We all dream of a single product that hydrates, repairs, protects, and soothes without cluttering our shelves with multiple bottles. Multi-purpose balms are these clever solutions that we can apply to lips, hands, scars, dry ends, or irritated areas. However, with the market being highly competitive, it can be challenging to find the right one.
To save you time (and space in your bathroom), we scrutinized five iconic or lesser-known balms—from Les Petits Prödiges to Shiseido, as well as Energie Fruit and Egyptian Magic. Here’s our honest verdict.
Magic Balm – Les Petits Prödiges
This is the iconic product from the French brand Les Petits Prödiges, and its popularity is well-deserved. Their fragrance-free magic balm is a reliable choice for clean beauty enthusiasts. What’s in the formula? It’s 100% natural, free from allergens and fragrance, made up of just seven ingredients (beeswax, sweet almond oil, olive oil, arnica, etc.).
This versatile balm is formulated to nourish the skin, repair dry patches, soothe redness, and protect ends or cuticles. It has a soft texture that melts away without any sticky residue, leaving behind a gentle, almost matte finish.
What sets it apart? Its ultra-healthy formulation crafted in France, its recyclable aluminum packaging, and, above all, its extreme versatility. Whether you use it as a lip balm, a healing treatment, or an after-sun remedy, it performs excellently across the board.
Energie Fruit Miracle Balm Bio 10 in 1 Multi-Use
Budget-friendly with big promises, the 10 in 1 miracle balm from Energie Fruit boasts a certified organic and vegan formula, enriched with sunflower oil and shea butter. Made in Provence, it embraces the ethos of responsible and sensory cosmetics.
Designed to do it all, it hydrates dry areas, repairs irritations, softens hair, calms insect bites, and even works as a makeup remover or shaving cream. All this comes in a 100 ml pot for under €10.
It clearly offers the best value for money in this selection. Its rich yet penetrating texture allows for application on both the body and face. The only downside is a slightly sweet scent that may not appeal to everyone. But when it comes to effectiveness, it checks all the boxes.
Skin Rescue All-Purpose Balm – Vegan Soothing, Healing, and Anti-Inflammatory Balm
Less known, but impressively effective: the Skin Rescue All-Purpose Balm is a vegan formulation designed to soothe inflamed skin, heal scars, and calm areas prone to eczema or psoriasis. It includes natural anti-inflammatory ingredients like calendula and arnica.
Its dense texture is slightly greasier than others but acts like a plant-based bandage on damaged skin. It’s perfect for scrapes, troubled skin, or small injuries.
With its simple packaging and ultra-targeted formulation, this balm is an ideal emergency solution. While it may not be as universal as others, it’s incredibly effective in skin crises, making it a must-have for your travel kit.
Egyptian Magic – Multi-Purpose Skin Cream
A true legend from the United States, Egyptian Magic Balm has earned a reputation as a miracle cure thanks to its millennium-old formula. It contains only six natural ingredients: beeswax, olive oil, royal jelly, propolis, honey, and pollen.
Its rich finish, akin to an ointment, is perfect for very dry or dehydrated skin. It soothes minor burns, repairs scars, alleviates itchiness, and even works as a hair treatment in small amounts.
This is the greasiest balm in our selection, thus not recommended for oily or combination skin. However, for mature or damaged skin, it’s a true blessing. Bonus: it has a long shelf life since only a tiny amount is needed.
Waso SOS Multi-Use Balm – Shiseido
Last but certainly not least is the Waso SOS Balm from Shiseido. Crafted for very dry or sensitive areas, it acts as a targeted treatment. Its star ingredient? Fermented yuzu, which calms, hydrates, and promotes skin regeneration.
Its light waxy balm-gel texture forms an invisible barrier against external aggressors—perfect for irritated nostrils, chapped lips, or sporadic dry patches.
This is also the most technologically advanced and pricier option (around €30 for a mini pot), but its Japanese targeted formulation justifies the cost. It’s ideal if you’re looking for high-end formulations with focused effectiveness.
Photo credit: @shutterstock
