I think that I’ve mentioned Beauty Pie’s Plantastic Apricot Butter Cleansing Balm before, but it more than deserves its own review post so that I can truly go to town in the rave department.
(What the hell is a rave department? Imagine! Is it part of the local government offering? Does the council have a little section in its open plan offices specifically set aside for administrative tasks related to raving? Or is it more of a sole employee job? I like to think that his name is Tony – no, Tone – and that his job description is raving: the promotion and preservation of. Perhaps there a little sign on his desk that says “Head of Rave Department”. Tone, Head of Raving, spends all of his time at work absolutely spangled, topless, a whistle around his neck and hair drenched in sweat, dancing to tunes that only he can hear as he repeatedly photocopies documents just to see the light go backwards and forwards.
“Tone. Tone mate? Have you got that form BH796 for Mrs Middleton’s Bereavement Allowance? Tone! Tony! Oh never mind. I’ll get it myself.”)
The Plantastic Apricot Butter Cleansing Balm (smooth segue back to the product there) more than stands up to the majority of the luxury cleansing balms in terms of texture, smell and effectiveness. There’s a wonderful cluster of higher-end balms that all have a very soft and unctuous sort of feel – not so firm that they’re waxy, not so soft that you end up scooping too much out. My two most-used at the moment tend to be the Elemis Rose Cleansing Balm (full review here) and the Darphin Aromatic Cleansing Balm (see here), but the Darphin is almost prohibitively dear, so more of a treat than a daily cleanse product. Both smell divine, which shouldn’t matter to me but does, because it perks up my evening no end and both give a good amount of massage time before rinsing off clean. They don’t dry my skin, either, which some balms do – oddly, considering the fact that they are mainly made up of oils!
Anyway, the Apricot Balm from Beauty Pie would, in a blind test, easily reach the high bar set by my current cleansing balm favourites. It smells of apricots, would you believe, which is a pleasant but not overpowering sort of scent (added fragrance, but doesn’t seem to be in vast amounts), and the formula contains a nourishing blend of rosehip and apricot kernel oils as well as fruit waxes (no idea) and added vitamin E.
The cleansing balm melts down as you massage it into your skin – including over the eye area, to dissolve mascara and liner – and then it rinses off completely clean without leaving the skin dry or tight. I’d love this balm even if it had a luxury price tag, but – sound the good news bugle! – it doesn’t, and so I love it even more.
Ignoring the unusual/innovative/genius (delete as applicable, everyone seems to have an opinion!) Beauty Pie buying structure, this balm costs £12.10 plus postage. A luxury balm at a high street price. Beauty Pie give the cost of an equivalent product as £50, which is probably fair-ish but perhaps a tiny bit overinflated – I’d say the closest comparison would be the Elemis balm, which is £44 for the same size pot.
At any rate, £12.10 is an outrageously good price – you just need to be a member to access it. I won’t go into all of that rigmarole here, because it’s easier for you to read the info on the website*; just know that Beauty Pie have some excellent skincare products, so you’d never be short of things to stock up on. The Super Retinol range is superb, as is the entire Japanfusion offering. I’m working my way through some other bits at the moment, all of them pretty much faultless.
You can find the Beauty Pie Plantastic Apricot Butter Cleansing Balm here* – suitable for any skin type other than those that don’t tolerate fragrance, it leaves skin clean and balanced. Don’t be scared to use balms if you’re on the oilier side – you can often find that your skin feels cleaner and massively less stripped than if you use one of the targeted “oily skin” washes or foaming cleansers.
I love this cleansing balm too! It’s currently my favourite!
Debora xo
When I was a kid, my mother was recruited by a loud and charming Australian lady called Galia to sell ‘Nutrimetics’ skin care and make up products via parties. I was fascinated with the huge eyeshadow palettes and colour charts. At these parties, Gaylia and my mum would demonstrate facial massage whilst passing out pots of an Apricot oil based cleansing balm like this. It smelled amazing and was like goppt drippy honey. Galia called applying a cleansing balm ‘a beauty veil’ and I would happily slather it on my little face whilst practicing saying ‘beauuuty veeeiil’ in an Aussie accent. I reckon this cleanser would be is as excellent, Apricot oil is fab.
Remember ladies, don’t neglect to put on your beauty veeeeeeil. It’s crucial!
I love balm cleansers, and that one sounds right up my street – there is no way for me to get a memebership though, as they don´t ship to Germany (to my knowledge, I last checked this summer).
Anne from Doctor Anne
Oh no! That’s v annoying.
This came at perfect timing I was just about to sign up and order Japanfusion cleanser after seeing it in Caroline’s Winter kit so I’ve added this to the basket to. I’m also a user of the Elemis one but only for special treat nights so the price of this one is amazing to use daily. X
Japanfusion is also very, very lovely!!
Your description of Tone has made me want to rewatch ‘Spaced’. He sounds like Tyres O’Flaherty.
Mine arrived today – smells identical to the Ren Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask. I bought it as a dupe to the Elemis cleansing balm, tried it tonight and very impressed. Will definitely repurchase when my allowance renews.
Ooooh yes this is one of my faves too! I love Beauty Pie and I’ve just upgraded to a yearly membership to save even more money. Most of their serums and the Japanfusion cleanser are great too. Oh and I recently got the new body butter which is amazing!
Oh I really need to try that!!
Sounds good. But if I were to ask if you can suggest any dupes for this product? Thanks!
I’ve been eyeing this one up as a possible replacement for my beloved, but sometimes a touch pricey, Clinique Take the Day Off Balm. Would you say it compares favourably?
Yes. In effect, very. Though this one has a scent and, erm, different oils! So not similar in formula but similar in feel and how it performs. x
That’s awesome, it’s the effect I’m after! I rely on TTDO as a heavy hitter to shift my Estée Lauder DoubleWear and Hourglass Caution-based work face, but like I said, it’s a touch pricey, and I’ve often felt that it simply smells “functional” for want of a better word. It’s a grafter, and it does what it does brilliantly – but sometimes I feel like a little touch of luxury wouldn’t go amiss after a long day! I’ll give this one a go, thank you. :)
I dearly love the BP Japanfusion transformative cleanser in the (travel-friendly 100ml) tube, but thanks to you and Lady Hirons, I do love a nice balm, so I’m eager to try this too. I’ve had good luck with 100% of Beauty Pie skincare (not as much luck picking shades on the internet, so won’t do lipstick again)…the quality is lovely. Happy to get your take on their items and look forward to more reviews!
Sounds like a heavenly experience! I love cleansers that can take you to another place when you use them – a place with no screaming children or demanding husbands….
I’d love to try Beauty Pie but with the exchange rate for Canada it would be a lot more pricey, which is truly disappointing.
Angela at Blush & Pearls