Face Goop

Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm review

M: Yo, E.

E: What is it M?

M: I need to tell you about my miracle cleansing balm.

E: Must you? We did my vegan jelly cleanser last time.

M: I know, but this is pure goodness. I read about it on Beauty Mouth. Do you know this blog?

E: Nope. In my spare time, I read Proust*.
(*Grazia)

M: It is run by Caroline Hirons, who is a facialist. This means she is a face expert.

E: Thanks for clearing that up.

M: She has a thing called the Thursday clinic where people can go and ask questions. It makes for addictive reading, like looking through someone’s dirty underwear drawer, or picking at a scab. Disgusting behaviour, basically. (who keeps their dirty underwear in a drawer?)

E: I am not judging. I wore a length of used dental floss on my glasses for an hour this morning without even noticing.

M: Anyway, she recommends this Emma Hardie Moringa Balm as the best cleanser ever ever ever.

E: “Moringa”, eh?

M: It sounds like a greeting.

E: Yes!Hawaiian perhaps.

M: “Moringa, Mma. Have you slept well?”. Let’s get back to the balm.

E: If you insist.

M: I’ve never been very lucky with balms. Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish? EYE STINGING FACE STRIPPING RUBBISH. Karin Herzog professional cleansing whatever it was called? EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE SWEET SMELLING VASELINE.

E: The lawyer in me feels a disclaimer coming on here, but I will ignore the impulse. How about Eve Lom? What litigious complaints do you have about her?

M: Never tried. Isn’t it full of mineral oils or something?

E: Sigh. I quite like it. ANYWAY. Your balm block has been broken, presumably ?

M: Yes. This one smells amazing. Like a spring of blooming orange trees. And it comes in a heavy glass jar, which is always pleasing. AND it feels lovely when you spread it on to your face. Like… goose fat. Sweet smelling goose fat.

E: Soft, delicious, full of French paradoxes.

M: I wonder if you could roast potatoes in this. It is a multitasker.

E: You want orange blossom scented potatoes? You are depraved.

M: You can use it as a mask or intensive moisturiser when things get dryyyy. Dry like the Arizona desert.

E: And what does it actually do to your face, M?

M: Smooth. Clear. Not angry, not monkey. Anything that will make my face look like this, has my undying loyalty, E.

E: I see. I bet it’s really dear, isn’t it?

M: Yes, kind of. £34 in the shops. I got mine for £26 off Ebay.

E: Hmmmm. “Spendy”, as the people would have us say.

M: Well. I think one pot would last for a couple of months. I only use it in the evening, after a quick wipe of La Roche Posay lotion.

E: Who is this Emma Hardie, anyway? She sounds like one of the Avengers. The sixties ones. Not Thor & co.

M: She might as well be. An Avenger. FOR THE FACE. Here.
She has something called “facefact workshop”. That sounds amazing. I want to be educated to do my own facial sculpting at home.

E: It seems to involve having your face flayed in the manner of the creepy German guy.

M: What?

E: You know, the German guy with the hat who flays people.

M: HA. Dr German von Gunther from Small Hat-am-Rhein

E: Jah, jah, genau! Hang on, we are getting distracted. Back to balm.

M: Ah yes. So: Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural lift and sculpt Moringa cleansing balm. A facialist approved, orange blossom scented, goose fat, skin miracle.

E: Legal notice: face flaying should be part of a calorie controlled diet and can go up as well as down.