NOW CLOSED: Kleenex Balsam Feedback thread

[AnnMumsnet]

This thread is for the 65 Mumsnetters trying out the Kleenex Balsam tissue range.

All testers were sent one of each of the following products from the range:

~ Balsam tissues in regular, man-size and pocket pack formats
~ Balsam Fresh tissue in regular & pocket pack formats
~ Kleenex Balsam Nose and Lip Balm

Please add your feedback to the thread below, everyone who does so will be entered into a prize draw for John Lewis vouchers where one lucky MNer will win £100 of vouchers AND two runners up will each receive £50 of vouchers.

Please note Kleenex may well use quotes from the feedback on the Kleenex hub on Mumsnet - along with your MN name E.g. AnnMumsnet said "xxx". If Kleenex want to use one of your comments anywhere other than on the Kleenex MN pages (for example, in press ads, on the Kleenex website and Facebook pages) they will also want to include your name and location (e.g. Sally of Norwich said "xxx"). If your comment is selected, we will contact you beforehand to confirm these details and for your permission, and you can decline if you wish. The Kleenex team may also want testers to act as case studies and again if so, you will be contacted by Mumsnet.

Kleenex just have a couple of questions for you. Though you are welcome to add any other comments you may have also.

So, which product did you like the best from the range? Why?

How did you and your family use the products in the range? Can you give some examples of how you all used them - for example did any pocket packs go in school bags, does the lip balm live in your handbag or car? Where did you keep the boxes?

Thanks, MNHQ

~ Balsam tissues in regular, man-size and pocket pack formats.
We use the regular in the house and the mansize in the car. Everyone has used them and my dd commented on how soft they were.

~ Balsam Fresh tissue in regular & pocket pack formats - These are in my handbag and dd took some in her travel bag as she is away on her school trip this week, she is not back yet, so I don't know what she thinks of them.

~ Kleenex Balsam Nose and Lip Balm - I haven't used this yet, the menthol tissues are great, nothing else required, though I might try it on my ds, because he suffers from chapped lips.

So, which product did you like the best from the range? I really liked both the pocket size fresh and the regular balsam. Why?
The pocket fresh have been great whilst I have had a slight cold, I thought they would annoy me, but I like the hint of menthol, it is not overpowering and I think that is why they are so good.

The regular are just lovely to use in general, they would be my general first choice everyday tissues, if they weren't too expesive.

So, which product did you like the best from the range? Why?

I liked the Balsam Regular best. They were incredibly soft and could really tell the difference between those and the value ones I buy. So did everybody else in the house too so I think I'll get complaints if I try value again.

How did you and your family use the products in the range?

The tissues have been used to cope with dd's cold which she passed on to most of the rest of the family. Elder daughter has used them for removing make up, blotting lipstick, smudging eyeliner. Yonger dd has used them (coloured in ) to make blankets and capes for her Barbies

Can you give some examples of how you all used them - for example did any pocket packs go in school bags, does the lip balm live in your handbag or car? Where did you keep the boxes?

The pocket packs the fresh ones went in my handbag the balsam ones went in dd's book bag as she came down with a cold the day the tissues arrived. The mansize tissue box went on the coffee table in the lounge where there are always tissues. The regular balsam went into the dd's bedroom to cope with young dd's cold and also because elder dd decided they were just the thing to remove her make up with. The balsam fresh ones are in the kitchen.The lip balm is in my handbag although dd has used it liberally and found it very soothing.

The tissues are far superior to the ones I generally buy and I think for softness and strength are worth buying when the family have a cold. I have really enjoyed taking part in the product test so thank you and I think I'm convinced now that you get what you pay for.

Oh and the boxes have been used for dd's endless modelling projects

So, which product did you like the best from the range? Why?

I liked the tissues with menthol. They got the balance right of having a refreshing smell without being too overwhelming. We currently have a stash of Kleenex tissues which are man size but packed down into a smaller, square shaped box. We find these very useful as they are less likely to get squashed - good for the car, for example. If these handily-sized square boxes came in a menthol variety I think we would opt for them as a first choice.

I apologise for not responding before- we have only recently opened the big box of menthol ones and one thing I would be curious about is the length of time for which the menthol aroma lasts,when the box is open. My impression is that it has dissipated a bit (though I may be wrong) but time will tell.

(How did you and your family use the products in the range? Can you give some examples of how you all used them - for example did any pocket packs go in school bags, does the lip balm live in your handbag or car? Where did you keep the boxes?

