balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm (and Radiance Face Oil – secret spot weapon)

balance Me (their spelling) are an old favourite – if you like ‘natural’ products that really are ‘natural’ – this brand is for you.

What is it?
The Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm is the balm cleanser in their range and is lush. Note: If you used this when it first launched (as I did) and hated it because of the huge pieces of oats in it (as I did) fear not – it was very quickly reformulated and now has the very softest of oatmeal grain – soft enough to use around the eyes. Give it another go.

What’s in it?
Well, you could look at the balance Me website as they have a full inci listing for every product clearly labelled.    *JAZZ HANDS, tips hat to balance Me team*

No ‘active ingredients’ nonsense – just the full list. For your ease though:

Prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, Colloidal oatmeal, Cera alba (unrefined beeswax), Mangifera indica (mango) seed butter, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter***, Theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter, Polyglyceryl-4 caprate, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic polyglycerides, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic polyglycerides, Rubus chamaemorus (cloudberry) seed extract, Cocos nucifera (virgin coconut) oil***, Aleurites moluccana (kukui) oil, Rosa canina (rosehip) fruit oil, Camellia oleifera (camellia) oil, Citrus reticulata (mandarin red)*, Litsea cubeba (litsea may chang)*, Citrus aurantium amara (petitgrain)*, Anthemis nobilis (Roman chamomile)*, Cananga odorata (ylang ylang)*, Coriandrum sativum (coriander)*, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) extract, Limonene**, Linalool**, Citral *natural pure essential oil **naturally occurring in essential oils ***certified organic ingredient

Who is it for?
Labelled as ‘normal to dry/sensitive’ – although the shea butter and beeswax content feels quite refined and shouldn’t therefore break out any oily/combo skins.

What’s good about it?

  • lovely texture – perfect for massage
  • doesn’t emulsify into a runny milk – holds its form
  • does not sting the eyes – at all (on me)
  • removes makeup but I would still use a pre-cleanse oil over eye area first
  • doesn’t leave oily residue
  • affordable!

What’s bad about it?
I’m ignoring the muslin cloth.

How much is it?
Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm is £20.00 for 125ml (I know!) – £20.00! available from balanceme.co.uk 

Highly recommended.

 

While you’re there:

If you are someone who suffers from spots/breakouts/acne and slaps on toothpaste (loads gun) or nappy cream (fires gun) – use the above instead. This little rollerball is on my bedside and in my MU bag. Any sign of a zit and it gets rolled to death. Continuous use of an oil like this one is much better for your skin and your spots – and helps prevent scarring – in essence if you use this it will either:

  • bring the spot to a head without scarring – OR
  • make it completely disperse before it comes to a head
  • Also helps heal scarring old and new (remember scars can only be helped without machinery intervention if they are still red/pink, showing blood circulation – this will not fix the scar on your knee that you did when you were 6).

Everyone should have one. £15.00 from balanceme.co.uk  – the 10ml size is the rollerball.