all natural skincare

Discover the Secret Behind Doc’s Natural Chamois Cream for Cyclists

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Have you ever wondered how we make Doc’s Natural Chamois Cream for cyclists?

Would you like to know the secret behind its winning formula?

Joshua BartonThe backstory about “Doc”

It all starts with me and my sensitive derriere in 2004. I grew up racing bikes as a USA Cycling (USCF back then) junior in Texas and enjoyed the sport all the way through college racing for various teams including the Fightin’ Texas Aggies. We were pretty good back then and even pulled of a nice finish in the Team Time Trial at Collegiate National Championships on less than ideal equipment that matched our redneck personas. Despite my delusions of grandeur, I wasn’t the next Greg LeMond so I headed off to medical school to pursue my other dream after college. I rarely rode a bike of any kind during 4 years of medical school and only started riding at the tail end of 7 years of surgical residency because my sleek 158 pound endurance athlete body had slowly swelled into a 200+lb embarrassment.

My return to cycling was not all that easy. The worst part was that my once bulletproof hind-end was sensitive beyond reason. Even though I grew up in the era of chamois pads made with REAL chamois leather, I had never used chamois cream prior to version 2.0 of my cycling experience. At a friend’s suggestion, I tried a popular brand of chamois cream for cyclists. It worked great…for about 5 minutes. Thinking there was SOME brand out there that actually worked, I tried every brand of chamois cream for cyclists in existence from this country and abroad. I experienced the same problem over and over: either they didn’t work at all (other than giving me a “loaded diaper” feeling) or they worked for about 5 minutes before my body either absorbed or sweated the stuff off.

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Born out of frustration

Frustrated with the lack of performance of chamois cream on the market, I began looking into what was in the ingredient list of most brands. I noticed two important things:

  1. Most chamois creams are simply relabeled cold cream (and WAY overpriced cold cream at that)
  2. EVERY chamois cream on the market back then was loaded with stuff I really didn’t want on my most sensitive areas (more on this later)

Being completely disillusioned with the chamois cream for cyclists available, still very much uncomfortable on the bike, and a little cheap, I decided I could make chamois cream myself in 2006. I went to various supply houses, pharmacies, and organic markets looking for stuff like shea butter, lanolin, tea tree oil, and zinc oxide. I talked to various compounding pharmacists and formulation chemists. I made a few interesting batches of chamois cream in my kitchen. Some were better then others and no two batches were the same. One thing was clear, however, I could make a chamois cream for cyclists that kicked the pants off of what was available for retail.

By around 2008, I began wondering if I could actually sell this stuff. It turns out that the FDA has pretty strong opinions on selling stuff that people put on or in their bodies (please don’t put chamois cream IN your body). Worse yet, manufacturing a skincare product in mass quantities requires a “formula”, significant capital, and a commitment to very large quantities. It took a couple of years but I navigated the FDA regulations and got an on-the-job education in cosmetic formulation. Cosmetic formulation requires the skills of a formulation chemist to assure that large mass-produced quantities of products are made properly. A simple recipe describing “a cup of this and a tablespoon of that” won’t work.

Chamois cream wish list

Aleo Vera
Top view of a wide open aloe vera plant.

Before we could manufacture the stuff we wanted to sell, no less than a half-dozen versions of our chamois cream were tested. Our formulation chemist took our initial wish list and made 3 initial prototypes. The biggest items on our wish list were:

  1. A HEAVY dose of Tee Tree Oil and Witch Hazel in order to naturally fight bacteria and yeast/fungus
  2. ABSOLUTELY no mineral oil (did you know that stuff is made from petroleum!?)
  3. Water could NOT be the first ingredient (in case you didn’t know, the ingredient listed first on an ingredient list is the most prevalent ingredient; most chamois creams list water first…what’s the point in that!?)
  4. It had to be as natural as possible while still being safe and stable on store shelves
  5. It has to last for hours (see #3)

Testing prototypes

We tested some really interesting chamois cream prototypes including a version we called “Doc’s Extra Chunky”. It was chock full of shea butter which tended to be clumpy. One test rider referred to the chunks as “ball bearings” for your chamois. It actually worked great but we determined that typical consumers would be put off by chunks in their chamois cream.