The pocket packs are routinely kept in my handbag (We usually buy standard Kleenex pocket packs for this as well). These are "mummy tissues" for wiping my pre-schooler's nose and mouth. It is excellent that the balsam tissues are so soft.

We usually have at least one pack of tissues in the car - we have found the square box ones very helpful for that. The menthol ones are by my bed, 54the regular balsam is sitting in the kitchen. We get through an industrial quantity of tissues with a 3 year old and have an open box in every room, for sticky fingers/ runny nose/ spills & accidents etc. Also, I have had repeated bouts of pneumonia and get through a lot of tissues because of that (a tendency to chest infections and sinusitis might also contribute towards me really liking the menthol tissues). Also, soft tissues ae very good! In fact, it might be that our plethora of tissue availability has got a bit in the way of our turnover of the tissues which we were sent, and I apologise for this.

I had meant to try out the tissues on the new baby when she arrives, as they are lovely and soft and this would be a good use for them; however this will not be for another 2 weeks (I could report back if you like).

The balm smells pleasant; I don't usually use lip balm, but thought it would be a good addition to my maternity bag. However, DS has a cold and a sore nose so he has got the benefit of it!

Oh, and thank you very much for the opportunity to try these!

Which product did you like best and why?
The ultra balm tissues were my favourite as they felt so soft, didn't develop holes, lasted well and didn't leave skin sore after repeated nose blowing. The pocket packs were very handy but I especially like the mansize tissues as they last for more than one use IYSWIM.

How did you use the product?
The boxes of tissues were kept in our lounge and were great when the kids needed a tissue in a hurry, they really like getting their own tissue from the box. The pocket packs were a favourite with DS1 (nearly 7) he kept a pack in his school bag and said he much preferred this to having a tissue in his pocket.
The lip balm now lives in my handbag. I really liked this product also, it softened my lips nicely without being too greasy and didn't have too strong a taste or perfume.

I love the lip balm, for me it would be perfect if it came in lipstick form rather than a tin as I prefer it that way.

I also used the tissues for wiping jelly off my tummy when my community midwife came to do an antenatal check at home and the mansize ultra balm tissues were perfect. They were nice and big and absorbent and felt lovely and soft on my skin.

Thank you for the chance to try these products

My favourite product was the kleenex balsam tissues. I suffer from chronic sinusitis which basically means I am fairly snotty most of the time. I basically had the tissues with me all the time. i kept the large ones by the bed, and the normal sized ones in the car for my morning sneezes on the way to work while i wait for my steroid nasal spray to kick in.

Have had a stinking cold for the last week also, so the smelly ones were quite comforting although I thought the smell was a bit strong. Nevertheless they were a bit a treat while feeling poorly. Posh tissues help to make you feel better don't they?

The lip balm is good stuff too and DS2 who is 5 likes it because it's not pink so a boy can use it too. The kids liked the smelly tissues just for sniffing.

I'm not a great fan of the handy pack tissues, too petite for my volume of snot to be truthful and a bit fiddly to get out of the packet while you're brewing a massive sneeze.

All in all, lovely good quality tissues and a bit of a treat when you're a snotbag like me.

I just wanted to add something about the menthol tissues. I haven't read all of the other feedback, so I don't know if anyone else has mentioned it but I was a bit disappointed at how quickly the menthol smell disappeared once the box was open. The tissues had only been open a few days and the smell had practically gone! Still nice tissues, but no difference to normal balsam.

I'm mum to a beautiful 19 month old boy. Sad, I know, but I've been really excited about being picked for this product test. With the struggle of nursery costs straining the budget, it's been supermarket's cheapest tissues for us for the past wee while! I wasn't disappointed when I picked up the package from the sorting office. Lots of lovely tissues to try and best of all a lip balm too.

I?ve had really dry lips all winter so I was really looking forward to trying the lip balm. It looks similar to the vaseline tins so I instinctively tried to pull off the lid. I felt a bit silly with this one to begin with. I was pulling away with no joy and ended up giving up. Later that day my son gave a quick twist and the lid was off!! Now able to test I smeared it on my lips. I found it a bit on the sticky side but it was lovely and soothing. After a couple of days my lips were feeling great and back to their summery smoothness.

