieve dryness and nourish the skin.

Packed to the brim with nourishing ingredients of fresh goats milk to hydrate your skin, shea butter to assist in healing, grapeseed oil which is a powerful antioxidant, sweet almond oil to soothe inflammation and redness, macadamia oil rich in vitamin E and argan oil to hydrate, with this duo you’ll be in the good books for sure. 

It is a stroke in every sense of the word, it just means that the person is under 5 years of age. (It is incredibly rare, only affecting around 2 in every 100,000 children)¹. It was a harrowing hospital trip and proceeding weeks, but Toby thankfully survived the stroke. Then Kristy and Toby started to assess the road ahead and boy it was going to be tough - thousands of hours of rehabilitation to build up strength in his left side, which had been weakened by the stroke.

Thankfully, now at age 5, Toby has nearly the same strength in his left side as his right – it is only a ‘trained eye’ who can detect the minute differences. As anyone with a strong-willed little toddler can attest, getting them to do what is ‘best for them’ is often a challenge (!) so one of the ways Kristy was able to coax this little rebellious human into doing his rehab exercises was to get him into the local swimming pool.

Toby has always loved going to the pool – but the devastating side-effect of his swim sessions was that his eczema became incredibly severe – which often left Toby in hospital (again).

So Kristy took little Toby and consulted doctors, pharmacists and naturopaths in her attempt to find treatments for Toby’s eczema. Nothing worked. Toby ended up back in hospital (again).

Kristy tried everything and spent thousands of dollars on ineffective treatments.

Eventually Kristy found something that helped keep Toby’s eczema symptoms completely at bay. Look at him now!!

Watch the video here to see how far Toby has come. We love Kristy and Toby’s story because there is so much love for her little boy.

¹https://strokefoundation.org.au/What-we-do/Treatment-programs/Clinical-guidelines/Childhood-stroke-guidelines

Kristy and Toby love: Intensive Eczema & Psoriasis Balm. "It actually works! It's cost effective and we can easily get it from our local chemist. This is the best product I have ever tried" Toby tells us. "I put the Eczema & Psoriasis Balm on everyday."

Does your child have an eczema trigger with chlorine? Tell us your story in the comments below!

Have you noticed how after a week of eating processed foods high in sugar, your skin reflects your bad diet? You might notice your skin breaking out, or becoming dull, blotchy and irritated. This is because our skin often mirrors what is going on inside our bodies. Similarly, eczema sufferers will notice how consuming specific foods cause their eczema to flare up and become more inflamed (Diet and Eczema: The Facts, WebMD, 2014).

The question is, can you get relief from eczema through your diet? Gluten, eggs, peanuts, dairy, soy, acidic foods and processed foods which are high in sugar, may all cause inflammation in your body which could aggravate your eczema. To manage your eczema, you could limit these foods in your diet and substitute them for the following options.

- Substitute dairy for almond, oat or coconut milk instead.
- Try quinoa in place of wheat based foods like bread and pasta.
- Eat plenty of plant protein sources like chia seeds, lentils and spinach rather than eggs.
- A diet high in natural, unprocessed wholefood with a healthy dose of fish, containing high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, could not only reduce inflammation in your body but may also help reduce eczema breakouts.
- Ensure that your gut flora is balanced and healthy by taking a daily probiotic to strengthen your digestive tract which might in turn have an affect on your skin.

 (Leaky Gut and Atopic Dermatitis, National Eczema Association).

We hope these diet tricks bring you some relief! Don't forget to continue to maintain and protect your skin’s moisture barrier by using a therapeutic soap like our Billie Goat Milk & Honey Soap Bar and keep your skin soft with daily use of our Billie Goat Moisturiser For Sensitive Skin. 

How has your diet affected your skin? Whether certain foods make your skin better or worse, let us know your story in the comments below.

Prescribed dozens of different types of medicated creams, including topical steroid creams, the frequency of the flare-ups never seemed to get any better.

"I have cupboards and cupboards full of products that not only would I not use, but I wouldn't want to give it to anyone else either. They're filled with chemicals, parabens, carcinogenic additives...stuff that I believe is so bad for your skin."

