Eve Lom’s balm cleanser has achieved cult status in the skincare world, with both beauty editors and celebrities recommending it as one of their go-to products. Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman has even described it as the “king of all cleansers”(according to an interview with Grazia in 2023). However, I was only recently introduced to it when I received it as part of a beauty box a few months ago.
I didn’t go out of my way to buy it, particularly as the balm usually retails for between £60 (on Amazon) and £65 (direct from Eve Lom) for the full-sized 100ml. But now I’ve had the chance to incorporate it into my daily routine, I think it’s going to be a part of my skincare kit for the foreseeable future. It’s good news, then, that I’ve found a few discounts on both the full-sized product and the smaller 20ml (perfect for this summer holiday season).
At the time of writing, the Eve Lom Original Balm cleanser is down from £60 to just £39.50 on Amazon – a 34% saving.
Smaller sizes of the balm are also discounted. The 50ml cleansing balm is down to £38.40 from its usual £48 on LookFantastic. Or, if you want to try the cleanser without shelling out, the compact 20ml balm is also on sale, discounted by 30% to just £14 (down from £20).
Of course, you might be wondering what makes this balm so good? I’d never used a balm cleanser before. Typically, my evening skincare routine starts with removing makeup using micellar water (or occasionally makeup wipes if I’m on the go), before cleansing with a jelly cleanser (I normally use the Creamy Jelly cleanser by Byoma, in case you were wondering). However, the Eve Lom balm means I can remove makeup and cleanse my face all in one go.
The Eve Lom cleanser is a much thicker balm than a liquid or gel-like substance, so you need to scoop it out with your fingers before rubbing it onto the face and massaging it into the skin using a muslin cloth.
The balm comes in a white tub with the brand logo on it. But don’t let its minimalist packaging fool you; it’s made what is usually a step in my skincare routine that I don’t think much about feel like a luxury experience.
It has an herbal scent, which the brand describes as a blend of clove, eucalyptus, hops, and chamomile. If I close my eyes, it could just about trick me into imagining a spa-like experience. The experts say clove oil promotes clear skin, while chamomile oil and cocoa butter aim to soften, smooth, and condition.
While I like the scent, one customer who reviewed the product on Look Fantastic said: “Overwhelming clove, herbal scent that I personally found very unpleasant. It’s a shame because the cleanser formula is nice and feels lovely on the skin. I just can’t get past the scent!”
I’ve found that the balm and muslin cloth together work well with warm water to remove makeup, but I am quite cautious about using it around my eyes (I usually stick with my usual eye makeup remover for this step). However, I have also been using the cleanser on days when I don’t wear makeup.
Though the product glides onto the skin and is quite thick, I haven’t noticed any greasy residue left over. And although I don’t have sensitive skin, Eve Lom says the product has been formulated with sensitive skin in mind.
The balm has a 4.4 out of a possible five-star rating on Amazon and a 4.5 out of a possible five-star rating on Look Fantastic, based on previous customer reviews.
One customer said: “Does a great job at gently cleansing, leaving my skin feeling soft and looking glowy too.”
While the 100ml size of the cleanser is discounted on Amazon, it remains full price on LookFantastc and the Eve Lom website.
