Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm - Nourishing

Banila Co.'s update to the Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm line had me nervous at first. The saying goes: if it isn't broke, don't fix it. Some customers wanted to see all the balms be mineral oil-less yet it was beloved by so many regardless of it having mineral-oil. Heck, they used to have a mineral oil-less version alongside the others so changes didn't seem that necessary in my eyes. Sometimes reformulations don't always end up being better; in this case, however, I think Banila Co. put my worries to rest to say the very least.









Banila Co. 's Descriptions:

Clean it Zero 3-in-1 Cleansing Balm + Nourishing is a hypoallergenic cleanser that transforms from a sherbet-like balm texture into a smooth oil when applied to skin. Developed to remove even waterproof makeup and all of your skin’s impurities in just one step. Zero Balance Technology with Ginseng Berry & Royal Jelly deeply cleanses and gently exfoliates without stripping the skin, leaving it hydrated and moisturized.

ZERO BALANCE TECHNOLOGY – A proprietary blend of actives that effectively cleanses skin deeply without disturbing the skin’s natural moisture balance.

Added Ginseng Berry and Royal Jelly for an intense rush of moisture for supple glowing skin.

Formulated without:
•Parabens
•Sulfates
•Phthalates
•Mineral oil
•Alcohol
•Artificial coloring

Directions
Use spatula included to scoop balm. Gently massage in circular motions onto dry skin using your fingertips. Rinse well with lukewarm water or wipe off with face cloth or tissue. Pat skin dry.

Ingredients (translated from packaging)
ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CETYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, PEG-20 GLYCERYL TRIISOSTEARATE, PEG-10 ISOSTEARATE, SYNTHETIC WAX, CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS (SAFFLOWER) SEED OIL, PANAX GINSENG BERRY EXTRACT, OENOTHERA BIENNIS (EVENING PRIMROSE) OIL, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, SQUALANE, PHENOXYETHANOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, FRAGRANCE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT, ROYAL JELLY EXTRACT, WATER, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, BAMBUSA VULGARIS LEAF/STEM EXTRACT, ASPALATHUS LINEARIS EXTRACT, ANGELICA ARCHANGELICA ROOT EXTRACT, MALPIGHIA GLABRA (ACEROLA) FRUIT EXTRACT, ZEA MAYS (CORN) OIL, BETA-CAROTENE, POLYDIETHYLENEGLYCOL ADIPATE/IPDI COPOLYMER, TOCOPHEROL, ACRYLATES/AMMONIUM METHACRYLATE COPOLYMER, ACRYLATES/METHOXY PEG-15 METHACRYLATE COPOLYMER

Balm 100 ml

Banila Co. (Korean retail): ₩22,000
Banila Co. (US retail): USD $24.00
RoseRoseShop: ₩22,000
SOKO GLAM and Peach&Lily: USD $24.00
oo35mm: USD $27.99

Packaging

A sturdy, yet lightweight, plastic tub with a screw-on cap. It isn't see-through but that wouldn't be a problem as you can open the jar to clearly see how much product is left. The included spatula has a nice large round paddle for easier handling and scooping. New balms come with an inner security seal and authentication seal.

Even though on the outside it looks as if the body of the tub is larger than the opening, I appreciate the fact that the inside of the jar is straight up and down. This results in an easier time when scooping without having to dig under the rim of the jar lip. It is bad news for those who dislike excess plastic usage. The packaging would have been better had it incorporated a flip-top cap for even easier one-handed access.

Color, Texture, Finish & Scent

A faint pastel yellow color cleansing balm with a soft, mushy "sorbet" feel. It rubs into the skin easily and smooths into a lightweight consistency. The balm emulsifies and rinses away quickly without requiring a ton of rubbing. It did not leave behind any residue or film nor did it make my skin feel tight. The sweet, floral scent isn't strong or lingering.

The brand currently focuses on essentially providing the same cleanisng balm base with just varying ingredientns that give Original, Revitalizing, Purifying, and Nourishing their "flavors" or "scents".

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.

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

I cannot say for sure how the ones now fair against the previous generation because I had only tried their mineral oil-less, "Purity", version in the past. But I would say this current formulation works just as well I remembered.

The Clean It Zero balm is easy to spread and massage. It doesn't feel overly suffocating and sticky on my skin. All the makeup is generally removed very well, granted I massage thoroughly. I did not ever break out from using the product nor have irritated eyes if I work it in that area. The main point that still blows my mind is how long I could go prior to moisturizing without feeling tight and parched...even when I use the cleanisng balm alone! Perhaps that is the "nourishing" elements at work?

Even though the renewal is meant to be more sensitive-skin friendly, ingredient-analyzing websites do show that the Clean It Zero Cleansing Balms still have some potentially non-oily/non-fungal acne friendly ingredients. Fragrance is in all the versions too; it is quite high on the ingredients list, despite it being a sensitive-skin trigger for some.

My biggest wish now would just be for Banila Co. to offer a jumbo size (180ml for $27 v. 100 ml for $24) in all versions rather than just the "Original". I tried the "Nourishing" one first and love it yet cannot benefit from the value size and price. I guess I have to give the "Original" version a try now to see how it compares. Otherwise, I would gladly repurchase and continue to use the reformulated Clean It Zero Cleansing Balms.