I found these two little gems in an open market in Lima, Peru. The Instituto de Ecologia y Plantas Medicinales (Institute of Ecology and Medicinal Plants) made these two pomades which I use as lip balm. The Institute was established in 1991 in Cuzco, Peru, and it's commercially known as IEPLAM. It works with locals to cultivate, transform and commercialize medicinal plants.
This Ch'iri-Ch'iri pomade has an earthy smell to it. There isn't a ingredient list but it seems like the base is a heavy oil because it sits on your skin. It's more of a protectant than moisturizer. Unlike the skin on your body, lips don't have sebaceous glands, which keep skin moisturized. So we often need the help of products like this one. In the Andes, where this is produced, winters are extremely dry and cold so this is a great companion to prevent painful cracking. For the city streets of New York, it's a bit much. I'll probably end up using this for my heels but I love what IEPLAM is doing for it's community and the environment.
The special ingredient in this pomade is Ch'iri-Ch'iri, which is commonly known as Grindelia boliviana. Traditionally this plant was used as
a holistic medicine by the local communities in the Peruvian Andes. More recently they've been
harvested it aggressively for mainstream commercial uses such as aromatics. Unfortunately the harvesting has been
rapid and detrimental to the local environment which is why IEPLAM is working with locals to restore crops and land.
This Ch'iri-Ch'iri pomade has an earthy smell to it. There isn't a ingredient list but it seems like the base is a heavy oil because it sits on your skin. It's more of a protectant than moisturizer. Unlike the skin on your body, lips don't have sebaceous glands, which keep skin moisturized. So we often need the help of products like this one. In the Andes, where this is produced, winters are extremely dry and cold so this is a great companion to prevent painful cracking. For the city streets of New York, it's a bit much. I'll probably end up using this for my heels but I love what IEPLAM is doing for it's community and the environment.