Here’s a little funny personal backstory to my receiving the Chanel Sublimage Le Baume.
When I first heard of it, I immediately thought that it would be a balm cleanser, and I LOVE balm cleansers! It did strike me a little odd that there would be a balm cleanser when there already exists the Sublimage Gel-to-Oil cleanser (which I LOVE!), but I did not think much of it. Who can fathom how brands think anyway?!
So, when the Sublimage Le Baume dropped in my lap, I did a double-take. This was not a cleansing balm!
A quick frantic read of the literature revealed to me that the Sublimage Le Baume was, in fact, a balm moisturiser!
I must confess that this dry-skinned gal got even more excited at the thought of a balm moisturiser, than I did at the thought of a balm cleanser! 😀
Chanel Sublimage Le Baume – Revitalizing, Protecting and Soothing Balm
Chanel calls this the Revitalizing, Protecting and Soothing Balm. As with everything in the luxurious Sublimage range, the Sublimage Le Baume contains ingredients extracted from the Vanilla Planifolia, in this case, polyfractioned Vanilla Planifolia and vanilla enfleurage oil.
The flower extract, obtained from fresh flowers harvested between October to November, is combined with Enfleurage Oil, created by steeping dried flowers in a bath of oil and this is intended to protect skin from oxidative stress.
In May, when the fruit begins to form, the Éphémères are obtained from the immature fruit via chrono-extraction, to boost skin regeneration.
From June to August, as the fruit matures, Intense Vanilla Water is obtained from mature fruit from hydrodistillation, to combat free radicals and prevent degradation of collagen and elastic fibers. Planifolia PFA, which is obtained from the ripe fruit via polyfractioning, stimulates regeneration, and targets all signs
of aging.
Truthfully, all this sounds terribly romantic. But I am also mildly sceptical of lofty claims like this. For me, a product is only as good as how it performs on my skin (not yours, mine – I’m the one using it 😛 ) and I’m no stranger to active ingredients that are lab-grown, instead of out in a flower field. I’m therefore more interested in how the Sublimage Le Baume feels on my skin.
Luxurious Packaging
Before diving into the balm, let’s take a moment to appreciate the beautiful, luxurious packaging the Sublimage Le Baume comes in. It comes in a hefty glass jar, and a spatula, for those who are particular about hygiene.
While I’m usually one to just dip my fingers into the jar (I’m the only one using it after all!) I appreciate the spatula in this case. The texture of the balm lends itself better to be scooped out by a spatula than with your fingers.
Beautiful Velvety Balm Texture
Which brings us to the texture. The hefty jar is filled with a velvety balm. Chanel says that it the Sublimage Le Baume concentrates all the revitalising power of SUBLIMAGE skincare in a soothing, comforting formula that is denser and silkier than a cream, yet more sensuous than a classic body balm.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The texture of the balm is like that of a soft blanket that glides over and comforts dry skin. I like to scoop out just a little, smooth it between my palms to warm it up, then apply it to my skin with a gentle massage.
With such a thick textured product, you’d expect it to sit on the top of your skin, suffocating it, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Absorbs into the skin, softening the skin
I find that the Sublimage Le Baume absorbs into the skin easily, almost immediately softening it. This is really one I’d only recommend for those with dry skin, because it is quite intense, and heavy. But if you have dry skin that is in need of a little TLC, then this balm gives you a whole lot of TLC!
I almost feel like it reconditions my skin, softening it, leaving it more supple overnight. I do find that my skin feels softer the next morning, which is lovely!
The texture also lends itself well to cocooning your skin after you have drenched it with a serum. It just envelops the skin, drawing a veil of comfort over it, assuring you that all will be well in the morning.
I love how my skin feels, and you don’t even have to use very much product at all!
I also don’t use it daily, as it is rather heavy. For those who live where there is winter, perhaps this might be something you’d appreciate in the colder months. But for us in the Tropics, this is something I treat my skin to a few times a week.
And it is a treat, for it is a very luxurious product both on skin and on the wallet! 😛
Strong fragrance can be irritating
My little beef with the Sublimage range, if you layer the products, is that it is almost like layering perfumes and perfumed creams on your skin. The scent builds and builds, and while it isn’t unpleasant, it is strong.
I now choose to use Sublimage products with other less fragranced products, just so I don’t end up being bombarded with the scent of Vanilla Planifolia all night long. While not unpleasant, it’s just not for me.
