Mahalo The Unveil Cleansing Balm

Mahalo is a brand that has featured many times on the blog and repeatedly day after day on my Instagram too. Their Rare Indigo Balm is possibly one of my fave balm….dare I say over the infamous May Lindstrom’s Blue Cocoon too. So when the geniuses behind Mahalo Care announced their new launch, of course I took a plunge of faith.

What was promised? Well the new UNVEIL cleanser is an ideal balm-to-milk cleansing formula that sinks luxuriously into skin to effectively dissolve makeup and daily impurities, unveiling soft and glowing complexion. Experience: Creamy, soft and delicate, green-tea colored 100% water-free concentrated cleansing complex. Melts upon contact with skin. Will not clog pores. Aroma: Fresh and crisp scent of lemon, rounded with notes of exotic fragonia, ginger, cardamom and pink peppercorn. Hints of warm cocoa create a gourmand calming aromatherapy experience. Ideal Dose: Depending on the needs of your skin. A pearl-size dollop for a regular day makeup removal, or a half pea-size scoop for a thin veil of gentle and soothing cleanse.

I’ve used this balm for few weeks now and ready to share my thoughts and experiences. Firstly the packaging, in a classic Mahalo packaging i.e. glass jar encased in a bamboo outer shell. Whats inside, is a luxurious waterless rich balm enriched with lush oils, butters, matcha green tea and clay. The first whiff of scent is of lemons, cardamom and ginger. On touch and massaging all over skin it gradually melts to an oil. Per instructions, dosage of a pea size didn’t do a thing. My face definitely needs more than pea size and this is not limited to this balm….absolutely any cleansing balm. I don’t understand when people say ‘pea-size’, honestly it takes more than that (I will stop my rant).

Upon massaging the balm on skin, it melts to a glorious oil and the scents start making their way to my nose. The lemon cardamom scent sure tickles my fancy. Now if I had to compare with Emma Hardie balm, it certainly doesn’t have that level of slip factor. This balm gives more grip than slip when massaging. Next step, emulsifying stage. Personally, I’m a hot face cloth/wash cloth/flannel (call it what you may) kinda woman but to test the claims of emulsification I went with the flow. So yes, it does emulsify…but it takes works to emulsify the balm. The emulsifying feels different…the milky emulsion feels more slippy compared to Emma Hardie or other Asian cleansing balms or sherbet cleansers.

The after effect is lovely on my skin, some say it leaves a residue. In my experience, yes there is a slight residue when I emulsify but the residue is not offensive by any means. The residue on my skin feels moisturized and not slimy or icky (if you know what I mean…not the best way to articulate). When I take off the cleanser with hot cloth, its perfection. Absolutely no fault. Performance wise I find it hard to fault, even with makeup removal. The pic above shows how effortlessly it melts the matte lipstick by Soap and Glory and emulsifies to milky goodness.

Quick dive in ingredient listing – all looks scrumptious to me, nothing negative to say!

Ingredients: prunus amygdalus dulci (sweet almond) oil and in-house phytonutrient infusion* [medicago sativa (alfalfa), arnica montana (arnica), calendula officinalis (calendula), symphytum officinale (comfrey), centella asiatica (gotu kola), ocimum sanctum (holy basil tulsi), azadirachta indica (neem), scutellaria lateriflora (skullcap)], persea gratissima (avocado) butter*, macadamia integrifolia (macadamia) oil*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) oil*, jojoba esters, mangifera indica (mango) butter*, theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter*, astrocaryum murmuru butter*, theobroma grandiflorum (cupuacu) butter*, argania spinosa (argan) oil*, cera alba (beeswax)*, ricinus communis (castor bean) oil*, cetearyl olivate (and) sorbitan olivate, non-gmo mixed tocopherols, salix alba L. (willow) bark*, plukenetia volubilis (sacha inchi) oil*, coco glucoside, camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf*, calophyllum inophyllum (Polynesian tamanu) oil*, cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) seed oil* & papain*, lecithin*, montmorillonite (french green clay), citrus lemon oil*, agonis fragrant (fragonia) oil*, elettaria cardamomum (cardamom) oil*, zingiber officinalis (ginger) oil*, schinus molly (peppercorn) oil*, frankincense sacra oil*, melaleuca quinquenervia (niaouli) oil*, citrus aurantium var. bergamia (bergamot) oil*, commiphora myrrh oil*, rosmarinus officials (rosemary antioxidant) extract*

Given the glorious ingredient listing, I would not use this balm to remove my makeup. Absolutely NOT. It would be a wonderful morning cleanse or second cleanse.

Here’s another claim up for discussion, “antioxidant-rich enzymes create a gentle, yet effective thorough cleanse to exfoliate, soften and smooth, while leaving the moisture barrier of the skin intact and balanced.” Now for a cleansing balm which spends limited time on skin, it seems a little far fetched. So I came up with an alternative and creative way to put the antioxidant rich enzymes to work. Massaged the balm on skin, and took some steam with a hope that the enzymes would do their job. Result – nada except skin was softer with rich oils and certainly helped the moisture barrier. Did I have an exfoliating effect…ermm no, far fetched claim.

