Seed to Skin

oman applying natural face balm to her cheek outdoors, holding an open tin of AYA Balm as an alternative to traditional moisturiser

Can I Use Face Balm Instead of Moisturiser?

Balm or moisturiser? I break down the real difference between the two — anhydrous versus emulsion - and why there's no universal answer, just what your skin needs today.

Can I Use Face Balm Instead of Moisturiser?

Balm or moisturiser? I break down the real difference between the two — anhydrous versus emulsion - and why there's no universal answer, just what your skin needs today.

AYA Natural Skin founder testing raw fermented papaya extract during early balm formulation - South African natural skincare brand

Beauty School Dropout

A newborn's rash, a stern woman in Pietermaritzburg, and a decade of learning things the hard way - this is the real story behind AYA Balm. Long before it became...

Beauty School Dropout

A newborn's rash, a stern woman in Pietermaritzburg, and a decade of learning things the hard way - this is the real story behind AYA Balm. Long before it became...

Hand holding AYA Balm tin showing ingredient label in South African pharmacy — natural skincare with raw fermented papaya

Is Your Skincare Truly Natural? What the Label ...

AYA founder Keren Pocock spent years waving the chemical-free flag - until someone pointed out that water is a chemical. What followed was years of formulating, researching, and having her...

Is Your Skincare Truly Natural? What the Label ...

AYA founder Keren Pocock spent years waving the chemical-free flag - until someone pointed out that water is a chemical. What followed was years of formulating, researching, and having her...

AYA Balm held on a forest trail in winter - natural skincare Plettenberg Bay

Winter Skin SOS

Every winter, my skin stages a small cadenza. Cold air, dry heating, and a routine that hasn't caught up yet. Here is what I actually do - and why a...

Winter Skin SOS

Every winter, my skin stages a small cadenza. Cold air, dry heating, and a routine that hasn't caught up yet. Here is what I actually do - and why a...

AYA Balm natural skincare tins with fresh papaya on tropical leaves - all natural petroleum-free balm made with sun ripened papayas, South Africa

Decoding the Gibberish: How to Read a Natural S...

Labels exist to inform you - so why do they read like ancient alchemy? AYA Natural Skin founder Keren Pocock traces the word gibberish back to an 8th-century Arab alchemist,...

Decoding the Gibberish: How to Read a Natural S...

Labels exist to inform you - so why do they read like ancient alchemy? AYA Natural Skin founder Keren Pocock traces the word gibberish back to an 8th-century Arab alchemist,...

Lumo green synthetic colour - the kind of dye hiding in your natural skincare products

The 'Eye Candy' Trap: What Synthetic Dyes Do to...

Synthetic dyes in your 'natural' skincare? Learn how CI codes hide in plain sight, why tiny amounts add up, and how to audit your labels.

The 'Eye Candy' Trap: What Synthetic Dyes Do to...

Synthetic dyes in your 'natural' skincare? Learn how CI codes hide in plain sight, why tiny amounts add up, and how to audit your labels.