I’ve been engaged on one thing actually particular for the previous three years, and right this moment, I’m so excited to lastly unveil it to the world! Meet Higher Than Balm—our first-ever, oil-based cleanser.
I knew that if I created a cleaning balm, it wanted to be totally different. What makes Higher Than Balm distinctive is its dual-phase know-how, which permits it to rework from an oil right into a milky gel. This cleanser’s energy actually lies in its transformation, and it’s that very same transformation that provides you a correct double cleanse with only one product (sure, you learn that proper!).
I labored arduous to make a product that I felt was efficient and in addition a pleasure to make use of, and since creating this balm, it’s shortly develop into my favourite approach to take away make-up at night time. Because it took so lengthy to get right here, I believed I’d share the journey behind this particular product and break down what makes it totally different—and why it’s actually higher than balm.
The Inspiration—Why “Higher Than Balm?”
Cleaning balms have positively develop into a mainstay within the skincare world. You realize the sort—it’s thick, possibly a bit waxy, and once you flip the jar the other way up, it doesn’t budge. And hear, I totally perceive why individuals like utilizing these! They really feel wealthy and moisturizing, they usually do an ideal job of eradicating make-up. However, this will come at a value. In the end, my inspiration for Higher Than Balm got here from constantly watching individuals use conventional cleaning balms incorrectly, to the detriment of their pores and skin.
The Drawback With Conventional Cleaning Balms
Many individuals like utilizing cleaning balms as a result of it makes their pores and skin really feel moisturized. However have you ever ever stopped to consider why your pores and skin feels so moisturized after? It’s as a result of these balms are fabricated from heavy oils or waxes which can be actually tough to rinse off. The result’s that many cleaning balms find yourself leaving an oily movie behind in your pores and skin. This would possibly depart you feeling tender and moisturized, nevertheless it additionally means the remainder of your skincare merchandise aren’t going to work as successfully. Oils are made up of enormous molecules, and merchandise like serums are made with tiny molecules which can be designed to go deep into the pores and skin. In case you put a small molecule on high of a giant one, it received’t be capable of penetrate via. (For this reason I used to be by no means a fan of double cleaning with a balm prior to now.)
Whereas it’s vital to decide on a cleanser with out harsh substances that may strip your pores and skin, the principle perform of a cleanser is to, effectively, cleanse. You shouldn’t be counting on it for moisture—that’s the place the remainder of your skincare is available in. In actual fact, in case your cleanser is leaving an oily movie behind, it could actually really dehydrate your pores and skin over time. You see, all pores and skin sorts want a mixture of oil and water to be wholesome. Water-based merchandise are typically made up of—you guessed it—smaller molecules. So, a layer of oil would really forestall hydration from stepping into your pores and skin.
Once I was creating this product, I used to be decided to make one thing with all the advantages of a standard cleaning balm, and not one of the drawbacks.
The Formulation
From a method standpoint, there are two issues that make Higher Than Balm stand out. First, the oil we use is much more light-weight than most oils. Second, this cleanser accommodates a better quantity of surfactants than conventional cleaning balms. Getting the proper ratio of oil to surfactants was positively the trickiest a part of the formulation course of, and it despatched me again to the drafting board greater than as soon as. We ended up with a profitable mixture that allowed Higher Than Balm to work in two phases.
Section 1: Oil Section
Section one among Higher Than Balm is an opulent but light-weight oil. Oil works so effectively to dissolve make-up as a result of it’s lipophilic, which means it’s interested in different oils. Or, put extra merely, “like dissolves like.”
The oil element of Higher Than Balm is caprylic/capric triglyceride. It’s made by purifying small, fatty molecules from coconut oil right into a liquid, emollient type. The defining property of caprylic/capric triglyceride is that it has a low molecular weight. Most oils have a really excessive molecular weight, which means the particles are giant and find yourself simply sitting in your pores and skin. Since caprylic/capric triglyceride is so light-weight, it’s additionally extra appropriate for greasy or acne-prone pores and skin sorts, like Pores and skin Varieties 1-4.
One other disadvantage of heavy oils is that they’ve a excessive melting level, which means it’s very easy for them to re-solidify or harden in your pores and skin. Caprylic/capric triglyceride has a decrease melting level, which permits it to supply steady slip as a substitute of hardening. It glides seamlessly, making this cleanser the right companion for gua sha or lymphatic drainage therapeutic massage.