Now my final point on this balm, which puts me in a place of utmost hesitation in terms of recommending and repurchasing. This balm retails at $70 for 50ml (plus $6 shipping) whereas other balms on the market are lot more value for money. Value in terms of quantity vs. dollar paid.

• Restorative Cleansing Balm by de Mamiel – 100ml for £54.00 (USD $66) – Double the quantity and the price is still less than Mahalo
• Emma Hardie – 100g for £38.00 (USD $46)
• Lilfox Jungle Glow Rainforest Honey Enzyme Cleanser + Mask – 100ml for USD $75.00
• The Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter Cleanser – 70ml for USD$74

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore the brand, the creator of this brand and her products, but this product will not be a repurchase for me simply from value for money perspective. Have you tried this cleansing balm? Any other balm cleansers which provide more bang for your buck?

HHW.com

xx

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The Rare Indigo Balm by Mahalo Care

Mahalo Care was introduced into my life at the ‘A Night for Green Beauty’ event earlier in August 2015. I met beautiful Maryna and she shared her introductory kit with me. I experienced the Mahalo Magic (as I like to call it) with Pele Mask (face mask), Vitality Elixir (face oil), Vacation Glow (body oil) and Mahalo Balm (multi purpose balm).

The packaging, scent, textures and more importantly the performance of these products set me in the right frame for wanting more. This post is not a review on each of those products but a review on The Rare Indigo Balm (recent release).

WHAT is it? The Rare Indigo Balm site says:

This radically-different soothing renewal treatment is bursting with formidable anti-inflammatory phytonutrient infusion, collagen-fostering vitamin C ester, high-content of antioxidants and replenishing essential fatty-acids  to lower oxidation damage in stressed tissue, allowing the skin to be hydrated, nourished and youthful. The Rare Indigo® beauty balm is supercharged with clinically-tested rare extract of the indigo plant and potent anti-inflammatory, chamazulene-rich actives, making this skin-renewing balm an opulent skin treat.

Packaging: Housed in a classic Mahalo bamboo jar (twist open), which is relatively light weight and great for travel. Once I twist open the jar, it mesmerizes me, holds me captive and whisks me away in another world. I really really really wish Mahalo would release a perfume in this scent, and I will be the first to get it.

Aroma: Suave, crisp with vanilla-sweet undertones, highlighted with refined florals of rose otto, ambrette (hibiscus), helichrysum, ylang ylang and iris. 

I couldn’t have described it better, its exactly every word spelled out. When I take a whiff, these are the words that come to you: crisp, night floral developing to sweet vanilla at back end. Yeah I’m very raw at describing scents.

Mahalo also adds, It swirls around your nose like a refreshing night-air, only to dissipate, leaving you relaxed, and renewed – Yessss without a shadow of doubt!

This balm can be used by anyone especially with dry, dehydrated, stressed, inflamed, irritated skin would make a perfect candidate. Although if you dislike or are sensitive to scents, fragrances or essentials oils please proceed with caution or consult with Mahalo.

I tend to use this after toning, OR after serum instead of my usual face oil or moisturizer. On days with a bitter wind chill factor (-25C), I like to use this under makeup (keeps skin hydrated and makeup sits better), this is a treat and pamper for skin to be enjoyed.

 

Rare Indigo balm the tiniest bit goes a long way. The texture and consistency is the one factor that baffles me the most and leaves with a loss of words. Here’s why:

Texture – solid balm (especially during cooler months) but it almost feels like ‘gel oil balm’. If you’ve used this, please help me with describing texture. I don’t know how Mahalo achieved that since the consistency is that of a balm. Once spread on skin, it possesses the texture of an oil. No greasy feel on skin, instantly absorbs, the aroma lingers on the skin for a bit (so I keep sniffing myself).

So you ask when can this product be used? Well anytime, but especially delighful in a Spa routine after an intense peel or microderm, OR long haul flights (yes my flight time from Chicago – Melbourne kills my skin) OR Wine tasting trips, OR Desert safari (seriously!) OR sitting in a Heated environment all day!

The situations I have described are quite dramatic but, this balm is incredible for hydrating and plumping my skin. From a Raisin to a Grape. Plus it has helped me soothe irritation and slight inflammation. It’s just a fabulous treat, I find myself walking past my skincare drawer and I open this jar only to inhale the heavenly aroma.

As with any balm the versatility is excellent. Ideally used on face, but like any other balm I perceive it to be multi purpose and multi tasking. Cuticles, hands, lips, under eyes. Personally I’ll stick with my face.

HOW does it compare to its sibling aka Mahalo Balm?

Just like siblings – they’re related and nurtured by same mother, although they have different qualities, ingredients, colour and personality.

Maryna mentioned on her Instagram post that she has poured her heart in each of these lush bamboo pots and when you’d use this balm you will completely feel it and fall head over heels.

$110 for 30ml

HHW.com

xx