Cleansing balms are renowned for their ability to gently remove all makeup, especially waterproof makeup while imparting moisture to skin. Cleansing balms are also good for all skin types as the oils decongest pores, and hydrate skin.
Eve Lom’s signature namesake Cleanser ($80) is a staple in most beauty editors’ regimen. It is often regarded as one of the first high-end bi-phase cleansers and Intothegloss calls the process “an experience”. The Cleanser is actually a cleansing balm with chamomile, clove, and eucalyptus oil and cocoa butter. Like all cleansing balms, it is applied to dry skin after being heated through rubbing your hands together with the balm to turn it into a loose oil.
Its cult following sings the praises of how skin just glows and feels soft after the first use. However green beauty fans shy away due to it’s less than stellar formula which includes: a base of mineral oil, PEGs, Phenoxyethanol, Parabens, and Aluminum.
Thankfully there are now cleaner options for cleansing balms.
Omorovicza’s Thermal Cleansing Balm ($102) is quickly winning over beauty editors and clean fans alike. The dark hue is created by Hungarian Moor Mud and the base of the balm uses Apricot Seed Oil and Jojoba Oil instead of pore-clogging mineral oil, and is free from parabens and PEGs. Although significantly cleaner, this formula does contain iffy ingredients including Phenoxyethanol.
The balm breaks up quite easily and rapidly once heated in hands and quickly goes to work in much the same way as the Eve Lom Cleanser. However the cleaner ingredients leave skin feeling fresher and glowing for longer. Definitely upgrade!
For beauty on a more limited budget, try Ren’s No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm ($48) which is actually a tri-phase balm as it forms a milky emulsion once in contact with water (no need for muslin cloth like the first two). It uses similarly luxurious ingredients as the other two products on this list at a fraction of the price: the luxurious rose scent and chamomile sooth skin while Sweet Almond Oil and Shea butter pull out pore cloggers and moisturize skin.
As a bonus, you do not need a muslin cloth to remove extra product because the formula is designed to rinse off clearly. For some this is a convenience however, I must admit part of me is not at ease with the feeling that I am letting my skin absorb emulsifiers all day by leaving a bit sitting on my face with the oils.
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