CLEANSER - BALM

Natural balms and salves, infused with herbs, have been used since ancient times. More recently… in the 1980s, facialist Eve Lom popularised cleansing balms, to be removed with a muslin cloth. Balms are brilliantly effective at gently melting away make-up, cellular debris and city pollution, as well as providing TLC - particularly for dry and mature skin. They often have a soothing fragrance based on aromatherapy, designed to calm the senses as well as the skin after the challenges of the day. Balms are enjoying a skincare heyday now as more and more people discover their benefits. Many are suitable for removing eye make-up as well as face but one little moan was that this isn’t always clear – actually a common problem with cleansers in general. (Brands: please take note!)

This is always a high-scoring category and again the scores awarded to the products below blew us away. One outright Gold Award with an average 9.25/10 and a bunch of very high scores for Silver and Bronze. So do read through them all to see what suits you best. Sadly, no real Beauty Steals (under £10/12), largely reflecting the costly raw ingredients. While all the products contain mostly botanicals, two are 100% natural, sharing the Best Natural Award.

GOLD AWARD Temple Spa IN THE BEGINNING Deep Cleansing Melt

Wow! Five out of ten testers (mostly dry, mature skin and some sensitive) gave this 10/10 – the average score was 9.25/10, which is one of the highest we’ve had. Temple Spa, a British brand we’ve known and loved for many years, describe this best seller as a ‘Deep Pore & Exfoliating Cleanser’. The exfoliating action comes from tiny beads, which melt as you massage in the vitamin E-rich, buttery balm. The short list of ingredients is mostly botanicals, including olive, calendula, basil, clary and lavender. It’s suitable for vegans, and free of sulphates, parabens and alcohol. Testers adored the fragrance, it’s worth saying. Also, a point about the microbeads: some testers believed they were environmentally unfriendly but it’s plastic microbeads that are a problem: these are naturally occurring crystalline structures that melt on your skin, due to techno-magic.

£35 for 75g - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Top marks! At work, I was asked what I'd been using because I was glowing! This is a delightful cleanser and lives up to its claims. Leaves your skin glowing and clean - took all of my make-up off with one use. Beats my current premium cleansers hands down. Would I buy it? Yes, yes, yes’ • ‘‘Heaven. On first application I thought we would not get on because of the little exfoliating `beads` in the balm. But as if by magic these teeny little soft beads - more like the bubbles in bubble tea - burst and melt away all of your makeup, SPF and the days accumulated grime.  I really, really, really like this product. It was my fave of all I tested this year.  It is a banger, a belter and if it was a song it would be a `chooooooooooooon!!!`.  It feels nourishing, and leaves my skin feeling dreamy - clean and soft and glowy. J’adore!’ • ‘This is a beautiful spa-like experience at home; the tiny beads seem to massage and exfoliate the skin, leaving it soft and pillowy. A little goes a long way, even for a heavy make-up wearer’ • ‘This product had a lovely fragrance and made my bathroom feel like a spa. The cleanser felt like a luxury item, which I thoroughly enjoyed using. There is definitely a prime position on my bathroom shelf for this gorgeous product. The brand describes this as a desert island product you cannot live without and I think that’s a fair claim for an amazing cleanser’ • ‘It removed all make up including mascara, leaving no residue and no stinging or soreness’ • ‘My 25 year old niece came to stay for the weekend a few weeks after I’d started using this cleanser. She kept commenting on how beautifully clear, glow-y and healthy my (62 year old) skin looked. I hadn't trialled any other face products at that stage or introduced any other new skincare so I'm convinced it was the cleanser.’

£35 for 75g - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Erborian Centella Cleansing Balm

Another clutch of top marks from four testers for this gentle cleansing balm from a South Korean/French company that’s proved hugely popular with all ages. Described as a melting cleansing balm for face and eyes, it’s based on the plant super-ingredient Centella Asiatica aka tiger grass, a staple of traditional Korean medicine that’s notable for its soothing properties – which some testers commented on. Applied on a dry face and eyes, it turns to a milky veil when you add water. Although not totally natural, it features a range of skin cherishing oils, shea butter and vitamin E, beeswax and of course Centella. Reviews emphasise that oily skin benefits from this as well as dry.

