Between science and feeling

Balmsense grew out of years of hands-on experience, skin measurements, a questioning mind I inherited from my family and a study of cosmetic formulation. It began with observing, measuring, asking questions and refusing to settle for half-truths or empty promises.

From an early age, I learnt to question what was expected of me and find my own way of bringing beauty, substance and honesty together.

I grew up in the seventies and eighties, in a household of high expectations and very little fuss. Both my parents were accomplished scientists and passionate advocates of equal rights. We bought very little and made a great deal ourselves.

My mother was practical and fiercely feminist. Hair clips, dresses and Barbie dolls were out of the question. Naturally, I found them irresistible. They represented my own love of beauty and play.

My parents believed deeply in equality and considered appearance of little importance. Meanwhile, I was an insecure teenager struggling with acne, spending every penny of my pocket money on enticing little jars promising remarkable results.

Somewhere between wanting to make the world a better place and my own love of beauty, I had to find my own path.

Finding my own path

I began by training as a beauty therapist, quietly hoping the course would also help me understand my acne and finally get it under control.

Beauty became my profession, starting with make-up artistry and fashion styling. My work soon took off, but I also began to see the less attractive side of the fashion industry, with its waste, pollution and often harsh working environment. I moved towards more responsible, ethically produced fashion, but without the rather dowdy image it had at the time. That was still unusual. Contemporary, responsibly made fashion was hard to find, so I sourced collections from abroad and set up a small press agency. Alongside this, I taught on beauty and personal care courses.

My ideals and everyday reality continued to challenge each other.

A turning point

In 2012, I left the hectic pace and superficiality of that world behind and opened my own beauty salon. I wanted to work directly with people, taking the time to listen and give them proper care and attention. That personal approach brought genuinely satisfied clients.

Yet I kept coming up against the same problems. Many clients had sensitive skin, and particularly dry skin, while conventional skincare routines rarely brought lasting improvement. From the very beginning, I used equipment to measure skin condition, making it possible to see what was happening rather than simply rely on impressions. The measurements reflected what my clients were telling me.

Looking beyond the claims

By then, I was also learning to look beyond the promises on the jar.

My father was a chemist, mathematician, physicist and educationalist. He had long wondered why we all spend so much money on products made largely from water. He taught me to read ingredient lists, ask questions and never settle for half-truths.

His questioning mind helped shape my own. Later in his life, he gave me the final encouragement I needed to enrol on a four-year course in cosmetic formulation.

There, I learnt how cosmetic products are developed and what skin actually needs. And that, as it turns out, is often far less than the beauty industry would have us believe.

Knowledge worth sharing

Somewhere between the measurements and the way my clients' skin felt, I found my direction.

I use before and after measurements to show clients what is changing, while listening carefully to how their skin feels. To me, evidence you can see and feel matters far more than a promise. Understanding how skin works should not be complicated. It is practical knowledge that can be explained clearly and simply.

Sharing that knowledge has become an important part of my work. I want people to understand their own skin, make informed choices and become less easily swayed by an overwhelming industry full of competing claims and misleading advice.

Developing the balms

With this understanding, I began developing my own skincare products. As simple as possible, as targeted as necessary, and guided by what I had seen work time and again in practice.

I left out added water, which often does little more than increase volume while creating additional requirements for preservation. Instead, I chose rich, concentrated ingredients. No unnecessary extras and no added preservatives. Just carefully selected plant oils and waxes that support the skin's natural protective layer, known as the skin barrier.

Every new version was tested in my salon. I took measurements before and after use, listened to my clients and made adjustments based on comfort, appearance and how their skin felt. Step by step, I developed products designed to give the skin exactly what it needs, without anything unnecessary.

Designed with purpose

Next came the practical side of everyday use. A balm should feel and spread just as beautifully on a cold winter morning as it does on a hot summer's day. I worked on a texture that would remain consistent and easy to apply as temperatures changed.

At the same time, I looked critically at where the ingredients and materials came from, and at the packaging itself. I wanted to make the most responsible choices possible, using as little material as necessary. Refillable wherever practical, strong enough to travel with and convenient to use. And beautiful too, because I have never believed that practical things have to be dull.

That led me to aluminium and stainless steel. Stainless steel for its strength and refillability, aluminium for its lightness. Both are highly recyclable and fit naturally with the idea of making products that go further with less.

And what does all this mean in practice?

Fewer products, fewer steps and more results you can see and feel.

Gentler cleansing and carefully chosen nourishment help the skin look calmer and feel more comfortable.

And because the ingredients are not diluted with added water, a little goes a long way.

That's Balmsense. Balms with sense. Common sense, together with a genuine feel for what skin needs.