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Product photo: heimish.us (official brand store). The pack size shown may differ from the Korean 120ml.
All Clean Balm
A sherbet-textured cleansing balm that melts off makeup and sunscreen, built on light esters and shea butter with a blend of citrus, lavender and other essential oils.
Buyer verdictOne of the most pleasant balms to use, and very good at removing sunscreen and makeup. It's strongly scented with essential oils, so sensitive skin should pick an unscented balm instead. Olive Young usually adds a 20ml travel tub, which makes Seoul the better deal.
- Key ingredient
- Ethylhexyl palmitate and cetyl ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate and PEG-8 isostearate
- Texture
- Firm, sherbet-like balm that melts into an oil
- Routine step
- cleanser · PM
- Korean pack
- 120ml (+휴대용 20ml)
Overview
Key ingredients
- Ethylhexyl palmitate and cetyl ethylhexanoate Light emollient esters that dissolve makeup and sunscreen
- PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate and PEG-8 isostearate Emulsifiers that turn the oil milky so it rinses off
- Shea butter Softening; keeps skin from feeling stripped
- Orange, lavender, geranium, bergamot and other essential oils The spa-like scent; also the main irritation risk
From the US, it's 42% cheaper in Seoul after tax and refund. From the UK, it's 43% cheaper in Seoul.
Seoul packs often add a bonus (+휴대용 20ml); we don't count it in the saving.
What it is
All Clean Balm is the product heimish is best known for. It’s a solid, sherbet-textured balm in a 120ml tub with a spatula. Rubbed onto dry skin, it melts into a light oil that dissolves makeup and sunscreen, then turns milky and rinses away when you add water.
The Korean ingredient list starts with two light esters, ethylhexyl palmitate and cetyl ethylhexanoate, which do the dissolving. Next come two PEG emulsifiers that let it rinse clean, and polyethylene, which gives the balm its solid shape. Shea butter adds softness. Then there’s a long botanical section of flower extracts and essential oils: orange peel, lavender, scented geranium, bergamot, grapefruit, eucalyptus, tea tree and more.
That scent is a big part of why people love it, and the main reason some people shouldn’t use it.
Who it suits (and who should skip it)
Good pick if
- You wear sunscreen or makeup daily and want a thorough first cleanse
- You have normal, dry or combination skin and like a cushiony, non-stripping feel
- You enjoy a spa-like, citrusy-herbal scent at the end of the day
Skip it if
- Your skin is sensitive or reacts to fragrance and essential oils
- You prefer a fragrance-free first cleanse
- You don’t wear makeup or sunscreen strong enough to need a balm
What the ingredients do
Ethylhexyl palmitate and cetyl ethylhexanoate are lightweight, non-greasy esters. They break down long-wear makeup and water-resistant sunscreen filters faster than plain plant oils do. The PEG emulsifiers are what make it a cleansing balm rather than a lump of oil: once you add water, they turn the mixture into a milky emulsion that rinses off without a film.
Shea butter and tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) leave skin feeling soft after rinsing.
The essential oils give the balm its aromatherapy appeal. In a product you rinse off in a minute, the risk is lower than in a leave-on cream. Still, these oils contain known fragrance allergens (the label lists limonene, citral and linalool), and citrus oils can irritate reactive skin.
How to use it
Use it on dry skin with dry hands. Scoop a cherry-sized amount with the spatula and massage it over the face for about a minute, until makeup breaks down. Then wet your hands and keep massaging until the balm turns milky, and rinse with lukewarm water. Follow with a gentle foam or gel cleanser.
Keep water out of the tub, and always use the spatula, so the balm stays clean.
How it compares
Banila Co Clean It Zero Original is its main rival. It has a similar sherbet texture with a single added fragrance rather than a blend of essential oils. Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil is the pick if you prefer an oil you pump. Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil is a lighter oil for oily, pore-conscious skin.
Is it worth buying in Seoul?
Yes. The main tub is the same 120ml size as on Amazon, and the Seoul price is usually lower. Olive Young also tends to add a 20ml travel tub. Our price box counts only the main tub, so the real saving is better than it looks.
At its usual sale price, one tub clears the ₩15,000 tax refund minimum on its own. Airport security usually treats balms like gels, and 120ml is over the carry-on limit, so pack it in your checked bag.
FAQ
Is it fragrance-free?
No. The Korean ingredient list includes more than ten essential oils, including orange peel, lavender, geranium, bergamot, grapefruit, eucalyptus and tea tree, plus limonene, citral and linalool. Patch-test if your skin is sensitive.
Do I need a second cleanser?
Usually, yes. It emulsifies and rinses well, but most people follow it with a gentle water-based cleanser. That's the classic Korean double cleanse.
Does it remove waterproof mascara?
Mostly. Hold a little balm on closed eyes for a few seconds before massaging, and keep it out of the eyes themselves, because the essential oils can sting.
What's the Mandarin version?
Olive Young also sells an All Clean Balm Mandarin. It uses a different formula with mandarin, yuzu and other oils plus ceramide NP. This page covers the original.
