I am not usually one for commitment, so when it came to reviewing Sanctuary Spa’s 7 Day Moisture Miracle Oil Balm, I panicked slightly. What if the results weren’t as I anticipated? What if I wanted out after day three? Or worse, what if I got too attached but didn’t live up to the balm’s expectations and he popped off ‘to get some milk’ and never came back? But I took one for the team (you’re welcome, guys) and used the balm to see how long this seven-day malarkey would last.

Recently I have been suffering from very dry elbows, whether it’s the temperamental weather, life stresses, or tiny elbow elves adding scales to my joints at night, we’ll never know, but Sanctuary Spa has come to the rescue. A week later and I am no longer boring flatmates with another ‘great home remedy’ to dry elbows; avocado moisturisers be gone, there’s a new hero in town.

With this balm, it really is a case of a little goes a long way. The directions indicate that a pea-sized amount is needed, and I have found that more than adequate for my dry skin needs. It comes out as a balm and quickly turns in to a glossy oil that sinks in to the skin in seconds, absorbed to refresh you and leave you instantly glowing.

As with all Sanctuary Spa products, the smell is distinctive and delicious. It’s getting me geared up for the summer with a spicy yet sweet scent. The presence of seven precious oils could be overwhelming in many circumstances, but the balance of all of them produce a ridiculously rich and soothing aroma that will leave you desperate for dry skin so you can use it again. (It has now become clear to me that Rodin’s The Thinker wasn’t actually a great philosopher – he had used this balm and simply wanted to smell his hand for the whole of eternity).

To be honest, the concept intrigued me to begin with, how can a small amount of product leave me moisturised for one day, let alone seven? But Sanctuary Spa has once again held its own with this ‘handbag must-have’. I don’t know if it’s a combination of the seven oils, but my spirit animal has inadvertently become a camel as I echo its ability to retain moisture for days on end. I have the added bonus of no humps on my back and soft, hydrated skin instead.

Despite the path leading up to this review being fraught with self-doubt and a slight existential crisis, the experience was quite simply pampering. And now, thanks to the balm, I feel like I am ready to commit to more things. Watch out, Vodafone, contract phones are next on my list!