Ever thought what your desert island product would be? I’d have to go for a multi-tasking balm, because the best ones just work for so many things – from cleansing and moisturising skin to blitzing frizzy hair and even healing blemishes.

My favourites are the ones based on natural ingredients and I get through them so fast, using them on me and the kids, that I’m always looking for a new one to try. I’ve got five on the go at the moment, at various stages of fullness, so I thought I’d share them all with you.

Nearly finished is Egyptian Magic (£29), one of my all time favourite balms. It’s based on olive oil, beeswax, honey and bee pollen and works a treat on anything that needs calming or healing. I’ve been using it for the last few weeks on a burn on my hand (thanks, grill), and it’s healing nicely. Also great on sore noses when you have a cold and has a lovely subtle honey-ish scent.

The Green Balm from MOA (£12.50) is a purse-friendly bathroom essential and is packed with the brand’s hero ingredient, yarrow, well known for its healing properties. This one takes multi-tasking to a new level: as well as the usual sore bits and dry bits, you can use it mixed with a little hot water to gargle with and soothe a sore throat. Genius.

Odylique Calendula Balm (£14) is my go-to for super dry, cracked skin. As well as soothing calendula, it contains calming chamomile, shea and coconut so I slather it on dry lips, the kids’ eczema and anything that looks angry and red. Smells really herbal and comforting.

I like to squeeze a small brand in every week and this time it’s Walk Mill Botanics. Their Natural Beauty Balm (£4.99) uses rice brain and hemp oils and is a great handbag size for soothing when you’re on the go. There’s also a tinted version, which is perfect for chapped lips in the colder months.

Finally, something from the gorgeous Elemental Herbology, a brand I haven’t featured in a while but a firm favourite. Their Tree Of Life Multi Purpose Balm (£22) is a thing of beauty, rich in the Buriti ‘Tree-of-Life’ oil, renowned for its high levels of essential fatty acids. Slap on anything from scaly shins to stretch marks and sniff its lovely posh herbal scent.