When it comes to washing your face, you really need to give one of these game-changers a try…
What, you don’t even wash your face every night? Gah, those words are like nails down a chalkboard to us.
Because not only should you be cleaning that complexion on a daily basis, you really should be doing it twice – a ritual that’s commonly known as the double cleanse.
Are you already thinking that sounds like a lot of work? Well, your skin will thank you for it, we promise – and it truly doesn’t take much longer than just giving your face a rudimentary splash of H2o. Plus, the second part is so relaxing and spa-like, we find it actually helps us better wind down for bed.
So what is the double cleanse? Well, simply put, it’s a two-step phase of washing your face that consists of a basic cleanse (using a micellar water such as Bioderma or Garnier or any old gel cleanser, really) to get the bulk of your makeup and dirt of the day off.
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That’s where most people stop, but dermatologists and facialists alike recommend going in with another cleanse to treat and soothe your skin, and best prep it for whatever lotions and potions you use next.
This is where a cleansing balm comes in – the rich solid-to-oil formula feels amazing on the skin, while getting rid of any last bits of grime. And the texture encourages you to give your face a really long, thorough massage, which only helps boost circulation for a clearer, brighter complexion. Remove with a warm flannel and voila – super-soft and supple skin is yours.
But there are plenty of balms on the market, so where to get started? Here are six tried-and-tested options that we’ve given our stamp of approval.
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Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm
With its heady mix of orange, neroli and mandarin extracts, this one will have you feeling like you’re getting a proper facial at a five-star resort. It’s chockablock with Vitamin E, making it a natural choice for mature or drier winter skin, and we found you really need just a pea-sized amount to cleanse your whole face (so a tub lasts for ages).
Dhs170, feelunique.com.
Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter
It’s super thick at first – almost like a hair wax – but don’t worry, it quickly morphs into an oil under the heat of your skin. This doesn’t leave a residue, only strokeably soft skin – making it an impressive budget option that really holds its own against the pricier brands.
Dhs65, Body Shop stores across the UAE.
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
When it comes to the balm we buy again and again, look no further. This lightweight little lady feels silky, like already softened butter, and is emollient enough to dissolve every scrap of makeup but washes off like a dream. Plus there’s no fragrance or irritating ingredients, so this can be used on every skin type – even sensitive.
Dhs180, Clinique counters across the UAE.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
FYI, this encourages the production of collagen rather than contains it (so don’t keep double checking the ingredients list). What it does contain, however, is a sumptuous-smelling blend of geranium, lavender, chamomile, eucalyptus and clove which, together with rose wax and elderberry oils, cleans impressively deeply yet gently.
Dhs325, elemis.ae.
Oskia Perfect Cleanser
The bonus with this one is that it squeezes out of a tube rather than requiring fingers stuffed in jars (so it’s actually more hygienic). And while it does contain shea butter (which can clog pores, so is not typically great for those prone to breakouts), it’s a product designed to be washed off rather than sit on the skin, so we’ve found it to be absolutely fine on our oily complexion. Just make sure you remove every last trace of it, preferably with a warm flannel.
Dhs146, cultbeauty.co.uk.
Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm
It’s on the more expensive side, but we reckon this feels like the most luxe of them all. Blended with thermal water and Hungarian mud, we found this to be the most effective on our congested time-of-the-month skin, but smelt like a field of roses rather than the usual astringent anti-acne ranges. We genuinely felt our large-pored skin was more refined and less oily, and we’d pay twice the amount for that alone.
Dhs216, cultbeauty.co.uk.
Image: Getty
