With so many dupes of high end skincare products on the market, it can feel almost impossible to know which are really worth your money. Mirror writer Niamh Kirk decided to see if there were any comparisons to her beloved Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm
There’s a reason the Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm is one of the most viral skincare products on the market – but all beauty buffs will be all too familiar with the hefty price tag it unfortunately comes with.
For those who aren’t familiar with the Elemis cleansing balm, it is a solid balm that melts into a soothing oil once rubbed between your fingertips and dry face, it then turns milky once mixed with water – seamlessly removing makeup. However at £49 a tub, it’s pretty pricey and, as one of my favourite products, it certainly makes a dent in my pocket every time I buy a new one. That’s why when I saw so many brands claiming to have come up with a rival to Elemis, I was excited to see if any could compare to the real deal – and if I was about to save myself some money. But as a huge Elemis fan, I knew the bar was set high.
Elf Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm – £11
This Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm is a relatively new product from Elf’s skincare, and part of the Holy Hydration range. Priced at £11 it is far cheaper than Elemis and promises the same results. However it comes in a much smaller tub (56g) compared to Elemis (100g), but even so is far cheaper.
On first glance, it doesn’t quite compare to Elemis. It doesn’t have the same luxury spa fragrance so you can tell it’s not as luxurious. However for £11 it really doesn’t matter as it does exactly the same job. While the initial texture feels a little waxy, it turns into a buttery oil as soon as it was on my face and you really don’t need to use a lot. If I was doing a blind test of them both together, I am sure I would pick this one over the £49 version. I was seriously impressed at how easily it removed my makeup, and how seamlessly it spread around my face. It’s safe to say I was definitely blown away by this. It is light enough to not feel like it was weighing down on my skin and was easily washed off without any residue.
5/5
Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm – £12
I feel like I have seen so many people raving about this Inkey List Oat Cleansing balm. While it doesn’t look like a typical dupe, it works in the same way as the rest. It comes out of a squeezy tube, and turns into an oil as soon as you rub it between your fingers. While I can’t say this feels like a ‘luxury’ product, it certainly does what it says on the tin. It contains 3% Oat Kernel Oil which gently supports skin’s moisture barrier as well as 1% Colloidal Oatmeal which helps to reduce the appearance of redness and soothe irritation. However I don’t think it makes my face feel as clean and hydrated as the Elf product and I had to use a lot more to get it all over my face – but it did effectively remove all my makeup.
3/5
Revolution Pro Miracle Vegan Collagen Cleansing Balm – £14.99
From first glance, this Revolution Cleansing Balm is very similar to the Elemis version, even with its own scent. It’s even the same colour and texture. It comes with a small wash cloth – similarly to Elemis. and again, it turns to an oil when rubbed between your fingers. I was impressed with this product, however it is quite thick and I feel like it is quite heavy to use every day. I’d say this is more like a mask than a cleanser. It seems to be a popular product with an impressive 4.8 rating from Superdrug customers.
3/5
M&S Pure Super Hydrate Rose Cleansing Balm – £12.50
I was quite intrigued by this after it was recommended by my friend who swears by it. It also boasts a 4.7 star rating on the M&S website too. Pure by M&S according to the website is “uncompromising natural beauty that works”. The first thing I noticed was a citrusy scent which made it quite a refreshing smell and out of all of the four this certainly smells the best. This was by fair the most ‘luxurious’ out of them all. The texture appeared to be quite waxy but again transformed into an oil to remove my makeup. However I felt like I needed to use quite a bit to make sure all of my makeup had been removed but overall I was impressed. Although, it did come with a small wash cloth – similarly to the Elemis one.
4/5
Overall, I have to say I am seriosuly impressed by all four of these products. They all work in similar ways and all effectively removed my makeup – even my Estee Lauder double wear which can be a nightmare to try and get off. While some were a little heavier, I was impressed the most by the Elf version. It was lightweight yet it definitely ‘melted’ onto my skin and easily removed all of my makeup – it’s certainly one I have reached for a few times since trialling. While I will miss the luxury of the Elemis balm, I have to say I will be buying all of these products again as they all work just as well.
Do you have a story to share? Email niamh.kirk@reachplc.com