Mont VentouxArmed with what we thought was the final formula, 4 of us headed to the 2010 Tour de France for some cut throat chamois cream testing. Along with being super fan boys, we completed the Nuts of Ventoux, Col du Galibier (this should be a MUST DO on any cyclist’s list), and a local race up Alpe d’Huez (turns out that local French guys are fast but I somehow eeked out a top 10) along with about 6 other trips up the 21 switchbacks. After 10 days of solid riding and many tens of thousands of feet of climbing, there wasn’t a single sore bum or spot of skin break down in the bunch. We knew we had a winner.

Since we started selling Doc’s Natural Chamois Cream in late 2009, we reformulated the secret recipe once. This was in response to the feedback of our valued customers who informed us that our chamois cream for cyclists was a little heat intolerant. We believe we now have the PERFECT chamois cream.

How natural are Doc’s Skincare products?

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The often-used terms “all-natural” and “natural” are not regulated by the USADA or the FDA like the label “organic”.  In the cosmetic and food industries, however, these terms imply at least a 95% by volume botanical/natural formulation (btw-“organic” per the USDA means 95% organic ingredients too); this is the standard supported by the Natural Products Association.  Rest assured that all Doc’s Skincare products have well more than 95% all-natural products.

When creating a shelf stable and reasonably priced product, a responsible natural and organic focused manufacturer has to balance the safety of shelf stability (an unstable product can expose users to unsafe bacteria and fungus as well as a product with reduced function) and a “natural” profile.  What’s more, the FDA demands that we produce unspoiled and shelf stable products.

Unfortunately, creating a shelf-stable and safe product requires the use of synthetic chemicals like phenoxyethanol and EDTA (read this article to understand why we use such chemicals and how they are perfectly safe).  Also, not that there is an abundance of “mis-information” about these ingredients on the internet.  Most importantly, they are NOT linked to cancer in ANY serious study.

A few resources to look into from the US National Library of Medicine:

  1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12396676
  2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26206148

You’ll notice in all of our ingredients lists (check those out here) that there is an abundance of healthy botanical and all-natural ingredients.  In specific formulations and circumstances, we use synthetic chemicals as “preservatives” and ONLY when they are needed to protect our customers from bacterial and fungal overgrowth or to keep a product stable.  We’ve gone through great lengths to avoid dangerous preservatives like parabens and sodium azide and have picked only the ones that have been proven safe by extensive in vivo scientific studies.

Our products are some of the most natural products available on the market.  In particular, Doc’s Natural Chamois Cream is THE most natural product of its kind on the market (AND the BEST by-the-way).  Due to the manner in which chamois creams have to be formulated, if someone wanted a chamois cream without ANY preservatives or with only purely botanical preservatives, it would have to be either made at home in small batches every few days because of shelf stability and expense (about a $60 tub of chamois cream) or by a “one-off” niche small-batch manufacturer (now it’s an $80 tub).  We’ve investigated this route thoroughly and we simply can’t provide our customers with a shelf stable or reasonably priced product that performs anywhere near the level of our current cream.

Rollerblading: A Few Basics and A Little History

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Some Basic Rollerblading Tips

If you’ve never really given rollerblading (aka inline skating) a try, you’ll be pleased to know that it has very positive health benefits and is on par with bicycling and running as a great way to exercise.

While the idea of putting wheels on your feet may be a bit intimidating, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience. In fact a little practice in how to ride, stop, start and even fall and get up, can help you perfect your skating skills.

