The Day My Favourite Balm Broke My Heart
Host: Eva | Botanical Skincare Secrets

What happens when your ride-or-die skincare product turns out to be... 95% petroleum jelly? In this personal and surprisingly juicy episode, Eva—founder of The Very Good Goo and botanical skincare nerd—shares the story of how her favorite balm became her biggest ingredient heartbreak. What starts as a confession quickly unfolds into a deep dive into the truth about petroleum jelly, how it works (or doesn’t), and why it’s not the skin-loving savior it’s been made out to be.

Along the way, Eva unpacks the history of petroleum jelly (spoiler: it started on an oil rig), discusses the difference between occlusion and nourishment, and explains why modern skin deserves better than a glossy coat of mineral oil. From ingredient label confusion to the endocrine disruptor rumors, she covers the science, the myths, and the marketing tricks that still hide in plain sight on many skincare shelves.

But it doesn’t stop there.

This episode also traces the gooey origin story of The Very Good Goo’s most loved product: a truly natural, multi-purpose balm made from cold-pressed oils, beeswax, calendula, and other skin-recognized botanicals. Eva shares her years-long process of testing, tweaking, and nerding out over every gram and drop to create a formula that doesn’t just coat—but communicates with your skin.

You’ll learn:

• Why petroleum jelly creates a seal, but offers no nourishment

• The science behind botanical oils like jojoba, rosehip, and olive oil

• Why the skin barrier matters—and how to support it naturally

• What “biocompatibility” really means in skincare

• How plant-based ingredients go beyond protection to deliver healing

• Why packaging and label transparency should be your new obsession

• How one spreadsheet-loving skincare nerd created a cult-favorite balm from her kitchen

Whether you’re a lifelong balm-lover, a zero-waste ingredient sleuth, or just starting to rethink what you’re putting on your skin, this episode is an honest, educational, and slightly gooey wake-up call. No shame. Just curiosity, transparency, and plenty of skincare love.

👉 Learn more at theverygoodgoo.com.au
👉 Discover the balm that sparked it all
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Keywords: natural skincare, petroleum jelly, botanical balm, occlusive vs nourishing, plant-based skincare, rosehip oil, jojoba, clean beauty podcast, skincare ingredients explained, barrier repair, multipurpose balm, sustainable skincare, natural ingredients, skincare nerd, ingredient transparency