Now on to the tissues. As luck would have it (for the tissue testing, but sadly not for me!), I came down with a snuffly cold shortly after receiving the tissues. The boxes have typical Kleenex styling - they mean business and they're not afraid to show it! They aren't the prettiest of boxes, however, so if you're into matching the decor these aren't the ones for you. Luckily, I'm a practical girl and with the house taken over with multicoloured toys galore, matching the soft furnishings are the last thing on my mind. The tissues are all very lovely and soft but also strong and thick too. I've been more than happy to use them on my son's delicate wee nose. Much to my surprise he has also given them the seal of approval too. He normally hates getting his nose wiped but he's not complained once with these tissues. He also has been enjoying pretending to wipe his own nose with them so he must really enjoy the softness. I don't know why but I'm particularly drawn to the menthol tissues. I love the smell and they seem the most gentle on my nose. I have never bought mansize tissues because I was put off by both the huge box and extra cost. I have to say I am very impressed with the mansize in particular. They are the perfect size when you have a cold. I just wish that a manufacturer would design them in a smaller box as I'm still not keen on the huge big box. My son on the other hand loves carrying them around telling me they are very big and heavy (his newest obsession!).

I've really enjoyed the trial and would definitely consider purchasing the menthol balm tissues, particularly for use with my wee boy as I like to cut down on any discomfort he has when he's poorly. Just one big request... any chance of a child proof box?!?

Hmmmmm, which product did I like best?
The fresh tissues. I really like the smell of the usual balsam tissues, but this seemed a little gentler. I was happy to use these on my 9 month old daughter (aka baby snot monster). They didn't seem to cause her any discomfort.
I have to say that the pockets packs are just fab. After several car journeys and one trip to a&e this month they have been SO handy.

The mansize tissue box lives on top of the fridge, then we have boxes on shelves in both the living room and the dining room. Essentially tissues in every room of the house! Thank you so much for letting us test them!

P.s. The nose and lip balm stuff works but I really don't like the smell. It's kind of stuffy/kitchen cupboardy/herbal with a whiff of old feet. Not keen. Please could we have another smell???

So, which product did you like the best from the range? Why?
Liked the Fresh ones the best because they felt nicer against my nose. Unfortunately all the males in the household have looked at me blankly when asked about them which of the two types they preferred!

How did you and your family use the products in the range?
We all came down with colds within a week of the arrival of the tissues so they've been used for snot wiping . Actually, it's been a nice habit to get in to (having a box of tissues handy) because we always just use toilet roll. If I keep it up I may have to laugh madly at myself and get a tissue box holder so that it blends in with the house a bit more and well, looks less like a cardboard box of tissues.

Can you give some examples of how you all used them - for example did any pocket packs go in school bags, does the lip balm live in your handbag or car? Where did you keep the boxes?
A box on the table in the living room, a box next to the DC's bunk bed, a small packet stuffed in my coat pocket to wipe boys' noses as and when, and the balm likewise. I put a packet in DS1's coat pocket but they never made it back from school...no surprise there.

Thanks for selecting me for this trial! The package arrived on the first day of a rotten cold and I'd taken a day off work. Couldn't have arrived at a better time!

How did you and your family use the products in the range?

I liked the menthol tissues, although I had such a bad stuffy nose when they first arrived, I couldn't detect the menthol at all. A day or two into the cold I found the menthol to be really pleasant and useful.

Can you give some examples of how you all used them - for example did any pocket packs go in school bags, does the lip balm live in your handbag or car?

I kept a packet of menthol in my bag, DH carried a pack of balsam (he got manflu after I got my cold).

We kept the large box on living room table (swiftly moved to a shelf as 19 month old DS kept removing tissues and distributing them all over the floor) and the balsam lived in the car. 6 year old DD loved the smell of the menthol tissues.

I initially had the same problem with the lip balm - I couldn't pick the lid off. I nearly lost a nail trying. Then I had a lightbulb moment and decided to twist it and it worked. I really like the lip balm but preferred it rubbed around my nose rather than on my lips

Thanks for sending the Kleenex products to us, like others, we've been full of rotten colds, coughs and various facial infections, so the products have been well and truly tested by our family. I took them all around to my parents' as there's always a good load of family traffic especially over the weekends and whenever my brothers and I are ill, we always go there for TLC and to raid Mum's medicine cupboard.

So, which product did you like the best from the range? Why?

We really liked the balsam fresh tissues. Everyone thought that they were soft and comforting and that the fragrance was effective but not overpowering. My Mum, however, thought that they needed to be saved for 'best', so kept hiding the box above the bookcase because they were so special that you should only use one if you were REALLY poorly. Obviously, she pinched the pocket pack of balsam fresh tissues for her school bag, tissue fascist.