You’ll be able to watch this enjoyable little experiment I did to reveal how light-weight the oil molecules in Higher Than Balm are in comparison with conventional balms. No greasy mess right here!
Section 2: Gel Section
When you add water to Higher Than Balm, you activate part two. What you’re actually activating right here is sucrose laurate, the ingredient accountable for this cleanser’s transformation. Sucrose laurate is a mild surfactant constituted of a mixture of sugar and lauric acid. It may well emulsify the caprylic/capric triglyceride in order that it may be simply rinsed away with water and doesn’t depart a movie.
Under, you may see the cleanser instantly begins to rework when water is added, versus a standard balm that doesn’t budge.
Having these two phases inside one cleanser mimics the double cleanse course of, however with only a single product.
Who Is It For?
Higher Than Balm is for anybody who desires to take away cussed make-up whereas sustaining wholesome, balanced pores and skin. It’s light and can be utilized nightly (or as wanted) by all pores and skin sorts. This cleanser was created for make-up wearers who:
- Suppose conventional cleaning balms are too heavy or waxy and like a extra light-weight texture
- Wish to save time by successfully double-cleansing with only one product
- Are susceptible to breakouts and clogged pores, which heavy oils and stable waxes aren’t really helpful for
- Need an oil-based cleanser that doesn’t depart a barrier on their pores and skin (keep in mind, this will impede the penetration of serums utilized after)
Lastly, this cleanser is for anybody who loves a bit aromatherapy with their nighttime self-care routine (in spite of everything, isn’t that what skincare is?). I labored intently with the lab to give you a wonderful scent for Higher Than Balm; it’s heat, inviting, and enjoyable with refined hints of sentimental rose. I’m totally obsessed and it’s one of many many causes this product has develop into the perfect a part of my nighttime routine!
Frightened about perfume in skincare merchandise? Be taught why it’s not as dangerous as you’ve heard.
How one can Use It
One factor Higher Than Balm does have in frequent with conventional balms is that you will need to use it accurately so as to get all the advantages.
Step 1: Apply the cleanser to DRY pores and skin and gently therapeutic massage over the face for a full 30 seconds. This may begin to dissolve make-up, sunscreen, and sebum. For heavier make-up, resembling long-wear or full-coverage basis, therapeutic massage for 60 seconds.
Step 2: Utilizing your fingertips, add water to rework the cleanser right into a milky gel. Therapeutic massage for one more 30 seconds or, for heavier make-up, one other 60 seconds.
Step 3: Rinse your face with lukewarm water to take away the majority of the cleanser and make-up.
Step 4: Use a barely damp Reusable Cleaning Fabric and gently wipe throughout your face to take away each final hint of loosened make-up and particles. Repeat as wanted for heavier make-up.
Step 4 is so vital as a result of whereas the cleanser dissolves your make-up, the bodily wiping motion of the fabric is what really lifts that make-up off the pores and skin. In any other case, you’re simply smearing it round.
How Higher Than Balm Matches Into My Model Philosophy
Within the 26 years I’ve had my skincare line, I’ve all the time been adamant about not creating new merchandise based mostly purely on traits. I’ve to actually imagine in a product’s means to enhance individuals’s pores and skin. I additionally by no means need to create a product only for the sake of it. I need to make one thing as a result of I see a necessity for it and since I feel I can provide individuals one thing particular.
All through my profession, I’ve all the time preached utilizing a cleaning gel to take away sebum within the morning, and a cleaning lotion to take away make-up at night time. What pushed me to lastly come out with a balm cleanser was the evolution of basis make-up. Formulation have developed from BB and CC lotions into make-up that’s designed to remain on the pores and skin for hours and hours. Cleaning lotions can take off so much, however for such a complexion make-up, you simply want extra oil to get all of it off.
Higher Than Balm embodies my skincare philosophy and I’m very proud to be placing it out into the world. I adore it, and I do know you’ll, too!
Up subsequent, study why you must all the time wash your face within the morning.
Celeb Esthetician & Skincare Knowledgeable
As an esthetician educated in beauty chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching pores and skin, educating her viewers, and constructing an award-winning line of merchandise. Her hands-on expertise as an esthetician and trusted skincare skilled has created a real-world answer — merchandise which can be formulated for 9 several types of pores and skin so your face will get precisely what it must feel and look its finest. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives across the globe, her huge real-world data and fixed analysis are why Marie Claire calls her “essentially the most passionate pores and skin practitioner we all know.”
