Lazy Skincare Loves: Multitasking Moisturisers and Multipurpose Balms

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How to cite: Wong M. Lazy Skincare Loves: Multitasking Moisturisers and Multipurpose Balms. Lab Muffin Beauty Science. November 1, 2016. Accessed March 29, 2024. https://labmuffin.com/lazy-skincare-loves-multitasking-moisturisers-multipurpose-balms/

I love my multi-step night time skincare routine and it’s done wonders for my skin, and you will pry my targeted serums out of my cold dead hands. But if I’m staying over at someone else’s house or I’m travelling with limited space in my baggage, a multi-step routine just isn’t going to happen, and convenience wins. Here’s where my newfound love of multipurpose, multitasking products comes in.

Although a lot of beauty magazines say that multipurpose products are a backlash against the 13-step Korean style skincare routine, in my opinion they’re actually complementary. Most of the products in a multi-step routine don’t multitask well, since they’re usually designed to treat a single skin issue with maximum efffectiveness and customisability. Multipurpose products are designed with the complete opposite idea in mind – you want a product that can do a whole bunch of different things reasonably well.

The two multitaskers I’ve been loving for this sort of lazy skincare are Cinch Face Cheat and Multipurpose Balms.

Lazy Skincare Loves: Cinch Face Cheat and Multipurpose Balms

Cinch Face Cheat is the only product of its kind that I know of. It works as a light moisturiser that’s heavy enough for night time use in reasonably humid weather and primer as well as a hydrating mist that you can use under or over your makeup. As well as a host of humectants and occlusives to keep skin hydrated, it also contains Kakadu Plum extract which contains vitamin C. I tend not to use any skincare products on my face in the morning apart from sunscreen due to time constraints (i.e. I’m not a morning person), but I’ve started using Cinch under my sunscreen so I’m finally getting some skincare into my morning routine.

Cinch Face Cheat is also vegan, cruelty-free, and free of parabens and synthetic fragrances, if you’re steering clear of those.

Ingredients: Aqua, Diisopropyl Adipate, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Squalane, Isoamyl Laurate, Saccharide Isomerate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Alcohol Denat., Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Phenyl Trimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Ceteareth-20, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethiconol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Mica, CI 77163, CI 77891, CI 77491

I’m also loving multipurpose balms. They have a billion potential purposes. I use them mostly for:

  • eye makeup removal (wipe off with a damp tissue or cotton pad)
  • lip balm
  • softening dry cuticles, elbows and heels
  • as an intense occlusive sleeping mask over moisturiser at night
  • spot treating dry areas during the day

Lazy Skincare Loves: Cinch Face Cheat and Multipurpose Balms

Trilogy Everything Balm was the first multipurpose balm I tried, and it’s still awesome. The ingredients change every once in a while but it’s usually based on almond oil. It melts into the skin without leaving a tacky residue, and is fantastic for softening dry skin. I like to use it on my elbows and knees and lips. Recently the boyfriend and I gave each other foot massages with it and ended up with the softest feet ever!

A more budget friendly option is NYX All Over Balm, which comes in little tins with a few varieties available in the US for $6.50 USD, although as far as I know it only comes in the Tricks of the Trade Travel Kit in Australia ($29 for 7 products). It contains more synthetic ingredients than Everything Balm, but works almost as well for my skin.

You can also use lip balms in the same way, but a lot of lip balms tend to have extra sticky humectants in them which can get messy so keep that in mind before you slather it all over.

Trilogy Everything Balm: Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Seed Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Mel (Honey), Parfum, Citral, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool

NYX All Over Balm (Argan Oil): Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyisobutene, Mineral Oil/Paraffinum Liquidum/Huile Minérale, Petrolatum, Ceresin, Synthetic Wax, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Fragrance/Parfum. May contain Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)

What are your favourite lazy multitasker skincare products?

These products were provided for editorial consideration, which did not affect my opinion. This post also contains affiliate links – if you decide to click through and support Lab Muffin financially (at no extra cost to you), thank you! For more information, see Disclosure Policy.


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3 thoughts on “Lazy Skincare Loves: Multitasking Moisturisers and Multipurpose Balms”

  1. Have you tried the Lucas Papaw Ointment? I know a lot of people love that as an affordable multipurpose balm, but I haven’t tried it yet. (Not sure if it’s readily available in Australia, though!) I need to try a good multipurpose balm now that we’re getting into winter in the Northern hemisphere – I’m getting the dreaded flaky patches of doom around my nose! I’ll look out for the NYX one – thanks for the recommendation.

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  2. I’ve just discovered Aquaphor… Magic is real! I love a balm that I can stick in my bag that’ll keep my winter hands, lips and even face happy. Now if I could just find that something with a bit of SPF in it I’d be set for life XD

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