Testing The Body Shop’s Camomile Makeup Removers

A good cleanser is really important to me because if you don’t cleanse your skin properly, your products can’t penetrate, and your skin has traces of makeup on it. Yuck. I love the beauty guru that is Caroline Hirons and last month when I was in the market for a new cleanser, I came across a post on her blog where she mentioned The Body Shop’s Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter. It’s like a hobby of mine to find out as much information about a product before I buy it, so onto the net I went. I read reviews saying that the cleansing butter caused someone to break out because it was too heavy and how it was difficult to remove. Even though Caroline didn’t mention the Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil, it got a lot of positive reviews and, given my love for oils, I decided to get it as well as the cleansing butter.

So, which one is better?

The Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil is a lovely make-up remover for the whole face that smells pretty (although I’m pretty sure not like camomile itself – if the tea is anything to go by). Two pumps of the oil gently melts away make-up and impurities, leaving my skin feeling clean and pampered. I always second cleanse with a gel cleanser because I don’t think that water alone can wash an oil away. When I first started using it, and I wasn’t doing the second cleanse, I got a few pimples. Once I started second cleansing and my skin got used to it, that all stopped. The only thing I don’t like about it is that my bottle leaks. The label is peeling off and the shelf where it sits is permanently oily. I’ve tried locking it which seems to help. All in all, it’s a wonderful product and for the price of R190, I think it’s a winner.

My only experience with cleansing balms has been via Ren’s Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Balm and I wasn’t blown away by it. The Body Shop’s Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter on the other hand rocks my socks. It smells just as pretty as the cleansing oil and the texture is so creamy, it just melts into your skin. After massaging it into my skin, it gets rid of every last trace of make up. Once I’ve rinsed my face with some warm water, I then go in for the second cleanse. Compared to the oil, I find the balm a bit more laborious to wash off, and there’s no way you can’t not double cleanse after using it. This product is a real treat and at R190, I think it’s great value for money.

Who wins?

I can’t declare an official winner because I like both of them and I think they work equally as well. If it came down to convenience, I would opt for the oil because its a quick pump and off you go. With the balm, you have to screw open the lid, grab some in your hands (I always end up taking far more than I should) and then screwing the lid closed.

Which formula do you think you’d prefer?