Although it has been a long time since my last blog post, I plan to finish the massive backlog of content that has been accumulating!

In the UK, Korean and Japanese skincare products have recently reached unprecedented levels of popularity, despite the fact that obtaining them has become somewhat more challenging and costly as a result of COVID-19. However, it appears that people are beginning to see past the hoopla surrounding Asian beauty.
Over the past few years, I've noticed that I'm receiving an increasing number of questions about specific products on Twitter and Instagram—especially about the Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original, a cult-favorite in the cleansing balm category. This has gotten to the point where I can't reply to everyone, so it makes much more sense to post my opinions in a blog post and simply direct people here!

I decided to start with Banila Co.'s wildly popular cleansing balm lineup, including the Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original 100ml, Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original 180ml, and the nourishing version, the Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Nourishing. It's so well-liked, in fact, that the Morphe website features the Banila Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original, though it's a little pricey there—but we'll talk more about it later.

After visiting Japan, I started my Asian beauty journey and stumbled across Clean It Zero. Japanese skincare goods gave me some incredible results, and I've heard that Korean skincare products are just as good. I had to get my hands on Clean It Zero after seeing it repeatedly on the internet—especially the Banila Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original 100ml—and I haven't looked back since.

The mixture was a little lumpy at the moment, but in the summer, the lumps would disappear—think coconut oil! Naturally, everything was still functional and not painful, but there were distinct bumps. A different kind of oil, an emollient, has replaced mineral oil in the new formula, giving it richness and making it softer and more pleasant on the skin.

Packaging
First things first. The package is a visual feast. However, when I first used it, the packaging was really gaudy, out of date, and appeared like it was from the 1990s—and not in a nice retro way. However, in order to match the pastel dream aesthetic of their stores, they modified the product and added new packaging. It truly is a beautiful thing now.

What is Clean It Zero, then?
Because of its popularity and the positive ratings it frequently receives, it's one of the first cleansers that K-beauty novices learn about. They actually have a variety of cleansing balms; the one I'm looking at is the original, but they also have revitalizing, nourishing, and purifying editions. In summary, it's a balm for purification. I'm not sure what Banila Co. means when they refer to it as a “sherbet” that turns into an oil. The texture is more akin to sorbet, but it melts into oil when it comes into touch with heat or is applied to the face.

When it's time to rinse, simply add a few drops of water. The oil emulsifies and begins to turn a milky color, making it simple to rinse off and ready for your second wash. However, if you dislike emulsifying, you can simply wipe it off with a moist muslin cloth.

Why, therefore, is it considered a cult?
To put it simply, it works. It easily eliminates layers of sunscreen and almost any makeup, even waterproof emulsion paints. If that wasn't enough for you, it accomplishes all of this without giving your face the awful stripping sensation that certain cleansers may cause. It has a delicate, buttery texture, feels good to apply, and has ingredients like vitamin E and acerola extract, which is high in vitamin C and exfoliating.

For my part, I always use layers of sunscreen and can apply a lot of makeup. If you've ever looked at my Instagram, you'll know that I frequently share artistic looks using glitter and cosmetic emulsion paints, both of which may be difficult to remove. However, Clean It Zero doesn't require any straining on the skin; it simply melts off extremely quickly.

Additionally, the region around my eyes becomes quite sensitive during the heat, but for some reason, this doesn't irritate or hurt that area. A single tub will last you a long time because cleaning your face only requires a small amount of product, even for the most stubborn makeup.

Is there anything more I should know?
Fragrance: Although I've been using it for years, I had never really noticed the product's faint scent until I came to write this review! Clean It Zero is completely different from the strong scent of the Elemis pro-collagen cleansing balm I've previously used. The Purifying Clean It Zero (the baby blue tub) is fragrance-free, but it also has other skin-beneficial components including relaxing Centella Asiatica and brightening Licorice.

Cruelty-free is a difficult concept. They do sell in China, however they claim that the product is vegan and that no animal testing was done during the product's creation. However, there is a nearly comparable Korean product that has been verified to be cruelty-free if that doesn't satisfy you. The product is known as the All Clean Balm, and the brand is Heimish. In Korea, it's somewhat well-liked, though not as much as Banila. It performs much the same thing and has better ingredients.