So a box turned up on my doorstep a few weeks back (no, not an Amazon return, an actual nice surprise for once) and inside was a little parcel from ilapothecary. Two things: the SOS Body Balm and the Express Lip Balm. I’ll be honest, I get sent stuff fairly often and most of it sits on my desk looking pretty until I finally get round to it [guilty as charged], but something about the smell when I cracked open that lid made me actually stop what I was doing.
Quick disclosure: these were gifted by ilapothecary. Doesn’t change a word of what’s coming though, good or bad. Let’s get into it.
What’s actually in these things
I’m someone who reads the ingredient list before I read the marketing copy, mostly because my skin has burned me (sometimes literally) one too many times. So before I even tried these, I had a look.
The SOS Body Balm is a proper herbal blend: shea butter, sunflower seed oil, beeswax, arnica, calendula, rosehip oil, and then a whole list of essential oils stacked in – sandalwood, lavender, rose geranium, Bulgarian rose, plus murumuru seed butter and boswellia extract. It’s a lot going on, honestly, but it’s the kind of “a lot” that smells incredible rather than the kind that makes me nervous.
The Express Lip Balm leans on murumuru butter (rich in omega fatty acids and vitamin A and C, apparently great for calming inflamed skin), boswellia for that anti-inflammatory firming effect, and rosehip seed oil for the antioxidant hit. Sandalwood shows up again here too, which I think is doing a lot of the heavy lifting on that signature ilapothecary scent.
[Quick aside because I think it’s interesting: ilapothecary apparently ties their products to numerology, and this lip balm is “Remedy Number 0,” which is supposed to represent the universe and self-expression. I don’t know what to do with that information but I find it kind of charming in a very British apothecary, slightly witchy way.]Here’s where I need to be honest about my face vs my body
This is the bit I think actually matters for anyone reading this who, like me, has sensitive skin.
On my face, I avoid fragrance like it’s going to bite me. My skin there is reactive, prone to flushing, and I’ve learned the hard way that a “delicately scented” face cream is basically a trap for someone like me. So if you’ve got rosacea or sensitive facial skin, I wouldn’t be slapping the SOS Body Balm anywhere near my cheeks, and I don’t think it’s marketed for that anyway.
My body, though? Completely different story. The skin everywhere else on me genuinely doesn’t react the same way, and I will happily drown myself in a scented body product without a second thought. So this balm landing on my hands, elbows, feet, basically anywhere that gets dry and cracked, was a non-issue. If anything it was the best part.
Putting the body balm to work
I tried this in the middle of a proper heatwave, which I’ll admit isn’t the ideal testing ground for a “deeply moisturizing herbal balm.” It’s thick. Like, properly thick, the kind of texture you need to warm up between your fingers before it goes on. In 30 degree heat that’s not always what I want.
But here’s the thing, on my elbows and feet (the bits that always look like they belong to someone twenty years older than me) it sank in beautifully and honestly made my feet look like they belonged to someone who gets regular pedicures, which they absolutely do not. There’s a genuine soothing effect too, not just moisture sitting on top, my skin actually felt calmer afterward, less tight and irritated than it usually does after a day in the heat. The scent alone made me want to keep using it just to smell like that. I can already tell this is going into heavy winter rotation when my skin actually needs that level of richness and I’m not melting just walking to the kitchen.
This is marketed for tired muscles too, not just dry skin. I didn’t actually test it for soreness, my legs weren’t complaining about anything specific, but with that much arnica in there I’d bet money it works.
ilapothecary SOS Body Balm – soothing, deeply moisturizing herbal balm
Use code NEVEEN15 for 15% off at ilapothecary.
Shop the SOS Body Balm here – or see full details and FAQs for NEVEEN15 at ilapothecary
And the lip balm
Smaller product, smaller job, but it does it well. Nourishing, that same spa-like scent but turned down a notch (makes sense, you don’t want an overpowering smell sitting right under your nose), and it left my lips feeling properly conditioned rather than just coated in wax for ten minutes like some lip balms do. If you’re someone who reapplies lip balm six times a day because nothing actually lasts, this one held up better than most of what I’ve tried.
ilapothecary Express Lip Balm – reparative, hydrating lip balm
Use code NEVEEN15 for 15% off at ilapothecary.
Shop the Express Lip Balm here – or see full details and FAQs for NEVEEN15 at ilapothecary
My honest verdict
SOS Body Balm: 5/5
Pros:
- Genuinely soothing, not just moisturizing, my skin felt calmer after using it
- Excellent on dry, rough patches like elbows and feet
- Beautiful, complex scent that doesn’t feel synthetic
- Thoughtful ingredient list with proven actives like arnica, calendula, and rosehip
Cons:
- Texture is too rich for hot weather, this is a cooler season product
- Strong scent profile means it’s not for anyone avoiding fragrance, even on the body
Express Lip Balm: 4/5
Pros:
- Conditions properly instead of just sitting on the surface like wax
- Held up longer than most lip balms I’ve tried
- Same nourishing ingredient profile as the body balm, just lighter
Cons:
- I wasn’t the biggest fan of the scent right under my nose on my lips, though that’s purely a personal preference thing and not a knock on the product itself
Key ingredients: shea butter, arnica, calendula, rosehip oil, murumuru butter, boswellia, sandalwood.
Would I buy these again? The lip balm, yes, the scent thing isn’t a dealbreaker, just not my favorite. The body balm, absolutely yes, but I’m saving it for October onwards because that’s genuinely when it’ll earn its keep.
FAQ
Is ilapothecary SOS Body Balm good for sensitive skin?
It’s formulated for dry, tired skin on the body and contains soothing ingredients like calendula and arnica. If your skin is sensitive to fragrance specifically (like mine is on my face), I’d patch test first since this is a heavily scented product.
What does ilapothecary SOS Body Balm smell like?
Botanical and spa-like, with sandalwood, lavender, and rose coming through. It’s not a light scent, it’s a statement one.
Does the Express Lip Balm contain SPF?
No, this is a nourishing and conditioning balm, not a sun protection product, so you’d still want SPF lip care separately for daytime sun exposure.
Is ilapothecary worth the price?
For me, yes, based on how it performed on really dry areas and how long the scent and effects lasted. But I’d say it’s more of a treat-yourself product than an everyday essential price point.
More skincare content here
If this post is useful for you, these go alongside it:
- 10 Korean Skincare Products That Helped My Rosacea – the K-beauty side of my routine
- The Anua Azelaic Acid Serum Review – another honest, no-fluff review
- Why Your Skincare Routine Isn’t Working – my full reactive skin routine breakdown
- My June K-Beauty Faves – more sensitive, rosacea-prone skin picks
- All my active discount codes – every verified code in one place
The SOS Body Balm and Express Lip Balm were gifted to me by ilapothecary. This review is entirely my own honest opinion. Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.
