It turns out oil is actually really good for your skin. I know what you’re thinking, “But oil causes acne!” Actually, no it doesn’t. Oil is nourishing, natural, and creates an amazing barrier and is unbelievably moisturizing. Balm cleansers are huge in Europe right now, from department store brands to in-house pharmacy names coming out with their own versions. North America is slowly catching up, just in time for winter!
Balm cleansers are a cousin to cleansing oils. They’re buttery, rich, thick, and melt on contact with skin. Made with vegetable oils, Shea butter, and other organic ingredients they are massaged deeply into dry skin and then removed with a muslin cloth and warm water. Balm cleansers remove makeup, dirt, impurities without stripping the skin. To the contrary, skin is left moisturized, smooth, nourished, and ready for serums and creams.
Those weary of not getting a “good enough” clean from balm cleansers need a quick lesson in chemistry. Oil binds better to oil than anything else, thus, the best thing to remove oil from your skin is – you guessed it! Oil! Balm cleansers are great for acne-prone skin since they don’t strip it, and by letting the skin retain a base amount of oil, the skin does not over-produce sebum, which is the actual cause of breakouts.
Balms are also great for sensitive or sensitized skin as they are natural and the oils they are made with are calming. Dry skin obviously benefits from the product as it’s primarily moisturizing and barrier-building.
So, you’re ready to give a balm cleanser a try but don’t know where to start? Here are a few worth getting your hands on!
REN No. 1 Purity Cleansing Balm
The reviews for this product are overwhelmingly positive. It’s great for all skin types, and smells amazing thanks to Chamomile and Rose oil. Lecithin helps skin retain moisture as well as maintain elasticity.
Omorowicza Thermal Cleansing Balm
It’s black which is a little surprising. The colour comes from it’s primary ingredient – Hungarian Moor Mud which is cleansing and calming. Sweet almond oil moisturizes the skin leaving it supple, and the fresh citrusy scent of orange blossoms is a great pick-me-up in the mornings!
Eve Lom Cleanser
Vogue described it as “probably the best cleanser in the world” which is a pretty convincing claim. The Eve Lom cleanser is especially great for acne-prone skin as it’s active ingredients are Clove oil, which is antiseptic, and Ecalyptus oil, which promotes lymphatic drainage and reduces puffiness. Vogue was really onto something with this one!
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