History of the Inline Skate

Known for his eccentric inventions such as self-operating machines (known as automata), John-Joseph Merlin invented the earliest form of what could be considered rollerblades, in 1760. These were basically boots, fastened with small metal wheels that he wore while demonstrating his numerous scientific inventions. While Merlin’s design wasn’t patented, other inventors would toy with the concept over the years until Louis Legrange created a type of inline skates in 1849 for an opera in which the characters were to appear skating on ice inside of a theatre. By all accounts the opera was a disaster, as the actors didn’t know how to stop or turn.

While other variations would follow over the decades, it wasn’t until 1953 when Ernest Kahlert patented an early inline skate that resembles today’s model. It wouldn’t be until the late 1980s that these skates were marketed as ‘Rollerblades’ and became incredibly popular. Rollerblades look a bit like ski boots with four polyurethane wheels mounted onto a frame in a single line (or inline). Rollerblades feature a hard rubber brake, usually on the heel of the boot, which allows skaters to stop or help negotiate turns.

Rollerblading and Health Benefits

Inline Skaters take it to the street. Photo Courtesy of papershower.com
Inline Skaters take it to the street. Photo Courtesy of papershower.com

Rollerblading is great for your heart as a cardio exercise. For example, if you were to skate for just 15 minutes you can burn close to 200 calories, whereas within an hour you can burn off up to 650.

Despite what you may think, inline skating is a low impact exercise that, according to some doctors, is more beneficial than bicycling and running. As you’re constantly moving your legs and arms, skating also helps to improve your hip, thigh, arm and back muscles.

If you tend to be on the klutzy side, rollerblading can help you get a hold of your overall coordination. Balance is the key (the same as riding a bicycle, ice skating, skateboarding, etc.), and it may a little time to get used to, but skating will generally improve your flexibility as well as your coordination. Once you manage your balance you’ll be able to blade with a seamless flow.

Different Types of Rollerblades

There are many types of inline skates, with varying wheel sizes that are available for different applications, such as roller hockey, aggressive skating, freestyle slalom and speed skating among others. As the wheels come in different sizes, it should be noted that the smaller the wheel, the greater the acceleration and ability to maneuver, while larger wheels gradually take more energy to get going.

Whatever type of skate you choose, be sure that they’re comfortable and fit properly; any extra space on the sides and in the toes and heels, where your feet might have a tendency to slip, can cause problems. At first, gaining some sort of balance may be problematic, but that’s part of the challenge, especially learning how to move your feet and legs. If you’ve done a fair amount of ice-skating, then this should come as second nature.

Getting Started

If you’ve managed to master the basic movements to get you going, then you should move on to the next phase: Falling down and getting up.

First things first: get kneepads, elbow pads, wrist guards and a helmet, because falling is part of the game. You’re better off falling forwards than backwards, because the pads can help with any potential shocks; falling backwards will cause problems for your back. If you feel that you’re going to fall backwards, try to grab onto your knees, which will help you lean forward. You may want to practice this a few times on a carpeted surface, to have an idea of what you’re doing when you actually take it on the road.

Practicing how to brake will also help if you find yourself in a tricky spot. The best way to brake is to move one of your feet forward (it doesn’t matter which one) and slightly bend your knee so that you apply pressure on the heel of your skate until you make a full stop.

In addition to these basic tips, you should start out slowly, probably in your driveway, if you have one. Having a proper understanding of how to balance, move and stop will eventually help you have a fun skating experience.

Sports and Meditation: A Great Combination

Sports and Meditation: A Great Combination

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Sports and Meditation: A Great Combination

Meditation: The Lotus Position. Photo Courtesy of Pickthebrain.comIf you never really considered meditation, you may at first think that it’s just sitting indian style and chanting. No so. While that’s one element of meditation, there’s much more to it. Meditation and sports are both intertwined as they utilize breathing, posture and concentration. There are many different types of meditation, and surprisingly enough, it can be extremely beneficial if you’re an athlete. Tiger Woods, Willie Stargell, Gary Player, Arthur Ashe and Joe Namath are just a few well known athletes who have been known to meditate.

