Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm (My Personal Review)

If there’s a cleansing balm having its moment right now, it would definitely be Then I Met You’s Living Cleansing Balm. The brand was created by Charlotte Cho, founder of Sokoglam.com, a site which features curated K-beauty skincare. The current line-up of products from Then I Met You includes the cleansing balm, cleansing gel, toner, essence, gel cream and lip mask.

I first came across this product while watching one of Michelle Pham’s skincare routine. She used this balm as the first step in taking off her makeup. I waited a while before purchasing the products. I wanted to take the time for others to try it and leave their review. Sure enough, after a few months, people were raving about this product on Reddit and had high praise for its ability to effectively melt away make-up.
Once I was ready to order the product, it was completely sold out on the website. So I had to wait patiently for another month, but it was well worth the wait. It came with a cute tote featuring the company’s logo. The company also did a great job in keeping me updated on the status of the order and date of shipping.
The product line also offers the Cleansing Balm along with the Soothing Tea Cleansing Gel as a packed duo. However, since I’m pretty faithful to my current second cleansers, I decided to purchase the cleansing balm on its own.

First Impression

The cleansing balm comes with a small spatula that helps to get the product out without using your fingers. A necessity when using such a dense cleansing vehicle such as a balm. The cleanser itself is pale yellow and has a distinct fragrance-somewhere between rosemary and persimmon.
I find that scooping out just a quarter-size of the product is enough for my entire face. The texture is in-between a sherbert and waxy balm. For those of you who are familiar with other balm cleansers, I find it a little less sherbert-like than Green Farmacy’s Makeup Removing Cleansing balm. Once the product is melted by my fingertips, it turns into a very smooth oil and effectively removes all traces of makeup.

Pros and Cons

This is one of the best first-step cleansers I’ve tried in a long while. I know fragrance isn’t for everyone, but I love how it smells. The fragrance is beautiful and helps to create a spa-like moment while I’m cleansing away dirt and makeup. The texture feels really luxurious and I think that is owing to its more balmy texture. Sometimes sherbert cleansers can feel too airy, and they don’t melt down to a dense oil. While some people might prefer a thinner texture, I find that the waxy texture does a better job in moisturizing my skin and not drying it out.
The product washes off easily with water without leaving an oily residue. The cleanser also does not trigger break outs which is really important when having dry, acne-prone skin. It also does a great job in removing multiple layers of tinted sunscreen — to the point where a second cleanse would be redundant. I still follow up though with a gentle foaming cleanser though.
I can’t think of any cons except maybe for the price. At $38, it’s comparable to Green Famacy’s cleansing balm, but it’s certainly less affordable than other options such as Banilla Co’s Clean it Zero or Heimish’s All Clean Cleansing balm. But if you’re looking for a touch of luxury in your cleansing routine, then I’d go with Then I Met You.

Then I Met You vs. Green Farmacy

Given its similar price point and popularity, a lot of you may be wondering which cleanser to choose. I have used and enjoyed both, but if I were to pick one, it would be Then I Met You. In terms of cleansing power, both balm cleansers are equally effective at removing stubborn makeup and sunscreen. They also melt down to a beautiful texture, but I find that Then I Met You’s balm turns into a thicker and silkier oil.
In terms of ingredients, I do find that Then I Met You’s to be less troublesome for my sensitive skin. Green Farmacy’s website states that their cleanser is intended to provide mild exfoliation. This is supported by ingredients such as papaya extract and various citrus oils such as lime, bergamot, and orange. However, since I already use active ingredients in my skincare regimen such as retin-a and glycolic acid, the presence of other exfoliants has the potential to irritate my skin.
In contrast, Then I Met You contains only one citrus oil in the form of grapefruit seed oil, and it’s located further down the ingredient list. It also contains a trio of skin nourishing oils such as olive oil, grapeseed oil and sea buckthorn oil to support rather than strip the skin barrier.

Final Takeaway

Some of my friends have confused Then I Met You with When I Met You. But I think the brand’s name is so fitting. In an age where we have access to and are able to try out so many skin care products, it can take just one stand-out product to stop you in your tracks and leave all the other products you’ve tried in the dust. Then I Met You’s Living Cleansing Balm certainly is at that level, and it is a product that I wholeheartedly recommend.