Oh, do I love a balm. I love how they feel, the way they melt into my skin, transforming into an oil that nourishes and soothes. As someone with dry skin that can be sensitive, balms are an absolute must in my personal skincare routine. My dry skin soaks them right up, absorbing the oils and good-for-you ingredients immediately.
I use these balms and salves according to how my skin is feeling. On a typical day, I’ll sometimes replace my moisturizer with a balm. If it’s feeling really dry, I’ll apply the balm over my serums and moisturizer. And if I’ve just had microneedling, I’ll apply the balm straight to my skin to help heal and soothe. A balm is also great for in-flight (it’s less messy than bringing a moisturizer), as you can just take out a pea-sized amount and tap it on wherever the skin feels dry.
The 3 Best Balms for Hydrated, Glowy Skin
I have tried quite a few balms and salves, but these three are my favorites. I use them each for different reasons. If I could only have one, it would be The Blue Cocoon, but I love the others too!
Soothing & Restorative: May Lindstrom the Blue Cocoon
May Lindstrom’s Blue Cocoon is the creme de la creme, the ultimate. At $220 a jar, it’s a more expensive product, but in my opinion, it’s worth every cent. A little goes a long way (the same applies to all of these balms!), and the jar lasts forever. What I love about it is how soothing and calming it is. This is my go-to after microneedling. This is a cult-classic, any time I share it on social media I am met with a million messages saying, “YESSS!” and “THE BEST!”
The key ingredient is blue tansy oil, which gives the balm its beautiful color and is exceptionally high in azulene. This helps to calm inflammation and reduce redness. While I don’t suffer from rosacea, I’ve heard it is great for rosacea-prone skin. It also contains camellia oleifera seed oil (often used in Asian skincare rituals), which helps to moisturize and soften, and frankincense oil, which has healing properties. It’s the most comforting, restorative thing in my beauty routine.
Brightening & antioxidant-rich: Maya Chia The Super Blend
Maya Chia’s Super Blend is a pressed serum; extremely rich in Vitamin C. I love the citrusy scent. I cannot get enough! The formula contains astaxanthin (one of nature’s strongest antioxidants), chia, shelf-stable Vitamin C ester, coenzyme Q10, and active botanicals. I reach for this whenever my skin is feeling dull or dehydrated. It brightens the skin almost instantly. While I use The Blue Cocoon and Cupu Cool almost exclusively at night, this is great for daytime (though as with any balm, you’ll be pretty shiny/dewy!).
Plumping & gel-textured: Lilfox Cupu Cool Jelly Balm
Oh my goodness, the smell of this one! I learned about Cupu Cool Jelly Balm from one of my favorite newsletters, The Perfect (they never miss; best recommendations!). This one is packed with oils, peptides, and hyaluronic acid and has a more gel-like consistency. I love the fresh, herbaceous scent. The formula contains babassu and healing hemp seed oil, as well as basil, peppermint, and lemon essential oils.
What I love about this one is how plumping it is, thanks to peptides and hyaluronic acid. I’ll leave it on overnight and my skin will look super bouncy and plump the next day.
Whether your skin is dry, sensitive, or just craving a little extra love, these balms are the ultimate treat.Do you have a favorite balm? I’m always looking for new ones to try.
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