I’ll be honest — for a long time, I thought a simple face wash was enough.
I mean, you wash your face, it feels clean… so that should be it, right?
That’s what I believed too.
But over time, I started noticing small issues:
- My skin looked dull even after washing
- Sometimes makeup didn’t fully come off
- And honestly, my face never felt completely clean
It wasn’t something dramatic — just one of those things you ignore… until you don’t.
That’s when I came across the Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm 7ml. At first, I didn’t expect much. It looked like just another skincare product.
Turns out, I was wrong.
What Makes This Cleansing Balm Different?
So here’s the thing.
This isn’t your regular cleanser. It’s a cleansing balm, which basically means it starts as a soft cream and turns into oil when you apply it.
And that matters more than it sounds.
Because oil-based cleansers are actually better at breaking down:
- Makeup
- Sunscreen
- Excess oil
- Dirt stuck in pores
When I first used this cleansing balm, the difference was immediate.
Not dramatic like ads claim — but noticeable enough that I paused and thought:
“Okay… this is actually working.”
First Use — What It Really Feels Like
Let me walk you through it in a real way.
You take a small amount (and I mean small, you don’t need much).
It feels like a soft balm — almost buttery.
As soon as it touches your skin, it melts.
No effort. No rubbing hard.
Then while you massage it:
- Makeup starts dissolving
- Skin feels smooth
- It spreads easily
When you add a little water, it turns slightly milky and washes off.
After rinsing?
Your skin doesn’t feel tight.
It doesn’t feel oily either.
Just… clean. Properly clean.
Quick Breakdown (Simple Table)
| Thing | What You Get |
| Texture | Balm → Oil |
| Best For | Removing makeup & sunscreen |
| Skin Type | Works for most people |
| Size | 7ml (small but useful) |
| Feel After Use | Clean, soft, not dry |
About the 7ml Size (Is It Too Small?)
At first, I thought 7ml was too little.
But after using it, I realized something:
You don’t need a lot.
A small amount is enough for your whole face. So even though it’s small, it lasts longer than expected.
Also, this size makes sense if:
- You want to test it first
- You travel a lot
- You don’t want to spend too much upfront
It’s actually a smart starting point.
The Thing Most People Don’t Realize
Here’s something I wish I knew earlier.
When your skin isn’t properly cleaned:
- Pores get clogged
- Breakouts slowly increase
- Skin looks dull
And you might think the problem is your moisturizer… or your serum…
But sometimes, the real issue is just incomplete cleansing.
That’s where a cleansing balm like this quietly fixes things.
Not overnight. But steadily.
Comparing It With What Most People Use
| Product | Reality |
| Face Wash | Cleans surface only |
| Makeup Wipes | Leaves residue |
| Micellar Water | Works, but not deep enough |
| Cleansing Balm | Breaks everything down properly |
This doesn’t mean face wash is useless — you still need it.
But using only face wash is like washing dishes without removing oil first.
What I Personally Liked
- It doesn’t feel harsh
- No strong fragrance bothering me
- Easy to use, no learning curve
- Skin feels soft after washing
- Works even on stubborn products
What Could Be Better
Let’s keep it real.
- The 7ml size finishes quickly if used daily
- You’ll probably want the bigger version later
- Needs a second cleanser for best results
Nothing deal-breaking — just things to know.
How I Use It (Simple Routine)
I keep it very simple:
- Take a small amount
- Apply on dry face
- Massage gently (no rush)
- Add a little water
- Rinse
- Then use a normal face wash
That’s it.
No complicated steps.
Who Should Actually Try This?
I wouldn’t say everyone needs it.
But it makes sense if you:
- Use makeup regularly
- Apply sunscreen daily
- Feel your skin isn’t fully clean
- Want a simple upgrade in routine
Even beginners can use it without confusion.
I Didn’t Think Cleansing Was This Important
Honestly, I used to rush this step a lot. Just face wash, water, done. Never really stopped to think if my skin was actually clean or just… okay-ish. After trying a cleansing balm, I started noticing small differences. Nothing dramatic at first, but enough to make me pause a bit. It felt like my skin wasn’t just washed, it was properly cleared out. Sounds simple, but it didn’t feel like that before.
