With a change in the weather, we go big into balms …
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The whole idea of a balm is to comfort and soothe skin blasted by winter winds and dried out by central heating, or skin that just has a tendency to be on the dry and flaky side. Multipurpose and all-round useful, the best balms of the bunch make an invaluable addition to your everyday make-up, as well as your travel bag.
Here are our top five picks that are all deeply hydrating and gently scented (get the unscented version of Eight Hour Cream if you dislike its distinctive medicinal scent). They all have numerous uses, from soothing dry lips to helping heal rough or scaly skin, with comforting ingredients including soothing oat extract and glycerin.
1. Naturally, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream is always on our list. From €10 at www.magees.ie and at pharmacies nationwide. We like the tinted lip balms, too, and indeed the entire Eight Hour clan, which now includes a daily moisturiser, HydraPlay.
2. Another multipurpose option is Aveeno’s Calm+Restore Comfort Balm. This good-value, restorative light and non-sticky balm with ceramides and Aveeno’s naturally effective triple oat complex helps to restore the skin’s barrier and reduce any tightness or flakiness, while delivering long-lasting hydration. €16 at www.mccabespharmacy.com and pharmacies nationwide.
3. We love a natural balm and the quiet gem Pommade Divine has long been one of our top choices. Made in the UK, it features a delicious blend of essential oils that just happen to be rather wintery, such as cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, and it’s 97 per cent natural, with no added silicones or fragrance. It has a medicinal feel, and contains natural anti-inflammatory and antiseptic ingredients, so it’s good for irritated skin, burns and damaged skin. People swear by it for bruises, too. It has been hard to get hold of for some time, but seems to be back in stock. €36.95 at www.pommadedivine.com.
4. Easier to get hold of is Trilogy Everything Balm (€15 at www.hollandandbarrett.ie); a luxurious natural blend of fruit, flower and seed oils, from sweet almond and jojoba to rosehip.
5. Lanolips 101 Ointment is a bit of a classic. A rich and nourishing option based on pure grade Australian lanolin (a deeply moisturising oil found in sheep’s wool), glycerin, castor seed oil and apricot kernel oil. It’s free from petroleum, mineral oil and sulphates. You can now get flavoured versions, from vanilla to peach. Their Golden Dry Skin Miracle Salve (€14) also has an added dash of Manuka honey (known for its healing, antibacterial properties). Remember to take it on flights – in fact, we recommend taking it everywhere, just in case. €14.50 at www.lanolips.eu.
READ MORE: This Is Our Pick Of The Best Lip Balms For Autumn