Amalia dug deeper and took Vid to naturopaths and allergy experts, who, rather than just look at his skin, asked about his diet and conducted in-depth allergy testing.

The result? A super-sweet culprit: sugar!

When they were told that it was Vid's diet that caused the inflammation it actually made a lot of sense to Amalia, as she already suspected it was his sweet tooth. "He'll often be like, 'Oh Mum I ate too many ice creams today and my skin's getting sore,'" Amalia explains.

"[You've got to] find out the root of the cause, most likely it will have

to do with foods. Once you do this, it [helps] to control it.

" So what does Vid eat now, you ask? "I try to prevent [his flare-ups]

by straight away cutting out sugar, or [putting him] on an alkaline diet,

or I feed him lots of lemons. Also, he announced that he was a vegetarian

at the age of 3! However, he doesn't know that chicken nuggets

come from a chicken...," Amalia tells us.

Vid, now 10, still uses steroid creams when he has a flare-up, but they happen less regularly.

Amalia and Vid love: Billie Goat Lavender Soap. "He said 'Mum, this is the best product I have ever tried," Amalia tells us. "It has really settled the flare ups, we don't have to use the steroid cream as often now."

Does your child have an odd eczema trigger? Have you tried the Alkaline Diet? Tell us your story in the comments below!

Natasha first discovered the red, irritating rash during her second trimester, and by the time she went back to work after her son's birth, it had intensified to the point that it completely covered parts of her arms.

After a while, Natasha realised that stress was the main trigger for her skin's condition, which she found really flared up when she went back to work.

She wanted to be a "good mum" and to be there for her child, saying...

"the guilt sets in if you do go back to work and you are leaving your

child... it is really stressful."

Natasha eventually resigned from her senior marketing role, to run her own company: Working Mothers Connect. It is a community where working mothers can network- with each other, supportive corporate organisations, training providers and employers. Her new flexible hours, and the ability to work from home helped her manage her stress levels.

The best part? "I can finally walk [Kai] to school in the morning."

While she acknowledges that her eczema is something that won't ever "go away," Natasha says her new lifestyle and her Billie Goat Intensive Eczema & Psoriasis Balm helped to ease flare ups, along with sunshine. "It's amazing, when I’m on holiday it almost disappears! Once year I should go to Hawaii," she laughs.

Natasha recommends: Billie Goat Intensive Eczema & Psoriasis Balm because "it has kept the redness bay". Oh... and Hawaii.

For those of you who are interested in finding out about Working Mothers Connect, you can check out their website here.

If you are interested in finding out more about pregnancy eczema, read our blog post.

Have you suffered from pregnancy eczema? How do you balance work and life? Comment below.

After watching so many of her friends struggle through the process, Katie and Carlos took a different route and decided to try an egg donor, promptly booking a trip to Europe. She laughs as she describes the experience. "It's kind of like having three parents... if you can get your head around that!"

Katie now has two gorgeous twins, Iggy and Lucy, and a new attitude towards motherhood. "Something changes in you, I don’t know what it is. You soften"

Katie's best piece of advice?

"The financial costs of having a baby don't need to be as high as everyone makes out.

makes out. There’s so many costs and so many things that you’re told you 'need' to buy,"

Rather than buying a baby monitor, Katie always makes sure they are close enough for her to hear them cry. "You’ve just got to be relaxed because I think children really feel stress," she says.

Katie also practices the 4-4-8 Pranayama breathing technique to calm Iggy and Lucy. It involves inhaling for four paces, holding your breath for another four, and then slowly exhaling for eight seconds. "I think there's a lot in movement, breath and strength. [The babies] feel my calm, and they calm, which is really astonishing."

Despite going to somewhat extreme lengths to have her children, when Iggy and Lucy's skin becomes irritated or rough, Katie keeps it simple. Billie Goat's Eczema & Psoriasis Balm nourishes their skin ("It's been very good! Very very good,") and she will go for regular olive oil from her pantry. "I keep it pretty minimal. I focus on doing what I feel is right, because I believe that I innately know what's right for my kids."

Katie recommends: Billie Goat Eczema & Psoriasis Balm.

