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Despite the fact I have enough cleansers to last me a small dog’s lifetime, winter makes me yearn for a cleansing balm. Eve Lom was the first balm cleanser I ever used and I still think it’s a great cleanser but I find it hard to justify buying it all the time when there are equally effective products for a fraction of the price. A recommendation from a twitter pal led me to the comforting arms of Boots Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing balm.
There’s something Old School and grown up about the ritual involved in using a cleansing balm. Cleopatra definitely wouldn’t have used a foaming wash, ass milk or not. Cleansing balms are also very kind to dry winter skin, providing nourishment and limited contact with water, which counter intuitively, is very dehydrating to the skin.
BOOTS BOTANICS
Created in association with Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, the Botanics range is all about plant power and does not contain mineral oil or parabens. The focus is on active plant extracts that have been scientifically tested. I’m generally a fan of products that are as natural as possible as my skin tends to react less to them. However the use of “natural” and “organic” on beauty product labels is often meaningless marketing guff so knowing the respected Kew Gardens is involved does give credibility to Boots Botanics. Environmentally friendly packaging and ethical and responsible sourcing of raw materials is also part of what Boots promises so all in all thumbs up.
Organic products tend to be so much pricier, often I know, because they are produced by smaller companies that don’t have the buying power of a big brand like Boots. In any case it is good to have budget organic beauty products that don’t cost the earth.
So excellent aims but are the products any good?
BOOTS BOTANICS 97% ORGANIC HOT CLOTH CLEANSING BALM REVIEW
|
PACKAGING |
White plastic jar with screw lid. Doesn’t disgrace itself on your bathroom shelves. |
|
FIRST IMPRESSIONS |
The Boots Botanic Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm looks like the Eve Lom cleanser. The texture is also similar though it feels less grainy than the Eve Lom. |
| SMELL |
The aromatic essential oils, mainly sweet citrus and rose geranium, make the balm smell soothing. Each time I used it it made me “aaaaah”. See below for full ingredient list in case you have allergies/sensitivities. |
| BOOTS SAYS
WONDERLUSTING SAYS |
“deeply cleanses and smoothes”
No outlandish claims and does what it says |
|
PERFORMANCE |
Melted on contact with skin to become an oil which is great for facial massage as it glides and isn’t absorbed in to the skin as you rub it over the face.The blend of rose hip, Shea butter and Jojoba oil makes it feel really nourishing and sensual.The label does state to avoid contact with eyes but I’ve used it for taking off light eye makeup without reaction or eye stinging. I didn’t find it suitable for heavy eye makeup so you would need to remove that first.
Overall my skin was left feeling clean, smooth with no sense of being stripped or tightness. One time as an experiment, I skipped my usual nighttime moisturiser afterwards and the next morning my dry skin hadn’t suffered at all. For me this was a really pleasurable product to use, particularly in the evening when I could take my time. You know when you keep stroking your cheek because it feels so soft that was me when using this. |
|
ANY MOANS |
There is a muslin cloth included for removing the balm but I thought it felt more like a cheap cotton handkerchief which smeared rather than removed the balm so ditched it and used my own cloths. |
|
LABELLING |
Pai Skincare remains my benchmark for the crystal clear labelling I would like to see on all skincare products. Boots Botanics is not bad in terms of ingredient listing but I would like to see a manufacturing/expiry date |
|
PRICE |
RRP £8.99 for 65ml (though seems to regularly be on offer in Boots, I got mine for £6.99). For comparison the Eve Lom cleanser is £40 for 50ml. |
|
WONDERLUSTING VERDICT |
Would recommend for dry skin types. Ace budget beauty buy. |
Boots Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm Ingredients
Olea europaea (Olive) fruit oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil*, Cera alba (Beeswax)*, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter*, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Sweet almond) oil*, Cetearyl alcohol, Rosa canina seed oil*, Limonene, Citronellol, Pelargonium graveolens flower oil, Citrus aurantium dulcis peel extract*, Linalool, Citrus aurantium bergamia (Bergamot) fruit oil, Citrus medica limonum (Lemon) peel oil, Geraniol, **Parfum (Fragrance), Citral
* Ingredients certified as organic by the Soil Association for use in cosmetic products
** Ingredients certified as organic by the Ecocert Association for use in cosmetic products
Wonderlusting 
Sounds wonderful! Must add it to the list..I’ve always been a fan of Liz Erle but happy to try something it’s easy to find on the high street! xxx
I’m sighing just thinking about it. Really lovely to use. Cleanse & Polish is good but I’d really recommend this for a change xxx
This post has re-kindled my interest in this range. I like your picture – gives me the urge to dip in to that balm!
I’m going to explore more bits. It really is lush.
Great post, I only ever tried one product in the range and at the time felt it was too perfumed for my face, but this sounds really lush. Might be one to put on the maybe pile 😉
Thanks! I haven’t tried any other bits but the cleanser so lovely to use. I normally react to fragrance but was OK with this. Worth having a look when it’s on offer.
Love this post – so detailed! I think I would give it a go based on this review x
Thank you! I’m obsessed with cleansers so tried to think of everything i’d want to know – i really liked it! x