I’m not sure whether multi-purpose balms have a place in your life, but personally I think that they’re indispensable. They’re like a one-stop healing shop for damaged and stressed skin – chapped lips, rough knees, tatty feet and cuticles – as well as skin that just needs a bit of a moisture-boost. The best balms are packed full of essential oils and good-for-you ingredients – cheap pharmacy salves just don’t compare, in my opinion. If you’re a die-hard fan of the Vaseline mini-tin, but only because you have used it since the teenage years, then a multi-purpose balm is a grown-up upgrade that you need to make!

These balms last forever – years – I’ve had my Liz Earle Superbalm for well over a year and I’ve hardly made a dent. The waxy texture of the balms means that a tiny bit goes a very long way, a lot longer than the cheap salves. The two balms that I’ve chosen to recommend are very similar in many ways; they both contain rosehip oil to lock moisture into the skin, lavender to soothe and calm, and vitamin E to protect skin against pollution and sun damage. They both use natural ingredients from sustainable sources and are free from mineral oils and animal ingredients. Both, ultimately, are balms that can be used on the face and body and on any skin type – including babies’ skin, but there are very subtle differences between the two formulas. Pay attention because here’s the…non-science bit.

Liz Earle’s Superbalm costs £15 for 30ml, which works out to be 50p per ml. The formula contains softening shea butter, soothing chamomile and vitamin-E-rich Avocado oil. The balm is very slightly softer but thicker in consistency than the Trilogy balm, it melts easily and is easy to rub into the skin. At first, it seems as though there may be a greasy residue, but a few minutes after application this has entirely disappeared. The Carnauba and Candelilla waxes leave a protective coating on the skin that’s perfect for helping to heal chapping and redness. The balm’s scent, I would say, is primarily from the Neroli Oil (bitter orange) and lavender.

Trilogy’s Everything Balm is priced at £12 for 45ml (26p per ml) which makes it just over half the price of the Liz Earle Superbalm. It has, in my opinion, a nicer aroma – I am biased on this one, because it’s Rose Geranium that I can smell and we all know how much I love Rose! Superbalm doesn’t stand a chance in the scent-stakes if it’s up against the mighty Rose! The scent is actually much less overpowering, the texture is lighter and the formula is more easily absorbed. The Trilogy balm does leave an oiler residue than the Liz Earle, however; in my highly scientific test, I applied one balm to each ‘back of hand’ and recorded the results after five, ten, thirty and sixty minutes. (Jeez, I need to get a life!) The Liz Earle seemed greasier at the start, but actually absorbed very nicely indeed. The Trilogy was lighter in consistency, but left, as I have said, a residue.

So; what do you reckon? Are you bothered by a residue? Do you prefer bitter orange to rose when it comes to scent? There’s very little separating these two balms, which is why they are both my favourites! I tend to use Liz Earle’s Superbalm on my cuticles (religiously, in fact!) and Trilogy on my skin. Both are good for all sorts of things that are of a non-medical nature – I read some comments on the Liz Earle website and there are people that use it on eczema, babies and even on their scalps! Jolly good – whatever turns you on.