Ignore the fact that it uses the word 'Super' in the title.
And ignore that it says 'normal to dry skin'. This affordable balm is actually a nice find for most skin types.
What's in it?
Literally :
Persea gratissima (Avocado) oil, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil, Cetearyl alcohol, Copernicia cerifera (Carnauba) wax, Sorbitan laurate, Tetradecyloctadecyl stearate, Parfum (Fragrance), Anthemis nobilis flower oil, Citrus aurantium bergamia (Bergamot) fruit oil, Mentha piperita (Peppermint) oil, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) oil, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) leaf oil, Pelargonium graveolens flower oil, Linalool, Dipropylene glycol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, BHT, Citral.
The avocado, jojoba and carnauba (palm) waxes form the base. I had a little flinch when I saw the palm wax - I know palm oil is not good for the environment but it would appear that palm wax is harvested differently? (If anyone knows differently - please let me know!) Also - Dr Hauschka use it in their products. So it should be ok right??
I think the palm wax is an integral part of this as it appears to be the ingredient that gives this its granular consistency.
What's good about it?
Although it's labelled as a balm, it's really a kind of scrub. It's very rough - in a good way - you get a great exfoliation and it's a mahoosive 100ml pot - for £11.00. Yes. £11.00.
Not a mineral oil in sight.
What's bad about it?
In my opinion its completely mislabelled. This is an exfoliator. Not a 'Super Rich Cleansing Balm'.
It comes with a muslin cloth. Enough with the muslin cloths brands please! I have enough dusters. FLANNEL.
It's a mixed message. The box says to use once a week - the website says 'will remove all traces of makeup'... You do not want to rub this all over a mascara-laden eye. Unless you have myxomatosis perhaps?
It also recommends you rinse with cold water. Meh.
I do like this Balm.
But I would:
- Use 2/3 times a week as an exfoliator.
- Bin the muslin and buy a flannel.
- Use at the 2nd cleanse stage in the evening or before a hydrating mask.
- Never finish with a cold water splash. You don't want extremes of temperature when you've just exfoliated.
- Go straight in afterwards with your P50 or Liquid Gold and your skin will feel like silk in the morning.
Verdict? Absolutely worth the money, invest if you have any type of skin except really 'super' (see what I did there) sensitive.
Just use it the way I recommend above - ignore them. Sorry Champneys.
I think I just had a little accident whilst laughing. Bless my 3 children! Sounds great but probably not for those people who've trying to take their makeup of with it.
ReplyDeleteAnd please, oil + cold water + muslin?! Yeuch!
"invest if you have ANY typ of skin". Well hahaha :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for this suggestion , I am sure it is a great product ! but one question is it only available online ?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you can get in Boots and in Champneys stores?
DeleteThank you for the information ! will make sure to check it out !
DeleteI bought about 18 flannels from Primark the other week, chucked out all the muslin cloths and feel so much better for it. Feels a lot better using a lovely flannel. You are now literally the only person I trust when it comes to skin care.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much
Stacey x
You're very welcome!! :)
DeleteSame here !!! hahaha ! Thanks for your help we really appreciate it !
DeleteGood find and it's been tried, tested and approved!? What more could we ask for?! Well..one more thing! My dads making a business trip to France I've asked him to look for p50. Do I need original, v or w for acne prone, milia full general sorry looking skin. Not really sensitive (sun sensitive though) handles alpha h and astringent toners fine? Will he be able to find it in a pharmacy? Don't worry I've written clear instructions down!! X
ReplyDeleteHi. No he won't.It's I'm the BR salon on the Champs Elysee. It's also in St johns Wood in London now!
DeleteI like the P50v.
The P50 is strongest.
Wow, exclusive exclusive! He's not going to Paris unfortunately so I shall stick to my alpha h and wait for a uk based miracle! Thanks Caroline! Shame it's so difficult to get online too :( xxx
DeleteThis has nothing to do with the Champneys balm. Well somewhat...