Would you consider using an egg donor to conceive? What parenting tips can you share? Let us know in the comments below. 

Unfortunately that's one of the only nice things about his skin, which Natasha says is incredibly sensitive, and often flares up and becomes red and hot to the touch. "It can be anything. [Sometimes we just simply] pick him up and have a play with him! He gets sent home from daycare quite often for having what they call a 'rash'," Natasha says. "It's not, we have tried to explain. But we understand the policies. We have to take him to the doctor to get clearance....the doctor always says it is nothing.

His skin troubles, however, pale in comparison to the problems they had with Xavier coming into the world.

"I had gestational diabetes and preclampsia,.. and then he was

born prem as well - I had an emergency c-section. He was in the

special care nursery for 15 days..."

Now that Xavier is home, Natasha absolutely loves to spoil him. One of her favourite ways is by giving him a massage."{Xavier] smells so delicious after his baby massage, and he is so happy and relaxed."

Natasha recommends: Billie Baby Baby Massage Lotion before she puts Xavier to bed. "It is very gentle on him, which was great."

Does your child's skin ever play up due to skin to skin contact? Did you have a difficult pregnancy like Natasha? Have you tried baby massage? Let us know in the comments below.

The most heartbreaking part of her daughter Phoebe's skin condition isn't the financial cost, or even the bullies at school ("they're just curious"). It's the fact that Phoebe no longer trusts what her mother says will help her.

After the countless medications and topical ointments, it no longer works when Helena says 'this is a new cream, this one will work.'"

"It was easier when she was younger, I could manage it better. Now that she's older... [she's] stopped believing in it. She tells me 'I don't want any more creams. The doctor isn't getting it right, I'm not putting on any more of those creams.'"

Helena has even caught Phoebe hiding an expensive prescription cream in the rubbish bin. "Because she has to apply the cream at school, she was getting sick of people asking her what's all over her face. They say that she's really ugly," she tells us. "I get 'Mummy, I don't want to go to school' because of it."

Ever since Helena can remember, Phoebe has suffered from a skin condition. "She has always had [it] underneath in the folds of her skin, like underneath the kneecaps, under the elbows, sometimes around the face. [It] disappeared and now it has started again, especially on her face and eyelids. "

Because of the undiagnosed nature of Phoebe's skin condition, she has been prescribed countless medicated creams, including steroid cream, on a trial and error basis. For Helena, this means shelling out hundreds of dollars with no guarantee of success.

"You should see Phoebe's cosmetic bag, it's bigger than mine! And

it's just filled with the most expensive creams and ointments... Just a

small tube the dermatologist gave me was $45."

Helena's advice for other mothers is to chat with the school or school nurse about their children's skin condition. List their triggers, pack their moisturiser and gloves, and find activities that won't cause skin irritation. "Little kids can't do it themselves, [they need] that help from the school nurse," Helena says.

Helena recommends: Billie Goat Moisturiser for Sensitive Skin. "It's very effective and really easy."

Has your child got a skin condition? Have you tried prescription medication for their skin? Tell us your skin story by commenting below.

Product: Billie Goat Hand & Body Wash, Billie Goat Original Soap

Did you know?

• As an eczema sufferer, the number one cleaning rule is to wear gloves when washing dishes or using chemical products. Gloves with cotton liners will prevent any irritation caused by the gloves, and moisturising after wear will avoid your skin drying out from water use.

• Where possible, swap out harsh chemicals and trade them for natural alternatives instead. Olive oil makes a great polish for wooden surfaces, while vinegar and lemon juice can be used as an everyday surface cleaner - plus it's money-saving too! If you're looking for a cleaner with an extra kick, simply add baking soda.

• Choose your laundry detergent wisely as chemicals such as bleach, fragrance and enzymes used on your clothing may have a direct impact on your skin. Try a hypoallergenic detergent free of dyes and perfumes, or swap out detergent completely for a natural option such as vinegar and baking soda. TIP: While you’re doing a wash, add in your child's stuffed toys to eliminate dust mites hiding in them.