Even if you have a passing interest in meditation, it can be of great help in the long run.Think of it as a way of preparing yourself for what may be an arduous task. While there are mystical and religious elements involved, much of meditation involves training the mind to think with greater clarity.

This can be helpful if, let’s say, you’re training for endurance sports. You have to be focused and meditation is one way to help improve your focus and concentration. Meditation can help direct awareness and allow you to filter out unnecessary intrusions that can serve as distractions. It can also help you overcome any unwanted apprehension as well as feelings of uncertainty and fear. If you have feelings of impending defeat, then you’re more apt to have a sub par performance; the more deeply involved and focused you are, the greater your ability to perform. More importantly, it may help with recover during tough training periods.

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Cleaning out your Head

Meditation is not as difficult as it sounds. Once you get the hang of it, you can clear your head of all the non-essential clutter, so that you can focus on your athletic performance. We have too much information swirling in our heads, which is why meditation works as a way to decrease it, while also helping you develop a greater focus on being calm, which can be an added plus for whatever sport you’re involved in.

Mantras are a way of helping you improve certain elements of your athletic performance. If you’re a golfer you can say something akin to “I will improve my swing” which once it’s set in your mind can have great benefits in the long run. Saying something like this repeatedly to yourself while meditating can help you focus on improving any athletic element that you might be having an issue with.

Meditation Techniques and Positions

Meditation takes very little effort; in many ways it’s the equivalent of taking a nap, yet in this case you’re more alert and focused.

The common form of meditation position is called the Zazen position. As an element of Zen Buddhism, Zazen is used to help relax both the body and the mind.

Posture is one of the most important elements of meditation. You should start off by finding a comfortable posture and have a cushion to sit on, which will help ground you, so do your best to find a posture that allows you to be comfortable for a lengthy period of time without any unnecessary strain. The best posture is one where your spine is completely straight, which will let your body weight transfer through your vertebrae all the way down to the cushion.

Some of the popular positions include:

The full lotus, where while sitting, you place your right foot on your left thigh, as high as you can, followed by left foot on your right thigh.

The half lotus is similar to the full, except here you place your left foot on your right thigh, while your right foot sits under the left thigh.

If sitting on a cushion is too strenuous for you, try using a chair. It’s important to sit upright and forward and not to press your back against the chair. Keep your spine comfortable and erect. You can use a pad or a pillow to help situate your back and keep a straight posture. Your feet should be flat on the floor, with the legs spread at a comfy distance to help stabilize you.

Meditation has been around since the beginning of time and millions of people use it with positive results. Not only can it help you focus in terms of athletic performance it can also help you relax and focus and achieve emotional well-being.

Check out this infographic for a quick and easy mediation method:

Five Minute Mini Meditation

How to Stretch Yourself Back into Shape

How to Stretch Yourself Back into Shape

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How to Stretch Yourself Back into Shape

Winter’s almost over, so it’s time to get active once again. With spring on the horizon, now is the time to put down the remote control, give the video games a rest and get yourself back in shape. Stretching is the best way to get your muscles acclimated to any kind of athletic activity.

Stretching: Some Introductory Tips

Stretching before a run. Photo Courtesy of sportsmd.comIf you’ve been inactive for the past few months, basic stretching can help you limber up and allow your muscles to acclimate to any activity as well as any unforeseen injuries. Stretching helps you improve your overall circulation as blood gets moving through your whole body helping your muscles repair themselves quicker should you happen to pull them.

Stretching also improves your flexibility as well as muscle elasticity. Greater flexibility will lead to overall better posture, and stretching is also a plus if you suffer from chronic back pain. Stretching muscles such as your quadriceps and hamstrings will help alleviate any back pain.

Most importantly for endurance athletes is all about improving RECOVERY.

