Balance Me – Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm

As you will know by now, we are devoting January to looking at a healthier approach to beauty. Kay wrote this post about the not-so-pleasant ingredients that can crop up in some products and, after reading it, I thought it would be a good time to review a cleanser that has been in my rotation for a while. It is a great cleanser and most importantly it is free from the kind of ingredients that many of us try and avoid.

TYPE OF PRODUCT

Cleansing balm for normal to dry/sensitive skin

INITIAL THOUGHTS

I received a selection of Balance Me samples at an event last year. This UK brand has won several awards and its products contain no parabens, sulphates, petroleum, mineral oils, silicones, artificial fragrances and colours, or other nasties. You can find a full ingredients list on the website which is another bonus.

APPLICATION

Massage a small amount of the balm into your face for 30 seconds. Add water and continue massaging for a further 30 seconds, before removing any residue with a warm cloth. A cloth is provided but I prefer my usual white flannels; they are better at removing residue and I can grab a clean one every day.

If you haven't used a cleansing balm before, it might feel a little oily initially – not what you want if you are trying to avoid breakouts – but it massages beautifully into the skin and trust me, it does a great job.

THOUGHTS

This is a very effective cleanser and feels nourishing for the skin. It contains fine oat powder to smooth the skin yet I find it gentle enough to use around the eye area. I typically use it as a second cleanse and it removes any remaining, stubborn makeup effectively. It leaves your skin feeling thoroughly cleansed and ready for any serums/moisturisers, although I prefer to use a toner on a cotton pad in between, to ensure that all traces of the cleanser are removed. I love that the brand use natural ingredients and the products are great value for money.

REPURCHASE?

By the time I was halfway through the 15ml sample (which lasted a surprisingly long time!) I had already ordered a full size tube. Delivery from the Balance Me website is quick, you build up discounts as you purchase, and I even received a free sample of their Radiance Face Oil. You can buy the sample sizes too, which I think is a reflection of the brand’s confidence in their products – the perfect way to try before you buy and ideal for travel.

I think that my more recent discover of Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser might just beat this one for me, but both are great cleansers and worth a look if, like us, you are paying attention to the ingredients in your products.

£20 for 125ml

www.balanceme.co.uk 

Keihl's Ultra Facial Cleanser

 

TYPE OF PRODUCT

PH balanced liquid cleanser for all skin types.

INITIAL THOUGHTS

This was another sample from the Selfridges box that just seemed like an ideal size to take on holiday, so I didn’t really have any expectations as such. I just threw it into my wash bag and didn’t give it another thought until I came to use it. It’s a liquid cleanser that you apply to a damp face. As it is quite thick, I like to massage it into my skin when it’s dry, then add a tiny bit of water to thin it out. It lathers up without feeling like a nasty foaming cleanser full of sulphates that will strip skin of all its moisture.

THE VERDICT

I’m very happy with the current cleansers I have on rotation and wasn’t really looking for another one, but this really surprised me! It is very gentle yet it thoroughly removed all of the residue that can left behind when you’ve just removed your makeup with a balm or oil. I use it most nights and used it in the morning too while I was on holiday, and I'm really pleased with the results.

Kiehl's is a particularly good brand if you are interested in knowing exactly what goes into the products you use. They always list ingredients and make it very clear that an ingredient will never be used based on aesthetics, only if it is beneficial to the skin.

REPURCHASE

Yes! As I said, I really wasn’t looking for a new cleanser but this one has stolen my heart. Good work Kiehl’s! And thank you Selfridges for introducing me to yet another fab product.

£8.50 for 75ml

www.kiehls.co.uk

Clarins Extra-Comfort Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream

TYPE OF PRODUCT

Cream cleanser for skin challenged by a polluted urban environment.

THOUGHTS 

This cleanser was a gift and as a fan of Clarins skincare I was excited to try it. I’ve been using cleansing oils/balms in the evening for removing makeup but have been looking for a nice morning cleanser and was particularly interested in this one as it is specially designed for skin that is ‘challenged by a polluted urban environment.’ Anyone who spends a lot of time running around London will know what I mean! 

APPEARANCE AND PACKAGING

This is a white cream cleanser that is thick enough to feel like it is cleansing thoroughly but smoothes over the face easily. The packaging is sturdy and has a flip cap making it ideal to keep anywhere in the bathroom, even in the shower.

APPLICATION

Warm the cleanser between your palms then apply to the face and neck. You are then encouraged to use the Clarins cleansing method which involves quickly pressing down and then removing your hands – this sounds a bit odd but the suction-like motion thickens the cleanser and helps remove impurities. I then use a flannel to remove the remaining product. Read more about the Clarins cleansing method here. As you can see from the images below a little bit goes a long way.

THE VERDICT

This is such a beautiful cleanser. It is very effective at cleaning the skin and smells great thanks to the mango and shea butter. To really take advantage of the anti-pollution effects I’ve also been using it for a second cleanse in the evening after removing my make up with a cleansing balm. It is very appropriately named 'extra-comfort' as it leaves my skin so clean and soft that it almost feels like you don't need to moisturise!

For those of you who don't like a cleanser that needs to be washed off, I have read on the Clarins website that you can just remove the excess cleanser with a tissue like the old version, then follow with toner.

REPURCHASE?

I'll definitely be buying this again.

£25 for 100ml

www.clarins.co.uk