If you've been following me recently, you may have noticed that my cleansing balms have been getting a little bit of attention!
One of my favourite content creators, Charlie from Ask Charlie, recently featured one of my cleansing balms in a YouTube video and I honestly couldn't have been more thrilled. It's brought lots of new visitors to my website, new subscribers and most importantly, lots of lovely people discovering my cleansing balms for the first time.
So I thought October would be the perfect time to talk a little more about them and answer a question I get asked:
Why use a cleansing balm?
And what actually makes a cleansing balm different from other types of facial cleanser?
What is a cleansing balm?
Unlike a traditional soap or foaming cleanser, a cleansing balm starts off with a lovely rich, buttery consistency. When you massage it onto your skin, the oils help to lift away makeup, excess oils, dirt and everyday impurities.
The really lovely thing about my cleansing balms is that they are self-emulsifying.
When you add water, the balm transforms into a creamy, milky cleanser with a light lather. This makes it easy to rinse away with water, without needing to use soap afterwards.
It's one of the things I particularly love about this product because you get the lovely richness of an oil-based cleanser, but with that satisfying transformation when you add water.
Why might you choose a cleansing balm?
There are lots of different ways to cleanse your skin and a cleansing balm is simply another option to add to your skincare routine.
I particularly like using a balm because it feels like a little bit more of a sensory experience rather than simply washing your face and getting on with your day.
The oils help to loosen makeup and everyday grime, while the balm gives you plenty of slip to gently massage it over your face.
And you don't have to stop at cleansing!
You can use the balm in a couple of different ways depending on what you fancy.
Use it as an everyday cleanser
Warm a small amount between your fingertips and massage it directly onto dry skin.
You can then add a little water to your hands and continue massaging. You'll see the balm transform into a creamy, milky consistency.
Remove with warm water or, even better, a warm damp cloth.
Use it as a makeup remover
The oils in the balm make it particularly lovely for breaking down makeup.
Massage a small amount gently over your face, including over areas where you're wearing makeup, then add a little water to emulsify the balm before rinsing or removing with a warm damp cloth.
Give yourself a little extra pampering
You can also apply the balm and leave it on for around 5–10 minutes before removing it with a warm, damp cloth.
It's a lovely way to turn your evening cleansing routine into a little moment of self-care.
What's inside my cleansing balms?
As with all of my products, I love knowing exactly what I'm putting into them.
My cleansing balms contain a lovely combination of plant-based oils, waxes, vitamin E, plant-based surfactants and cosmetic clays.
Depending on the balm, you'll find ingredients including:
Castor oil – a lovely rich oil often used in cleansing products because of its ability to help lift away oil-soluble impurities.
Olive oil – a familiar, nourishing plant oil that gives the balm its lovely rich feel.
Sweet almond oil – a lightweight-feeling oil that helps create a smooth, silky texture.
Rosehip oil – a lightweight, nourishing oil that helps leave the skin feeling soft, smooth and conditioned.
Grapeseed oil – a lightweight, silky oil that helps leave the skin feeling soft and moisturised.
Vitamin E – included as an antioxidant to help protect the oils in the formulation.
And then there are the essential oils and clays that make each balm a little bit different.
Five cleansing balms, five different combinations
I wanted to create a small range of cleansing balms so that you can choose one depending on the ingredients and scent you particularly enjoy.
🌸 Rose Geranium & Calamine
This balm contains calamine powder, giving it its beautiful soft pink appearance.
Calamine is traditionally used in skincare products for its soothing and calming feel, and it's a lovely addition to a cleansing balm.
The gentle floral scent of rose geranium makes this one feel particularly luxurious.
🌿 Rosemary, Lavender & Lemongrass
This one contains French green clay, which is naturally mineral-rich and traditionally used in facial skincare.
French green clay is often included in cleansing products because of its absorbent properties and its ability to help lift away excess oils and impurities from the skin.