£29 for 80g - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. I love this cleansing balm. I like the light scent, the texture and the fact it cleanses my combination skin in a non-abrasive, gentle way, leaving it feeling soft and hydrated. Erborian says it has the effective cleansing of an oil with the comforting softness of a balm. Having used their cleansing oil I agree with this statement completely’ • ‘An excellent cleanser for both face and eye make-up removal and ideal for those with sensitive skin. The cleanser removes make-up without rubbing and doesn’t leave a trace of behind. Buy it! ’ • ‘I suffer badly with sore areas on my chin, to the point where it will wake me up in the night to put extra cream on.  This balm seems not only to clean really well, but also to inject moisture into my skin, which gives me a full nights sleep, soothing the sore bits for well over 12 hours’ • ‘I have to be very careful with removing eye make-up due to the sensitivity of my eyes but this product was amazing as it removed waterproof mascara without rubbing or causing any irritation. I did test to see if there were any traces of mascara by using a cotton pad and a gentle eye make-up remover but it left nothing on the pad!! ’ • ‘Gorgeous smelling balm, which effectively cleansed my dehydrated, sensitive skin that is prone to flaky patches on my cheeks when irritated. My skin felt comfortable and moisturised with no tightness. It looked more balanced and even-toned. I like the ritual of taking time to massage it in as it smells delicious’ • ‘I loved this cleanser and will be using it going forwards, as it leaves my skin so soft and moisturised.  Apart from being easy to use and remove, it had a lovely subtle smell.’

£29 for 80g - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD and BEST NATURAL (JOINT) Ané Beauty Radiance Reveal Cleansing Balm

Interesting story here: Ané, founder of this eponymous English brand, was navigating perimenopause with the accompanying changes to her skin when she decided to create her own skincare brand. She wanted a streamlined skincare routine that focused on her own signs of ageing: loss of texture and tone due to waning collagen. Fast forward and her focus is now the longterm health of skin, with multifunctional products giving maximum results for minimum effort. This balm is based on a wide range of plants oils (rich in omega fatty acids), scented with essential oils. It comes with a wooden spatula and a double-sided face cloth.  One thing: testers remarked it was pretty solid to start with but don't be put off, they said, it melts on contact with skin and spreads easily. Again, it’s a balm to milk formula – just add water – and it doubles as a nourishing leave-on mask. Bit of confusion over whether it’s suitable for removing eye make-up but Ané says she uses it to remove her waterproof mascara and eyeliner and testers who used it for eye make-up removal were mostly very happy.

£32 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Top marks. My skin felt great after using this product. I felt like it really moisturised my skin – leaving it feeling soft - while removing make-up. My mum and work colleagues have commented that my skin was looking fresher. I normally prefer fragrance free as if I am suffering from a migraine some smells can make me feel nauseous but this was subtle and somewhat relaxing’ • ‘I've grown fond of this over time. I've used it morning and night for double cleansing my dry sensitive skin, which needs lots of hydration and oils to keep it happy. After a good 3 months I am only about halfway through the tub! It’s definitely value for money’ • ‘The texture is lovely, very smooth and really glided over the skin with minimal effort.  My skin felt soft and surprisingly nourished after use with no tight or dry feeling at all’ • ‘I was delighted to find the cleanser came with a small travel cloth which made sure any residue was removed. It also provided a gentle exfoliation • ‘I absolutely loved the scent - a kind of aromatherapy smell which I found really relaxing. I also like that this product is vegan, made in the UK, and you can use it as a nourishing face mask 2-3 times a week by leaving the product on for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off. It is packed full of goodness for the skin such as essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants that offer anti-inflammatory and skin healing aid’ • ‘ From the minute I first opened this little jar of bliss it was love at first scoop! When massaging onto the skin, you just want to cup your face for the sheer joy of the neroli scent. The buttery golden nectar massages the day away with such ease and a splash of warm water turns it to a smooth milky emulsion. You can feel the day ebbing away with every movement’ • ‘The balm dissolved my make-up really nicely, even my waterproof mascara and gel liners and didn't sting my eyes at all. I can have quite sensitive eyes so always wary about new cleansers but this was great.’

