Rosehip Cleansing Balm Tested

If you’ve read my blog before, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of a good cleansing balm.

I love a first cleanse that feels a little bit luxurious, melts away the day properly, and leaves my skin feeling soft rather than stripped. I’ve actually recently done a round up of some of my favourite cleansing balms, so when I ran out and spotted the Super Facialist Rosehip Skin Therapy Meltaway Cleansing Balm in Boots, I was definitely tempted.

⭐ Quick Verdict
💰 Price	£20 RRP / often ~£12 on offer
👤 Best for	Minimal makeup wearers
🌸 Scent	Rosy, noticeable but pleasant
🫙 Texture	Firm balm, needs warming in hands first
💄 Makeup removal	Good on face, weak on eyes
🌿 Rosacea friendly?	Yes, no irritation at all
🔄 Repurchase?	Not at full price

This balm normally retails at £20 for 100ml, but I found it on sale for £12 in Boots, which instantly made it much more appealing. The bright pink packaging caught my eye straight away, and as someone who generally gets on well with rosehip skincare, I thought it was worth giving a try. It is also cruelty free and dermatologically tested which is really important to me.

First Impressions

Cleansing balms can vary quite a bit in texture, even though they all broadly do the same job.

Some are very soft and almost melt the second they touch your skin, while others are firmer in the jar and need a little warming up between your fingers first. This one definitely falls into the second category.

The Super Facialist Rosehip Cleansing Balm is a more solid balm, so I found it worked best when I warmed it in my hands for a few seconds before applying it to dry skin. Once warmed, it does melt down into an oil and spreads nicely, but it is not one of those ultra silky balms that instantly glides everywhere.

That is not necessarily a bad thing, but if you prefer a very soft, buttery cleansing balm texture, this one may feel a little firmer than expected.

Scent and Ingredients

One of the first things I noticed was the scent.

It has a fairly noticeable rosy fragrance, but thankfully it smells pleasant rather than overly artificial. It’s definitely on the stronger side compared with some fragrance free options, but I didn’t find it unpleasant at all. Importantly, there were no odd chemical notes, which can sometimes ruin a product for me.

Looking at the formula, some of the standout ingredients include:

Rosehip oil — rich in essential fatty acids and known for its nourishing, skin-softening properties
Hyaluronic acid — draws moisture into the skin, helping it feel hydrated and plump after cleansing
Babassu oil — a lightweight, non-greasy oil that helps the formula feel comfortable rather than heavy on the skin

On paper, that’s a really nice combination for a cleansing balm, especially if you want something that feels nourishing without being overly rich.

How it performed on my skin

In terms of how it felt on my skin, I actually got on very well with it.

After cleansing, my skin felt soft, comfortable and nicely hydrated, with none of that tight or squeaky feeling that cheaper cleansers can sometimes leave behind. It also caused no irritation at all, which is a big plus for me as my skin can be a little sensitive and I do have rosacea.

Where it fell down for me was makeup removal, particularly around the eyes. I prefer not to double cleanse as it feels unnecessary. Whilst this balm handled face makeup reasonably well, it really struggled with my mascara. The frustrating part is that I’m not even talking about a stubborn waterproof mascara here, just a regular everyday one.

Even after using it thoroughly, I was still left with that slightly smudgy panda eye effect, which is not what I want from a balm cleanser. For me, that is quite a big drawback, because one of the main reasons I reach for a balm in the first place is to remove makeup quickly and effectively in one go.

Value for Money

At £12 on offer, I think this is a fairly decent buy if you are looking for a pleasant, nourishing cleansing balm and you don’t wear much eye makeup, or you don’t mind using a separate eye makeup remover.

At the full £20 RRP, I’m much less convinced. There are simply better cleansing balms out there at that price point, especially if effective makeup removal is high on your priority list. When I’m spending £20 on a cleansing balm, I want it to feel lovely and remove everything properly without needing extra effort.

That said, if you spot it on offer and want a gentle balm that feels comfortable and hydrating on the skin, it may still be worth a try. Since purchasing this at Boots I have spotted it at a lower price of £10.50 on Amazon – Price correct at time of posting.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Super Facialist Rosehip Skin Therapy Meltaway Cleansing Balm is a perfectly nice cleansing balm, but for me it doesn’t quite earn a place among my favourites.

I liked the pleasant rose scent, the nourishing feel on the skin, and the fact that it didn’t aggravate my rosacea at all. My skin felt soft and hydrated after use, which I always appreciate. However, the firmer texture and the disappointing mascara removal mean I personally wouldn’t repurchase it, especially not at full price.

If you wear minimal makeup and want a balm that feels gentle and comfortable, this could still be a nice budget friendly pick when it’s on offer. But if, like me, you want your cleansing balm to properly tackle eye makeup as well, there are stronger performers out there — you can see how it compares in my full guide to the best cleansing balms.

Frugal Kitty Verdict

Worth trying if you spot it on offer, but not one I’d rush to repurchase. A nice enough cleansing balm with a lovely feel on the skin, but not quite good enough at removing eye makeup to justify the full price for me.