• Hidden triggers such as dust, pollen and pesticides can quickly build up in your home and can wreak havoc on your skin. To prevent these invisible pests, aim to vacuum at least three times a week, and make it a family rule to leave your shoes outside by the door to prevent them from spreading outside allergens through the house. This is also a great excuse to stop muddy footprints from marking the carpet!

• Liven up your interiors with bamboo and spider plants. Not only will they add a fresh feel to your living space, but they'll also absorb pollutants!

Do you have any natural cleaning remedies that you swear by? Let us know!

UV radiation damages and dehydrates the protective functions of our skin cells, bringing on fine lines and reducing the skin's buoyant appearance. Simple outdoor activities such as playing sports, walking around the street, even driving during the day can have damaging repercussions for your skin and can accelerate the ageing process.

Did you know? Dry skin is a condition that occurs due to inadequate oil production, while dehydration occurs through a lack of water in the skin after being over-exposed to the sun or a dry climate.

Prevent your skin from hitting the fast forward button by actively using a sunscreen lotion in your everyday skin routine to lock in hydration and ward off wrinkles. Team this with the Moisturiser for Sensitive Skin in the morning and at night to fight water loss, and replenish your skin cells.

Product Natural Zinc Sunscreen Lotion

If there’s one product that you convince him to use to soften those scratchy cheeks it’s our Original Goats Milk Soap. Due to thicker facial follicle hair and frequent shaving, men are already starting with a harsh canvas that's craving some nourishing attention. Our Original Soap is enriched with high concentrations of goats milk and olive oil to soften the skin and prevent irritation.

Why he’ll love it?

• It's gentle enough to use as a hand wash, body wash and facial cleanser.
• Mixed with warm water to open the pores, its moisturising benefits will soften facial hair and remove dead skin cells for a smoother shave.
• Using natural ingredients rather than adding synthetic fragrances, he won’t consider the scent too feminine.

Why you’ll love it? No more prickly kisses!

Products: Billie Goat Moisturiser for Sensitive Skin, Billie Goat Original Soap

Product: Billie Goat Hydrating Face Serum, Billie Goat Hydrating Face Day Cream, Billie Goat Hydrating Face Night Cream

Want to give your skincare routine a boost… but unsure where to start?

We've all walked into our local beauty destination looking for help and found ourselves consumed by an avalanche of eye creams, serums, day moisturisers, night creams, sunscreens, and brightening agents, with no clue what our skin really needs. Sure, you moisturise day and night, but if you're looking to minimise the look of those fine lines and reinvigorate your skin, it's time to add a serum to your routine.

What's a face serum and why do you need one, you ask? Serums are lightweight moisturisers that deliver active ingredients deeper into the skin, due to their gel-like texture. With fewer thickening and SPF actives than your moisturiser, serums have more room for extra antioxidants and anti-aging ingredients. Their thin texture should be applied first to cleansed, bare skin allowing for fast penetration and followed by your moisturiser both day and night.

As you’re pulling yourself out of the skincare avalanche you've found yourself in, beware of products which advertise a bunch of tongue-twisting ingredients that often don't have a lot of supporting evidence. We always reach for traditional ingredients, which are renowned for their skin-loving qualities, such as Vitamin C and green tea.

Keep your soaps out of direct sunlight, and store them in a dry, covered container that allows air circulation. Small cardboard boxes work well, or if you're storing a number of soaps, try using a shoe box.

Before use, cut your soap in half and keep one stored away to prevent the whole bar dissolving in water. After each use of your on-duty half, aim to place it outside of the shower to allow the bar to fully dry between washes.

If you have a high shelf in the shower that's not in direct contact with water, try storing your soap bar there in a wooden soap dish for convenient access. Lather up!

Product: Billie Goat Original Soap

Here at Billie Goat we're always on the lookout for natural alternatives to incorporate into our lifestyle. With hay fever at its peak, we thought we'd share some of our tips on how to find relief naturally.

Did you know that people with eczema, especially those with atopic dermatitis are more likely to suffer from hay fever too? When suffering from atopic dermatitis the body produces a particular type of antibody as a reaction to harmless allergens & environmental exposures such as pollen and dust. This immune system response is what links eczema, hay fever and even asthma.

