A real-world ingredient check: JustBe Botanicals Cleansing Balm (8 ingredients) vs Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
‘Clean’ skincare can mean different things to different people: natural ingredients including no synthetic fragrance or allergens, transparent labelling or a formula that leaves sensitive skin calm and comfortable. So ‘clean’ in a practical, skin-first way often comes down to:
- Ingredient simplicity (easier to know what you’re using)
- Suitability for sensitive skin (fewer potential triggers)
- Transparency (clear INCI list, no mystery blends)
- What your skin personally tolerates (the most important one)
A cleanser is a rinse-off product, so you might think ingredients don’t matter as much, but cleansing balms are massaged over eyes and lashes and sit on the skin long enough to dissolve SPF and makeup and interact with your skin barrier (especially if you’re sensitive or dry).
A quick clean cleanser checklist
When you’re choosing a cleansing balm, oil, gel, anything - ask:
- Can I recognise and tolerate most of these ingredients?
- Is there fragrance / parfum (and do I react to it)?
- Are there essential oils (and does my skin love or hate them)?
- Any personal avoid-list items (nuts, specific preservatives)?
- Does my skin feel calm and comfortable after cleansing or tight and “squeaky”?
Your skin will always tell the truth.
Instead of debating the buzzword, let’s do something more useful: turn the jar around and read what’s inside. Today, we’re comparing two cult-favourite cleansing balms - one beautifully minimal, one wonderfully spa-like.
The ingredient reality check
JustBe Botanicals Nourishing Cleansing Balm: refreshingly simple, with only eight ingredients: Coconut Oil, Coconut Solid, Beeswax, Jojoba Oil, Coco Glucoside, Vitamin E, Geranium Oil and Petitgrain Oil. That’s it.
Why that matters if your skin is sensitive, reactive or mystery-breakout prone:
- Fewer ingredients = fewer potential irritants to troubleshoot
- No long list of stabilisers, fillers, or fragrance blends
- You can quickly spot whether you personally avoid (or love) things like coconut oil, essential oils or beeswax
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm: a more complex formula
Elemis is famous for that “spa in a jar” experience and the ingredient list reflects a more complex formulation. The INCI list (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) includes (among many others): Sweet Almond Oil, PEG emulsifiers, phenoxyethanol and fragrance (parfum).
What that means in real life: You may love it if you enjoy a strong sensory cleanse (glide texture, scent and that pampering feel). But if you’re sensitive, reactive or avoiding fragrance, that larger list can mean more variables to consider, especially around essential oils, parfum and menthol. And if you avoid nuts, Elemis includes sweet almond oil.
‘Clean’ isn’t only about natural vs synthetic, it’s about clarity
Here’s the key difference I'd like you to take away:
JustBe Botanicals = clarity through simplicity. You can read the label in seconds and understand exactly what you’re putting on your skin.
Elemis = performance + experience through complexity. More ingredients can create a very refined feel but it can also make it harder to pinpoint what your skin is reacting.
Want the simplest possible cleansing ritual?
If you’re craving that 'clean-but-kind' cleanse, especially if your skin is sensitive, JustBe Botanicals’ 8-ingredient Cleansing Balm is designed to do the job without confusion.
A quick, friendly ‘cleanliness check’
Let’s put this cleanser through a simple, skin-first checklist, no scare tactics, no greenwashing.
The ingredient list (all 8):
- Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera) – rich, nourishing, effective at dissolving makeup and SPF
- Coconut Solid (Cocos Nucifera) – adds structure and balm texture without fillers
- Beeswax (Cera Alba) – protects the skin barrier and locks in moisture
- Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis) – closely mimics skin’s natural sebum, making it beautifully balancing
- Coco Glucoside – a gentle, plant-derived cleanser that helps the balm rinse clean
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol) – antioxidant support for the skin and the formula
- Geranium Oil (Pelargonium Graveolens) – naturally uplifting, traditionally used to balance skin and mood
- Petitgrain Oil (Citrus Aurantium) – fresh, green citrus notes that feel light and calming
So how “clean” is it?
✔ Short, transparent ingredient list – you can read and understand every component
✔ No synthetic fragrance or parfum – scent comes only from essential oils
✔ No fillers, silicones, PEGs or preservatives
✔ Easy to patch test – if your skin reacts, there are very few variables to investigate
✔ Multi-tasking formula – cleanses, removes makeup, supports the skin barrier
The only thing to be aware of (and this is part of being transparent):
- It contains beeswax, so not suitable if you're vegan
- It uses essential oils, which many people love but ultra-reactive skin types should always patch test
This is what ‘clean’ looks like when it’s stripped back to essentials:
no clutter, no confusion, just purposeful ingredients doing their job.