Cleansing Balms - cheaper alternatives? does anyone want to help me research?

[OoohMrCoyne]

I've been using various brands of cleansing balm / thick gloopy cleanser to be removed with a cotton washcloth and warm water. I usually add these to my Christmas or Birthday list, as I can't really afford to buy them regularly myself. I love the concept and it's definately working for me, but I can't help feeling we are being ripped off... bigtime. I really object to anything priced over £10 for an average sized pot.

Here is a list of products which are lovely and DO work, but are just way toooo pricey for, basically a pot of: oil, beeswax and essential oils (and in most cases lots of preservatives too):
Eve Lom / Amanda Lacey / Vaishaly: all about £60-65 (!? why?)
Organic Pharmacy Carrot / Neils Yard Rose / Emma Hardie Moringa: £30-£35
REN Purity / Spiezia / Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish: £17-£20

Yesterday I found out that Boots make 'Botanics Organic Cleansing Balm', which is in theory 95% organic, a 15g pot is just £6.63! The reviews look promising, although I'll probably stick with the cloths I already have. I have ordered some online. I have still got some Emma Hardie and Liz Earle on the go that I can compare the results with. Must admit I'm generally not keen on Boots products.

Does anyone know of any other cleansing balms, reasonably priced (below £10), which are as good as the expensive ones?

Has anyone tried actually MAKING a cleansing balm? Any recipes?

Or using another similar product as a cleansing balm, eg: Waitrose Bottom Butter? Just thought of that and will try it!

I use the neals yard beauty balm as a moisturiser. Just grease it on after a shower and walk around shiny for a bit soon sinks in and them I don't feel so ripped off as it seems to work well for what I want. I do have dry skin and do spend time outdoors in all weathers so it seems to work. I don't use the cloths they provide at all....

Have you tried the oil cleansing method? I went from cleansing balms like eve lom (which I actually found lasted so long that I didn't mind the insane price tag) to oil cleansing method, and since the balm turns to oil on your face anyway, I found it much the same. And every bit as effective, for about £4 a year.

Waitrose botty butter makes a good cleanser. Superdrug have a cleansing balm in their Vitamin E range that costs buttons.

I have been using the Superdrug one now for three weeks and I am really impressed. Usually I am a Liz Earle user but this was on offer and I thought I would give it a go. Two for £3.99. I also like the Vit E exfoliator- it's quite grainy but I prefer that.

I have used the Eve Lom (love it but not the price and the synthetic ingredients), the REN no. 1 purity balm (loved that one too) and the Neals Yard Rose Balm (smells wonderful but a bit too much residue for me).

Am now using the Boots this one. Don't get the superbalm (15g pot), that is a very small lip balm type pot for intense moisturising. I'm finding it really good, as good as the more expensive products.

The bottom butter is just solidified olive oil with a fragrance added. I use olive oil when money is tight or when I haven't restocked.

No I have not tried oils, can you recommend any?
Glad someone else has tried Botty Butter: will do same later on today.
I have not investigated Superdrug yet... will do so.
Ideally I wanted to find something organic/natural... on that note, I was very shocked o discover Eve Lom is NOT!

One more question: do you use balm to cleanse and then add a layer to moisturise like beachyhead? I hadn't really thought of doing this (duh!).

Yes Pseudonymity: that's what I found yesterday and ordered! (we have tiny rubbish Boots where I live, so have ordered online and eagerly await arrival).

I am currently using Champneys rich cleansing balm (nicked from my mother's bathroom cupboard after trying it on my last trip home ) and am amazed at how much more plumptious and sort of darkly glowing my face looks.

Lush ultrabland is nice and fairly cheap. There is 2, one is called ultrabalm - not that one, that's more like Vaseline for chapped bits!

Hi My favs would be
boots £10 but look out for £5 off vouchers
superdrug dirt cheap
and this sanctuary one
tesco used to do one in the Bnatural range too, but I can no longer find it.

I second the oil cleansing method. Ive been using coconut oil and am really impressed. Cant see myself going back to cleanser/wash.

Ponds Cold Cream is a brilliant cleansing balm, and only a few pounds. Often on 342 in Boots too. I use it with a hot cloth and it works like a dream.

I'm using the Sanctury Polishing Hot Cloth cleaners at the moment and really liking it. It is very similar to Liz Earl cleanse and polish and Soap and Glory hot cloth cleanser but thicker than both - which I like. Bigger tube too and easy to get hold of at Boots. Cost about £10 but frequently on 3 for 2.

there arent any decent balms under £10 (though I can recommend Rawganic, see review here www.yumetcetera.com/2011/03/yummy-cleansers-part-2.html OR Evolve? www.yumetcetera.com/2011/02/cleansers.html

• if you want to spend less then buy either oil (eg sweet almond) or coconut oil is fab, plus smells amazing. You can get a big pot of organic for under a tenner, here are some I tested: www.yumetcetera.com/2011/05/coconut-oil-ultimate-cleanser.html

muslin cloths that come with cleansers are usually rubbish, I have never found a decent one (apart from with a v expensive product), so you're better off paying a bit more and buying cloths you like separately.

and yes, Eve Lom is glorified vaseline!

I disagree that there aren't any decent balms under £10. The Boots one I linked to above is as decent as the more expensive products in my opinion. The Lush Ultrabland is good for under a tenner too. It is very moisturising so better for dry skin in my opinion. I also used Liz Earle for a while but I don't rate it (sorry!). Seems I have used many or most of the balms on the market.

I have a lot of the Liz Earle muslins but I tend to use ordinary flannels tbh.

I haven't tried the one from Lush, the one from Boots gave me a rash!

I like Ultrabland. It's the thing of finding the right one for you, isn't it, keeps us on the quest for the holy grail :)

Thank you all for suggestions.

I went to Superdrug this afternoon and bought 2 x Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleansers, currently on offer at £3.99 for two (this product is usually £5.99 a 200ml tube!).
I used both the Ultrabland and Sanctuary, forgot why I stopped...
Have ordered the Akamuti as well.

Will report back.

I'm also of the opinion that it SHOULD be possible to find something suitable for £10 or less. Often you are just paying for the name, overheads and packaging. I've been looking carefully at the ingredients and the expensive ones don't contain anything that amazing as far as I can see.

The Boots one is very good, as is OCM.

MissFoodie I thought coconut oil was comodegenic?

the main problem with the superdrug one is it's full of parabens - obv if this is not an issue for you then great, for that price I'd just use sweet almond or jojoba oil, or even better, coconut.

Pinot, i've never had any issues with it nor have i ever read anyone have issues with this, in fact, it's recommended for acne and oily skin! Anything with silicone or paraffin based oils is going to be comedogenic, even though the fancy brands use them in all their products!

I am very happy with the Boots Botanics Organics Cleanser which contains no nasties (according to the ingredients list). It is very thick and I remove with a soft warm flannel. I'm not sure how much it cost but probably around a fiver. Main ingredients are water and olive oil and it is quite thick in consistency. The reviews have been mixed but it works very well for me. Boots customer service is also excellent; if I ever don't get on with something I have always been able to take back for a refund.

The Boots organic one works well for me too. Got it on 3 for 2. Works as well as more £££ brands IMO.

What do people do re cleaning the muslim cloths when they get makeup on etc? Just bung em in the machine? What's a good site for good-quality ones?

Anyway other recommendations for coconut oil cleanser or can you just buy it neat and use it?