Cleansing balms are rich cleansers that literally dissolve any makeup and pollution traces while also protecting the skin’s moisture levels. Contrary to the myth, there is such a thing as a perfect cleansing balm for dry skin, oily skin, normal skin, and even sensitive skin.
Because cleansing is the most important step to a beautiful and healthy skin (and, let’s admit it, the buzzword in the beauty industry in the past five years), it’s only natural that this category has literally exploded in the beauty aisles. Today, I’m concentrating on the cleansing balm category, as it is a wonderful option for those of us who travel a lot and don’t want to be bothered by the liquid restrictions. Plus, cleansing balms are the secret for instantly dewy skin!
Today, I’m doing a candid review of the 100% Pure Blood Orange Cleansing Balm and the Neal’s Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm, of which I received a sample for editorial consideration. Clean, non-toxic, and made using natural ingredients, these two formulas have stolen my little beauty heart. Care to know my opinion and my foolproof method to use a cleansing balm? Keep reading!
Neal’s Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm: The Ally for Dry Skin
Can you believe that you can find a cleanser, refiner and moisturizer inside a single pot that smells like an English garden in a jar? Yes, that’s Neal’s Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm.
With a radiance-boosting formula based on organic wild rosehip seed oil, this balm is the Inspector Gadget for all your dry skin woes. Chock-full with natural vitamins, fatty acids and antioxidants, this balm respects even the driest and most sensitive of epidermises and naturally restores its balance. Plus, it boasts one of the cleanest ingredient lists in the cleansing department and has the Organic Soil Association seal, one of the most stringent in Europe.
Do you have any rough spots on your face because the weather is crazy? Use Neal’s Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm. Do you have an important meeting and your skin dull? Use Neal’s Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm. Are you the traveler type and don’t want to haul a whole skincare collection during your trip? Use Neal’s Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm. Do you want to start using a cleansing balm, but with your dry skin there are many options that are unsuitable? Yeah, you guessed right. Use Neal’s Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm!
{My Verdict} This is simply an excellent product. Although it has many uses, it is outstanding as a cleansing balm for dry and sensitive skin. Spring is a delicate time for my skin as I’m also allergic to pollen. This means that when pollen binds to pollution particles not only do I sneeze, but I also end up with red itchy patches if I don’t cleanse well my skin when I arrive home. That is why that feeling of restfulness is so important for me, as discomfort and flakiness go hand in hand with dry skin.
After having used it for two weeks, my skin is radiant, glowy, and feels rested. Plus, it has gotten rid of some flakiness patches on my forehead, which makes it my cleanser of choice before applying makeup. Also, its intoxicating rose scent reminds me of my very happy memories associated with English gardens. It is a luxuriously decadent experience to wind down at the end of a very long day!
Neal’s Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm retails for $70 and includes an organic muslin cloth.
INCI ingredient list: Rosa rubiginosa (Wild rose) seed oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil*, Cera alba (Beeswax)*, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea butter)*, Cannabis sativa (Hemp) seed oil*, Borago officinalis (Starflower) seed oil*, Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) flower oil*, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) leaf oil*, Boswellia carterii (Frankincense) oil, Cymbopogon martini (Palmarosa) herb oil*, Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli) leaf oil*, Ascorbyl palmitate, Tocopherol, Citral, Citronellol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool. (*means it’s an organic ingredient. 99% of the ingredients of the formula are organic.)
100% Pure Blood Orange Cleansing Balm
One of the latest launches of the brand, the Blood Orange Cleansing Balm by 100% Pure is the new best friend of many green influencers for a good reason. Do you remember the buzz around Eve Lom’s cleansing balm? Well, this is a version of that genius invention with a twist: The formula contains only natural ingredients.
The idea behind this delicious cleansing balm is to gently dissolve makeup to purify and deeply nourish your skin. As these ingredients do not overstrip your epidermis of its natural oils, the Blood Orange Cleansing Balm removes anything that doesn’t belong in your skin while it restores moisture, for a soft and dewy skin.
This is a perfect product for those of you are looking for an extremely effective makeup remover and cleanser in one. It’s the terror of every skin impurity!
{My Verdict}: Thumbs up for this 100% Pure launch! I have been using this energizing cleansing balm for over two weeks and I can only say good things about it. First, because it has the right combination of organic oils to remove impurities (coconut is a well-known antibacterial.) Second, because the combination of organic avocado oil and organic olive oil dissolve every single drop of makeup and even mineral sunscreen. Third, because it’s gentle enough for dry skin but detoxifying enough for normal skin. It leaves your skin dewy, hydrated, and plump. Plus, this cleansing balm is so gentle that you can use it around the eye area. What else can a girl ask for?
The 100% Pure Blood Orange Cleansing Balm retails for $38.
Ingredient list: Organic Avocado oil, organic coconut oil, organic olive leaf oil, organic olive oil, organic beeswax, blood orange essential oil, polyglyceryl-3 palmitate (a synthetic ingredient derived from coconuts that scores a 1 on the EWG.)
How to Use a Cleansing Balm
If you have never used a cleansing balm, you want to read this. There is a foolproof way to wash your face with a cleansing balm and get excellent results:
1. Scoop out a pinch of cleansing balm
2. Rub the formula between your fingers to warm it up and emulsify its components
3. On a DRY face, massage the cleansing balm in circular motions directly onto skin.
4. Using a damp, warm face towel or muslin cloth, cover your face to open the pores and start wiping clean. Make sure to rinse the face towel in between uses.
5. Finish your beauty routine with your serum and moisturizer.
Disclosure level 1: The author received NO compensation to write this post. The author received a sample of some of the products featured for editorial consideration. Receiving a sample didn’t influence the decision to feature a brand nor the opinions expressed by the author. All links provided in the article are for information only and are not part of any affiliate marketing program.
Are these good for combination skin? I'm scared they will be too oily for me 🙁
Of course! Cleansing balms are good for combination skin as they don't clog pores nor cause breakouts. Plus, as they are extremely gentle, they can actually help if your skin is sensitive. I recommend you check the 100% Pure balm as it's more suitable for your skin type xoxoxo