What do you like to do to calm down? I love listening to music (especially SZA’s SOS album or Lofi music, currently) and winding down with a nice book. When your skin needs to calm down, maybe it’s in need of a clarifying face wash! Clarifying face washes can help reveal a clean slate for your skin. I’m sure we can all use a clean slate after the work and stress we can experience throughout the week.

I received the following product for free from @go.picky @pickyrewards and @skin1004official in exchange for my honest review. This product was integrated into my nighttime routine for 2-3 weeks before I could come up with honest thoughts on how effective it is for my skin.

Try the Tea-Trica!

Madagascar Centella Tea-Trica BHA Foam retails at $14.00 USD on their website. This foaming facial cleanser is meant for acne-prone skin because it can clear your skin of excess oil and sebum that can clog your pores and cause breakouts.

If you want to try out the product for yourself, you can purchase this cleansing foam at a 10% discount by using my Stylevana discount code INF10OHMY at checkout. You can also receive 15% off your purchase at Stylevana if you buy at least $59 USD with my discount code. I do receive a small percentage of commission if you use it.

This clarifying formula is effective for your skin because of key ingredients like the following:

• Centella Asiatica: Centella Asiatica is a great ingredient for oily and acne-prone skin because it deals with inflammation and wound healing. If you deal with redness, this ingredient helps relieve your skin so that it looks soothed and relaxed.
• Tea Tree: Tea tree has anti-microbial properties that can clear your skin of dirt and oil that can clog your pores and delay the pimple healing process. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, making it another product used to combat redness.
• Pine Tree Complex: Pine tree is used in medical practices for wound healing and for infections. In the skincare realm, pine tree is used for anti-aging and hyperpigmentation. This makes it a great ingredient for dry skin, especially, since the moisture benefits from pine tree can create a healthy surface to support skin cell generation.
• Salicylic Acid (BHA): This acid is frequently used in skincare products that are designed to wipe out excess oil, sebum, and dirt. It also has anti-microbial properties, so using it as an exfoliator for dead skin can help fade out hyperpigmentation and blemishes.

A Spa Treatment at Your Fingertips

Simple but Trustworthy Packaging

The bottle is large and sturdy, so it is a great product to carry for traveling. I do have to say that this product is super thick (not exaggerating), so it can be harder to squeeze out the foam wash when you are closer to emptying. The formula consistency also means that you don’t have to worry about it spilling out in any circumstance.

Spa-Like Scent

When you open the product, you get a light smell of tea tree and Centella Asiatica (similar to eucalyptus, if you’ve never smelled it before). I personally love whenever I have products that give that minty fresh type of feeling or make you feel relaxed. This scent opinion of mine is subjective, but some people may not like it.

Cream-to-Foam Wash

The product itself is a thick, slightly sparkly white paste that transforms into a creamy, milky lather with water. If you didn’t know what the product was, you can probably mistake it for toothpaste because of its thickness. Putting the wash in contact with water will help transform it into some suds.

Due to the consistency of the face wash, I do want to mention that the wash-off time can vary based on how much product you use. If you use a small amount of product, then washing it off can be very easy. If you use more than that, keep in mind that you will have to work into the product more to really wash off the remaining residue.

Long-Time Usage

I used a pea size amount of product for my dry skin over the course of 2.5 weeks and I never broke out. I actually saw improvement with the skin in my chin area since that’s where I usually break out. My blemishes did slightly fade away after using the product on a consistent basis. Fading out blemishes in my chin area can be tiresome, so it’s nice to find a product that can alleviate the process.

You don’t need a lot of product for washing your face, so I estimate that this face wash can last in your skincare collection for around 4-5 months.

I also tried using this as a body acne solution since I sometimes have bacne (back acne) and chest acne. This face wash was nice for clearing out excess oil and dirt and healing blemishes for those areas. If you need a body acne skincare routine, then consider adding this as a targeted body wash before using your usual body wash and lotion.

