STEPHEN KNOLL
STEPHEN KNOLL Defining Balm, 50g
STEPHEN KNOLL Defining Balm, 50g
@cosme rating: 4.6/7.0
Nuance balm with flexible texture
✓ 100% authentic
✓ Ships from Japan in 3-5 days
✓ Duties prepaid for US orders
✓ Tracked delivery via Japan Post
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What it is
The soft base makes it easy to adjust the amount used, and adding more won't make your hair feel heavy. While maintaining a light, nuanced look, you can create a wide range of textures, from natural with a small amount to wet with multiple layers. Because it doesn't harden too much, you can easily recreate the style you created in the morning even when you're out and about. After styling your hair, the balm remaining on your hands can be used as hand cream to prevent dry skin. It also protects your hair from UV rays.
Ingredients
Water, dimethicone, microcrystalline wax, mineral oil, triethylhexanoin, paraffin, lauryl polyglyceryl-3 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, ascorbic acid, argania spinosa kernel oil, olive fruit oil, tocopherol, BHT, EDTA-2Na, dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, ethylhexylglycerin, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, sodium chloride, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, fragrance
How to use
Take an appropriate amount on your fingertips and spread it well in your palm before styling. The balm remaining in your palm can also be used as hand cream.
We ship internationally from Japan!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this authentic?
Yes. We only buy from official retailers and directly from the brands here in Japan. Never resellers, never grey market stock.
We are beauty lovers too, so we know the worry, especially with something you are putting on your face. Authenticity is 100% guaranteed by us.
What are your shipping rates?
On orders under US$75, shipping is a flat US$20 to the United States and US$10 to all other countries.
Orders of US$75 or more ship free, applied automatically at checkout. Your exact shipping cost is shown before you pay.
How long does delivery take?
These estimates are for International Airmail (Tracked) and include 3 to 5 business days of processing in Japan.
- United States: 12 to 15 business days
- Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany: 9 to 12 business days
- Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland: 10 to 13 business days
- China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam: 8 to 10 business days
- Rest of the world: 11 to 18 business days
Actual delivery can be affected by customs clearance, seasonal congestion, or carrier delays in the destination country, all of which are outside our control.
Do you offer express shipping?
Yes. As of 22 July 2026, we offer International Express Mail through Japan Post. The cost is based on order weight and is calculated automatically at checkout.
Will I pay customs or import fees?
US orders: No. As of July 1, 2026, all US orders ship DDP (duties delivered prepaid), meaning we prepay all import duties on our end. Nothing is due at your door.
Orders outside the US: Possibly. Duties and import taxes are set by your local customs authority and are not collected at checkout, so any charges on delivery are your responsibility.
We're working on rolling out prepaid duties for more countries soon.
I like the scent. The balm I had been using up until then was organic, but it was odorless, so I wasn't excited about using it. This one is easy to use, and I like it because I can rub the remaining part into my hands. The price is also reasonable.
I found the Steven Knoll Defining Balm at a nearby drugstore, read the reviews, and bought it. I've only just started using it, but so far it feels great! It's not heavy or sticky, and the scent isn't too strong, which is a plus. The balm left on my hands can be used as hand cream, so I like the fact that I can use it without any waste.
I'm buying this again. It holds my hair well but isn't sticky, so I think I'll continue to use it. It doesn't have much of a scent.
My hair is thin, soft, and curly, so I have it permed straight. It's a short wolf cut. I never get enough volume on top, so I bought this to add some fluffiness. When I tried the tester, I liked the nice scent and the non-greasy, smooth texture of the wax! I didn't find it very effective at creating the volume I was looking for, but it seems like it would be good for lightly rubbing all over to set it. The sign in the store said it could also be used as a hand cream, and it certainly isn't sticky, so I don't think I'd need to wash my hands after setting it. It's a product I'll probably only use occasionally.
The texture was a little hard and difficult to spread, so it didn't suit me, but I think it would suit people who like a feeling that isn't too wet!