About Us

At Balneum Cream®, we are passionate about helping people achieve healthy, nourished skin. For over 100 years, our company has been dedicated to developing effective skincare solutions that soothe and restore dry, itchy, irritated skin.

Our History

The Balneum story begins in 1912, when our founder, a pharmacist named Robert Balme, first compounded a unique bath oil formulation in his pharmacy in County Durham, UK. Robert had seen many patients suffering from dry skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis who found little relief from the products available at the time.

Using his expertise in chemistry and natural ingredients, he created a gentle, moisturizing bath oil that could cleanse sensitive skin without stripping away natural oils. The oil was also designed to supplement the skin’s own lipids after bathing, helping to reduce transepidermal water loss.

Robert’s special bath oil, which he named Balneum, was enthusiastically received by his customers. Word spread, and soon pharmacies across the UK were stocking Balneum Bath Oil to help their own customers find relief from dry, itchy skin.

In 1938, Robert decided to establish Balneum as its own dedicated company. A small factory and lab were opened in County Durham to manufacture and bottle Robert’s unique bath oil formula.

Over the next decades, the Balneum product range expanded to include cleansing bars, shampoos, and body creams. But the heart of the Balneum line remained Robert’s original bath oil.

Now on its 5th generation, Balneum is still a family-run business committed to Robert’s founding vision of creating skincare that helps restore comfort and wellbeing to those with dry, sensitive skin. While the company has grown over the last century, that dedication remains unchanged.

Our Products

The Balneum product line includes several formulations specially designed to meet the needs of dry, compromised skin:

Balneum Bath Oil

Our signature product since 1912, Balneum Bath Oil transforms bathing into a nourishing, skin-conditioning therapy. The oil contains a rich blend of natural lipids similar to the skin’s own sebum, along with gentle cleansers derived from plants. During a warm soak, these lipids supplement the skin’s barrier while cleansing botanicals loosen dirt and impurities without harsh scrubbing. After bathing, Balneum’s lipids remain on the skin to act as a protective emollient layer which reduces moisture evaporation. The oil leaves skin feeling cleansed, supple and relieved.

Balneum Bath Oil is gentle enough for daily cleansing and suitable for the whole family. It can also be used as a soap substitute for handwashing to prevent dryness.

Balneum Plus Cream

This intensive body cream provides soothing hydration to dry, flaky skin prone to itching and cracking. Enriched with 7.5% urea, Balneum Plus Cream helps bind moisture into the epidermis and soften roughness. Natural shea butter lipids restore suppleness, while anti-inflammatory bisabolol calms irritation. The rich formula can be applied liberally as often as needed to very dry areas like hands, elbows, knees and feet. It absorbs quickly without greasiness.

Balneum Intensive Cream

Formulated for severely dry, eczema-prone skin, Balneum Intensive Cream contains 12% shea butter along with nourishing sunflower oil. Emollient glycerin and antioxidants help replenish the skin barrier damaged by inflammation. Mint provides a refreshing sensation while oat kernel extract soothes intense itching. This thick cream can be used to relieve cracked, flaky skin anywhere on the body.

Balneum Anti-Irritant Cream

Ideal for sensitive areas, Balneum Anti-Irritant Cream gently moisturizes without irritation. The formula contains just 5 simple ingredients, minimizing the risk of allergy. Soothing bisabolol and antioxidant vitamin E help decrease inflammation. Plant-derived squalane mimics natural skin lipids to reinforce the moisture barrier without clogging pores. This lightweight cream absorbs quickly to prevent chafing and discomfort.

Balneum Scalp Application

Dandruff, dryness and itching don’t just affect the skin – they can also trouble the scalp. Balneum Scalp Application contains menthol and zinc pyrithione to ease these issues without harsh chemicals found in many medicated shampoos. Natural shea butter and bisabolol hydrate and calm irritation, while anti-fungal climbazole fights pesky dandruff. This treatment leaves hair and scalp refreshed.

Balneum Baby Cream

Even little ones can experience dry, sensitive skin. Balneum Baby Cream provides non-greasy, gentle moisturization infants need after bathing and throughout the day. Natural shea butter smooths and protects while bisabolol relieves mild irritation. With its mild formula free of fragrance, colorants and common irritants, this cream is suitable for regular use to keep a baby’s delicate skin comfortable.

In addition to these core products, we also offer cleansers, hand creams, shower formulations, sunscreens and gift sets designed for dry and sensitive skin. While the packaging may have changed over the years, the efficacious formulations inside remain rooted in Balneum’s century-old skincare heritage.

Our Philosophy

At Balneum, we believe caring for compromised skin requires specialized products free of common irritants. We formulate our line using:

Natural lipids – Ingredients like plant oils, butters and squalane mimic the skin’s own moisture-retaining lipids.
Soothing botanicals – Anti-inflammatory, redness-reducing extracts like oats, green tea, aloe and bisabolol calm irritated skin.
Gentle cleansers – Surfactants from plants gently cleanse without disrupting the acid mantle.
Minimal ingredients – Our focused formulations avoid unnecessary additives that may provoke sensitivities.
No added fragrance – Eliminating fragrance minimizes irritation risks for sensitive skin.
No harsh chemicals – Our products are free of drying alcohols, SLS sulfates and toxic preservatives.

