According to the National Day Calendar site, Sunday was also National Bubble Bath Day, National Argyle Day, National English Toffee Day, and more! Before a new national day is decreed, it does go through a vetting process and of course there’s a fee. (To find out more about the business venture that is the National Day Calendar, read this 2015 item from the Daily Dot.)
A new day
Valeant Consumer Healthcare is a division of Quebec, Canada – headquartered Valeant Pharmaceuticals International. And it’s Valeant Consumer Healthcare, owner of the CeraVe Skincare brand, that "declared January 8, 2017 as National Winter Skin Relief Day,” according to a press release announcing the declaration.
“This designated day, officially listed on the National Day Calendar, is designed to educate consumers about the importance of skin protection during the coldest time of the year,” explains the company.
The company’s product portfolio comprises cleansers, moisturizers, sun care, baby care, and most relevant to this initiative, a small line of healing ointments.
Press opportunity
While National Winter Skin Relief Day didn’t make national news headlines, it was (according to a quick afternoon Google search on January 8) picked up by a smattering of blogs, regional pharmacy’s, and the like. And of course, CeraVe Skincare promoted the day on social media.
The company press release includes tips for winter skin that subtly suggest the brand’s healing ointment without naming it outright. Similarly, on the National Calendar Day page dedicated to this particular 'holiday' the commentary from Joshua Zeichner MD and director of cosmetic and clinical research at The Mount Sinai Hospital features this pull quote: “If you have dry, cracked skin, look for a cream or ointment with light petrolatum, hyaluronic acid and ceramides – the natural fats that make up the grout between the skin cell tiles.”
This is a good description of the CeraVe Healing Ointment, which is formulated with: Petrolatum (as the only active ingredient) and Mineral Oil, Paraffin, Ozokerite, Dimethicone, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ceramide 1, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6-II, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Panthenol, Water, L-Proline, and Xanthan Gum – according to the company’s product page.