In 2013, the running industry peaked with nearly 19 million Americans crossing the finish line at various running events.

While it is difficult to say how many Americans run simply for exercise without registering for events, it is safe to say it is one of America's favorite past-times.

But running, as well as other high endurance sports that take place outside, can be rough on your skin.

In this article, we'll talk about what running can do to your skin, as well as how to find the best skin salve for you.

Read on for more information.

Running and Biking Can Both Cause One Thing: Chafing

Chafing.

It's a dreaded consequence of many physical activities. Some women even experience it when they're wearing a skirt and their thighs rub together for a prolonged period of time while walking.

But no matter what, the friction of your legs moving against one another, as well as your arms moving against your body, can cause serious chafing.

Additionally, when participating in endurance sports, some fabrics can rub against your body as you move, which can be irritating and uncomfortable.

Contrary to what non-endurance sports participants may think, you can chafe on any part of the body. Not only does it cause your skin to be sore, but it can also cause stinging, bleeding, and crusting. Most people will have a red rash for a few days after a big event if they don't take precautions.

While prevention is the best measure, even those can sometimes fall through. So, let's talk about some ways to both prevent chafing and to help it heal with salve.

Soothing Your Skin with Squirrel's Nut Butter Vegan Skin Salve

Are you heading out on a big run, or maybe just going out for a long jog around the neighborhood? Are you healing from a big competition and need a way to help your skin cool down?

If so, SNB Vegan salve is an excellent product to help you both prevent chafing and soothe irritated skin.

The base of Squirrel's Nut Butter Vegan Skin Salve is coconut oil and cocoa butter, which gives it its beautifully thick consistency (and incredible smell). This is the natural base of the product, and it creates a barrier against your skin from any material or other parts of your body, to rub against it and irritate it as you move.

Also included in the vegan version of our salve is Candelilla, which helps keep your skin slick without using beeswax. Keeping your skin slick is important so that the constant rubbing doesn't irritate it. Instead, when the skin comes in contact, it will simply glide over the area instead of creating a friction rash.

You can use this salve anywhere you're prone to chafing, including your feet.

Additionally, you can use the salve if you're attempting to recover from chafing. Simply slather it on to soothe your skin.

This salve works best when it is warmed up, and it can harden in cooler temperatures. If you're intending to perform an endurance sport in a colder climate, our stick is a much better product to choose to keep your skin slick and chafe-free.

The Original Anti-Chafe Skin Salve

Our Original Anti-Chafe Salve works just like our vegan salve. But instead of Candelilla, it uses beeswax to slicken the area so that fabrics and skin do not damage it and create a rash.

Just like the vegan version, the base is also coconut oil and cocoa butter, giving it a natural but fragrant strong base.

This product is completely natural, and you don't have to worry about putting any harsh chemicals on your skin as you're preventing or healing.

The product performs best in warmer temperatures, just like its vegan twin.

Body Butter

If you're looking for some serious skin restoration in addition to our anti-chafing products, look no further than our body butters. We have two to choose from: Sariah Rose and The Naked Greek. The latter was created in collaboration with Dean Karnazes, a Greek-American ultramarathon runner.

Both are infused with only natural ingredients and are free from artificial fragrance. They'll help bring your skin back to life after running, biking or other outdoor endurance sport that can virtually destroy your skin as you participate.

They're both easily absorbed and can go on any type of skin irritation, including extra dry skin or skin that needs TLC from endurance sports. It also works on eczema and has no greasy residue to make your skin feel greasy and slippery after application.

Healing Your Chafed Skin

In addition to our all-natural salves, there are a few other ways to help heal your chafed skin and nurse it back to its original glory.

Avoid showering or bathing in water that is extremely hot, as this can further irritate the skin. Avoid using any type of chemicals on your skin, as these can make the rash worse, or even make it bleed.

When you get out of the shower, pat your skin dry instead of rubbing it to keep a handle on your irritation.

If you're still experiencing pain or discomfort, you can put ice packs on the chafed area to help reduce some of the swelling.

Our Amazing Skin Salves

Don't just take our word for it. Purchase a skin salve today that can change the game when it comes to your skincare. Have a look at our all natural products today!

It's winter in the US. That means colder temperatures, shorter days and perhaps less motivation. The change of seasons shouldn't bring a change to your routine. And if you're reading this, that routine probably includes applying the world's best all-natural anti-chafe salve before activity. 

As you keep free from chafing and blisters this winter, we suggest that you use our anti-chafe sticks. While we recommend that you store our all-natural skin salve at room temperature, during the winter you'll often use our products at a trailhead, in the car or some other place exposed to colder conditions. 

Since our product includes only natural ingredients, the consistency of our products changes with the temperature. As temperatures drop, our salves harden. As temperatures increase, the consistency of our salves becomes softer. It's a lot like natural peanut butter: softer and more malleable when it sits on the counter, harder and difficult to penetrate when left in the refrigerator or another cold place. 