Is it worth the splurge?
Chanel’s Sublimage range sits at the apex of their skincare – their most luxurious range. It therefore presents a big dent to the wallet.
In the case of the Sublimage Le Baume, you might find that a whole jar may last you up to 6 months, if you don’t use it daily. In our weather, unless your skin is like the Sahara, you probably don’t need to use it daily. In that case, the RM1480 (US$420) pricetag maybe a little less daunting to bear.
Of course, this is all relative, for we all have our own thresholds of pain when it comes to skincare and what we expect from it. You can easily get a whole skincare routine for that price, and why wouldn’t you? 🙂 I would! But because I like how this feels, I would also consider getting this balm. Or maybe the L’Extrait de Creme. They’re incredibly expensive, but also very pleasurable to use, and that makes me happy 🙂
For me, what this whole pandemic has taught me, is not to be so uptight about things. If I like a product because of it feels on my skin, or what it does, or how it smells, leave me be! I’m not here to gatekeep what you should use, and I expect that same respect too 🙂
Ultimately, it’s up to you what you make of a product’s worth 🙂
IN A NUTSHELL
The Chanel Sublimage Le Baume is a thick velvety balm, that warms and spreads easily on skin, absorbing easily into the skin and leaveing skin feeling fresh with no thick greasy residue. It is a balm moisturiser, targeted at those with dry skin. In the Tropics, I’d suggest using it only a few nights a week as it can be rather thick. In the cold winter, you could use it daily. I like that it makes my skin feel soft, with a velventy feel. The next morning, my skin just feels refreshed and revitalized, almost as if I’ve drenched it in oils and balms all night. There is a fairly strong fragrance which isn’t my cup of tea, but can be enjoyable on some nights. It’s a lovely, luxurious balm moisturiser to own, but not necessarily one you must own.
PROS:
Moisturises and soothes dry skin very beautifully
Feels lightweight on skin and absorbs easily
A little product goes a long way
Skin feels velvety, moisturised and revitalized the next morningCONS:
Very pricey
FragrancedWHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone with dry skin who wants a comfortable balm moisturiser that is not greasy or sticky yet intensely moisturises the skin
PRICE: RM1480 | US$420 | £310 for 50g
WHERE TO BUY: Chanel beauty boutiques, counters and e-shop (MY), Chanel website, Selfridges, Feelunique
For those interested, here’s the ingredients list for the Chanel Sublimage Le Baume.
AQUA (WATER) | GLYCERIN | MORINGA OIL/HYDROGENATED MORINGA OIL ESTERS | COCO-CAPRYLATE/CAPRATE | CETEARYL ALCOHOL | BEHENYL ALCOHOL | PENTAERYTHRITYL STEARATE/CAPRATE/CAPRYLATE/ADIPATE | PANTHENOL | GLYCERYL STEARATE | CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE | OCTYLDODECYL MYRISTATE | SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL | VANILLA PLANIFOLIA FRUIT WATER | SECALE CEREALE (RYE) SEED EXTRACT | VANILLA PLANIFOLIA FRUIT OIL | FAEX (YEAST EXTRACT) | VANILLA PLANIFOLIA FLOWER EXTRACT | GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA (LICORICE) ROOT EXTRACT | VANILLA PLANIFOLIA FRUIT EXTRACT | BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER | OLUS (VEGETABLE OIL) | PEG-100 STEARATE | SODIUM CARBOMER | DIMETHICONE | PENTYLENE GLYCOL | PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) | CHLORPHENESIN | CAPRYLYL GLYCOL | BUTYLENE GLYCOL | PROPANEDIOL | DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL | SODIUM CITRATE | PROPYLENE GLYCOL | CAMELINA SATIVA SEED OIL | SODIUM HYALURONATE | ADENOSINE | PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE | LACTIC ACID | PHYTIC ACID | 1,2-HEXANEDIOL | TOCOPHEROL | PALMITOYL TETRAPEPTIDE-7 | SODIUM BENZOATE | CITRIC ACID | CI 14700 (RED 4) | CI 15985 (YELLOW 6) | CI 19140 (YELLOW 5) | IL50C
Do you like using balm moisturisers?
I seem to recall having used one in the past, but can’t, for the life of me, remember what it was. It most certainly did not cost this much haha! 😀 But I have to say I am enjoying busting into the Sublimage Le Baume every few nights, just for that luxurious blanket of goodness on my skin 😀
Paris B
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