Elemis Care and Keeping: Balms, Jars and Rituals Done Right

Do not judge the jar yet. The brand explains in its listings that the formula has a low melting point, shifts when temperatures vary in transit and may reset unevenly, with no effect on quantity or quality. Stand the jar upright somewhere cool for several hours and it will firm back to a smooth balm. Only treat it as a fault if the jar is damaged or the fill looks genuinely short.

The usual cause is skipping the emulsion and cloth stages. Massage the balm onto dry skin first so the oil stage can dissolve makeup, then moisten fingertips and massage again until the texture turns milky, and only then remove it with a warm, damp cloth. Water added too early, or a cold rinse alone, leaves the oil stage stranded on the skin.

Its gel-cream lightness is by design. Rather than applying more cream, press a few drops of the Superfood Facial Oil over it, or reserve the Pillow Facial as the final night layer on the driest days. Layering one oil over the cream changes the routine more than doubling the cream dose does.

Pilling is almost always a dose or order problem. Use the printed pea sized amount of Marine Cream, let it settle for a minute before base makeup, and keep the Eye Revive Mask layer genuinely thin when it goes under concealer. The Glow Priming Moisturizer is the better base day choice anyway, since priming is its stated job.

Step the frequency down rather than abandoning the bottle. The Tri-Enzyme formula is designed to exfoliate as it cleanses, and reactive or dry skin often does better with it several times a week, with a balm covering the other washes. Keep daytime SPF in the routine whenever resurfacing products are in regular use, as the brand's own guidance recommends.

Use a clean spatula or thoroughly dry hands for the balms, creams and masks, and close lids promptly, especially the balm, which softens near heat. Store jars away from steamy shower shelves and radiators. Dropper bottles like the Future Restore Serum and Superfood Facial Oil keep best upright, with the pipette not left resting on the sink between uses.