I seem to be having a bit of a “rose revival” at the moment. I went off rose for a while, possibly because I completely overdid it, smothering myself in rose stuff from head to foot, but now I’m back on it with a vengeance. In fact, when I think about my total skin-and-body-care routine, most of the products I’m grabbing from the cabinet seem to have a touch of rose somewhere! Oh dear: how long before I put myself off it again?

More rose-scented things…

Two excellent little body nourishers, here, both from Balance Me. Both, also, free from parabens, sulphates, petroleum, silicones, artificial fragrance, if you keep a lookout for those things. Personally, I find a little mineral oil in my bodycare to be quite a helpful thing, sometimes (SHOCK HORROR!) because it gets rid of my scaly shins and I know that if it’s a pretty basic cream, with just that and a few other bits and bobs, my skin won’t react to it. However, each to their own, and I know that for some it’s the work of the devil. At any rate, this gorgeous Rose Otto body oil and body balm don’t contain it, so there’s no issue here.

More body care posts…

The oil is silky smooth with a good amount of massage-ability. You know some of these dry oils that just kind of sit on the surface? None of that here. You can give it a good rub in and it smells bloody amazing, what a little treat! And I do think that the relatively plain and homely-looking packaging makes you want to use it everyday, rather than saving it for absolute best, which is a good thing. You know those really daunting glass bottles that look as though they should be in a locked display case? Well I do love them, but at the same time it makes me reluctant to use the contents! This Balance Me bottle has been knocking about the bathroom for a few weeks (it’s nearly finished) and I’ve used it after almost every bath. I’ve also dropped it about seventy-five times with my clumsy oily hands, and as it’s plastic it didn’t smash. Winning.

The body balm is an interesting one; a bit like those rescue balms that you get for your face. (I wrote about the Neal’s Yard Remedies one, Balance Me also have one called the Stellar Balm that I think is one of their bestsellers, if I remember rightly.) It has a consistency that cleansing balm-users will be familiar with; a solid that begins to melt down to an oil with the warmth from your fingertips. This feels a little bit more heavy-duty than the body oil, though, and it’s great for dry patches – around the knees and elbows, on shins and feet and heels. This seems to be a relaunched version of the balm, as I remember it before in a less lovely-looking tub, with bright pink labelling. I don’t know whether Balance Me are revising the whole look of the brand, but I like what I see so far. Very chic and understated.

You can find both the Balance Me Rose Otto Body Oil and Body Balm for £24.50 with free delivery at Beauty Expert.