These days, there are countless cosmetics on the market that hold a single purpose – and buying one of each can quickly add up.
Enter Wonderbalm – a new all purpose product that promises to deliver impressive results on at least seven beauty concerns. These include, but are not limited to, serving as a skin moisturiser, hair mask, lip balm, hand cream, makeup primer, makeup remover, and eye cream.
Available on Amazon for £29 for a 50ml jar, Wonderbalm is the latest innovation from the Korean skincare world, known for its unique but effective selection of lotions, serums and other skincare potions. Other renowned products that stem from this region include the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, which we previously reviewed.
Packed with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, olive oil, orange peel and candellila wax, Wonderbalm is full of these natural compounds are packed with skin loving anti-oxidants. It also claims to soothe more serious skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema.
Reporter Lucy Farrell was eager to know if this Wonderbalm can fulfil all of its cosmetic duties. Read below for her thoughts.
‘My new travel must have’
I recently went on holiday, meaning I had to make the painful decision of what liquids I would prioritise. There isn’t a see through plastic bag big enough to hold my entire skincare arsenal, so this means I always have to sacrifice many steps of my grooming routine.
As a result, my skin can really take a stumble while I’m abroad, especially in a hot country. I know I can easily purchase some travel sized cosmetics upon my arrival, but I find these to be a waste of money as I usually can’t take them home.
As such, my recent trip abroad saw me go without a cleanser that I could not fit into my 100ml liquids bag, resulting in having to wash my face several times with watcher each night to remove my makeup.
It was only when I returned that I came across this Wonderbalm and was so excited to try it out. I decided I would test out its seven promised functions to see what results it would produce.
Upon first inspection, I was really impressed with the clean, minimal packaging. When opened, I immediately fell in love with its subtle yet refreshing scent. I personally don’t like any product for the face with a strong smell, but this was just enough to entice me to use as a cleansing balm.
I also really like its creamy yet soft texture – the first touch it feels a bit stiff, but I gave it time to melt it reminded my of the consistency of the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, which retails for £49.00.
My first test was to try the Wonderbalm as a conditioning hair mask. My hair always takes a beating while I’m away, especially in hot countries. My usual hair mask is one thing I can never seem to get into my luggage.
I applied it like a conventional mask, applying it generously to the tips after shampooing and with wet hair. I left it in for 30 minutes and after washing it out, I could instantly feel softer hair.
However, when it dried, my locks were left looking quite greasy, which left me disappointed. I wondered if I had used to much product, so I tested again, this time adding it sparingly to the lower tips of my strands and leaving it in for just 15 minutes.
The results this time around were a lot better. My hair felt more nourished, but it didn’t leave my hair with a fully sleek feel that you would get with a conventional hair mask.
I personally think that Wonderbalm truly shines when used on the skin. I now use it every night after I shower, particularly on my upper arms, where I have a lot of bumps and dryness. I’ve only been using it for two weeks but can already feel and see a huge difference in how smooth these areas are.
It’s also become my go to lip balm, as I’ve found that just one application keeps them soft for the majority of the day. I also love using it on my nails and that it’s always there when I need it – I’ve bought so many cuticle oils and vitamin E creams over the years and they always seem to get hidden away when I want to use them.
I also think it’s great to help nourish my nails, which break easily. I’ve put it on a couple of times a day over the last fortnight and I can feel them strenghtening.
I also found that while it may have an initial greasy feel, it absorbs quickly for a smooth finish.
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Final thoughts
After thorough testing, I think the Wonderbalm is a stellar product that delivers on all of its beauty promises.
While I don’t think it can replace a single purpose hair mask, I do think that it can come in handy if locks need some little TLC. However I’ll be making sure to use it sparingly.
Ultimately I will be making this Wonderbalm a part of my beauty routine and I don’t think I’ll go on any trip without it.
If you’re looking for an alternative, NEOM Wellbeing Great Day Wonderbalm promises similar results and is £17 at Look Fantastic, though it doesn’t boast as many reviews. Holland and Barrett also offer the Skin Salvation Balm for £22.
For soothed skin, shop Wonderbalm at Amazon here.
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