Balm Balm Frankincense Deep Cleansing Balm review

So my  skin LOVES this stuff! 

The Balm Balm Frankincense Deep Cleansing Balm is fast becoming a skin saviour.

When I originally received my natural skincare haul I did think wow that is a tiny pot.

 What was I thinking?

I can hold my hands up and say I was pleasantly surprised.
This balm goes a very long way and after 7/8 weeks of using it at least 3-4 times a week.
I have just about made a dent and I can be heavy handed!

My skin really enjoys creamy cleansers and balms but this is next level.
I am not the biggest fan of frankincense but it is something I can get past with this product.
 I have been using this in conjunction with my Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Cleanser which I reviewed here and have really seen a difference in my skin texture and brightness. I still get a few small blemishes but the difference is really great.

The balm helps to ensure the gel cleanser which I think would suit an oil skin type (me occasionally in summer when hayfever hits) perfectly. It doesn't unbalance my skin but works in harmony to allow both to do their jobs and improve/ cleanse my skin.

 I alternate these as my second cleanse and my skin feels utterly stunning and well moisturised.

 There is no excessively oily residue left either as I wipe my face down twice with a warm flannel.

The balm is incredibly smooth and you only need half a finger tip (even that is heavy handed once you become comfortable with the product) to cover your whole face where it liquefies. Massaging it in and letting it sit for a minute ensures all debris is removed and you skin is infused with moisture.

I wish this came slightly bigger as it is only 30ml but compared to other 

balms that aren't natural or of a better quality it is affordable.

 If you like or can over look the heavy frankincense aroma this is a great natural product to try. 

The packaging is nice with an apothecary vibe and would be great as a reusable container after the product is finished.

The balm feels really luxurious and as it is 100% organic. I will definitely be buying this again.
All the ingredients (Shea butter, Beeswax, Sunflower, Jojoba, Calendula, Frankincense and Grapefruit ) used have a purpose e.g soothing, removing impurities, smoothing, healing or rejuvenating. 

You can see the formulation has been well thought out for maximum results. Each use feels like a soothing mini pamper session. Result! 

About Balm Balm: This is a family run company, that use all natural and organic ingredients in their products. They are also against animal testing and strive to be as green as they can. Click here to find out more.

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

Don't forget to come find me and  Follow @GirlWednesdays  

Alba Botanica: Hawaiian facial range review

Hi Guys, 

I am back to review my 3 picks from the Alba Botanica Hawaiian facial range.
which you would have seen in my
Finding natural and organic skincare brands post .

Bit about Alba: Their products are made from 100% vegetarian ingredients.
They do not test on animals, use artificial colours, add synthetic fragrances, parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate or sodium myreth sulfates.
On top of all that goodness, their bottles are made from 100% recyclable materials!

"We make natural, 100% vegetarian personal care products that do beautiful for you and your friends: people, animals + earth. This means we DON'T use parabens, sulfates, or phthalates." read more here

I have to say the stand out product for me is the Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Mask 85g  , which I started using 3 days after incorporating the Alba range into my routine. My skin feels smoother, the small area of visible pores on my inner cheeks looks smaller and less obvious if my skin is dehydrated. A big bonus is that my skin is brighter too.

 Papaya is well known for it's healing and youthful skin boosting properties and I am super happy to have this mask in my arsenal. I did experience mild stinging the first time I used it. I used the cleanser to cleanse my face and applied the mask about 6 minutes later and I think that is what caused the stinging the first time. Since then I have used the mask weekly whilst using a balm cleanser first and had no issues. Just to make sure my skin wasn't reacting badly to the product without the balm cleanser, I repeated the first routine again and I didn't experience that same level of stinging just a mild prickle for approx 8 seconds then it was fine.  

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Cleanser 237ml  I like this gel cleanser formulation but it can be slightly drying and astringent if I use too much. As I said in my Summer skincare haul I am usually combination/ normal but during summer I felt like my hayfever made my skin feel more oily-oddly so I think this would be great for summer cleansing. I also think those with oilier skin would benefit from this cleanser. 

The first time I used this cleanser my face felt super clean, refreshed and a little dry. However a pesky little spot that had come up on my chin had all but disappeared the next morning. I have definitely had to experiment to make sure I am making the product work well for me. I have found that less than a 1/3rd of a pump is more than enough to cleanse my face each time. I use a flannel and rinse my face twice as this cleanser doesn't come off straight away. A good test is to finish your cleanse and wipe your face off with your flannel/ muslin cloth and then wet your finger tips and rub your cheeks in a circular motion to see if there is any lathering. I also use a balm cleanser (review coming soon) 3-4 times a week to ensure that my skin doesn't get super dry and remains balanced.

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Toner 251ml  for me this isn't a everyday toner, although it is cooling and does calm any blemishes I may have. I do think this is a little too astringent to be an full face everyday toner. Especially as it is getting colder, I think this could be too drying for me so I have been using it every few days  and apply it with a cotton swab to any blemishes in between. I have noticed that my skin and complexion seem brighter and a little more even, which this toner promotes with hibiscus. I think this is another great one for those with predominantly oily skin or if you want something with a bit more ommphff in summer.

 I do think all three products have made some difference to the smoothness and appearance of my skin but I have had to adapt these to myself to ensure the all natural ingredients are giving me the best performance. I will definitely continue to use them with other products and definitely want to try out a few other products from their range.

As a woman of colour it is extremely important to find products that help to brighten and rejuvenate skin as darker skin is prone to hyper pigmentation and scarring. These products fit that brief perfectly.
As we get older some may become more apparent or take longer to fade so this is great for your skincare stash.
I have noticed a few small areas of hyper pigmentation from blemishes in the last year and these products have really helped with the process of smoothing out my complexion.

It's a thumbs up from me!

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

Don't forget to come find me and  Follow @GirlWednesdays  

Balance Active Formula Snake Venom Face Mask review

Balance active formula has just come back onto my radar after I heard a few people raving about one of their products. The name and design of the packaging looked really familiar to me and I realised I had one of their products sitting at home. I actually bought the  Balance Snake Venom Face Mask nearly 2 years ago on a whim when snake venom was the new second coming. It has been sitting in my bathroom cabinet and I am not sure why I haven't used it! I have been making up for that lapse in judgement and have really enjoyed the results. I have been using the parabens  free mask once a week for the last 6 weeks and I have to say I really like it. It makes good on its claims to tone, refresh and purify without stripping my skin. 

The formula is very nourishing and leaves the skin supple. The first time I used the mask I did experience a little bit of tingling on my nose and inner cheek area that lasted about 2 minutes but it wasn't uncomfortable or alarming.
I haven't experiened it since. 

The mask didn't leave my skin uncomfortably tight or dry but and I feel as though my serum glided over my skin even more so than usual and sank in even quicker after using this. My face felt incredibly soft and that soft smoothness lasted well into the following days. In fact I would say it is a very moisturising mask. I also noticed that my skin was brighter after each use and glowed. 

The main active ingredients are Natural clay, Syn®-Ake as well as moisturising Agent & Orange Oil. It is suggested to be used once a week but I would consider using it twice per week if I needed an extra boost. I would definitely recommend trying the Balance Snake Venom Face Mask whatever your skin type as it didn't alter my skin oils at all. Balance Active formula actually have online stores which is very convenient and their prices are incredibly reasonable. 

 I will be stocking up and trying a few more products from this range too. Look out for these additions in future.

Tip: Before letting the mask set give yourself a quick facial massage and the product works even better!

Have you tried the Balance Active formula range?

 What are your go to products?

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

Don't forget to come find me and  Follow @GirlWednesdays