When I started creating the Glydelle Anti Chafe Stick, I knew I wanted it to do one obvious thing really well: help prevent painful chafing.
But I didn't want to create something that was purely about making your thighs feel slippery.
I wanted it to look after the skin underneath, too.
There are plenty of ways to formulate an anti-chafe stick. I could have built Glydelle around silicones and synthetic waxes to create that super silky, dry-feeling slip.
There's nothing inherently wrong with those ingredients. They simply weren't what I wanted Glydelle to be about.
Because when you really think about what chafing is, it's repeated friction against your skin. And if you're applying something to that area regularly to protect it, I wanted the ingredients in that product to actually care for your skin at the same time.
I wanted more than just slip
Rather than focusing solely on creating the driest or silkiest finish possible, I chose to create a rich, protective balm.
Glydelle combines petrolatum, coconut oil, jojoba oil and beeswax alongside glycerin, allantoin and vitamin E.
Each ingredient was chosen with a purpose.
Petrolatum forms an occlusive layer over the skin. It helps reduce moisture loss and supports the skin barrier while also providing that important protective layer between areas of skin that rub together.
Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin.
Jojoba oil acts as an emollient, helping soften and condition the skin.
Coconut oil also provides emollient properties, contributing to that moisturising, conditioning balm feel.
Allantoin was particularly important to me because it's known for its soothing and skin-conditioning properties, which is exactly what I wanted in a product designed for skin that can be prone to irritation from rubbing.
Vitamin E provides additional skin-conditioning benefits.
And beeswax, a natural wax, helps give Glydelle its protective balm structure.
So when you swipe Glydelle between your thighs, you're not just putting a layer of slip between two surfaces. You're applying a formula designed to protect against friction while moisturising and conditioning the skin underneath.
Why does that matter for chafe-prone skin?
Chafing can become a frustrating cycle.
Your thighs rub. Your skin becomes irritated. Then the same area experiences friction again the next day, and again the day after that.
That's why I wanted Glydelle to approach chafe from both sides.
First, create a physical barrier that reduces friction between the skin.
Second, keep the skin underneath moisturised, conditioned and protected.
Consistent protection can help prevent that repeated cycle of friction and irritation, giving chafe-prone skin a chance to stay comfortable rather than constantly being rubbed raw.
So, why didn't we choose silicones and synthetic waxes?
Because the goal wasn't simply to create the silkiest possible glide.
I wanted Glydelle to feel like skincare for areas of your body that don't always get treated like skincare deserves to be there.
I wanted oils that soften and condition.
I wanted glycerin for hydration.
I wanted allantoin for its soothing and skin-conditioning properties.
I wanted petrolatum for its incredible ability to protect the skin barrier and reduce moisture loss.
And I wanted all of that while still creating the protective barrier needed to help prevent friction in the first place.
That's also why Glydelle has its signature balm feel.
It's not trying to disappear into an ultra-dry, silky finish immediately. It's designed to leave a protective, conditioning layer on the skin because that's the product I wanted to create.
Anti-chafe, but make it skin-loving
For me, an anti-chafe product shouldn't just be about slip.
If I'm applying something between my thighs before a walk, underneath a dress, before exercising or whenever I know friction is going to be an issue, I want those ingredients to do more than simply make the surface feel silky.
I want them to care for the skin I'm trying to protect.
That's the philosophy behind Glydelle.
Reduce the friction. Protect the skin barrier. Keep chafe-prone skin soft, moisturised and conditioned.
Because your anti-chafe product is going on your skin, so why shouldn't it care for it too? 🤍
Kristy x