This 100-Year-Old Cult Beauty Hero Belongs On Every Top Shelf

Weleda Skin Food is celebrating a big birthday this year—here’s five things to know about this wonder cream.

The first time I tried Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream the thing that hooked me was the scent. I wasn’t exactly sure of the blend of aromas, but it smelled sweet, calm, healing and fresh. The texture of the cream was also unique and addictive. Though erring on the heavier side, it’s not greasy, nor does it ever feel like too much on the skin. Upon application, it magically melts in, soothes, smooths and hydrates. 

Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream ($32 for 75ml, well.ca) is a multitasker which can be used everywhere from face to feet, and is favourite of many elite beauty pros. Makeup artists Jo Baker, Val Garland and Pati Dubroff are superfans. So too are celebrities including Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, Victoria Beckham, Rihanna, Brooke Shields, Jenna Ortega, and Adele. Over the years, the cream has won more than 100 beauty awards, and to date has more than 48 million TikTok views. 

To celebrate Skin Food’s centenary, here are five fun facts to know about this beauty all-star.

Skin Food was originally developed as a basic therapeutic skin product for all ages

Created in 1926 by the Swiss-German pharmaceutical and cosmetic company Weleda, the goal was to formulate a cream that comes as close as possible to the properties of the skin to deliver a natural balance of holistic healing and hydration. 

Skin Food’s key ingredients are all-natural and uncomplicated

The list includes wild pansy, chamomile, calendula, rosemary, sunflower seed oil, almond seed oil, lanolin, and beeswax. There has been only one slight tweak to the cream’s recipe back in 2006 when sunflower oil was swapped in to replace peanut oil which was part of the OG formula.

Since day one Skin Food has been cruelty-free, and free from synthetic preservatives, fragrances, parabens, and phthalates. Some fun facts about Weleda and its commitment to being a wholly natural, organic, cruelty-free, vegan brand. The company has the largest medicinal plant gardens in Europe which are home to 1,000 different species of plants, 50 different types of birds and over 30 species of wild bees as well as eight medicinal herb gardens around the world. Everything grown is powered by green energy and biodynamic methods. 

The signature fragrance is a blend of just three simple aromatic notes 

They are sweet orange, lavender, and balsamic notes of benzoin which add a warm, woody finish. 

One tube of Skin Food Ultra Rich Cream is sold every eight seconds globally

And the list of uses for it is limitless. Some of our favourite ways to Skin Food include the obvious—soothing rough skin—but some fun ones we’ve picked up from watching the stars us Skin Food picked up from watching the stars include using it as a skin primer to deliver the ultimate glazed finish, a highlighter strategically dotted on over makeup to deliver high shine, a hair flyaway tamer and split end mender.

Skin Food has now been developed into a complete range of products

A new era began for this icon in 2019 with the introduction of the Skin Food range which began with Skin Food Light Nourishing Cream ($32 for 50ml, well.ca), Lip Butter ($13 for 8ml, well.ca) and Body Butter ($32 for 150ml, well.ca). There are now 11 products total in the lineup, with the newest addition being Skin Food Super Serum ($38 for 30ml, well.ca) launched earlier this year, a formula super boosted with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to strengthen the skin’s barrier function and deliver deep hydration.