We believe using the right ingredients is just as important as excluding the wrong ones. Rigorous safety testing ensures our products are suitable for both children and adults.

Our Commitment to Service

At Balneum, we see each customer as an individual with unique skincare needs. We aim to provide:

Responsive customer service – Our dedicated team is available to answer questions, take feedback and offer guidance about our products.
Informative resources – The Balneum website provides extensive educational articles, ingredient glossaries, product guides and management tips for dry skin conditions.
Discreet shipping – Orders are shipped in unmarked boxes to protect customer privacy.
Generous samples – We provide free samples of new items so customers can try before they buy.
Cruelty-free products – Balneum formulations are never tested on animals. We aim to develop efficacious products through clinical testing on willing human subjects.
Eco-friendly business practices – From our product formulations to our packaging and operations, we strive to make sustainable choices that reduce our environmental impact.

Even after a century in business, we still maintain a family-oriented outlook with our customers’ wellbeing as our top priority.

Skin Conditions We Treat

Balneum products provide therapeutic moisturization and cleansing for various dry skin conditions:

Eczema – Our emollient-rich formulas soothe the itchiness and irritation of atopic dermatitis.
Psoriasis – Intensive moisturization helps smooth and soften dry, flaky psoriatic plaques.
Ichthyosis – Specialized lipids supplement rough, scaly skin lacking adequate natural oils.
Winter itch – Dry air can provoke itching and flaking – our moisturizers provide relief.
Xerosis – Retaining moisture is key for managing general dry skin and preventing micro-cracks.
Contact dermatitis – Our gentle formulas cleanse irritants without provoking additional inflammation.
Lichen simplex chronicus – Thick emollients reduce the urge to scratch chronically itchy patches.
Pruritus – Itching, whether localized or generalized, responds well to our anti-inflammatory moisturizers.

With regular use, Balneum skincare helps treat the root dryness that underlies these frustrating skin issues. Our products reinforce the moisture barrier, reducing water loss that leads to chapping and cracking. Emollients fill in crevices between skin cells caused by lipid deficiencies. Natural oils mimic the skin’s own sebum to smooth roughness and seal in hydration. Soothing botanicals provide anti-itch relief on contact.

While there is no instant cure for chronic dry skin conditions, Balneum products provide long-term hydration and therapy to successfully manage symptoms. Our moisturizers are gentle enough for daily long-term use on even the most sensitive skin.

Our Scientific Approach

At Balneum, creating products that are both effective and tolerable requires rigorous scientific testing. We use:

Human repeat insult patch tests (HRIPT) – These clinical trials assess potential irritation and allergy risks by applying products to the same skin area multiple times.
Double-blind clinical trials – These studies compare our formulations to controls and competing products without brand bias.
In vivo measurements – Techniques like corneometry and TEWL analysis objectively evaluate how well our products hydrate skin and repair the moisture barrier.
Microbiome studies – We thoroughly test our preservative systems to ensure products remain safe without disrupting beneficial skin bacteria.
Dermatological reviews – External dermatology experts analyze our formulations to provide unbiased feedback.

This comprehensive testing provides objective clinical validation of both the safety and efficacy of our products. The results guide our product development process so we can continually improve.

We also closely monitor published skincare science and academic research. Our in-house chemists reformulate as needed to ensure our products reflect the latest dermatological advances.

Our Skincare Community

In addition to providing skincare products, we strive to develop an inclusive community for people living with dry, sensitive skin. This includes:

Educational articles and videos – Our blog features extensive skincare advice from dermatology experts to help customers manage their conditions.
Lifestyle tips – We share practical guidance on topics like modifying your home environment, wardrobe and diet to avoid skin irritants and triggers.
Coping strategies – Living with chronic dry skin can impact mental health and wellbeing. We offer healthy techniques to reduce stress and build self-esteem.
Skin stories – Personal accounts from our Balneum community members help inspire others living with dry skin.
Balneum Foundation – This non-profit provides financial assistance for premium moisturizers to those unable to afford them.

At Balneum, we know the frustrations of problem skin firsthand. That’s why we’re here – not just to provide skincare, but to help you live your fullest life possible alongside your condition. You are not alone.

Still Focused on What Matters Most

For over a century, Balneum has grown from a small pharmacy into a thriving international skincare company. But throughout the decades, we’ve never lost sight of the ideals at our core:

To develop skincare that makes a real difference in people’s lives.
To share our specialized knowledge to help customers better manage dry skin conditions.
To provide an inclusive community of support for those with chronic skin issues.
To handle every customer and their needs with genuine care and compassion.

As we look ahead to the next 100 years, those foundational principles will continue guiding Balneum. We’ll keep innovating, listening to your feedback, and working to bring you our very best.

Because for us, improving compromised skin isn’t just a business – it’s a calling. We look forward to continuing this journey together with you, our Balneum family.