Whether it’s hay fever clogging up your nose or allergens sparking up your eczema, the months of August to November can be a battlefield for those with allergy sensitivity. Experts have warned that this hay fever season could be one of the worst Australia has seen and is set to peak during October and November as plants begin to bloom.

According to Telfast Australia, 1 in 3 Australians will be affected by an allergy, with 7.7 million of us expected to suffer from an allergy by 2050. While it's pollen that gets the majority of the blame from hay fever sufferers, allergens can come in the form of dust mites, pet dander and even certain foods!

Hay fever symptoms can last as long as someone is exposed to the allergen they’re body is reacting to, so sneeze your way over to our tips below on how to combat the effects of hay fever:

Avoid the A-A-CHOO:

Rubbing a little vaseline around the inside of your nostrils will protect the membrane of your nose from allergens and reduce the need to sneeze.

Wear Sunglasses

Wearing sunglasses won’t only protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays, but it’ll help keep pollen from irritating your eyes and prevent the incessant waterworks.

Shower Often

If you find that you can’t shake hay fever symptoms even when you’re in the safety of your home, you might find that pollen is sticking to your hair and skin after a day of activities. Showering when you get home will rid you from the atmosphere’s allergens, so your senses can relax and recover. If you suffer from dry skin or eczema, make sure to keep your skin extra moisturised when showering more often.

Products: Moisturiser for Sensitive Skin 500ml, Original Billie Goat Soap

Stress Less

Just like stress can play a role in triggering eczema, it’ll also make you more susceptible to symptoms of hay fever. Read our tips on how to manage stress here to help yourself relax and reduce the effects of hay fever.

Product: Intensive Moisture Bath Soak

Add Local Honey To Your Diet

Eating a tablespoon of honey each day may act as a type of immunisation against hay fever symptoms because honey itself contains pollen. While this is more of an old tale than fact, this delicious tip doesn't hurt to try!

Have you ever picked up your child from school to find them stained in a rainbow of paint, covered in dirt, wearing their lunch and attached to the hip of their little mate? Learning, playing and making friends is part of what makes school both fun and challenging for kids.

Eczema can spoil the fun of daily classroom activities so it's important that your child doesn't feel embarrassed, excluded or distracted by the itch. Managing eczema in the school yard is more than making sure they have the right remedies to squash the scratch, it's all about conversation. First thing’s first. It's important that your child understands the reasons why they need to use treatments for their condition at school. Encourage them to share their experience with their ‘itchies’ every day, so you know what to help them avoid.

ECZEMA CAN SPOIL THE FUN OF DAILY CLASSROOM

ACTIVITIES SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOUR CHILD

DOESN'T FEEL EMBARRASSED

It's just as important for your child to understand their condition as it is for their teacher. Discuss when, how and what kinds of medication need to be taken if your child experiences an eczema flare up. Write up a list of learned triggers like foods or substances (such as glue) and give it to their teacher for reference.

Product: Moisturiser for Sensitive Skin 250ml

Kids shouldn't miss out on the fun stuff because of their skin condition. If sweaty sports or activities in the sandpit are bound to trigger your child's eczema, find out what other activities they enjoy and suggest to their teacher some alternative options such as music, crafts or indoor games.

Everyone’s skin is different so this will determine what remedies you pack with your child in their school bag. A moisturiser, ointment, bandages and gloves (for handling crafty materials) are a good start towards a school survival pack to help manage eczema. It will also give you peace of mind knowing that eczema won’t dampen the fun.

TWO TO THREE HOURS PER DAY IS SPENT TREATING YOUR BABY'S ECZEMA, AND BETWEEN ONE TO TWO HOURS OF THEIR SLEEP EACH NIGHT IS INTERRUPTED

If you’re tired of asking your baby for the hundredth time "how can I help stop this itching!" only to get blown bubbles as a response, it means it's time to try these tips:

Being wrapped up in pyjamas and tucked under the covers can get toasty, which may cause itching through the night. Make sure your baby's bedroom is cool, and use light cotton blankets rather than woollen or synthetic bedding.

Before bedtime, give your little one a lukewarm bath and moisturise their skin with massage oil once they're dry. If you're not sure what to use, try our Billie Baby Moisturiser which is specially formulated for little ones and contains a range of soothing oils that can be applied all over the body, even the face!

