The Skincare Edit: Best Cleansing Balms, From Neal's Yard, REN, Elemis and The Body Shop

Since the Clarisonic came into my life in April, I’ve used it religiously every day, twice a day through spring and summer. But now the colder weather’s here and I find myself reverting to my old ways; massaging a balm cleanser into a dry face, then removing with a hot cloth. It's such a lovely and comforting way to take off the day.  

My current favourites for their softening, skin plumping ways, these four should work for all skintypes barring oily. They certainly do the trick on my dehydrated/combination mug, though I tend to follow with a micellar or toner. 

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter

As a fan of the Body Shop’s Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup remover, I was really interested in trying the new, extended Camomile range. This is my favourite (so far; I’ve still to try the oil) – it’s great for removing makeup, smells fantastic and the tin makes it really travel friendly. It tells you to use it with or without a hot cloth, but without my muslin, there was a residue left on my skin. This was a press sample but, for €14.95, I’ll happily be buying it myself – do note though that this is the only product featured that doesn't come with it's own cloth.

Neal’s Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm

The scent, oh lordy, the scent! Incredibly pleasant to use, this 99% organic balm contains oils of rosehip seed , geranium flower, jojoba seed and frankincense, and makes my bathroom smell like a garden in bloom. At €48.40, it’s expensive but will last a long time, and can be used in several ways: as a cleanser, a mask or a treatment. There’s an explanatory leaflet with the best facial massage techniques to work the balm into the skin - plus, the cobalt blue jar is sheer class. 

Ren No 1 Purity Cleansing Balm 

Ren’s latest launch comprised a whopping six cleansers but, when offered my choice, I didn’t pause for a second. Luxurious and silky, this tube of rose-infused loveliness also contains camomile and pink violet leaf extracts to calm redness and soothe the skin. 

The 100 ml tube is portable and hygienic and, at €28, it’s not eye-wateringly expensive, either ( but get it into your eyes and it’s a whole different story, so do make sure you avoid). 

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

I first experienced this rich and unctuous balm as part of a delicious treatment at the Radisson Blu hotel in Galway, and I was hooked. Lucky enough to take a jar away , I've reserved it for times when some serious pampering is required. While it's pricey at €56.50, it’s more justifiable when you consider it will last forever, removes every scrap of makeup and makes skin feel amazing. It would make somebody special the most fabulous gift. 

So that’s my fab four in balm cleansers, but do tell; are there more I should add to my list? 

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