£32 for 100ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm

Another year and another set of testers falling in love with this iconic cleansing balm for skin and eyes, which practically has its own gallery of Beauty Bible Awards (among a crowd of others). The best-selling balm, fragrant with essential oils, is based on grape seed and sweet almond oils with moringa seed, a powerhouse of skin-loving nutrients to help put the glow back into dull skin. If you’re a double cleansing fan, it’s a perfect first step. The eponymous founder made her name with facial massage so of course it’s designed to be massaged in to stimulate blood flow, lift tissues and it can also be used as a mask. It comes with a ‘Professional Cleansing Cloth’, which our testers loved.

£65 for 200ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10 for this luxury cleansing balm to fall in love with after first use. This is my favourite ever cleansing balm. I love the fragrance and the texture. After using it, my skin feels soft and clean, not irritated. Feels like cleansing with a silky blanket • ‘Perfect, perfect, perfect! I absolutely loved this and will be ditching my use of a leading and very expensive balm for this. I have never seen or felt such fantastic results after a few uses. I didn't need cream as my skin felt so moisturised and smoother with less visible pores and it looked much softer with reduced fine lines. I loved that this could be used over the eye area as well. Most cleansing balms make my eyes sore if I accidentally get any in my eye but not this • ‘The first couple of times I tried this cleanser I followed up with toner but I soon found this was totally unnecessary and a total waste. My skin felt extremely moisturised and very soft and supple.  It was so soft I kept wanting to run my hands across my face! My husband said that my skin had a youthful glow.  As someone a few weeks away from her 50th birthday I will definitely take that compliment. This is the product you have been waiting all of your life to try.  Not only is it amazing at cleansing the skin but it has the most sublime fragrance’ • ‘I really don't know how I have managed without this product.  I always thought that my skin was in very good condition as I do spend a lot of money on purchasing what I thought were the right products.  However, this has been a total game changer for me.  The change in the texture and suppleness of my skin is amazing’ • ‘My skin has definitely looked brighter and clearer since using this; a lot of my friends have commented on how fresh my skin is looking’ • ‘The cloth that's provided to remove the balm is perfect. I always use flannels but this one is a little special with one side that's a soft microfibre and the other a muslin cloth. The microfibre grabs and holds on to the balm along with any make up or dirt that needs to be removed from your skin and makes it so easy to remove the cleanser. Once the removal is done, it's time to ”polish” the skin with the muslin cloth and it really does feel like this is the finishing touch to the treatment (because it does feel like a treatment the way it leaves your skin!). Literally all traces of make up and dirt are just melted away and removed with the cloth, I love it’ • ‘My skin feel so so soft after using this cleanser. I occasionally get hormonal eruptions on my chin and psoriatic patches on my hairline but haven't had any outbreaks since using it and my skin feels so clean and fresh all the time now.’

£65 for 200ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD MONAT Make up Vanishing Balm

This luxe vegan range is Leaping Bunny certified so one for the multitudes of animal lovers.  Launched in the US in 2014 by the Urdenata family, the skincare range (there are also haircare and wellness products) focuses on antiageing using natural plant extracts. This melting balm which is suitable for all skin types is powered by a proprietary complex called REJUVENIQE S, combining 17 botanical oils and extract with an activated olive oil and jojoba seed extract plus AHAs from sugar, mango, banana and cajá. MONAT say it should be used as a pre-cleanse step to remove make-up before ‘your favourite MONAT cleanser’. However, our testers mostly used it on its own, though some followed with a toner to remove the feeling of oiliness – it emulsifies into an oil-like consistency. Suitable for all skin types, it removes eye make-up too.

