There are products you enjoy using—and then there are products that fundamentally change how your skin behaves. For me, two balms sit firmly in the latter category: Éclat Balm by La Fervance and the Cleansing Balm by GROUND. They are not interchangeable, not trend-driven, and not optional. Together, they have redefined how I think about barrier health, glow, and longevity in skincare.

Both are available at PENELOPE and The Beauty Bar, located inside the historic Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle, where we curate skincare not for hype, but for performance.

 

La Fervance Éclat Balm: Barrier Intelligence Meets Radiance

La Fervance’s Éclat Balm is, quite simply, one of the most intelligent finishing products I have ever used. It is not a traditional moisturizer, nor is it a typical occlusive balm. It is a treatment-grade, barrier-repairing formula designed to restore skin’s resilience while enhancing luminosity at the same time.

The Science Behind the Glow

Éclat Balm is formulated around the principle that glow is a function of barrier integrity. When the skin barrier is compromised—through over-exfoliation, stress, travel, or environmental exposure—light scatters unevenly, hydration escapes, and inflammation quietly sets in. This balm works by:

• Reinforcing the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum
• Reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL)
• Supporting skin’s natural repair and regeneration cycles

Because the barrier is stabilized, inflammation decreases, hydration normalizes, and the skin reflects light evenly. The result is not shine, but true radiance.

At PENELOPE and The Beauty Bar (www.penelopeandthebeautybar.com), Éclat Balm is one of my most trusted final steps—especially after advanced facials, travel, or periods when skin feels reactive or depleted. It seals in treatment work without suffocating the skin and leaves a finish that looks calm, rested, and refined.

 

GROUND Cleansing Balm: The Cleanse That Changes Everything

If Éclat Balm is my favorite finish, the Cleansing Balm by GROUND is my non-negotiable beginning.

GROUND has created what I consider one of the most important products in any routine: a cleanser that protects the skin barrier while deeply removing makeup, sunscreen, pollution, and daily residue.

Why This Cleanser Is Different

Most cleansers—especially foaming or gel formulas—strip lipids from the skin, disrupt the microbiome, and leave the barrier vulnerable before treatment even begins. GROUND’s Cleansing Balm operates on a different philosophy:

• Oil dissolves oil, makeup, and sunscreen without friction
• Barrier-supportive lipids cleanse without stripping
• Skin is left balanced, not tight or reactive

The balm emulsifies beautifully, rinses clean, and leaves the skin soft, supple, and receptive—never compromised. This is critical, because treatment products can only perform optimally when applied to skin that has been cleansed intelligently.

We often say at PENELOPE and The Beauty Bar that if you fix the cleanse, you fix half your skin issues. This balm proves that point daily.

 

Why Balms Matter More Than Ever

Modern skin is over-treated, over-exfoliated, and chronically inflamed. Balms—when formulated correctly—restore what aggressive routines deplete: lipids, calm, and structural integrity.

Used together, the GROUND Cleansing Balm and La Fervance Éclat Balm create a complete, intelligent skincare loop:

• Cleanse without damage
• Treat without irritation
• Seal without suffocation

This is skincare that respects skin biology.

Curated, Not Trend-Driven

Both of these balms are staples at PENELOPE and The Beauty Bar inside the Fairmont Olympic Hotel because they work across skin types, seasons, and ages. They are game-changers not because they promise miracles—but because they restore balance.

And when skin is balanced, it glows effortlessly.

 

To shop or experience these products as part of a customized facial, visit:

www.penelopeandthebeautybar.com