Products: Billie Baby Bath Soak, Billie Baby Soothing Bubble Bath, Billie Baby 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner

While these steps will initially calm the skin enough to help your baby fall into the dream world, we're in this for the long haul... To prevent scratching throughout the night and an interrupted sleep for both you and your bub, wet dressings placed over inflamed spots will keep the area cool and calm, while cotton mitts will help minimise any further damage to the skin caused by scratching.

Give these tips a go and catch up on some shut-eye. Sweet dreams!

Redness, inflamed skin, oiliness, and yellow flakes or crusts on the scalp are all signs that your newborn has cradle cap. While this condition does not need to be treated and usually clears up on its own, there are ways give it an extra push to improvement.

Massage your baby's head with olive oil each night and wash their hair the next morning. Brushing their wet hair with a soft brush will slowly lift the crusts and rid them from a flaky scalp. Cradle cap could reappear if their oil gland is still in action, but if the dermatitis continues after six to twelve months or your baby's scalp is extremely itchy, it may be a sign of eczema or psoriasis and may need different attention.

If the condition does not improve, or if your baby seems irritated by it, speak to your family doctor about treatments.

Product: Billie Goat Intensive Moisture Bath Soak

A simple bout of frustration or embarrassment can inflame the skin causing it to become itchy and damaging the skin's natural moisture barrier function. What's worse is that when eczema flares up, the constant need to scratch can lead to more stress, trapping you in an aggravated cycle.

It's important to take some time out for yourself and de-stress, not only for your skin but for your frame of mind. Find what calms you and indulge in a bit of down-time every day. Yoga, meditation, deep breathing, your favourite tunes, a soak in the bath, or even your guilty pleasure television show can help to fight stress for a happier mind and calmer skin.

Product: Billie Goat Intensive Moisture Bath Soak, Billie Goat Moisturiser for Sensitive Skin

• Woollen and synthetic fabrics: Time to update your wardrobe. Breathable, cotton fabrics are the kindest to sensitive skin. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester and nylon tend to lock in heat, while the texture of wool may tempt itching.

• Food intolerances: Food allergies can worsen eczema. Some common contenders include soy, nuts, wheat, fish and eggs. A simple food allergy test may be all your skin is asking for.

• A change in temperature: Heat is known to be a common irritant to the skin. If you're unable to climate control your surroundings, wear cool, cotton clothing, and stay hydrated. If you're enjoying the sunshine always wear sunscreen and stick to the shade.

Product: Billie Goat Natural Zinc Sunscreen

• Stress: When you feel under the pump your body releases hormones that inflame and irritate the skin. Good sleeping habits, meditation or even a relaxing bath, may help to ease the worries built up in your mind.

Product: Billie Goat Intensive Moisture Bath Soak

• Constant exposure to water, soap or chemicals such as chlorine: Spin the tap to cool or lukewarm when showering to avoid aggravating your skin. Pat yourself down with a towel to dry rather than vigorously rubbing, and moisturise immediately afterwards, before your skin gets the chance to dry out.

Product: Billie Goat Original Soap

We don’t often associate wet, miserable winter weather with the word dry. It's the summer season that receives all the attention for triggering the dreaded eczema flare up, but did you know that the winter months are troubling our skin too?

This is because our skin is in constant contact with dry air both in the chilly outdoors and inside our heated homes. While the low humidity air is damaging enough, drastic changes in temperature caused by moving from the cold to the warmth wreaks havoc on our skin’s sensitivity, not to mention its threat of causing a nasty flu.

One of our Billie Goat fans Kelly, started using our goats milk range after her son developed a virus that caused the skin on his hands to peel terribly.

"Recently my 6 year old son had a bad virus and the skin on his hands began to peel off, so I decided to try Billie Goat and within 3 days his hands have cleared up fantastically"

As we often forget to protect our hands when it comes to rugging up for winter, we've put together some tips to stop the winter chill from sucking out the moisture from your skin & triggering your eczema, and to help protect your family from that relentless flu.

