Beauty Tips For Body Care
Cleansing balmsOk, I’ve been (still am) on a mission to try and review all of the best/most popular cleansing balms in an effort to find the very very best one. I’ve tried nearly all of the most popular ones now. I searched everywhere for a comprehensive review of all of these and couldn’t find much so I’m hoping this will be a helpful resource to others who might be looking too. I welcome any input!!Backstory: I had been using The Body Shop’s Camomile balm since way before cleansing balms went mainstream, for probably a decade at least. I never knew there were other options until I was given a sample of Farmacy Green Clean and that’s what started me down this path - I wanted to see what the best option truly is! I liked my Camomile but could there be a better balm out there waiting for me??!As always, YMMV but below are my results! All prices are in Canadian dollars and I have not researched pricing or availability in other countries.As for what I actually use it for - I don’t wear a full face of makeup every single day but I do always wear a tinted sunscreen and mascara at a minimum, usually with a light powder foundation, blush and brow gel as well. I’ve tried every balm below on little to no makeup up to a full face of special occasion makeup.A note about ingredients - I’ve copied ingredient lists below from the brands websites. It was important to me to evaluate which ones have polyethylene (microbeads) as well as essential oils.I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on those below or any other options I haven’t tried yet!The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing ButterSize: 90mL (3oz).Price: $17 CAD @ The Body Shop reg price (but it’s often on sale).Price per oz: $5.67/oz.Packaging: This balm comes in a wide and flat metal tin that is perfect for storing bobby pins or things in after (no plastic packaging, yay!). I have had a few times over the years where the threads get misaligned and stuck if it was tightened wrong and have needed to use a knife or screwdriver to pry it open again.Scoop/Spatula included: No.Texture & Emulsion: When scooping the balm out, it stays a little solid as you rub it into your skin. I wouldn’t say it emulsifies 100% to an oil but it feels great on the face and it’s super spreadable once warmed up. Doesn’t feel greasy/oily, more creamy.Scent: Very neutral scent, I don’t believe there are any added scents, essential oils or fragrances.On the Eyes: It doesn’t sting the eyes at all, but sometimes there’s a light film, if so I just blink a few times and it goes away.Amount Required: A very small amount is required for my whole face (probably about 1/2 tsp max) and one tin easily lasts me a few months.Ingredients: No plastic or microbeads to be found here! I also love that the ingredient list is short and sweet.Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Synthetic Wax, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Parfum, Aqua, Linalool, Limonene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Citric Acid.VERDICT: I’ve loved this forever and to be honest, now that I’ve tried some others I’m not totally sure if the grass is actually greener on the other side. Still a top contender for me and the price is amazing! I do wonder though if my skin feels a just a tiny bit less moisturized after using this (compared to some of the others below)...Farmacy Green CleanSize: 90mL (3oz).Price: $45 CAD @ Sephora Canada.Price per oz: $15/oz.Packaging: This balm comes in a plastic tub with a screw top.Scoop/Spatula included: Yes, but the plastic tray it is stored in is very flimsy (sits in top of the tub).Texture & Emulsion: When scooping the balm out, it melts easily and emulsifies quickly to rub around your face. Not greasy/oily.Scent: Light citrusy scent (almost like a lime sherbert or something) that smells so good I just want it all over my face all the time.On the Eyes: I do find it causes quite a bit of a film if I use it on the eyes (something I’d never really experienced before with the Camomile balm), no stinging unless it gets directly in the eyes. Makeup dissolves easily with minimal rubbing or tugging.Amount Required: A small amount is required.Ingredients: While they say it’s not “microbeads” and that it melts in water, this product does contain polyethylene aka plastic. Take that for what you will. This product does have quite a bit of essential oils and extracts.Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Peg-10 Isostearate, Polyethylene, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Amino Esters-1, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Amber Powder, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Water/ Aqua/ Eau, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Citric Acid.VERDICT: I like it, I love it, I want some more of it. It smells amazing and feels luxurious on the face. Even though a little goes a long way, I do have a hard time justifying spending that much money on a first cleanser (and I don’t love that it contains polyethylene and a lot of essential oils).Physicians Formula The Perfect Matcha 3-in-1 Melting Cleansing BalmSize: 41mL (1.4oz).Price: $15 CAD @ Shoppers Drug Mart (also find at Walmart, Superstore etc).Price per oz: $10.71/oz.Packaging: This balm comes in a plastic tub with a screw top and an internal insert underneath. The insert holds the very tiny spatula.Scoop/Spatula included: Yes but it’s tiny, about the size of a safety pin.Texture & Emulsion: It melts but it’s not overly emollient and isn’t as spreadable as others I’ve tried.Scent: Sort of a light essential oily/green tea/citrus scent. Some say it smells like Green Clean but I completely disagree and it’s nowhere near as nice of a smell.On the Eyes: A bit of eye stinging and a definite film was to be had.Amount Required: Larger amount required to effectively remove makeup/sunscreen of any I’ve tried to date.Ingredients: Looks like we have those ever present microbeads again (polyethylene) as well as fragrance, food colouring and citrus essential oils. Sad face.CETYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, SORBETH-30 TETRAOLEATE, PEG-5 GLYCERYL TRIISOSTEARATE, PEG-10 ISOSTEARATE, POLYETHYLENE, FRAGRANCE/PARFUM, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF POWDER, PHYLLOSTACHYS EDULIS SHOOT WATER, NELUMBO NUCIFERA FLOWER EXTRACT*, CITRUS NOBILIS (MANDARIN ORANGE) PEEL OIL, WATER/EAU, PHENOXYETHANOL, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, POLYGLYCERYL-10 OLEATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, LACTIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, POTASSIUM SORBATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, HEXYLENE GLYCOL, MALTODEXTRIN, YELLOW 5 (CI 19140), BLUE 1 (CI 42090). *MATCHA, *BAMBOO, ***LOTUSVERDICT: It’s a no from me, dawg. I couldn’t wait to finish this (relatively small) tub so I could try the next product. Having heard so many claims that it’s a perfect dupe for Green Clean, I was VERY disappointed. IMO they are nothing alike other than the colour (both balms are a light green colour). Smell, texture, effectiveness, price, ingredients - nothing wowed me.Heimish All Clean BalmSize: 120mL (4oz).Price: $23.95 CAD @ Amazon.ca.Price per oz: $5.99/oz.Packaging: This balm comes in a plastic tub with a flip top. Under the lid is a second lid which holds the included spatula. I like that the spatula is separated from the product but the extra lid makes it extra bulky in my cabinet.Scoop/Spatula included: Yes.Texture & Emulsion: This balm I’d say emulsified almost immediately to a complete oil. It has a light oil feel (similar to say a sunflower oil, not as thick as an olive oil for example). It melts right away once it touches your face and feels like an oil face massage as you rub it in. It feels quite luxurious!Scent: Light floral scent (smells like essential oils). I like it and it’s not too overpowering IMO but I have heard some people find it too strong of a scent.On the Eyes: No stinging and the eye film is minimal.Amount Required: I’d say a medium amount. Definitely more than the Camomile and Green Clean but it doesn’t seem excessive.Ingredients: There is polyethylene (plastic microbeads) in this as well as a number of essential oils which those with sensitive skin may wish to avoid.Ethylhexyl palmitate, cetyl ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate, polyethylene, PEG-8 isostearate, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, cocos nucifera (coconut) fruit extract, citrus aurantifolia (lime) fruit extract, freesia refracta extract, iris versicolor extract, jasminum officinale (jasmine) extract, lilium tigrinum extract, leontopodium alpinum extract, nelumbium speciosum flower extract, narcissus pseudo-narcissus (daffodil) flower extract, rose extract, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, pelargonium graveolens flower oil, amyris balsamifera bark oil, citrus paradisi (grapefruit) peel oil, eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, juniperus mexicana oil, boswellia carterii oil, citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit oil, tocopheryl acetate, 1,2-hexanediol.VERDICT: There’s a lot to love about this - the scent and the texture are awesome, the price is definitely right, and I enjoy using it. My skin does always feel great after and it doesn’t dry me out. Cons for me are the bulky packaging, the amount of essential oils and the microbeads. I do like it but I’m not ready to stop my search quite yet.Drunk Elephant SlaaiSize: 115mL (3.83oz).Price: $45 @ Sephora Canada.