I first came across Balance Me about two years ago. I was researching the British organic beauty business for an international eco magazine and this was one of the ever-increasing crop of brands that grabbed my attention. At that point the line consisted of a few well-chosen and focussed body products and in the six or so years since the company was formed by sisters Rebecca and Clare Hopkins, it has not only gathered up some enviable industry and consumer awards, but also expanded its collection. Today a facial range is part of the line-up.
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The company's ethos of simple, natural, affordable beauty is applied as rigorously as ever. Ingredients and formulations have been chosen to provide 'skin-boosting benefits and therapeutic properties' to protect skin from daily wear and tear. And as with everything that Balance Me offers, all ingredients are 98-100 per cent natural, with no parabens, sulphates, petroleum and other associated undesirables.

I've been using the Cleanse and smooth Face Balm (£20 - 125ml) for three weeks and can honestly say that my skin has never felt so soft! The product has a slightly oily consistency (which I like) but is in fact fine for normal as well as dry/sensitive skins. Somewhere between a gel and a cream it smoothes on easily and feels very luxuriant on the skin. in the cocktail of shea and cocoa butters and rosehip, camelia, kukui nut and virgin coconut oils, is oatmeal, which sloughs away dead skin cells. But it is so gentle you can use it everyday (or twice a day as I've been doing).

I have also used the balm to remove eye make-up – which has saved messing about with two products. After warming the balm in your hands, you smooth it over your face, massaging in for a while, before adding a little warm water and massaging some more. The slightly lathered balm can then be removed with the (dampened) linen cloth that is supplied. Unlike lots of other cleansers that are removed with water, this one doesn't leave my face feeling taut and itchy afterwards – just soft and smooth, as well as clean of course.

I have also been using Stellar Face Balm (£18 - 50ml), a multi-tasking product if ever there was one. Various butters and oils have been blended together with other soothing and softening natural ingredients (like neroli) making it ideal for any dry patches anywhere. I'm soothing a red post-cold nose, rough heels and elbows, a dry scalp, frizzy hair ends and raggy cuticles at the moment (don't I sound lovely!). It also makes a pretty good overnight face mask. The line also includes moisturisers, a serum, face wash, radiance face mask and under eye cream.

from branches of Waitrose and Wholefoods and www.balanceme.co.uk