Combined with rosemary, lavender and lemongrass essential oils, this is a fresh, herbal and uplifting option.
🌷 Neroli & Sweet Orange
For this balm I've chosen French pink clay.
French pink clay is a gentle-feeling clay often used in facial skincare and is known for helping to absorb excess oils while giving products a lovely silky texture.
The combination of neroli and sweet orange gives this balm a beautiful soft citrus-floral aroma.
🍋 Lime, Lemongrass & Bergamot
This is the bright and zesty one!
I've used yellow clay in this balm, which gives it its lovely natural colour.
Yellow clay is a naturally mineral-rich cosmetic clay that is often used in cleansing products and is generally considered a gentler option than some of the more absorbent clays and can help to tone and refresh tired, dull-looking skin .
The lime, lemongrass and bergamot essential oil blend gives this one a fresh, uplifting scent.
🌾 Oat Cleansing Balm
And then there's my Oat Cleansing Balm, which is completely different again.
This one contains oats and no essential oils, making it a lovely option if you prefer your skincare completely fragrance-free.
Oats are a wonderfully versatile skincare ingredient and are often used in products designed to leave the skin feeling soft, comfortable and cared for.
The oat balm also has a slightly more creamy, gentle feel and is lovely if you simply want a straightforward cleansing, slightly exfoliating balm without an essential oil blend.
How do you use a cleansing balm?
There are actually a couple of ways I like to use mine.
Method one – apply directly to your face
Take a small amount of balm and warm it between your fingertips.
Massage it gently over dry skin, allowing the warmth of your hands to soften the balm.
Then add a little water to your hands and continue massaging. You'll see the balm transform into that lovely creamy, milky consistency.
You can then rinse it away with water or use a warm, damp cloth.
Method two – emulsify it in your hands first
If you prefer, take a small amount of balm into the palm of your hand and add a little water.
Rub your hands together and you'll see it emulsify and become creamy.
You can then massage it directly onto your face before removing with a warm, damp cloth.
There's no right or wrong way, it's really about finding the method you enjoy most.
And don't forget the warm cloth!
One of my favourite ways to use a cleansing balm is with a warm, damp cloth.
There's something really lovely about taking a few minutes at the end of the day to massage the balm into your skin, add a little water, then gently remove it with a warm cloth.
It's simple, but it turns cleansing into much more of a little self-care ritual.
And sometimes that's exactly what we need at the end of a busy day.
Plant-based, handmade and packaged in an eco-friendly tin
As with everything I make at The Stable Soap Company, my cleansing balms are plant-based and handmade by me in small batches here in Dorset.
They're packaged in reusable, recyclable aluminium tins rather than unnecessary plastic packaging and each balm is made with carefully selected ingredients.
I've also chosen to use essential oils rather than synthetic fragrance in the scented versions.
And, as always, everything is made by me, from weighing out the ingredients and making the balm to filling and labelling each tin.
So, which cleansing balm is for you?
That really comes down to what you enjoy.
Perhaps you love floral scents and fancy trying Rose Geranium & Calamine.
Maybe fresh, herbal scents are more your thing, in which case Rosemary, Lavender & Lemongrass might be calling your name.
If you like something softer and more citrusy, there's Neroli & Sweet Orange.
For something bright and zesty, there's Lime, Lemongrass & Bergamot.
Or, if you'd rather skip essential oils altogether, my Oat Cleansing Balm is the fragrance-free option.
All of my cleansing balms are suitable for all skin types, but each one has been made with a slightly different combination of ingredients, so you can choose the one that appeals to you and your skincare routine.
You can find all five cleansing balms on my website and if you've come across The Stable Soap Company through Charlie's video, welcome! I'm so pleased you've found me.
And if you're already a cleansing balm fan, I hope I've given you a few ideas for getting even more out of yours.
Pamper & Groom Naturally.
Love
Rachael x
As with any skincare product, if you have particularly sensitive or reactive skin, always patch test first and discontinue use if irritation occurs.