ReplyDeleteI started the double cleansing method and use the Darphin cleansing balm for my second cleanse. Soooooo wonderful. Your advice (cleansing or otherwise) makes me listen to my skin more. It feels and looks much much better, and I just wanted to say thank you. I actually look forward to cleansing now. Thanks for telling it like it is (even though I find you a bit scary sometimes).
You're welcome. And don't be scared. :)
DeleteI agree flannels are so much better than muslin cloths. This sounds like a nice exfoliator, may give it a try at some point. x
ReplyDeleteHello, thank you for your feedback. It's great to get it first hand from our customers, so I have passed your comments on to our product team. Many thanks, Sarah (Champneys Marketing)
ReplyDeleteHello. After cleansing with a balm, do I apply liquid gold straight afterwards or can I apply toner first? Also is double cleanse a must if I'm not wearing any make up/sunscreen?
ReplyDeleteLiquid Gold first. Nothing afterwards.
DeleteNo - no need if not wearing anything.
Thank u
Deleteooooo, i really like the sound of this. although £11 is affordable, sainsburys every now and then discount their champneys stock and this is something i definitely would want to find at a discounted price. I want it now!
ReplyDeleteliloo/@tsunimee xx
Slightly unrelated but.... Love flannel off type cleansers, and a good double cleanse, but have pores the size of small planets, so wax based balms, particularly beeswax, leads to clog city. Need a more cream based option. There is the much revered c and p, but a bit challenging on the eyes. am using a boots no 7 beautiful skin hot cloth cleanser which is a good c and p rip off with less bells and whistles so easier on the eyes. It is however full to brimming with parabens. Could you maybe review some cream rather than wax based cleanser options? Would value your opinion. Am fairly skint at the moment given childcare costs for my 10 month old twins on my return to work, so can't afford to make purchasing mistakes. Any suggestions for an overnight miracle worker which helps me look like I get anywhere near enough sleep and don't mainline caffiene all day to survive would also be gratefully received,babies still not exactly 'sleeping through' yet!
ReplyDeletehi, I just bought this and used it yesterday. You're right it's very good, quite gentle. I really was not expecting the granular feel but it's not harsh just 'there'. My face felt really clean. Some of your readers might like to know that currently there is an offer in Boots where if you spend over £10 on Champneys there was a tester pack of four products, and if you have an Advantage card, you get 300 points for any Champneys product, but you need to go to the Advantage card machine in store to get the voucher for the points.
ReplyDeleteHah, I bought this the other month after seeing you talk about cleansing balms and do exactly what you've suggested (2-3 times a week, as a second cleanser, hot water and with a flannel) and it's worked a charm. It's reassuring to see you approve of it too! :)
ReplyDeleteCurrently on 3 for 2 at Boots!
ReplyDeleteI've just bought this thinking I could use it in place of my Liz Earle cleanse and polish which I'm steadily moving away from. Will follow your instructions and use it this way! Emma Hardie is clearly the way to go!
ReplyDeleteHi Caroline! My friend gave me a sample of this exfoliator at the wax center she works at. Curious to know what you think of these ingredients.
ReplyDeleteHere's what you'll find in our lovely exfoliate: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract; Butylene Glycol; Water; Carbomer; Hyaluronic Acid; Sodium Lactate; Proline; [Exclusive Comfort Blend: Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Extract; Garcinia Mangostana (Mangosteen) Peel Extract; Malpigha Glabra (Acerola) Fruit ; Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Berry Extract; Myriciara Dubia (Camu Camu) Fruit Extract]; Carica (Papaya) Fruit Extract; Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract; Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract; Citrus Medicalimum (Lemon) Fruit Extract; Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract; Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract; Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Extract; Mangifera Indica (Mango) Extract; Salix Alba (Willow Bark) Extract; Retinyl Palmitate; Tocopheryl Acetate; Ascorbic Acid; Sodium Pca; Panthenol; Bromelain; Sorbitol; Glycerin; Phenoxyethanol; Caprylyl Glycol; Sorbic Acid; Sodium Hydroxide.