Stretching isn’t just holding your arms out for ten seconds, there’s a lot more to it and there are different types of stretches to help different parts of your body. You should always remember to stretch before and after any type of exercise. Here’s a few of the most common stretching methods:

Dynamic stretching is mainly basic movements, such as hip rotations, which help get the body tuned up before any kind of workout; these are slow and gentle movements that help prepare you for any kind of high endurance exercise.

Static stretching is a bit more difficult as you fins a certain position and hold it for up to 60 seconds; you can definitely feel some pulling, but it’s a great way to help loosen muscles after any kind of workout.

If you’ve already warmed up a bit, you may want to venture into Isometric stretching, a form of static stretching that can help develop your muscle tendons and joints. These are the kind of stretches where you can use a wall to help you lengthen your muscles rather effectively.

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Why Stretching is so Important

First things first: Take the time to warm up before you stretch. Walk around a bit and get yourself moving before even beginning to stretch…You’ll stretch more effectively if you’re muscles are warmed up, which helps the blood flow and helps make them more elastic.

If you’re getting ready to exercise, you should hold your stretches for no more than 30 seconds as it will prepare your muscles. Once you’re done with any activities, you should hold your stretches no more than 60 seconds, to help improve flexibility.

Stretching both sides of your body will also equalize your flexibility; you don’t want to focus on just one area, so even it out and give special attention to the muscles that you’re stretching. For example, if you’re planning on going on a run, then give extra attention to your legs.

Also, the worst thing you can do is bounce while you stretch. Many people do this without realizing that it causes more harm to your muscles than good. Bouncing can actually tear parts of your muscles, which can make your muscles extremely tight and increasing the likelihood of injuries. You’ll actually find it hard to make the muscles flexible by bouncing, so it’s best to avoid it altogether.

It’s very easy to pull muscles; in fact, we tend to take our muscles for granted, thinking that they’ll work out any kinks they have. If your muscles should hurt after a workout, try Doc’s All Natural Muscle Balm™, which creates a soothing and long lasting warming sensation that will help speed recovery and ease muscle pain.

You have to get into the routine of stretching in order to make it truly effective. It’s similar to trying yoga or diving a car for the first time; it’s not easy at first, but after a while you’ll get the hang of it.

I found this gem of a video on YouTube.  Karena shows a great yoga-based stretching routine that will take less than 10 minutes.  She’s targeting triathletes but the stretches work great for triathletes, runners and cyclists alike.

Why is All-Natural Chamois Cream important?

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Photo by Clarita

What’s the hubbub about all natural chamois cream or any all-natural skincare product for that matter? In other words, our skin seems tough enough so why not use any ol’ skincare product that gets the job done?

Our skin is the largest organ of the body and is constantly bombarded by pollutants in our environment as well as by the myriad of substances we intentionally place on it in the form of personal care products. Our skin is the primary defense against the outside world including infectious agents and pollutants, however, it is not completely impermeable to everything. In fact, almost 60% of personal care products can be absorbed through the skin and into the blood stream. Shockingly, a study by Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York found an average of 91 industrial chemicals in the blood and urine of volunteers. Some of these chemicals were traced back to personal care products.

Knowing that our skin is not completely selective about what it absorbs, it only makes sense to avoid questionable ingredients in skincare products. Common ingredients in chamois creams like silicone and mineral oil are particularly worrisome. Mineral oil is a petrochemical that is produced as a by-product during the distillation process used to transform crude oil into gasoline. Although NOT conclusively proven to occur with topical application, mineral oil is linked to cancer, allergies and immunotoxicity according to the Cosmetics Safety Database. At the very least, both mineral oil and silicone block the pores of the skin and inhibit the skin’s ability to clear bacteria and moisturize itself. Blocking the skin’s natural functions while in the saddle is a recipe for fungal and yeast infections as well as saddle sores.

It pays to know what you are applying to your skin. As some experts assert, we should be as mindful about what goes on our body as what goes in it. Check out our next series of blog articles where we’ll be highlighting some the most common ingredients used in Doc’s Skincare products.