Cleanser: Homemade vs shop bought

I started using Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. Rubbing it over my make up felt very weird, but using a warm flannel to massage my face on top of the balm, was far more effective and gentle at removing my make up than my usual harsh face wipes. But as Clinique is now one of the products I’m trying to avoid, I need a cruelty free alternative.

As it happened, I actually already had one in my cupboard EVE LOM Cleanser. I started using it and found the results similar to the Clinique so was initially very happy, until I went to buy more and found out it was £85! Where did I even get this from? Must have been a present. Anyway,  as lovely as it was, it’s a little too pricy for me so I thought I’d have a go at making my own, I mean, how hard can it be? Turns out it was easy, so I’ve been using my homemade balm for three months now with similar results to the above products, for a fraction of the price. So I’ve made some more and this time, I took some pictures for you and wrote down the recipe in case you fancy having a go yourself. I used lavender, lemon and forget me not to fragrance my cleanser but you can use any essential oils you like.

Lavender & Forget Me Not Cleanser
100ml Sunflower oil
2tsp Extra virgin olive oil
12g Unrefined Shea butter
12g Beas Wax (I recommend using pellets as they melt quicker)
12 drops of Lavender essential oil
8 drops of lemon essential oil
4 drops of forget me not essential oil

How to make:
1. In a bain-marie, heat all the ingredients apart from the essential oils until the wax has melted stirring occasionally with a teaspoon. This should take about 20 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, sterilise a jar by pouring boiling water carefully over it drying with a clean tea towel.
3. Once the mixture has melted take off the heat and add the essential oils as the mixture begins to cool. Pour into your jar and leave for 1-2 hours to set. Store in a cool dry place and keep up to three months. (It’s a good idea to stick a small label on the bottom of your jar with a use by date on, especially if you’re giving it to someone as a gift.)

How to use:
1. Scoop out a coin sized amount and rub in-between your fingers to loosen up a bit.
2. Apply to your face bare or on top of make up in small circular movements. Work the product into your skin for about a minute.
3. immerse a clean flannel into a basin of warm water, rinse and hold over your face for three deep breaths. Wash and rinse the flannel and then using circular motions, carefully remove the balm from your face. Rinsing the flannel as and when needed. Lovely.

But if you can’t be bothered… you can always ask me nicely and I might make a pot for you for £20. Failing that, one of the below products should do the trick. To my knowledge they’re all cruelty free which is rather marvellous.
Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser £15.50
Neil’s Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm £38
NARS Gentle Cream Cleanser £21
Ren Rosa Centifolia No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm 100ml £24
Pixie Nourishing Cleansing Balm £18

If you enjoyed this post (or even if you didn’t) I’d love to hear from you @corrieheale corrie.heale@gmail.com.