little white truths

I bought this last time Priceline had one of its big skincare sales because I was out of my cleansing balm and I needed a new one.

I chose this because it's had some great reviews and it wasn't too expensive (I bought it on special), plus Trilogy is one of those brands that I've been wanting to try more from for ages so now was my chance.

While it's ok, it's not the best cleansing balm I've used and it's also difficult to remove, even with a face cloth. That's reason enough for me not to buy a product because I prefer balms that come off easily - they're less work. More on that below.

The product comes with a cleansing cloth and I do like that added touch. 

Plus it's a pretty good cloth so I'll certainly keep mine and continue to use it, and I can see how it would be an attractive proposition to keep buying this balm and receive more cloths in the process. 

Indeed, I wish more brands included cloths with their balm cleansers because you often need one with products like this, so it's nice to have one provided for you.

Trilogy claims/product details:

• Melt away makeup with mango butter, rosehip oil and coconut oil
• A lush, end-of-the-day cleansing balm to remove foundation, mascara and lipstick like nothing else, even long-wear and waterproof formulations
• Packaged with its own sustainably produced, unbleached, organic cotton cloth, this new way to cleanse is the perfect nighttime ritual to melt away makeup and nourish your skin
• Combining a rich blend of pure plant oils, the luxurious balm melts on contact with warm skin, dissolving impurities and leaving your face perfectly cleansed, supple and silky-smooth
• RRP $38.95 AUD for 80g, but do shop around (I got mine for around $20)

Verdict

I've just had a look at the reviews of this product (see eg beautyheaven) and while most people have given it four or five stars, some have given it more average reviews and those people have commented on the same kinds of issues that I'm about to mention - so I'm not the only one who prefers other cleansing balms.

It's a hard balm with a soft, waxy scent and a hard waxy texture. I find it easiest to scrape some out with a spatula or the back of a fingernail because it is rather hard and it takes a while to melt so it doesn't come out easily with a finger.

Indeed, I've seen a few people say that this doesn't melt as easily as other cleansing balms and I have to agree with them. While I can eventually get it to spread, I do need to warm it up quite a bit with my fingers beforehand and even then it doesn't spread as easily as other balms.

I've tried this product for makeup removal and also as my first cleanse in the morning. As you may know, I like to use cleansing balms and oils as a kind of hydrating mask when I wake up - so I throw one on and leave it there while I get the kids organised, before going back and completing the cleansing process later on.

I do this because cleansing balms and oils are usually hydrating and I have dry skin so it's handy to throw one on and forget about it while I'm getting the kids breakfast etc, although I have to say that this one isn't hydrating and it tends to sit on top of the skin, so I don't like it for the morning spot and I tend not to use it that way.

In terms of makeup removal, it does work reasonably well but it's not the most effective cleansing balm I've tried. Yes it will dissolve easy makeup like tinted moisturiser and light powders, but it's not great for the heavy stuff like mascara or eyeliner - despite what it says in the product claims.

The other thing to note is that it's bloody hard to remove, even with warm water and a cleansing cloth. I think the waxy texture repels water so it just doesn't want to come off the skin, and I need a good second cleanser to remove it all - otherwise it stays on my skin and that's not what I want. 

Do note that a lot of people have said that it's hard to remove so that's something to keep in mind, and for me it's reason enough not to buy it because it requires extra work and also because I want my second cleanser to be a skin cleanser, not just something that has to remove this balm.

Overall I think this product is ok and there are things to like about it - it's not super expensive (and you can often find it on special), it removes most makeup ok and it comes with a free cloth that's pretty good - but it's not perfect and I wouldn't repurchase it, given that it doesn't work well for the morning spot because it's not hydrating and it's also too hard to remove.

Ok but not my favourite.