Did you know that the Boots in Kingston has an Urban Retreat (yes as in Harrods) outlet in it? Well I didn’t either until I had a meeting there one afternoon, and went into Boots to pick up some cotton wool, and came out with the Nourishing Cleansing Balm from Jane Scrivner’s award winning range.
The texture is what I would call a true balm, it is soft and easy to manipulate, even with the cold weather that lasted well into April. Great organic ingredients, including jojoba oil, beeswax, Ylang Ylang oil, Elemi, Eucalyptus, Camel Grass, Lavender, Myrhh, Orange and Sandalwood. There are lots of ingredients in this product, but it does not feel like there are too many. They each play an important role and blended together they smell ohhhhhhhhhh sooooooooo good. Ylang Ylang is not my favourite scent by a long shot (a bit too heady for me) but this blend is delicious.
It comes with a lovely big spatula, which makes it both easy and hygienic to use. I love it when brands provides a spatula with their product – especially when it is fit for purpose. It also comes with a fluffy white mitt, which is soft – a large flannel, folded in half and seamed around three side. The mitt makes removing the cleanser with warm water quick and easy and a final wipe over the face with the mitt dipped in cool water as instructed by Jane Scrivner leaves the skin wonderfully refreshed. I have used this product many ways:-
As a Make up remover
It is an effective make up remover, I removed on several occassions a full face of Black Opal stick foundation, MAC Paint Pot, Bobbi Brown gel liner Chanel Mascara and YSL lippie very easily, however, I prefer to use a cleansing water to remove my make up and will continue to do so.
As a Cleanser
This is great to use for facial massage or just a quick go over the face, leaves the face clean, clarified, smooth and not at all taut after use.
As a Night Cream
I cleansed my face, then removed with the flannel that it comes with, used a toner (Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic and Decleor Youth Lotion) and then used it as a night cream. In the morning, my skin was not at all greasy but it was still mositurised. Really plump and hydrated. I have used it over hydraluron but to be honest, I did not see an increased benefit using it this way then using it on it’s own.
As a Mini Facial.
When I’m doing an intensive hair conditioning treatment, I put this on my cleansed face and carry on with my day. When it is time to rinse out my hair treatment, I rinse my face at the same time and then put a moisturiser on my hair and face. The other way that I like to use this is to apply it liberally before a long bath (the type of bath that requires a magazine, candles and a glass of red wine). At the end of the bath, I wipe off the excess with a tissue and apply no other product for the rest of the evening.
I REALLY love this cleanser. Seriously. At weekends when I am having a make up free day, or before I am heading out and about I really enjoy using this product. I think it is a brilliant addition to the hydration products in my skincare regime.