Sleep, drink water and cleanse your skin!
Love your skin and your skin will love you back
Your skin can benefit from occasionally changing cleansers and a cleansing balm could be the perfect switch.
Cleansing balms are becoming increasingly popular with more and more brands introducing their own into their skincare ranges. I’m a type of girl that likes new things and I love finding a product that fulfils its promise but frankly many fall short. So I thought it would be a great idea to test out three balms from different brands, reporting back to you lovely ladies.
I’ve chosen a wax-textured balm, an oat-based balm and lastly a cleansing cream-to-oil balm.
What is a Cleansing Balm?
Some traditional cleansers can often leave your skin with a dry feeling. A cleansing balm on the other hand is typically a creamy, rich cleanser that removes dirt and impurities but without stripping your skin of its natural oils. Wax-textured balms tend to start in a solid state, melting into an oil once massaged between your hands
With ingredients such as shea butter or beeswax they moisturise and nourish your skin and can even be used as an intensive mask. And because they are often made with natural ingredients that shouldn’t irritate sensitive skin these balms can be used around your eye area to remove makeup.
Why would I switch to using a cleansing balm?
If you have sensitive skin or wear heavy makeup this is a great product to remove all traces. Equally it might be time for a change.
I’ve been testing out the following three products for a good 4 weeks and I detail below my thoughts.
Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm £44 for 100ml pot
Their promise: Working to preserve the skin’s natural elasticity and tone. Elemis’ balm captivates the senses with a luxurious aroma and is designed to keep you looking and feeling young.
The product smells divine, the texture is incredibly creamy and seems to sink into your skin. I like the fact that I could rub the balm over my eyes to remove my make up without tears streaming down my cheeks and that it doubled up as an intensive mask.
After using the product for a few days I started to think it was no better than my usual cleanser however, a couple of months on that view has drastically changed. After watching a you tube video I realised I had been using the product incorrectly. Firstly, you should apply a small amount over your face then to transform the consistency of the balm add a little water. The balm then becomes more like a cleanser.
And with time it has made such a difference to my skin. It’s softer, smoother and looks very fresh. After applying, I use my Clarisonic cleansing brush with a little water for 60 seconds. I also use it quite frequently as a quick mask in the bath and my pot looks like it’s going to last for a few months more which then validates the price tag.
I will be replacing when I’ve finished my existing balm.
Charlotte Tilbury Multi-Miracle Glow £45 for 100ml
Their promise: The Multi-Miracle Glow is a cream-to-oil balm, enriched with vitamins and floral extracts for a fresh, dewy, baby-soft finish and will help delay signs of aging while vitamins A, C and E smooth wrinkles and brings the skin’s complexion back to life. That’s a big promise!
I’m a huge fan of her makeup range and admire her success but I’m not really in love with her skincare range as I prefer medical grade products. I really like this cream-to-oil balm which smells fantastic and is a good overall cleanser. I also used it as a mask and though it felt nice it didn’t provide a noticeable improvement to my skin.
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm £9.99 for 150ml
Their promise: To help reduce redness and to strengthen your skin’s natural protection barrier. The oat kernel oil fights environmental stress for dewy, even skin with continued use.
For a budget buy this product is a capable cleansing balm. It removed all of my makeup and didn’t leave my skin feeling dry. The tube will last a long time and with such a low price offers great value.
Top multi-tasking tip!
These cleansing balms can be massaged into your skin first thing in the morning and left on as a quick 10-minute mask (without anyone noticing) while you get the kids ready for school then washed off in the shower. Your skin will appreciate a little nourishment and will be ready for your serums and sunscreen. That’s a pro in my book!
The Verdict
Are any of these cleansing balms life-changing? Maybe, I think it’s down to personal choice. If I had to select just one of the three it would be the Elemis Cleansing balm. I felt my skin looked softer after use, more so than the other two but all three could be considered a reasonable alternate to a traditional cleanser.
