It takes a lot of trial and error to declare a skin care product a holy grail, and, when you find it, you’ll never want to replace it. Read on to learn why one writer has claimed Then I Met You’s Living Cleansing Balm to be the ultimate remedy for her hormonal acne-prone skin.
Being a beauty writer means I get to sample a lot of great products, but only a handful end up in my regular rotation. This is why Then I Met You’s Living Cleansing Balm is my holy grail cleanser, and why I’ll cry real tears if it’s ever discontinued.
There are a few skin care products out there that, should they ever stop being produced, would make my eyes go wide in a surge of panic. Then I Met You’s Living Cleansing Balm is one of those products.
I can honestly tell you that it’s transformed my hormonal acne-prone skin, that it makes me excited to dive into my skincare regimen every night, and that I use every single drop and then hit repurchase when I’m almost out. It’s that good. I can also tell you that I see a difference in the quality of my skin when I don’t use the product, and that I love it so much I actually transfer some into a small container to bring with me when I travel. (FYI, I always use the Soothing Tea Cleansing Gel in conjunction with the balm).
RELATED: Seven Holy Grail K-Beauty Products That Never Leave Our Skin Care Routines.
Love at First Cleanse
The first time I used the Living Cleansing Balm was shortly after it launched. I was enamored by the packaging, and really touched by the “feeling of jeong” – a deep, emotional connection you build over time – Charlotte wanted to put into the world, but at the end of the day I had to like the product itself, right?
I could tell the second I took that little periwinkle blue spatula and spread the bright orange balm across my face that I was going to be in for a good experience. It smelled amazing, the formulation was silky, and as I gently massaged the product into my skin I could feel the day’s grime breaking down.
There are three things that surprised me in those early days of using the product, and that keep me coming back for more:
The consistency of the formulation. It’s not like other balms which feel ultra-heavy or sticky. It’s hearty, but it doesn’t suffocate your skin.
How easily the balm rinses away. Unlike many cleansing balms or oils I’ve tried, it doesn’t take forever to rinse the product off and it never leaves a film. And confession: to this day I relish in watching the milky-gray water go down the sink because it’s a visual representation of just how clean my skin is.
How clean, soft, and — most importantly — balanced my skin feels after cleansing. My skin never feels stripped, tight, dry, or otherwise compromised. I can tell that it’s a healthy experience for my skin, which is a testament to all the time Charlotte put into the formulation.
The Long-Term Results
I mentioned above that I have hormonal, acne-prone skin. This is something that I dealt with a lot in high school and college, and that came back in full force around my mid/late 20s. Early on, I learned that excessive cleansing — and aggressive ingredients — only made my acne problem worse. I stopped using any and all cleansers in the morning, which helped tremendously. I still do not use cleansers in the morning, but as a makeup wearer (and human roaming the earth exposing myself to daily dirt and grime) I obviously have to use a cleanser in the evening.
I’ve tried them all — “dermatologist recommended” brands, all-natural cleansers, acne-busting cleansers, oil-based cleansers, extremely expensive cleansers. Many were sufficient, but none left me truly floored, and none tackled my acne — hormonal and otherwise — the way that the Living Cleansing Balm has. A huge part of that is the award-winning formulation, and the fact that the ingredients genuinely work for me and balance my skin versus compromise it. Also, as I mentioned above, I’ve been way more consistent about completing my entire skincare regimen because I look forward to it so much.
So yeah… if you feel like you’ve tried every cleansing balm out there and meh-ed them all, or if you’re completely new to the double cleanse game and don’t know where to start, look no further, this is the best cleansing balm on the market. You really ought to give this one a try. I’m so glad I did.
