It’s been a hot minute since my last kbeauty review and I decided it’s time for another comparison review. I’ve been double cleansing as part of my evening routine for several years now (since at least 2014) and I do so by starting with an oil cleanser. If I could go back and change one thing in my beauty routine as a teen, it would be by adding an oil cleanser when removing my makeup. An oil cleanser generally comes in either a liquid or a balm form and by applying it to the face whilst still wearing makeup, it breaks up the makeup making it easier to wash off and remove. Over the years, I’ve tried heaps of different brands but there are two that I constantly return to and repurchase; Banila Co’s Clean It Zero and the Heimish All Clean Balm. Today I wanted to compare them for you.

Banila Co Clean It Zero
This is a bit of a cult beauty product and one of the original oil cleansers on the market. I’ve used this cleanser for many years and over time, Banila Co has repackaged and released other cleansing balms for specific skin types but for the purpose of this review, I will be sticking to the original as it’s the one I know best.

Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG-10 Isostearate, Synthetic Wax, Onsen-Sui, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Malpighia Glabra (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Polydiethyleneglycol Adipate/IPDI Copolymer, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Acrylates/Methoxy PEG-15 Methacrylate Copolymer

Claims
A proprietary blend of actives that effectively cleanses skin deeply without disturbing the skin’s natural moisture balance. Formulated with Active botanicals, Hot Springs Water, Vitamin E and Vitamin C for a healthy complexion

How to Use
Use spatula included to scoop balm. Gently massage in circular motions onto dry skin using your fingertips to breakdown all makeup and residue. Add water to emulsify the oil and massage again. Rinse well with lukewarm water or wipe off with face cloth or tissue.

Price
$23 for 100ml.

Thoughts
The bestselling Clean It Zero Original was created to quickly and easily melt away even the most stubborn face & eye makeup. Designed with all skin types in mind, this skin-loving formula, completely cleanses skin and hydrates in one simple step. The perfect first step in your double-cleansing routine and I often follow it up with my normal cleanser.
Once I rinse the balm off with water, it emulsifies into a milky texture and it’s gentle enough to continue cleansing your skin before being fully rinsed off. Once I wash the balm off, my skin does not have an oily film or any left over undesirable texture. On a side note, sometimes I struggle to wash off certain eye makeup products so a bit of extra rubbing is required; there are times when I get the balm in my eye and after rinsing, there is a slight film over my eyes causing some blurry vision. This only lasts a few minutes and eventually I blink out the product.
The balm has a very light scent but its not overwhelming. I find the product melts really well with the heat of my skin and it spreads over my face easily without much issue. I really love this product and will continue to repurchase and recommend it.

Heimish All Clean Balm
Natural, paraben-free and hypoallergenic, this oil cleanser works well for a range of skin types. Going on a solid balm, it transforms into a silky oil cleanser on the skin then becomes milky while rinsing. The soft and lightweight texture effortlessly removes makeup and residue without stripping of skin’s natural oils. Now with an all-new, flip-top lid. 

Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Polyethylene, PEG-8 Isostearate, Shea Butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Lime Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Jasmine Extract, Lily Extract, Edelweiss Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Rose Extract, Orange Peel Extract, Lavender Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Leaf Oil, Tea Tree Leaf Oil, Mexican Juniper Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol

Claims
Heimish All Clean Balm is a multi cleansing balm which contains natural aroma oil for easier, faster and perfect cleansing on makeup without irritation. It has a balm-like texture that changes to an oil cleanser upon contact with water to remove thick makeup without irritating or dehydrating skin. Hypoallergenic ingredients, including shea butter and citrus, botanical and white flower extracts, make it suitable for sensitive skin.

How to Use
Scoop 3~4 spoons of balm with the included spatula. Use dry hands to spread over your face, starting with the forehead, cheeks and chin. Use your fingers to draw circles and spread out the balm. Massage onto areas that need cleansing, and melt away makeup by drawing circles with your fingers. Rub onto eye and lip makeup with fingers. Use cotton swabs for better results. Wet your face and rub the cleanser. The oil will turn into a milky fluid and clean away dirt. Rinse with lukewarm water 4~5 times, and your face is moisturized.

Price
$24 for 120ml from YesStyle. Use code MONMON8 for an extra 10% off.

Thoughts
The balm-like texture changes to an oil cleanser upon contact with water to cleanse thick makeup without tugging or dehydrating skin. Hypoallergenic ingredients including shea butter, citrus herbs, fruits and white flower extracts make it suitable for sensitive skin. The balm is a bit thicker than the Banila Co brand but it does melt into the skin. One thing I noticed is that sometimes there are small “beads” of balm that don’t melt as I wash my face. They are just small balls of balm that are round but don’t melt very fast; they don’t stop the product working but it’s just something I noticed.
The balm does however contain essential oils which for some skins can be very irritating. Although my skin is generally sensitive, I’m not particularly sensitive to essential oils so the balm never affected me negatively and I’ve never found it to hurt or break out my skin. The balm is however paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free, EU allergen-free and mineral oil free.
The balm has a stronger smell than the Banila Co balm but it does feel softer on the skin. Once water is added, it emulsifies quickly and removes all your makeup no matter how thick it is. One issue I have is sometimes I get the balm in my eye (waterproof eye makeup can really be a pain) and my eyes get an oily film over them. This blurry vision lasts several minutes, longer than it would with the Banila Co cleanser but it does eventually pass.

When comparing the Banila Co and the Heimish, it’s not easy to differentiate between the two brands. Both are great at removing makeup and being the first step in double cleansing. I find that having dehydrated and sensitive skin, both of these balms are really gentle, hydrating and don’t feel like they are stripping my skin of oils or it’s natural protective barrier.
After switching between the two brands over the years, if I had to chose just one, it would be the Heimish. There’s nothing wrong with Banila Co, but the Heimish brand strives to be vegan, and the balm has better ingredients which are more natural and don’t have parabens or anything overly harsh for the skin. I also really like to packaging of the Heimish as it comes with the flip top cover and a spatula so I don’t have to put my fingers in the product or use a different spatula. I believe this keeps my balm cleaner and it’s just tidier to use.

If you’d like to purchase it for yourself, I have a coupon code for YesStyle so you can get an extra special price. Use code MONMON8 for an extra 10% off your order.

Note: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions and thoughts expressed are solely my own and not influenced in any way. This page contains affiliate links/codes which aids in funding future reviews.