£65 for 89ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Top marks. THIS IS THE BEST PRODUCT I HAVE EVER USED on my (combination) skin!! I love this product. It removes every bit of make-up in such a quick and easy non-fuss way and leaves skin so soft and moisturised. Such a nice change!’ • ‘This cleanser is amazing, I had my make-up professionally done for an event and it was extremely heavy and this cleanser easily removed the make-up and didn’t leave my eyes irritated which usually happens when I remove my make-up. All eye makeup was removed in one go including eyelash glue’ • ‘The texture was delightful, soft and silky, the nicest cleansing balm I've tried. I really look forward to using it’ • ‘I really liked this product, its softer than my usual balm cleanser and its really easy to work into the skin. It comes with a spatula in the lid, which is great for hygiene purposes, as you don’t have to continually put your fingers into the product when using it. It did remove eye make-up easily and didn’t sting my eyes or leave a film’ • ‘I loved this cleanser. I’ve used lots of balms, but this is certainly my favourite. Smells great, distributes well and leaves skin very thoroughly clean. I used with and without the cloth and works well with both. Massive bonus too is that a little goes a long way.’

£65 for 89ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD and BEST NATURAL (JOINT) Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Balm

Well, this is a tad confusing. It’s called a Balm on the label and referred to as a ‘cleansing balm’ on the site but… it’s a bit of a different take. It comes in a tube (most balms are in jars/tubs) and is actually a soft thick gel-like formula that transforms to milk on damp skin. Anyways… our testers loved the texture and the product so here it is! It’s suitable for all skin types, for use am/pm and of course being this impeccably all-natural brand, founded in Germany in 1967, it waltzes away with the Best Natural Award. All the products are made of 100% natural raw ingredients, they say, most organic and some of biodynamic quality (grown and harvested in tune with the rhythms of nature). It’s suitable for all skin types to use am/pm, but it’s not intended to remove eye make-up. (However, it is suitable for beards, they say…) Useful tip: because it’s soft and therefore a bit slippy, do cup it in your palm when you squeeze it out.

£24 for 75ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. This has got to be my favourite cleanser now…. Hands down! I've used many cleansing balms/melts but this beats them all. It smells amazing and literally melts in to the skin when you massage in. Once you add water, it turns to a milky formula and is really easy to wash off (some balms aren't) but still leaves skin feeling soft and really radiant pillow’ • ‘My mature skin loved this. Skin felt so clean, and so soft and hydrated after using it. It starts off thick – like a balm – when you squeeze it out of the tube but thins out when you start to massage it in. It took make-up off well and there was no trace on my pillow’ • ‘Luxurious cleanser that smells like a spa and lovely thick texture - just the right consistency to squeeze out though; took all my make-up off easily and most of my day to day eye make-up but not particularly heavy eye make-up. It left my skin feeling moisturised and soft with no tightness. I loved this product and would definitely buy it’ • ‘My skin felt exceptionally clean after removal – squeaky clean and almost tight but not dried out’ • ‘It lifts make-up with ease. My skin felt clean and relatively hydrated after using the cleanser.  Some cleansers do leave me rushing for a moisturiser or oil but this one was a delight to use as I could potter a bit between stages.’

£24 for 75ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD and BEST NATURAL (JOINT) Weleda Nourishing Cleansing Balm

We trialled this for a Special Report commissioned by Weleda before the launch of the Skin Food Face Care range at the end of April 2023 and it’s definitely worth waiting for, according to our 30 Beauty Bible testers. The on pack wording promises that it will Cleanse & Replenish and after 28 days use, 90% agreed it effectively removes dirt, impurities and make-up, revealing clean, soft, glowing skin and 76.67% agreed skin looked/felt replenished. No surprise that 23 out of 30 testers would buy the product. This all-natural brand is now amazingly over a century old, founded in 1921. As with the original Skin Food, now a true cult product, this range is targeted at dry to very dry and dehydrated skin. One thing is that this balm to milk cleanser, with key ingredients sunflower seed oil and chamomile flower extract, is not formulated to use on your eyes, which some testers found a bit of a problem.

