Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm review

If you read this blog regularly, you will know I have a new found love of cleaners. I adore Emma Hardie’s Moringa Cleansing Balm, so I was intrigued to try another new balm on the market, around a similar price point, from Elemis.

The Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm has been a HUGE hit since its launch back in March – they sold 10,000 pots of it in the launch week, and three days after the balm launched, and was sold out, there was a waiting list of 7,000 people on QVC!

You can buy it now, stocks have been replenished, and I have been using mine for a few weeks. It was launched to coincide with the 10th Anniversary of the multi award-winning Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, and has been two years in development.

Firstly, let’s talk about the scent, which hits you the minute you open the jar – it contains rich, skin-nurturing oils which are grown in the in the UK, including geranium, lavender, chamomile, eucalyptus, Ho wood, orange, menthol and clove. The eucalyptus and menthol are a bit over-powering, but, like with fragrances, if you have a good sniff, you will get a hint of the other scents.

The other ingredients are wheatgerm and oat, starflower and elderberry oils, with mimosa and rose wax. It’s lovely to use inso many ways, not just as a cleansing balm, but that’s it’s true purpose, and it excels at it. It melts into an oil, when you apply it to your face.

You can add a tiny bit of water, as I do with my Emma Hardie balm to facilitate this melting, or not. You can leave it on for up to 10 minutes for a deep cleanse, or, after massaging it in, remove right away, with the lovely cotton cloth you get with it, or, with dampened cotton pads, which I like to do, in particular around the eye area.

Now, my problem with this balm is that it states ‘avoid contact with the eyes’. I don’t understand this. Does it mean not to use it on the eyes? I’ve read reviews where it’s been recommended for stubborn eye makeup. I used it on my eyes, and had no problems at all – I wouldn’t expect to with such a natural product, but why does it say avoid contact with eyes?

These days, with so many all-in-one cleansers available, I would never choose one that I couldn’t take my eye makeup off with. Traditional eye makeup removers are a lot worse for your eyes.  Many are alcohol-based, so it’s pretty wrong to suggest that a balm this natural will hurt your eyes. It won’t. But the message given out here, I feel, is a bit confusing.

It is a lovely balm, for dry skin types in particular, and if you want to try it, you can buy it now at Elemis salons and spas, or online at timetospa.co.uk, £39.50 for 105g.