Lets talk about Cleansing Balms. I used to be all over the eye make up remover on the cotton pad. Now i'm all about "take it all off in one product!" I don't have time to faff around holding a cotton pad on my eye waiting for it loosen up all my stubborn mascara. I feel a cleansing balm or oil is much more gentle and does not damage my eye lashes in any way either. It removes any stubborn mascara or full coverage foundation easy peasy.
Now, i do like cleansing oils as well. I'm in the process of testing a few out so keep a look out for that post in the next few weeks when i'm finished!
However, i do like the thick consistency of a balm. Its much easier to control as its solid, not runny like an oil slipping all over your fingers and dripping off your face! When you warm these balms up between your fingers it melts and feels incredible, glides over the skin and loosens up all that make up. Before you know it your face is completely black with mascara smeared everywhere! A quick rinse off and your squeaky clean. Now the biggest complaint i've heard with balms is from people who don't wash it off properly. They say it leaves a greasy residue. Well of course it does...you haven't washed it off!
The two most recent i have tried are from Clinique and Giorgio Armani.
First off: Giorgio Armani Delicate Cleansing Balm 125ml $55
This was the first cleansing balm i was introduced too! I went for a facial at the Giorgio Armani counter at Holt Renfrew, and the facialist used this to remove my make up and i just loved how effectively it removed everything and how clean it made me feel! Quick side note....If you like to buy high end skin care like i do, always ask when the counter will be having facials... the actual facial is free,you just have to buy product which you would buy anyway! Its my favourite way to try new things too :) Lots of my products where discovered during a facial... and it feels great!!
So when you first apply, its an oil texture to dissolve all the make up, then when you add water it turns into a milky cleanser consistency to clean everything off!
Armani claims this will leave your skin noticeably softer and radiant. I definitely agree with the softer part, my skin felt smooth and soft. However, i didn't really notice a difference in radiance.
The balm has a delicate fragrance to it, as do all Armani's products. Its light and fresh, definitely a pleasant smell.
Now as i am often sensitive to fragrance, i wanted to see if i could find a fragrance free option:
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm 125 ml $34
This has a much more solid consistency, and melts with the warmth of your fingers. I don't know if its because of the more solid consistency i could control taking less, but i found this lasted me a lot longer!
To be honest the results are very similar between the two. Both remove all my make up amazingly, leaving my skin super soft and squeaky clean! The main difference for me is the fragrance. As much as i don't mind the fragrance in the Armani balm, i always like to have fragrance free options. If i'm experiencing bad breakouts or sensitivity i like to keep everything fragrance free. Thats a big reason why Clinique is one of my favourite brands!!
So for that reason, and the price difference, the Clinique balm is my favourite and what i would repurchase first ( i'm already using my second!). I would repurchase the Armani as a luxury treat, but there are a few others i would like to try first. The Emma Hardy cleansing balm is on my list... I just don't know where to buy it in Calgary!! I may have to wait till i go back home to England to find it.
Do you have any Balm recommendations for me?
Love Talia x
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