Speed Review: Lush Ultrabland Facial Cleanser

Lush Ultrabland was the first cleansing balm I ever tried- back when I was a teenager & long before I'd become familiar with the term "cleansing balm". Back then, it was presented in a glass jar and had a peanut oil base (which has since been replaced with almond oil). I repurchased it time & time again. I was excited to revisit my old favourite and see if it would live up to my fond memories, or if it would have been usurped by newer and more luxurious products which I've since tried.

Whilst I appreciate the ecological stance, I don't find the Lush black tubs to be aesthetically appealing. What's more, I tend not to like tub presentations as I find them to be messy & unhygienic although in the case of Lush Ultrabland, it is admittedly well suited to the product formula. I appreciated the inclusion of a "best before" date on the packaging and feel that this reiterates the Lush "fresh, handmade cosmetics" brand ethos. The directions are clear and easy to follow, however, they state that the cleanser can be removed with a hot flannel or a cotton pad and I don't agree that it should be removed with a cotton pad as I simply don't feel that it would remove the product effectively.

The texture is creamier than I recall. I'd describe it as a hybrid between a very rich, buttery cream & a balm. It's not completely solid but the texture is firm and there are beads of beeswax within the formula (which I couldn't feel on application but which are visible). A little goes a long way.

Lush Ultrabland melts into skin and lends itself well to facial massage. It works effectively to remove makeup, although (as is often the case), I needed to use a separate eye makeup remover to remove stubborn traces of mascara.

It has an earthy scent which won't be to everyone's liking but personally, I found there to be something quite comforting about it.

Lush Ultrabland has a rich texture and those with oily or acne prone skin may find that they dislike the rather heavy feeling on the skin. That said, I haven't experienced any breakouts on my acne prone skin as a result of using this and actually find it to have a balancing effect.

It takes a little more effort to remove the cleanser than others I've tried but following use, my skin is left feeling wonderfully soft & nourished and glowing with radiance.

Overall, I feel that Lush Ultrabland contains good ingredients and at £7.50 for 45g, it remains a very good & affordable cleansing option.