Please be introduced to my new cleansing love-object, Vaishaly. I say ‘new’, but I have had a secret crush on this cleansing balm for years, admiring it from afar. It wasn’t until last weekend, the day of the In-Spa Self-Facial (see HERE) that I realised what a true star this product really is – there were instant sighs of pleasure from all four testers – each of us with very different skin types – and a unanimous vote of absolute approval once it had been rinsed off. All of our faces were glowing, soft and properly cleansed.

Vaishaly’s cleansing balm comes in an airless pump so that it stays preserved and germ-free and eliminates the need for synthetic preservatives. (First big thumbs-up!) It smells really quite amazing – lavender, geranium, rose – natural, but in a luxury way, not a ‘quinoa and hemp underpants’ kind of way. Although it’s oily to apply (based on sweet almond and olive oils) the texture is perfect for really massaging into the skin to remove makeup and dirt. It’s a pleasurable experience, which – in my experience – makes you want to spend longer cleansing, which in turn means you’ll get a good, effective cleanse. The oily balm rinses off without leaving a greasy residue, but your skin does feel as though it’s had a proper treatment – that soft and supple feeling that you get after applying a luxury face oil.

There’s absolutely no tightness after rinsing off the balm, which makes it a great choice for those with dry or mature skin, but it’s also good for normal and combination skins – just be careful to rinse properly if you’re prone to oiliness. It does contain oils, after all! I like to remove this balm with a muslin cloth, even though instructions specifically tell me not to. I’m a rebel like that! Vaishaly says that most cloths aren’t kept clean enough (probably true, actually!) and that the friction might irritate dry and sensitive skins (also makes sense). However, using a cloth straight from the washing-line to remove the balm from my normal, non-sensitive skin proves to be quite effective and crisis-free, so I imagine I’ll stick to my little method. Rinsing off with warmish water is also effective, but I think because I am prone to oiliness in the T-Zone I feel ‘safer’ using my cloth. Dry, mature and sensitive skins, please follow the instructions!

This balm can be used twice-daily, but for me it’s a once a week cleansing ritual treat. Why? It’s fifty-nine pounds. Which is why it’s a Moneybags Monday recommendation. If you can afford to use this twice-daily, then a) be my guest and b) lend me a tenner? In all seriousness, though, this is a super-duper, ultra-luxurious cleanser that absolutely deserves every single one of the glowing reviews it’s received over the years. If you’re looking for a natural but luxurious cleanser and you have some money to spend, then give this one a try – it’s like having a facial each time you use it!

Vaishaly Cleansing Balm is £59 from Harvey Nichols or Vaishaly’s Website.