Cleansing balms (along with peeling gels) really blew my mind when it came to Korean beauty. Sure, Korean brands make fantastic toners and creams, foaming cleansers and masks, but I have never even heard of double cleansing before kbeauty.
If you are new, I recommend starting with this video. In short, the purpose of the first step cleanser is to break up makeup, sunscreen, and other oil-soluble impurities. Everything is then washed away with a foaming cleanser. It’s one of the best ways I know to keep the pores looking clean and smaller, and to avoid blackheads and breakouts cause by makeup and sunscreen residue.
The first cleanser I’ve been using lately is Hope Girl Jamong Cleansing Balm (grapefruit). It’s sold on YesStyle, Amazon, Jolse, and eBay. This balm is meant to remove even waterproof makeup without drying out or irritating the skin. It’s made without parabens, benzophenone, triclosan, triethanolamine, or BHT.
How to use:
Apply with clean, dry hands to a dry face
Gently massage, the balm will melt into oil
Add a bit of water, massage again (the balm will emulsify/turn white)
Rinse with water
Follow with a foaming cleanser and the rest of your routine
My impressions:
This is a good cleansing balm. It’s not the best (my favorite is definitely I’m From Fig - review here), but it’s also not the worst (this Missha balm takes the cake as the worst one ever).
Hope Girl Jamong Grapefruit Cleansing Balm melts well and is gentle on the skin. It definitely has a scent, but it’s not what I would expect from a grapefruit product. It’s alright, doesn’t bother me. The balm does a good job taking off my sunscreen and makeup, except waterproof mascara. To be fair, none of my cleansing balms or oils remove his particular mascara, so that’s not surprising. There is no residue and the skin doesn’t feel dry or tight.
Overall, this is a solid product that works and has a decent price point. It’s nothing earth shattering, and I won’t repurchase it, but it’s working fine and I will finish the jar.
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Hope Girl Jamong Grapefruit Cleansing Balm ingredients: Mineral Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Polyethylene, PEG-8 Isostearate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit), Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, CI 19140, Diisostearyl Malate, CI 45410, Fragrance, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Water, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Water, Potassium sorbate, Sodium Benzoate