Balm cleansers are by far my favourite type of cleanser. They remove every trace of make-up, sunscreen, pollution, dirt and oil from the skin. They also do not strip the skin of its natural oils. Search for oil or balm cleansers that do not contain mineral oils because this allows the product to completely emulsify into a milk, leaving no oily residue. This makes them suitable for all skin types including oily skin.
I love oil cleansers but I do prefer them in balm form because they are less messy to use than liquid oils and being thicker in texture, I find them perfect to give my face a nice massage at the end of the day. They are also safer to travel with as I always worry about liquid oil cleansers leaking in my luggage.
(1) Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm
I discovered this years ago during a wonderful facial in Mykonos. I purchased it at the time purely because of how divine it smelled but it remains a staple in my skincare regime.
It is a thick balm that emulsifies into a milk when it comes into contact with water.
I start with a dry face and dry hands and massage a small amount (10 cent coin size) into my face and neck and then add water and continue to massage as it turns into a milk. It erases make-up including eye make-up and it does not sting the eyes.
The balm contains 9 essential oils and mediterranean brown algae for hydration. It contains elderberry which contains essential fatty acids to strengthen the skin’s natural lipid barrier. I love that this product does not contain any mineral oils or parabens.
In my opinion it is a clear winner amongst oil cleansers due to it’s generous size, 105g makes it good value for money and it is luxurious to use and makes the skin look plump.
Hack: It can be left on like a mask for 10-15 minutes before adding water for extra hydration.
(2) Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm
This balm has the most incredible ingredients and skin is visibly improved when cleansing with this product. I absolutely love it and the way it makes my skin look and feel when I am using it.
I love Omorovicza as a brand. All of their products including this balm contain Hungarian moor mud from the mineral rich springs in Budapest where the family behind the brand owns their own mineral bath. Hungarian moor mud contains calcium and magnesium carbonates, humic acid and fulvic acid which work together to purify and hydrate the skin. It also contains sweet almond oil (rich in vitamins E) and orange blossom.
It is formulated without parabens, silicons, phthalates and sulphates.
I use it the same way as the Elemis balm cleanser, massaging into dry skin and then adding water to emulsify.
When I use this product my skin looks and feels phenomenal. The healing properties of the mineral rich waters in Budapest have been utilised for centuries and this product will not disappoint.
It has a slight grittiness to it which gives the skin a slight manual exfoliation but is still gentle enough to use on the eyes to remove eye make-up.
This product would be a clear winner and would always be my first choice to use as a cleanser but the price is a little bit eye watering for the size. It is totally worth it and I do switch between this and Elemis as my budget allows. This balm is 50ml and there is a 100ml available. There is also a 15ml available if you want to try it and decide whether it is worth the price.
(3) Tatcha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
This product is a liquid oil cleanser and the best of its kind. I do prefer balm cleansers as mentioned but this product has excellent ingredients, is enjoyable to use and I definitely noticed silky, smooth skin whenever I have used it.
It contains Japanese Camellia Oil which is rich in Vitamins A, B, D ad E and omegasEssential fatty acids such as Omega 3, 6, 7 and 9, help to nourish and hydrate the skin. Omega 7 is best for helping to renew an... 3, 6 and 9. It also contains green teaTea can help to soften and smooth skin as well as reduce the appearance of eye puffiness and protect against harsh environmental..., rice and algae for anti-ageing benefits.
It contains no mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, sulphates or phthalates.
It should be used the same way as any other oil cleanser and massaged into dry skin. It will emulsify and completely rinse off leaving the skin feeling really smooth.
It is incredible value for its generous size of 150ml.