Curious to know what you think of the ingredients in this exfoliator that my friend gave me a sample of.
ReplyDeleteHere's what you'll find in our lovely exfoliate: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract; Butylene Glycol; Water; Carbomer; Hyaluronic Acid; Sodium Lactate; Proline; [Exclusive Comfort Blend: Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Extract; Garcinia Mangostana (Mangosteen) Peel Extract; Malpigha Glabra (Acerola) Fruit ; Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Berry Extract; Myriciara Dubia (Camu Camu) Fruit Extract]; Carica (Papaya) Fruit Extract; Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract; Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract; Citrus Medicalimum (Lemon) Fruit Extract; Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract; Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract; Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Extract; Mangifera Indica (Mango) Extract; Salix Alba (Willow Bark) Extract; Retinyl Palmitate; Tocopheryl Acetate; Ascorbic Acid; Sodium Pca; Panthenol; Bromelain; Sorbitol; Glycerin; Phenoxyethanol; Caprylyl Glycol; Sorbic Acid; Sodium Hydroxide.
I just found you, I like the way you set your review out, very clear and professional. I hope you won't be at all offended by my remarks, but I think from your description that the balm is badly manufactured if it is granular. you say, and I quote =
ReplyDeletePersea gratissima (Avocado) oil, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil, Cetearyl alcohol, Copernicia cerifera (Carnauba) wax, Sorbitan laurate, Tetradecyloctadecyl stearate, Parfum (Fragrance), Anthemis nobilis flower oil, Citrus aurantium bergamia (Bergamot) fruit oil, Mentha piperita (Peppermint) oil, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) oil, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) leaf oil, Pelargonium graveolens flower oil, Linalool, Dipropylene glycol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, BHT, Citral.
The avocado, jojoba and carnauba (palm) waxes form the base. I had a little flinch when I saw the palm wax - I know palm oil is not good for the environment but it would appear that palm wax is harvested differently? (If anyone knows differently - please let me know!) Also - Dr Hauschka use it in their products. So it should be ok right??
I think the palm wax is an integral part of this as it appears to be the ingredient that gives this its granular consistency.
I will write in capitals now to differentiate your comments and mine :) THE BASE OF THIS PRODUCT ARE THE WAXES, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CARNAUBA, TETRADECYL OCTADECYL STEARATE, ALL PALM BASED, THEN YOU HAVE THE AVOCADO OIL AND ALSO JOJOBA, WHICH IS A LIQUID WAX NOT A LIQUID OIL. PROPERLY COMBINED THESE WOULD MAKE A VERY SMOOTH SOLID BALM. IF THE PRODUCT IS GRAINY, AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, THIS IS FAULTY MANUFACTURING. THE PRODUCT IS FRAGRANCED BY CHEMICAL, SYNTHETIC MAN MADE PERFUME AND THEN IT HAS SMALL AMOUNTS OF ESSENTIAL OILS ADDED AND A PETROCHEMICAL WHICH IS THE DYPROPYLENE GLYCOL. BHT IS AN ANTI-OXIDANT Butylated hydroxytoluene A KNOWN IRRITANT AND CLASSED AS A HAZARD !! JUST THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW. SOME PEOPLE DON'T CARE THAT A PRODUCT IS NOT COMPLETELY NATURAL, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE INFORMED SO THAT WE CAN MAKE AN EDUCATED CHOICE. FOR THE ISSUE WITH PALM OIL, IT IS A VERY TOUCHY SUBJECT, FOR ME, I WOULD RATHER NOT USE PRODUCTS WITH PALM OIL AS THERE IS VERY FINE LINE BETWEEN PALM OIL AND SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL AND MANY COMPANIES CHEAT WITH THEIR SOURCES UNFORTUNATELY.