How to Use a Cleansing Balm to Beat Dry Winter Skin

If you’ve suffered from bouts of stubborn dry skin due to extreme winter weather, you know how tricky it can be to adjust your skincare regimen to account for severe temperature fluctuations. Between the frigid elements and scorching indoor heat it can be hard to keep flaky skin at bay. Enter: face cleansing balm. A good cleansing balm can be the perfect addition to your skincare routine especially during the cold months because it’s a gentle, non-drying alternative to harsher soap-based cleansers which can often deplete your skin of much needed moisture and alter the lipid barrier’s natural PH level.

But what exactly is cleansing balm? Cleansing balm is generally comprised of a combination of oils and a solidifying agent or wax, and a quality product usually contains additional skin supportive ingredients such as humectants, botanicals and antioxidants. In essence, it’s a solid oil cleanser that is massaged onto dry skin which melts on contact, binding to and dissolving makeup, dirt, impurities and excess sebum. It is then washed away using either water or a hot cloth, and the skin is left both clean and moisturized. Although typically compatible with all skin types, cleansing balm is especially beneficial to those with dry or sensitive skin.

How do I use it? Using face cleansing balm is pretty straightforward, but can vary a bit depending on the product. For best results and to combat persistent dry skin, we recommend incorporating it into a routine which already includes regular exfoliation using a gentle scrub or a mild topical such as lactic acid, a PH balancing toning mist, a moisturizing serum and daytime SPF.

1. Scoop a small amount of balm onto your fingers.
Warm by combining with fingertips until the product has completely melted.

2. Smooth the balm over dry skin in circular motions.
Massage face and neck thoroughly, this will help dissolve makeup and
impurities and will also help boost blood circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage.

3. Depending on the formulation, a cleansing balm can either be removed with a hot cloth or mixed with warm water and then rinsed off.
Cleansing balm formulas differ in that some contain emulsifiers or surfactants and when combined with water these turn the product to a milky consistency which is then rinsed away - while others require a pretty *wonderful* hot cloth removal process. Although both have their advantages, we’re pretty partial to the extra relaxing hot cloth method over here! Our Beurre Beauté, for example, is a nourishing treatment cleansing balm that requires this removal technique which actually further amplifies the cleanser’s benefits. The steam from the cloth combines with the therapeutic oils to help them permeate the skin, and an added bonus is that the cloth provides gentle physical exfoliation, removing dead skin cells and leaving the skin soft and glowing.

Because it is so versatile and multifaceted, a good quality cleansing balm that boasts high caliber botanicals can actually act as that desert island all-in-one type product during any season… and to combat unrelenting winter skin woes it may just be the secret weapon you’ve been searching for.  ♡

Learn more about our Beurre Beauté face cleansing balm