(Note that this price includes a small vial of Bamboo Booster (physical exfoliating grains) as well).Price per oz: $11.75/oz.Packaging: This balm comes in a tub with a screw top. The spatula is magnetic and sits on top of the tub via a magnet (super handy for the makeup cupboard but also exposed/can pop off in a makeup bag while travelling).Scoop/Spatula included: Yes.Texture & Emulsion: Feels like softened butter and emulsifies to a thick oil feeling (similar to olive oil).Scent: Neutral, but a light olive oil type scent. I wish it had a nicer smell but it’s not offensive.On the Eyes: No stinging, easily removed eye makeup.Amount Required: just a little, I’d say the smallest amount of any I’ve tried which is great news for it lasting a good while.Ingredients: There don’t appear to be any polyethylene in this product and it’s lighter on the essential oils as well (good news if you have sensitive skin).Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Lauryl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Fragaria Ananassa (Strawberry) Seed Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Ximenia Americana Seed Oil, Tocopherol, GlycerinVERDICT: Love love love! Definitely don’t use too much but when using a small amount the oiliness isn’t too much and it makes my face feel soft and clean. However, a second cleanse is a must.Clinique Take the Day Off BalmSize: 125mL (4.17oz).Price: $40 @ Sephora Canada.Price per oz: $9.59/oz.Packaging: This balm comes in a tub with a screw top.Scoop/Spatula included: No.Texture & Emulsion: Texture is comparable to a solid form coconut oil (similar to the Heimish balm in texture and colour also). Emulsified quickly to a soft oil.Scent: Unscented.On the Eyes: A light film, but no stinging. Takes extra rubbing to loosen stubborn eye makeup.Amount Required: Medium amount (not as much as Heimish but not as little as Drunk Elephant).Ingredients: Very short ingredients list but unfortunately, those classic microbeads are in this balm as well as polyethylene.Ethylhexyl Palmitate , Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil , Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride , Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate , Polyethylene , Peg-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate , Water\Aqua\Eau , Tocopherol , PhenoxyethanolVERDICT: Honestly, I have no real bad things to say. It’s utilitarian. It doesn’t feel luxurious but it works.Banila Co. Clean It Zero Original Balm CleanserSize: 100mL (3.3 oz).Price: $27.96 @ Amazon.ca.Price per oz: $8.40/oz.Packaging: This balm comes in a tub with a screw top.Scoop/Spatula included: TBD.Texture & Emulsion: TBD.Scent: TBD.On the Eyes: TBD.Amount Required: TBD.Ingredients: Doesn’t look like there’s any microbeads in this bad boy, thankfully!Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG-10 Isostearate, Synthetic Wax, Onsen-Sui, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Malpighia Glabra (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Polydiethyleneglycol Adipate/IPDI Copolymer, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Acrylates/Methoxy PEG-15 Methacrylate CopolymerVERDICT: TBD - haven’t tried it yet but I plan to so I’ve included the info I was able to find so far.FINAL VERDICT: for a really good clean and soft face, Drunk Elephant’s Slaii is probably the best value in terms of value, packaging, ingredients, etc. I think this will continue to be my go to in the super dry winter months (especially since I tend to wear a bit thicker makeup in the winter), but to be honest, I think I will probably continue use my trusty Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter in the summers.Your turn! Add your thoughts and recommendations below!
Girls Blog 2015
Submitted by fives8
No comments:
Post a Comment