Cooled Down, Cool Skin

Using this product leaves my face feeling soothed, cooled down, and less red aka it calms down. My skin gets red very easily and this face wash did not irritate my dry skin at all.

If you deal with oily skin or are in humid areas, this face wash might also be perfect for you due to the clarifying formula.

You May Not Enjoy This Face Wash If …

Severely Dry Skin

No cons for me personally, but if you do have a damaged skin barrier, I recommend using this when your skin has improved. My skin was in its lowest when I had a damaged skin barrier and that skin state is when exfoliating products like this one aren’t suitable. If your skin is very dry, for this same reason I would have to not recommend this formula.

For both of these skin types, if you really think you might need this product, please use this every 2-3 days. Go in with products that focus on moisturizing and hydrating your skin afterwards so that your skin gets the support needed for a healthy recovery.

Dislike Strong Scents

If you’re not into tea tree oil or tea tree scents, then you might not like this one. Some people really hate these types of scents and I felt it was necessary to make a small section to emphasize the strong scent.

Would I repurchase?

Yes! I was pleasantly surprised with how my skin looked and felt after using this cleanser. In my opinion, it is comparable to Tatcha’s rice wash since it is a creamy face wash formula, but more affordable.

Would you try this one? Let me know in the comments below!

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Have you considered swapping out your makeup wipes? Sometimes, a cleanser and some makeup wipes just aren’t enough to make sure you get rid of makeup, dirt, and dust. Makeup wipes are great to carry every once in a while, but they can be so abrasive on your skin … especially if you have sensitive skin or a damaged skin barrier.

I didn’t know the hard truth about cleansing my face until when I started college. Makeup wipes were my religion, and I could not go a day without using it at night. The problem? Well, it was so annoying to tug and tug at my skin to remove my cakey layers of makeup and end up with a face that was red like a tomato and stung like as if I rubbed it on sandpaper. The stinging sensation was so annoying and made me not look forward to skincare.

Add that cringeworthy routine on top of poor physical and mental health, and BOOM! You got yourself a damaged skin barrier with the most stubborn cystic acne ever.

How can you get yourself out of this skincare scenario? It took me months to figure out a solution to healing my acne problems and I think I have a perfect suggestion for you.

Starting from Zero

When I started my skincare journey back in 2019 with the aforementioned skincare situation, I was fortunate to already have some skincare to start with. One of the products that I kept in my routine after doing a deep cleanse of terrible, incompatible products was Banila Co’s Clean it Zero Cleansing Balm.

I already had somewhat of an idea about this balm since I would casually browse through Korean skincare and Korean makeup. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon it in the duty-free shopping area of the Incheon airport during a layover did I finally give in. 2019 was also the time when the concept of double cleansing and the infamous 10-step Korean skincare routine were trending on social media. Buying this balm was a no-brainer since other people were raving about it. There had to be a slight possibility that I would love it, too.

Why Would You Like the Clean it Zero Cleansing Balm?

Banila Co’s Clean it Zero Cleansing Balm is a skincare product that can work for all skin types. It has the simple purpose of removing makeup, buildup, and dirt without stripping your skin of its much-needed moisture. The best part is the there’s no wipe necessary, so the constant tugging on your skin is gone! You just have to wash your face after using it and continue with your skincare routine.

The cleansing balm has also been a favorite among skincare lovers because of its sherbet-to-oil formulation. The product can be scooped with the included spatula for a hygenic experience. Once the sherbet mixture is in contact with your skin and spread out, it melts into an oil that can even remove your stubborn waterproof mascara. As someone with dry skin who uses waterproof makeup pretty often, Banila Co’s balm sounds like a creamy dream in a jar.