All of us said that if we were ill, we'd buy these ones again.

How did you and your family use the products in the range? Can you give some examples of how you all used them - for example did any pocket packs go in school bags, does the lip balm live in your handbag or car? Where did you keep the boxes?

Mansize tissues on the end of the kitchen worktop (not really used that much as if you're a blower & thrower like us, it seems a bit of a waste to use a humongous one just for one use. And nobody needs a tissue as large as your face.)

Balsam on living room coffee table had lots of use - nice and soft. No sore noses! Strong too.

Balsam Fresh - as above, strictly rationed by DM. I tucked one up my sleeve and it was nice to know that the scent lasted longer than just the moment it's pulled out of the box.

Balsam Fresh Pocket - In DM (a teacher)'s school bag.

Balsam Pocket - in my handbag. Handy. I probably would have thought carrying a packet of tissues was old ladyish, but I found I used the whole packet with dribbly baby, snotty self.

Lip balm in my handbag as well. I handed it around as people cake around for sunday lunch and lot of positive comments, but after that I didn't really have a use for it. Maybe I should have put it in my makeup bag and used it instead of vaseline when putting my face on in the morning.

Again, the twist top wasn't obvious to a few of us. Maybe a circular arrow on the lid would help with that as a couple of people thought that the lid was just stuck on. The male members of the family said they would prefer a stick type balm rather than a rub and dab. The tin was cute and a good size for popping in my bag. Interestingly the first thing EVERYONE did when they opened the tin was shove their nose in for a sniff, surprised to find it wasn't scented. The green packaging implies that it's going to be menthol like the fresh tissues. On the nose it felt nice, didnt give me spots (most stuff does) and didn't leave a greasy or shiny mark. Also, some lip balms make the dry, peeling skin on your lips go very white and obvious, this didn't so I was happy about that.

Many thanks for enabling us to take part in this test. The products have all proven enormously useful! I have a small packet in every coat pocket, nappy bag + handbag to deal with all the constant sniffles and snuffles. One box on the kitchen counter, another in the bathroom. My DH - completely unaware that we were taking part in a product test - was the first to try one out, grabbing a tissue from the box on the counter he immediately remarked on its softness. He has also proven to be a huge fan of the little pot of balsam. Generally lipbalms he finds around the place are either fragranced or coloured or in lipstick format. This one is perfect for a bloke - the packaging isn't too girly either. So we have been scrapping over it (definitely going to have to buy more!). I've been using it liberally on my 4 year old DD who has had really raw lips in the recent cold snap. I've also been slathering it on myself. I'm 25 weeks pregnant and suffering from all sorts of dry patched, it hong skin etc. The balsam seem to sooth and protect particular trouble spots - eg my hands, where other products with fragrances have been stinging like crazy. So I would probably say that for our family as a whole the balsam has been the biggest hit. A 'lipstick' style one might work better for my daughter though as she tends to dig her finger in and get a massive dollop out. I would definitely buy the menthol fragranced tissues for a heavy cold. I find them enormously soothing. I could almost look forward to being curled up on the sofa with a cold if I had a big box of menthol tissues by my side.

Argh! Blimmin bossy spellchecker. My skin has had "dry patches" and has been "itching" rather than "it hong".

Quick update: I have completely changed my opinion on the Balm stuff. DD2 (19 mo) has the most stinking cold ever - her nose has become a constant drip of complete disgustingness, and her face has been red raw (even the lovely soft Balsam tissues become sore beyond a certain point!)...but the balm is wonderful, and is really helping to protect her poor little nose.

Thanks again. The only drawback to this trial is that dh and all 3 dcs have decided we should keep on using these lovely expensive tissues in the future....

Another shout up for the balm here! Rubbed it on my stingy lips today and they feel lovely now, all pain gone. And having read the post above I might try it on ds2's post-cold raw looking cheeks tomorrow since the bum cream hasn't worked.

Just wanted to add, have gone out and purchased a number of the nose and lip balm, DD loves it so much I was no longer allowed to take it to work with me :)

Thanks very much for all the feedback - Kleenex are very pleased to have helped with so many snotty noses .

The winners for the prize draws are below
TimeForMeAndDD - £100 Jl voucher
mamabearwithme - £50 voucher
pamplemousse - £50 voucher

Well done everyone and thanks again.

Thank you so much!