Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

I’ve been using the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm for the past few weeks. I have never used a cleansing balm before so when this little sample landed on my desk a few weeks ago, I was keen to get testing!

Key Ingredients

Elderberry, sweet almond, coconut, and jojoba seed oils, and shea butter (cleansers and moisturizers)

Product Description

This velvety cleansing balm gently dissolves every last trace of residual make-up, oil and everyday grime to leave your skin feeling peachy-soft and nourished. With a 100% active base of natural (home-grown) oils including Starflower, to help restore your skin’s natural moisture barrier; Elderberry to improve firmness and elasticity; and ‘Optimega’ – a blend of Omegas 3 and 6 that works to reduce inflammation whilst keeping skin supple and hydrated – this also contains marine extract Padina Pavonica, which speeds up skin’s metabolism and stimulates the production of glycosaminoglycan molecules; that attract moisture and are therefore responsible for maintaining your skin’s youthful ‘plumpness’.

Texture & Smell

The yellow gel has an oily, salve-like texture that melts into the skin and then forms a milky lather; it has a calming herbal scent and comes with a soft cotton washcloth (which unfortunately I did not receive along with my sample for review).

The texture of this is lovely, it’s really smooth and melts into my skin beautifully. I love the way this cleans my skin and the way it leaves it feeling smooth, plumped and moisturized after use. It has a very strong smell. It’s not necessarily a ‘bad’ smell. However, I wouldn’t recommend it if your skin is sensitive to essential oils and/or scents. In fact, I’m very sensitive to scents and it took me a while to get used to the very potent peppermint scent.

How to use it

Yes, it’s high-maintenance (you first massage it into dry skin, then add some water and continue massaging, and finally wipe it away with the hot cloth), but this luxurious balm really softens the skin, instantly giving it a smoother, more radiant finish—no harsh exfoliation needed. “With a little bit of massaging, a gentle cleansing balm will loosen up dead skin, and the hot cloth will remove that dead skin without being abrasive.

Benefits

Elemis’ luxurious Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm not only takes the day off without leaving your face feeling sensitive or exposed but actively helps to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles whilst fortifying the fabric of your complexion. What’s more, it can also be used as a treatment mask; just smooth generously over face and neck then leave for ten minutes before washing away to reveal glowing, luminous skin. In consumer trials, 96% of testers said their skin felt smoother and less reactive after just fourteen days, while 91% reported an overall improvement in their skin’s condition. Deep cleansing, hydration, anti-ageing, and radiance boosting in one simple step.

My Verdict

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is the richest and creamiest cleansing balm that I’ve ever used and I’ve completely fallen in love with it over the last few weeks. Even though cleansing balms aren’t generally recommended for oily/acne-prone skin, I’ve been enjoying Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm especially during PMS and in summer when my skin tends to get more oily and become prone to pimples. The cleansing balm by itself isn’t designed to balance skin, but I’ve noticed that it somehow helps my skin stay at its best condition, it really feels like my skin is more healthy than ever! And once the balm is wiped off with the cleansing cloth (I use muslin cloth), it leaves my skin very soft, hydrated and smooth to the touch. My skin even glows! I’m so glad that this cleanser did not clog my pores, or cause acne eruptions because I was afraid the shea butter in this balm will irritate/clog my combination skin.

I love the texture and the result on my skin. I know it is on the expensive side, but if you are a cleansing balm lover or even a person who embraces facial massage, I think it’s well worth investment.

The only issue I have with this is that it isn’t very effective as an eye makeup remover. Some would argue you should use a separate eye makeup remover anyway, but I’m the first to admit… I’m lazy when it comes to cleansing and in an ideal world, I would like a cleanser that ‘takes it all off’. This doesn’t. It doesn’t do a bad job of removing, but it doesn’t quite get it all and I find it leaves a bit of a residue on the eye area.

You can buy Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm for AED 325 from basharacare