In this series, I speak to people and organisations who form part of the wider “village” that supports recovery, wellbeing and informed choice.

Skincare might seem like a small piece of the puzzle — until your skin hurts, stings, cracks or feels unfamiliar after treatment. Then it becomes everything.

I have recommended MooGoo to many of my clients over the years, particularly those navigating cancer treatment, long-term skin conditions or fragile, reactive skin. I wanted to understand more about the story behind the brand.

How did MooGoo begin?

MooGoo exists thanks to what they describe as a happy accident.

Back in 2005, founder Craig noticed his mum using a cream made for cow udders to soothe her psoriasis. It worked because cow udders need to stay soft, healthy and crack-free — but the formula was thick and greasy and not designed for human skin.

So Craig reformulated it into something lighter and more user-friendly. “Udder cream” didn’t quite have the right ring to it — so MooGoo was born.

What began as a one-off solution for one person slowly grew through word of mouth. Friends and family asked for it. It worked. It spread.

That hands-on, problem-solving beginning still shapes everything they do today

Your approach to formulation feels different. Can you talk about that?

Every product starts with a specific skin or scalp problem.

They research ingredients with evidence behind them. They test on themselves first, then friends and family — often people with real skin conditions. If it works and people love it, it stays. If not, it’s reformulated or scrapped.

Craig is still closely involved in formulation, and their philosophy hasn’t changed:

“Make effective products using healthy ingredients we’re happy to use on ourselves and our loved ones.”

There’s something grounding about that.

Many of the people I work with are navigating cancer treatment, radiotherapy, surgery or long-term steroid use. How do you formulate for compromised skin?

This is where I think MooGoo becomes particularly relevant to this community.

They formulate with the assumption that skin may already be stressed, reactive or fragile.

They deliberately avoid:

• Harsh detergents

• Drying alcohols

• Strong synthetic fragrances

Instead, they use barrier-supportive ingredients such as:

• Milk proteins

• Ceramides

• Glycerin

• Gentle natural oils

The focus isn’t quick cosmetic results.

It’s comfort. Barrier repair. Long-term skin health

And I love that distinction.

What about medical guidance during treatment?

This is important.

MooGoo are clear: they are not a medical brand and do not position products as treatments.

However, over the years they have had ongoing conversations with oncology nurses, radiotherapy teams, dermatology nurses and hospital pharmacists. Much of their formulation philosophy has been shaped by real-world clinical feedback

Many hospitals and radiotherapy departments independently recommend MooGoo products because they consistently see positive outcomes — particularly for dryness, barrier breakdown and discomfort.

But they are equally clear: always follow your oncology team’s advice.

That balance matters.

You’ve created specific Oncology & Cancer Care Packs — why?

When someone is going through treatment, they often don’t want to research individual products. They want something simple, safe and considered.

The Cancer Care Packs are designed to support:

• Radiotherapy-affected skin

• Chemotherapy-related dryness

• Fragile, reactive or thinning skin

• Lip, scalp and body comfort

Can we talk about deodorant? It’s a common question.

MooGoo deodorants are aluminium-free and use gentle antibacterial ingredients rather than sweat blockers.

They don’t interfere with natural sweating and are designed to be kind to delicate underarm skin.

However — and this is important — they encourage people to follow oncology advice, especially during radiotherapy to the breast or underarm area

Again — informed choice, not blanket statements.

What about long-term barrier repair after steroid use or chronic inflammation?

Skin that has been through long-term steroid use or chronic inflammation often loses resilience.

MooGoo focus on:

• Skin-identical ingredients

• Avoiding microbiome disruption

• Supporting moisture retention rather than overstimulating the skin

They don’t try to “force” the skin to behave.

They aim to create the right conditions for it to repair itself

As someone who works hands-on with scar tissue, lymphatic support and fragile skin, this philosophy resonates deeply with me.

Ethics & Sustainability

MooGoo are cruelty-free and test products on themselves, friends and family rather than animals

I absolutely love this…… ????????

Sustainability, they say, is an ongoing journey rather than a marketing claim. The focus is on functional packaging and creating products people genuinely finish and rely on.

Confidence, Comfort & Quality of Life

One section of their reply stood out to me.

People often start using MooGoo because their skin hurts.

But what surprises them is how much regaining comfort improves overall wellbeing — better sleep, easier movement, feeling more like themselves again

Skin pain is a quality-of-life issue.

Why this matters

As always in this series, this isn’t about one brand being the answer.

It’s about understanding options.
Sharing lived experience.
Helping people make informed choices.

MooGoo themselves said:

“This isn’t about one brand being the answer.
It’s about supporting people to make informed choices during recovery and care.”

And that fits beautifully with Pieces of the Puzzle.

Because recovery, wellbeing and care are never one-size-fits-all.

It really does take a village 

You may find these areas useful for help

Early Breast Aware for breast checks and ultrasound

An interview with Dawn from Early Breast Aware

Manual Lymphatic Drainage?