Not convinced that you’ll like the cleansing balm? Here are some ingredients that makes this product great for you:

• Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate): Has antioxidant properties and encourages healthy cell regeneration to make your skin less inflamed and appear younger.
• Vitamin C (Acerola Cherry Fruit Extract): Helps even out skin tone by brightening blemishes or discoloration, and can help with collagen production for younger-looking skin.
• Active Botanicals (Bambusen Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract): A common bamboo extract that helps with inflammation and can be used for wound healing because of phenolic compounds.
• Hot Spring Water (Onsen-Sui): The Japanese hot spring water has anti-inflammatory properties by encouraging blood circulation (a vasodilative effect) and helps moisturize dry and cracked skin.
• This product is also free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates so you don’t have to worry about harming your health for the sake of baby smooth skin.

The cleansing balm usually retails for $27.00 USD for its original 6.09 oz jar. If you want to purchase the regular size jar of 6.09 oz., you can actually use my Stylevana discount code INF10OHMY to get 10% off all orders. You will get 15% off on your order with the same code if you purchase at least $59 USD. You can click the link here to take you to Stylevana’s website to check out the cleansing balm. Keep in mind I will receive some commission with the code.

The original 6.09 oz. version of the Clean it Zero Cleansing Balm may seem like a lot, but trust me when I tell you that a little product goes a long way. A cherry-sized scoop of the balm can be powerful enough to break down all of your makeup. One second you’re a made up to the gods. The next second you’ll look like a raccoon (that’s cute, of course). The regular-size jar lasted in my collection for almost a year and a half since I usually do light makeup. If you put makeup on frequently, this time estimate can vary.

The Good Parts

 A Little Goes a Long Way

The original 6.09 oz. version of the Clean it Zero Cleansing Balm may seem like a lot, but trust me when I tell you that a little product goes a long way. A cherry-sized scoop of the balm can be powerful enough to break down all of your makeup. One second you’re a made up to the gods. The next second you’ll look like a raccoon (that’s cute, of course). The regular-size jar lasted in my collection for almost a year and a half since I usually do light makeup. If you put makeup on frequently, this time estimate can vary.

Easy to Use

The oil made even the hardest makeup a breeze to remove. In fact, rubbing the product in kind of felt like I was giving myself a facial massage since my hands became so slippery. The sherbet would go from an opaque white to a clear oil on my skin. Once it comes into contact with water, the product turns into a milky liquid that takes away all the gunk from your face.

Non-Irritating Formula

The product is great for all skin types. When my skin was suffering from dryness and frequent breakouts, the cleansing balm was a great, soothing product for my routine. Unlike makeup wipes or cotton pads, my skin felt baby skin soft after washing. There was no stinging sensation either. In fact, my skin looked and felt healthier because it would take out my flaky skin and reveal a smoother surface. At a time when I was struggling with my damaged skin barrier, this product was a huge relief and made me feel like myself again.

The Bad Parts

Did I scare you with the subheader? There’s no cons for me.

Honestly, in terms of the formulation, there was no bad part. My skin did not break out from using this product. It made it easier to double cleanse and ensure that my other skincare products were being absorbed into my skin.

In terms of the process of washing my face, it’s normal for it to be a little messy. If you hate having to wash your face so often, maybe you wouldn’t like this product since water can go everywhere. Some people also don’t want to scoop their makeup remover all the time, so that is a valid complaint if you’re not interested in this item.

Is This Worth the Hype?

Yes, for sure! I completely understand why this product has been well-loved. Even though I first tried this product in 2019, I still keep repurchasing it because it works!

To this day, this balm is the first product I use in my nighttime routine whenever I wear makeup. I recommend using this before using a micellar water makeup remover for dry skin people to prevent harsh tugging, especially around the eyes.

The formula has been so friendly to my dry skin that I even purchased the travel size versions of the cleansing balm to bring with me for trips. If you are interested in trying their different cleansing balm formulations meant for different skin benefits, you can also check here for more. They have formulas focused on purifying your skin, improving discoloration, and exfoliation to remove excess sebum.

Have you tried the balm before? How was your experience with it? Would love to know your thoughts!

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