Lyonsleaf Beauty Balm Review + Discount Code!

If you read the Green Parent magazine, you may have seen that Lyonsleaf Beauty Balm won a gold award for Best Buy in their Natural Beauty Bible. I've been testing this balm thoroughly for several months now, using it to double cleanse at night as well as exploring its other uses, and I feel able to give an honest and thorough review of this wonderful product (I wholeheartedly believe skincare needs time to review, as first impressions can be so deceiving.)

At first: for those new to Lyonsleaf, their formulas are different and rather special because they're waterless - therefore no emulsifiers or preservatives are required to stabilise them. This means their formulas are concentrated, and a little goes a really long way. They grow their own herbs on their farm in Somerset, soon to be certified organic, and infuse products with natural plant oils. They are of course cruelty free, use minimal plastic in their product packaging, and the Beauty Balm is vegan. They are designed to be suitable for sensitive skin, and are full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. I love the small batch nature of their products, and how the jars are perfect to repurpose after use.

This balm, as with most Lyonsleaf products, is beautifully multipurpose. It can be used for makeup removal, my personal preference, but it can also be used as a primer and moisturiser. The smell is divine and really adds to the cleansing experience - that's not to say it's overly fragranced, more that the subtle scent of essential oils is perfectly to my taste. I did also receive a sample of the unscented Beauty Balm for comparison purposes which actually has its own natural pleasant fragrance, although I personally am most fond of the gentle scent of the original balm. (As a side note, the sample tins are a fantastic size for overnight stays and travel. Prior to lockdown I used mine several times as it's so portable and wonderfully multipurpose.)

Cleansing is an essential part of my every day, whether or not I've worn makeup or even moisturiser, I feel it's important to go to bed with fresh skin. The Lyonsleaf Beauty Balm feels really soft and gentle to use, certainly soft enough for a double cleanse if I've been wearing makeup.

Oil cleansing can sound daunting, like something that could imbalance the skin, but I find it does the opposite. This method stops the stripping of the skin's natural oils during cleansing which can improve skin barrier and seal in moisture. Skin stays hydrated and plumped for longer, consequently reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles caused by dry skin.

The balm is quite firm in texture at first use. Initially I wondered if it would have enough slip to remove a full face of makeup without my using half a jar of it! However I needn't have worried - it warms up between the fingers and goes a lot further than initially expected (Lyonsleaf products are fantastic when it comes to a little going a really long way!)

Double cleansing is useful after wearing makeup. I massage the balm into my skin (over makeup) concentrating on massaging gently even around my eyes and eyelashes as the balm removes even waterproof mascara. I then wipe this off gently using a damp washable pad (I sometimes use eye makeup remover on one of these if I've been very heavy on the waterproof mascara - the balm does a great job of removing it but I'd prefer to be thorough!) I apply the balm again over the skin, the first pad having removed the majority of makeup, and this time wash it off with warm water and either a flannel or a muslin cloth. It's important to be gentle, not to tug at the skin, and to take a little time to be thorough so you don't miss cleansing any areas of skin (around the forehead and hairline is a good example of this.) Due to the fragrance I find taking these moments create quite a relaxing and mindful experience - that typical feeling of "taking off the day" and starting afresh. When possible, I even like to use my rose quartz roller to give my skin a massage to promote lymphatic drainage, and this works well with a touch of Beauty Balm or Marshmallow facial oil.

Generally I use a gentle toner after cleansing which sometimes picks up residual makeup my cleanser might have missed. The Beauty Balm, however, seems to do such a wonderful job of thoroughly cleansing that I use toner less now at night because I can trust that my skin has been thoroughly cleaned. My skin also feels very soft after use, not at all dried out or "squeaky" clean, which can happen with some cleansers. After cleansing, I sometimes reapply a tiny amount to my now-fresh skin, which works beautifully as a nourishing night cream. Personally I prefer a more mattifying natural moisturiser for the day time if I'm not wearing makeup, but for drier skins or those prone to psoriasis or dermatitis this may be a useful option for day as well as night.

In terms of skin improvements, my skin definitely feels softer and more supple, and I no longer have areas which feel dry. I have been perpetually blessed with hormonal blemishes, which no skincare product can fix because that's an issue from within, but the balm does help with healing any marks from blemishes and definitely doesn't aggravate them further. (I'm considering trying the Zinc and Calendula cream for spot treatment - I use this wonderful product as a nappy cream for my daughter but may invest in a jar for myself too.)

As part of their Black Friday offer, Lyonsleaf have their gift sets discounted, and I'm excited to be able to offer you a special discount code to get an extra 15% off on top of that! I love their Mum and Baby survival kit which would make a beautiful gift for under £12 using my code, and the combined offers would bring the Skin Saviour Super Set to only £27 which is incredible value! Use EXTRA15 to get 15% off sitewide at Lyonsleaf. Will you be tempted to treat yourself?

*This post contains affiliate links and gifted products, all opinions my own.