Difference between lotion and balm

**chili** · 03-22-2010, 04:20 PM

I was on the Nivea website and saw they had two different versions of the sensitive aftershave, one as a lotion and one as a blam: http://www.nivea.com/products/show/111. This led me to question what exactly a balm is, I've never really understood that word. Anyway whats the difference between the two? And what the hell exactly is a balm? I know we all use one but why are they called balms and not lotions/creams/aftershaves? (BTW I know I am very sad for wanting to know the answer for such a meaningless question but i've always been the weird daydreaming philosophical type

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**Mark T** · 03-22-2010, 04:40 PM

The lotions usually contain alcohol, and are cooling to the skin and close the pores.
Balms are more soothing to the skin, creamier, and soothe razor burn.

**ofelas** · 03-24-2010, 09:07 PM

In this particular case, both seem to be alcohol free; the difference being, the lotion is described as "watery formula".

**LinuxMintyFresh** · 03-25-2010, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by ofelas

In this particular case, both seem to be alcohol free; the difference being, the lotion is described as "watery formula".

Lotions/Locions in the context of aftershave are usually splash-type products. My Speick and La Toja splashes are both labelled as such. The Nivea lotion even looks like a splash on the website.

The word balm, by the way, doesn't preclude alcohol. I've used several balms with alcohol in them. Used one this morning in fact.

**DE Shaver** · 03-25-2010, 07:24 AM

Well, a good shaving lotion or balm will moisturize your face and should address irritation caused by shaving. Lotions tend to provide more bracing effects and close your pores while balms are oriented towards soothing and relieving razor burn. Lotions also tend to less viscous than balms. Unfortunately, I don't believe there are hard and fast rules so exceptions always apply.

**HoratioCaine** · 03-25-2010, 12:25 PM

As noted, traditional aftershave "lotions" were simply alcohol-based splashes. For instance, Royall makes an "all purpose lotion" intended to be used as a cologne or an aftershave splash that is little or nothing more than alcohol, water and fragrance, bearing zero resemblance to what we consider "lotions" in the modern cosmetics industry (e.g., hand lotions). Santa Maria Novella's aftershave lotions are also alcohol splashes, but have more ingredients in them to help moisturize and soothe (castor oil, olive oil, glycerin, etc.) The Nivea lotion sounds like it might be along the lines of Lucky Tiger tonic - a modern, alcohol-free splash with a bunch of skin friendly ingredients.

Conversely, balms almost uniformly seem to be what we now consider lotions - thicker, opaque, moisturizing applications. DE Shaver is right, though: there aren't any rules regarding what is a balm versus what is a lotion, so relying too much on labels is likely to lead more to confusion and frustration, rather than clarity.

**LinuxMintyFresh** · 03-26-2010, 12:38 PM

So does anybody know where I might actually be able to find some of those Nivea splashes? I have never seen a Nivea splash before this thread. I didn't even know that they made them, but I see that they have an Energising "gel-fluid",, Sensitive splash, and Silver splash, and now I'd like to try them. I even found this Energy Lotion on the Nivea for men site.