Moisturise: If you’ve been managing eczema for a while you'll know the golden rule is to always keep moisturised. As winter is especially drying, swap out your regular moisturiser for our Billie Goat body butter and apply within minutes of jumping out of the shower to allow your skin to hold onto all of its moisturising goodness.

Try a humidifier: to prevent your skin from battling dry air both inside and out, run a humidifier at night to keep your skin feeling hydrated and supple. It’ll also clear your nasal passages & help you fight off a cold.

Rug up: protect your hands by wearing gloves in the cold weather to help your skin hold onto moisture. Use our Billie Goat Hand Cream before sliding your gloves on to keep your skin soft and reach for cotton gloves to prevent winter woollies from irritating your hands. If your favourite pair of chunky winter gloves aren't sensitive on the skin, try wearing a light pair of cotton gloves underneath. If you get stuck in the damp weather, change into dry clothes as soon as possible to stop your skin from drying out.

Cut down your shower time: while long hot showers after cold winter’s day sounds ideal, they’re actually stripping the moisturising oils from your skin. Instead a quick, lukewarm shower will stop your skin becoming dry and itchy. To help prevent your skin from drying out in the shower, our Billie Goat Intensive Soap will give your skin an extra boost of hydration thanks to its combination and high concentrations of goats milk, olive oil & colloidal oatmeal.

SPF: Although it may be cold and cloudy, the sun’s radiation still has damaging and dehydrating effects on your skin cells. Apply our Billie Goat Sunscreen whenever you leave the house to fight water loss and ward off wrinkles. Its mixture of goats milk, aloe vera and calendula with calm and condition your skin while creating a barrier against you and the sun's damaging rays.

Product: Billie Goat Moisturiser for Sensitive Skin, Billie Goat Natural Zinc Sunscreen

When you’re managing eczema, it's not just your skin that's itching but probably your hip pockets too. A study from The Medical Journal of Australia estimates that based on the severity of the eczema, a family may pay between $330 and $1255 in treatments. What is more frustrating is that in search of a cure, money is often spent on expensive remedies that may never deliver the relief they promise.

A FAMILY MAY PAY BETWEEN $330 AND $1255 IN TREATMENTS

Before adding extra $$ to your medical budget, give natural products a go! You'd be surprised what remedies you can create by rummaging through the pantry and playing with ingredients. If it's your child who's suffering from dry skin, what sounds more fun than getting messy and playing with food! Chamomile or rolled oats wrapped up in a cloth and submerged in the bath is known to soothe the skin and reduce irritation.

Honey also has anti-inflammatory properties and draws moisture to damaged skin. Smear it over the affected area and cover with a bandage. The downside of honey is that it can get a little sticky, but the upside is that you'll smell delicious! If the DIY aspect doesn't appeal to you, we’ve already gotten our hands dirty for you, using naturally derived ingredients. Some simple lifestyle changes from finding some time-out to relax, to avoiding certain fabrics can also help you find some relief without costing you a cent. Read on to find out what triggers to avoid and reduce both the itch and the financial cost of eczema.

Some simple lifestyle changes from finding some time-out to relax, to avoiding certain fabrics can also help you find some relief without costing you a cent. Read on to find out what triggers to avoid and reduce both the itch and the financial cost of eczema.

The easiest way to look after your skin this summer is to keep cool indoors and climate control wherever possible. Try to avoid going from one temperature extreme to another and let cotton fabrics inspire your summer wardrobe, keeping you cool at the same time. Synthetics fabrics will lock in heat and make you itchy, so swap them for flowing cotton silhouettes to help increase the air flow around your body and prevent your skin from feeling hot and sticky.

Product: Billie Goat Natural Zinc Sunscreen

The most important thing to remember in summer is to keep your skin hydrated from the inside and out. Aim to drink one to two litres of water each day, and keep your skin hydrated by reapplying moisturiser to avoid dryness. While multiple showers or a dip in the pool might seem like a quick cool down option, too much contact with water can actually have the opposite effect, drying out your skin.

It would be a crime to completely cut out a day at the pool or beach in summer, so make sure to rinse your skin from sweat, salt and chlorine, and lather on moisturiser afterwards – and don’t forget sunscreen… but we shouldn't have to tell you that!