But even when our product firms up, it will soften when it comes into contact with the warmth of your skin. That's why our anti-chafe sticks are ideal in cold weather: pop the cap, roll the product above the edge of the stick, place the firm product onto an area of skin that's prone to chafing, wait a few seconds and then begin to spread it. It then applies smooth like butter!

Stay lubed, friends.

There are a wide variety of skin care products on the market today, some of which are synthetic and some of which are natural. While all of these products have the potential to be beneficial, natural products are generally the better choice of the two.

Wondering why this is? Looking for some reasons to use natural skin care products? Here are 6 of them. 

1. They're Better for the Environment

Simply put: natural products are better for the environment than are synthetic skincare products. The reasons for this are numerous.

First and foremost, synthetic chemicals have the potential to harm animals and plants with which they come into contact. Should the synthetic chemicals from a synthetic product seep into the ground, they could have dire consequences on surrounding ecosystems. 

Secondly, the processes associated with manufacturing traditional skincare products put a great deal of stress on the environment. This is because the extraction of certain ingredients (aluminum, lead, etc.) requires mining. Mining produces a great deal of pollution, ultimately leaving a negative carbon footprint on the environment at large. 

Natural skincare products forego the use of such ingredients, and so don't necessitate mining. And because they use only natural ingredients, they cause no harm to the surrounding plants and animals. 

2. They're Safer 

When compared to synthetic skincare products, natural skincare products are much safer. This is because the ingredients contained within natural products are much safer than those contained in synthetic products. 

See, when a lotion is applied to the skin, the ingredients contained within it slowly sink into the bloodstream. From there, they have a direct effect on many of the body’s processes. 

If the ingredients are beneficial, they’ll have beneficial effects. If, on the other hand, they’re a detriment, they’ll have adverse effects on the body. 

So, by using a natural skincare product as opposed to a synthetic one, you are essentially avoiding all negative health effects. This will result in you feeling better and looking better.

3. Their Manufacture Doesn't Harm Animals

You might be shocked at how many skincare product manufacturers test their products on animals. A good many of the big names in the industry continue to do so, to the obvious detriment of the animals which are being tested on. 

The good news is that natural skincare product manufacturers forego animal testing, and, in fact, do nothing to harm other living beings. In this sense, they are more ethical and more empathetic than a good many of the synthetic brands. 

If you’re against animal testing and for the humane treatment of animals, natural skincare products are the best way to go. They will prevent you from contributing to harmful and malicious practices. 

4. They're Packed with Beneficial Nutrients 

The most poignant way to highlight the differences between synthetic and natural skincare products is to discuss their ingredients. The ingredient profiles of the two types of products are wildly different, to the point that they don’t even resemble similar products. 

When you look at the ingredient label on a synthetic product, you’ll see words such as Triclosan, Glyceryl Stearate, Dye #4, and Petrolatum. These ingredients are made in labs, and, while capable of performing their function, can be detrimental to the body. 

Natural products, on the other hand, are filled with familiar-sounding ingredients such as jojoba oil, argan oil, apple juice, lemon juice, and so on and so forth. These ingredients are not only not harmful to the body, but they’re actually beneficial, in fact.

This is due to the fact that they contain vitamins and compounds such as Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Resveratrol, alpha-hydroxy acid, and more, all of which help the body to function at optimal levels.

5. They're Easier on the Skin 

One of the biggest problems with synthetic skincare products is that they’re harmful to some individuals’ skin. Certain ingredients contained within these products can cause everything from swelling to redness to itchiness to outright allergic reaction. For this reason, they’re better avoided altogether. 

Ingredients to look out for include parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, synthetic dyes, propylene glycol, and triclosan. However, it’s important to note that some other synthetic chemicals can cause this problem as well. 

This is why it’s generally a better idea to opt for natural products. Natural products are free of irritants, and, instead of being a detriment to the skin, they are actually beneficial to it.

6. They Leave No Doubt About Your Health

At the present time, there is a great deal of controversy surrounding the ingredients used in synthetic skincare products. While some believe these ingredients to be safe, others are skeptical, citing the fact that very little independent research has been done on them. 

So, in essence, by using synthetic skincare products, you’re throwing caution to the wind. For all you know, you’re allowing harmful chemicals to seep into your bloodstream. In the long-run, this could have dire consequences. 

The question you have to ask yourself is: are you comfortable gambling on your health? Is it worth it to potentially harm yourself with a synthetic product when you could just as easily be using a natural product? 

Remember: until a new ingredient has been tested, it’s impossible to know what type of impact it could have on the body. You don’t want to be one of the unfortunate souls decades down the line, suffering from health problems that you could have avoided. 

Buy Natural Skin Care Products Now

Are you interested in reaping the benefits of natural skin care products? If so, you're in the right place. Squirrel's Nut Butter has a wide variety of natural products for you to choose from.