£12.95 for 75ml - click to buy

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘It's honestly so rare to find a cleanser which removes all my make-up without making my skin feel tight or sore and needing to immediately moisturise. It made me feel super clean and ready for bed’ • ‘It was my favourite “me time” ritual. It took off all the make-up with ease, left my skin plump, nourished and comfortable. I’m surprised how soft and smooth my skin was afterwards. Lovely formula! ’ • ‘My skin has really enjoyed using the cleansing balm; I look forward to cleansing with it each day. So gentle and pampering it feels more like a treat than a chore to prep my skin for serum and moisturiser’ • ‘I am converted! I'm confident that the product cleanses skin really well and deeply - as my skin tone is more balanced and even, and my face appears less dull and brighter, less red and inflamed and more dewy, fresh and healthier’ • ‘The biggest improvements are softness, smoothness and health. The dullness has significantly reduced. I look more evenly toned and simply healthier. The greyish tone is gone. Also my skin smoothness improved massively - I have experienced less breakout and textural irregularities’ • ‘The product glides on a treat and can be massaged in for a while without the worry of it disappearing into the skin rapidly. It smells lovely and citrus fresh, doesn't clog my pores and leaves my skin feeling soft and supple. Gorgeous.’

£12.95 for 75ml - click to buy

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD and BEST NATURAL (JOINT) Rhug Wild Beauty Deep Cleansing Balm

This soft balm comes from a good-enough-to-eat range produced on an organic North Wales estate and is a personal favourite of Sarah’s. Formulated by leading experts in natural skincare, the Rhug Wild Beauty potions and lotions are made in Dorset and elegantly bottled in frosted glass, responsibly sourced and made by a Norfolk company. Many of the ingredients are wild-foraged on the Rhug estate; for this balm, that’s the vitamin C-rich Wild Berry Complex to brighten and protect. A blend of rosehip, safflower and calendula oils helps improve collagen production and elasticity. It’s suitable for all skin types – particularly those on the dry side we’d say. And it’s fine for even sensitive eyes, Sarah finds – the brand advises you make sure it’s thoroughly rinsed off. So what did our testers think? Well, most absolutely loved it with four giving it full marks but the average was brought down by two testers who didn't like the soft texture.

£65 for 125ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

’10/10. This has amazing cleansing properties, leaving your skin, feeling super cleansed, super moisturised and super bright. A piece of Heaven in a jar. A must buy product!!  Wonderful texture, almost too thick but not quite - luxuriously thick!! You need a cloth to remove as per instructions. Left my skin feeling wonderfully soft, clean and bright. I was complimented on the softness and brightness. I could feel the difference and my friend could see the difference’ • ‘This had an amazing smell, was a rich, thick sumptuous cleanser. Left my skin glowing. You could feel the difference. I will definitely but again and recommend to all. Skincare should be pampering for the skin and this delivers on that!! ’ • ‘10/10. Wow, wow, wow. This cleanser is amazing. The smell is divine and feels like I have just been for a Spa treatment. My usual cleanser is nice but leaves my skin feeling a little sticky and dry. Thug Wild Beauty Deep Cleansing Balm is just on another level. I really can't emphasise how lovely this product is. It makes my skin feel so much brighter and younger, a definite plus at my age.  My husband said my face looked 'fresh'! This is going to be a permanent product in my beauty regime. As long as they don't stop making it’ • ‘10/10. It’s a really luxury product that adds a zesty perk to your evening routine, turning the routine of cleansing into a moment of refreshment and comfort’ • ‘The aspect that wowed me with this cleanser was the fragrance. It smells of lively lemon balm and fresh marine notes which was really uplifting and refreshing when shattered after work - definitely a mood boosting perker-upper. I always enjoy cleansing with a balm and loved the unusual gel oil texture, which was quite different to the more solid textured balms that I’ve before. The slippery texture felt comfortable when applied to my sensitive skin, as there was no need to loosen the cleanser. I also enjoyed applying before getting in the bath and letting it sink into my skin in a steamy soa’ • ‘My skin felt nice and soft and moisturised and I loved how nourished and bright my skin looked and felt every evening after I had used it. After using it for 3 months my skin looks more youthful and plumper and is in much better condition.’

£65 for 125ml - click to buy