Banila Co. Clean It Zero Purity

Even though I am the type of person to wait a while before jumping on any skin care trends, I am not sure what took me quite this long before trying Banila Co's Clean It Zero line myself. Maybe I was apprehensive towards the new idea of cleansing balms? Maybe I was just a little overwhelmed by the many variations Banila Co. offered? Whatever the reason was that stopped me then, I think my mind has been forever changed.



Banila Co. & SOKO GLAM's Descriptions:

Refreshing feel & Recommended for Sensitive Skin.

Super skin-friendly mild "5 Non-Added Formula" reduces irritation of distressed skin while a healthy combination of 30% ECOCERT natural oils helps soften sensitive, coarse skin.

An offshoot from the popular Banila Co Clean It Zero Classic, this is a perfect first step in your double-cleanse. This award-winning hypoallergenic oil cleanser appears as a solid balm and transforms into a silky oil on the skin. It's sorbet-like texture and lightweight formula effortlessly dissolve stubborn makeup and impurities without stripping the skin of its natural oils.

Free from artificial coloring, synthetic fragrance, alcohol, parabens, and mineral oil. Formulated for sensitive skin types.

Directions
1. Use the spatula to scoop a small amount and massage balm over dry skin, concentrating on eye and lip makeup.
2. Add a splash of lukewarm water to emulsify into a milky texture.
3. Follow with your cleanser as the next step in your double-cleanse.

Ingredients (translated from packaging)
CETYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, PEG-20 GLYCERYL TRIISOSTEARATE, PEG-10 ISOSTEARATE, POLYETHYLENE, ARGANIA SPINOSA KERNEL OIL, OENOTHERA BIENNIS (EVENING PRIMROSE) OIL, PORTULACA OLERACEA EXTRACT, GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA (LICORICE) ROOT EXTRACT, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT, CENTELLA ASIATICA EXTRACT, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER EXTRACT, SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT EXTRACT, POLYGONUM CUSPIDATUM ROOT EXTRACT, ALTHAEA ROSEA FLOWER EXTRACT, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, CALENDULA OFFICINALIS FLOWER EXTRACT, ANTHEMIS NOBILIS FLOWER WATER, EPILOBIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM FLOWER/LEAF/STEM EXTRACT, BETA-CAROTENE, WATER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, CAPRYLHYDROXAMIC ACID, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) PEEL OIL, ABIES SIBIRICA OIL, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF OIL, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) OIL

Balm 100 ml

Banila Co. (Korean retail): ₩22,000
RoseRoseShop: ₩22,000
iHerb: USD $21.80
SOKO GLAM and Peach&Lily: USD $25.00
oo35mm: USD $27.99

Packaging

A narrow and tall-ish jar with a twist off lid. The cleansing balm comes with a small plastic spatula. It is also sealed with a thin layer of circular foam.

I love that it comes with a spatula. However, I would have preferred if the jar itself was a tad wider in diameter and shorter so that I can always have the option to use my hands (specifically with the knuckles) and effortlessly scoop the product. It would just be one less thing to fiddle around with at the end of the day when all I want to do is just shower and plop into bed. Since the spatula itself is clear and small, it could easily get lost if I don't remember to store it inside the jar.

On a similar note, could companies make the lid flip-top instead of twist-off? I haven't ever seen it on a cleansing balm type product but it would just make life so much easier.

Ingredients

The beauty of the Clean It Zero Purity balm lies in the fact that it is free of typical irritants (artificial coloring, synthetic fragrance, alcohol, parabens, and mineral oil). CosDNA's analysis of the ingredients seems to give it an A-OK as well, with the exception of an "Oenothera biennis oil."

Purity is chock full of plant extracts which are popular in most Korean skincare products. Most of them look to serve as anti-inflammatories and/or moisturizers. There are a few essential oils listed towards the bottom of the list that supposedly acts as "natural" fragrances. I've heard of people who do have sensitivities to essential oils like citrus and lavender so I would tread with caution despite Purity being marketed as a sensitive-skin friendly makeup remover.

Color, Texture, & Scent

Banila describes their Clean It line as sorbet balms, which I would somewhat agree with. It is light and easily meltable like sorbet. I use no effort to scoop out product whether it be with my finger or a spatula. The cleansing balm holds its shape well until I want to massage it in. The balm-oil glides well without much tugging and rubbing. I love that unlike traditional cleansing oils, the balm doesn't get uncontrollably runny. It stays put wherever I move it to on my face.

Since this is the Purity version, it doesn't have added color or artificial fragrances. A whiff of the cleansing balm, inside the jar, gives a very faint citrusy scent. But any scents are undetectable in the small amounts needed for cleansing.

How I Apply

The amount I use varies greatly depending on how much makeup I wear but I find a scoop of product with the provided spatula is usually enough for an average day's worth of makeup—perhaps slightly double the amount in the photos above. (I know that is also very subjective. The best I can say is my average face consists of cushion, powder, blush, highlight, bronzer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, and eyebrows.) I tend to be more generous with balm since it doesn't get very runny.

I rub the product between the palms of my hands prior to applying it to my face. Then I will lightly massage all around, including over my eyelids and lips. When I feel like I've thoroughly worked it into every corner of my made-up face, I'll wet my hands a little to start emulsifying the balm. After which I generously splash my face until most of the product is washed away.

Thoughts & Recommendations

Coming from someone who has used cleansing oils and a couple balms to remove her makeup all her makeup wearing life, the Clean It Zero Purity is one of the few (if not only one in recent memory) that doesn't leave skin dry and tight afterward.

But! I do have to say it takes a lot more splashing and rinsing effort to wash away than most cleansing oils. When I don't do a good enough job, I feel like there is still some leftover residue hanging around. It doesn't really bother me too much since I always follow up immediately with a second cleanse.

I do get cloudy vision if I open my eyes before rinsing; my eyesight is fine when I keep them shut until everything is washed away.

Waterproof pen liner (in the above photo) isn't removed well. However, do keep in mind, that is fresh liner on my forearm and not worn-out liner on my oily eyelids. The cleansing balm is able to cleanse that specific eyeliner off after a normal day but it does still need more massaging than other eyeliners would need. For those who wear more waterproof products, I would recommend using a separate eye-makeup remover.

My skin seems to like this product a lot. I have used almost the whole tub and still have yet to experience a drying or tightening effect (knock on wood). I do not think it has ever caused me to break out either. There are some videos and blogs that suggest using cleansing oils and balms to help with cleaning out pores and blackheads—this specific balm would not be one of those. I don't feel like it cleanses that deeply, it just does a good job at removing makeup and facial dirt & oils. If there weren't so many other cleansing balms on the market to try or the Clean It Zero Purity was slightly cheaper, I would repurchase it in a heartbeat. Until the day I get tired of trying new makeup removers comes around, I am just glad to know there is one available that definitely works for me.