This Miracle Balm Is the Most-Used Product in My Medicine Cabinet
It's the one product I'd need on a desert island — or under quarantine.
“Mom, where’s the Papaw?” That’s a constant refrain in my house, where our big red tub of Lucas’ Papaw Ointment ($29.80, Amazon) is used as everything from a lip gloss to an antiseptic treatment to a mascara substitute.
Imported from Australia, Lucas’ Papaw Ointment is made from the papaw fruit (it’s similar to papaya) and is beloved by models, make-up artists, and celebs from Down Under, including Miranda Kerr and Cate Blanchett. (It was my Australian friend who introduced me to it years ago.)
Billed as an antiseptic ointment that “relieves and cleanses,” it can be used to soothe everything from diaper rash and bug bites to eczema and dermatitis.
With natural antibiotic and antimicrobial properties, it’s safe to use on burns and cuts. In our house, we use it as an alternative to Neosporin or Bacitracin and always smear a little under a bandage. It’s also cured a case of badly chapped lips — overnight! — and softened my cracked heels.
The thing that makes this miraculous balm even better, though, is that it doubles as a beauty product.
Don’t feel like putting on mascara and doing your brows, but want a little definition and control over unruly hairs? Smooth a dab over your eyebrows and rub a little into your lash line, and your eyes will pop. It’s subtle, but enough to make you feel presentable. A touch of papaw on your lips makes them soft and shiny. I’ve even been known to use it to smooth the dry ends of my curls or tame frizzy hair.
Lucas’ Papaw comes in a few different packages, including a tube specially designed for lips. But the big 200-gram tub is the go-to at our house; we keep one in each bathroom, and have a spare one to pack when traveling. It’s that much in demand!
Don’t just take my word for it though — read the rave reviews of other papaw devotees:
“Since beginning menopause, my skin has been awful,” wrote Peggy. “I’ve tried many ‘natural’ and organic products only to have [them] fail after a few days. I used this as a night cream and after one week, my skin is looking better than it has in years. My adult acne is cleared, and my skin is so soft.”
Another fan wrote, “This stuff is everything they say and more! I have terrible eczema along with light acne and some cysts. Within two weeks the difference is so noticeable that I was asked what I’d been using that was different. So many uses for this balm.”
Unscented, hypoallergenic, non-greasy, and all-natural, this ointment is truly the one product I’d choose to take with me to a desert island — or under quarantine!
Where to buy: From $29.80 (Originally $49.99), Amazon
