On a random Thursday a couple of month in the past, I made a decision I used to be bored with my quick, stubby fingernails and handled myself to a set of gel extensions. Whereas I instantly fell in love with the best way they seemed (they’re so lengthy! and fairly! and make me really feel deserving of a businesswoman particular!), I spotted there’s one main downside with being a long-nail girlie: Doing actually something is an actual ache within the ass.

I’ve fortunately found out easy methods to open La Croix cans and clasp necklaces (… and by “found out” I imply “ask my boyfriend to do it for me), however have continued to seek out myself skeeved out at any time when it comes time to scoop out my favourite cleaning balm. Even after I use the again of my nails or my knuckle to dip into the product, remnants of it by some means wind up buried underneath my XL tip. For that purpose alone, I used to be thrilled when the brand new Renée Rouleau Higher Than Balm ($49) confirmed up on my desk.

First issues first, these things is available in a tube as a substitute of a pot, which makes it a lot simpler (and extra hygienic) to make use of. Although it was its supply system that originally attracted me to this product, it is the system itself that is rapidly made it a mainstay in my routine.

Rouleau, whose title chances are you’ll acknowledge as some of the well-known estheticians on the planet, spent three years perfecting the balm. She cherished the thought of making one thing that felt much like the cleaning lotions which are standard in French tradition, however needed to create a model that might strip away probably the most cussed make-up with out forsaking the kind of waxy end you get from oil-based cleaning balms.

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She additionally took into consideration that basis formulation are getting more and more smarter (severely—these items will not budge), and got down to invent one thing that might be capable to wash away all of them—it doesn’t matter what sort of longwear guarantees they make. Thus, Higher Than Balm was born.

The product comes out of the tube wanting like a gel-textured oil, however takes on a creamy texture when it comes into contact with water. In contrast to most cleaning balms, that are tough to emulsify and have a tendency to go away a waxy coating on the pores and skin, this one truly washes off with water.

Which means that it is much less more likely to trigger breakouts in oily and acne-prone pores and skin, and will not intervene with any remedy serums you apply on prime of it (as a result of, enjoyable truth: In the event you apply your retinol on prime of a coating of oil, which most cleaning balms go away behind, it will not work in addition to it is imagined to).

To make the oil-to-gel-to-milk magic occur, Rouleau employed a sugar-based emulsifier referred to as sucrose laurate and a light-weight emollient referred to as caprylic capric triglyceride. She paired these components with jojoba oil (which is shut in construction to the sebum your pores and skin produces), sunflower seed oil (which softens the pores and skin), and glycerin (a hydrating humectant), and the ensuing system strikes the right steadiness of being oily sufficient to take away make-up with out being so oily that it greases up your pores and skin.

The true draw right here, although, is that whereas most cleaning balms are designed to be step one in a double-cleansing routine, this one offers you two cleanses for the worth of 1. Not solely does it rid the pores and skin of make-up residue, but it surely washes away no matter different filth and particles could also be hanging out in your complexion, too. It does this gently and with out stripping the pores and skin, and creates a superbly clear canvas so that you can apply the remainder of your routine on prime of.

What occurred after I tried Renée Rouleau Higher Than Balm

After my first few makes use of, I used to be already falling laborious for Higher Than Balm, but it surely wasn’t till after I used it to take away a full face of Saturday night time make-up that I made a decision we had been formally in a long-term relationship. It seamlessly lifted away my heavy black eyeliner and waterproof mascara, and for the primary time in my life my Sunday morning hangover wasn’t accompanied by raccoon-eye remnants of the night time earlier than.

At $49, Higher Than Balm is admittedly costlier than your typical face wash—particularly contemplating. that any derm will let you know you can get a superb one for $15. However belief me after I say, it is price each penny. It offers you two steps in a single, will assist you to keep away from makeup-induced breakouts, and can guarantee the remainder of your routine works to the very best of its means.

Although I do not understand how lengthy these XL nails will probably be in my life (what occurs if I must open a Food regimen Coke and my mans is not round?!), I can say for certain that Higher Than Balm is right here to remain.