This site has limited support for your browser. We recommend switching to Edge, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

Free tracked shipping for all UK all orders

Our Balm-Gel cleanser is 5 years old!

​​​I started with one mission, to make the gentlest cleanser possible. And the tricky bit- it had to feel great and work too.​​​​​​​​

When Harborist launched in 2017, the few similar products - and actually most nice-to-use skincare - had things like fragrance added and weren't made for those with ultra-sensitive skin who preferred to avoid that. Meanwhile, standard sensitive options felt bland and boring.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
In 2018 we launched into Victoria Health and sold out almost instantly - over 400 units of our remaining stock. For a tiny brand, it was quite the shock!​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
A year or so later, the Ordinary launched their fantastic squalane cleanser, and oil/gel cleansers exploded in popularity. What was quite a niche type of cleansing formulation was suddenly everywhere. And for good reason - they provide a lovely combination of efficacy and ritual.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
But here's why the Balm-Gel Cleanser remains unique.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
There's a standard way of making gelled/oil cleansers. Some brands change this to shift the texture, we changed it to optimise gentleness and the soft after-feel. Finding the breaking point in the formulation means more experiments in the lab, with better results for you.
​​​​​​​​
And while you can't tell this from the ingredient list, the results of a mildness test confirmed it to be completely non-irritating. In fact, no cleanser ever tested with this ultra-sensitive method has ever achieved a better score. Meanwhile, one of the words most used to describe the after-feel? 'Soft'. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
So it might be 5 years old, but I wouldn't change a thing. Good products stay good. ​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Thanks to all of you who bought it over the past 5 years, or told your friends about it, or introduced it to your social media community. It means the world. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
It was featured in the national press twice yesterday too.
​​​​​​​​
Here's to the next 5.

Kate

Cart

No more products available for purchase

Your Cart is Empty