It Cleans Stuff You Don’t Even Notice
One thing I didn’t expect — even on days when I barely wore anything, the cleansing balm still picked up more than I thought. Like sunscreen, oil, just random dust from being outside. You don’t really see it, so you assume it’s gone. But when you use something like this, you realize your skin wasn’t as clean as you believed. That part kind of surprised me.
Took Me a Few Tries to Get It Right
At the start, I was definitely using too much. I thought, okay, more product = better result. Not really. With a cleansing balm, a little actually spreads a lot. Once I figured that out, it felt easier and less wasteful. Now it’s just automatic, I don’t even think about the amount anymore.
Clean Skin Feels… Different (Hard to Explain)
This is a bit tricky to describe, but there’s a difference. After using a cleansing balm, my face didn’t feel tight like it sometimes did before. But it also didn’t feel oily. Just normal, I guess. Balanced is probably the word, but even that doesn’t fully explain it. You kind of notice it more after a few uses than the first time.
I Realized I Was Being Too Harsh Before
Looking back, I think I used to rub my skin more than needed, especially when removing makeup. With a cleansing balm, you don’t really do that. It sort of melts things away on its own. That made me realize I was probably overdoing it earlier without noticing.
It Didn’t Complicate My Routine Like I Thought
At first I assumed adding a cleansing balm would make things longer or more annoying. But it didn’t. If anything, it made things simpler. No wipes, no struggling with face wash alone. Just this, then a basic cleanser. Done. It actually feels more straightforward now.
The Small Size Makes More Sense After Using It
I used to ignore small sizes like this, thinking they wouldn’t last. But with a cleansing balm, you don’t need much each time. So even a small jar works for a while. Plus, it’s easy to carry. Not something I cared about before, but now I kind of get it.
It’s Not the Same as Just Face Wash
Before this, I thought all cleansing products were more or less the same. But they’re not. A face wash cleans your skin, yeah — but a cleansing balm removes what’s sitting on top first. That’s the difference. When you use both, your skin just feels more properly cleaned. Not a huge change, but noticeable.
The Change Is Slow, Not Instant
If you’re expecting instant results, this probably isn’t that kind of product. A cleansing balm works more gradually. After a few days, you start noticing your skin feels more consistent. Less buildup, less heaviness. It’s subtle, not dramatic.
Why I Didn’t Stop Using It
Some products you try once and forget. This wasn’t like that. After using a cleansing balm for a bit, skipping it didn’t feel right anymore. Not because it’s special or fancy — just because your skin gets used to feeling properly clean.
Feels Like an Easy Starting Point
If someone asked me where to start, I wouldn’t suggest anything complicated. A cleansing balm is pretty straightforward. No learning curve, no confusion. You just use it, and that’s it. It fits in without needing to change everything else.
I Didn’t Really Think My Skin Needed “Deep Cleaning”
To be honest, I always thought cleansing was simple. You wash your face, and that’s it. I didn’t overthink it. But later I started noticing that even after washing, something still felt a bit off. Not dirty exactly… just not fully clean.
That’s when I came across a cleansing balm. I didn’t even know what it was at first. It looked like a normal cream in a small jar, nothing special. But I still tried it, just to see what the hype was about.
The First Time Didn’t Feel Like Anything Special
When I used a cleansing balm for the first time, I honestly didn’t feel any “wow moment.” It just melted on my skin like a soft oil. I massaged it around and washed it off like normal.
But the weird part was after I rinsed my face — it felt different. Not dramatic, just… lighter somehow. Like something extra had been removed that I didn’t even notice before.
I Was Probably Cleansing Wrong Before
Looking back now, I think I was just relying too much on face wash. I assumed it was doing everything. But it probably wasn’t.
A cleansing balm works in a different way. It doesn’t just clean the surface, it kind of breaks everything down first. Makeup, sunscreen, oil — all of that starts loosening before you even use water.
That’s something I never really understood before trying it.
Night Routine Started Feeling Less Rushed
One thing I noticed slowly was that my night routine didn’t feel rushed anymore. Using a cleansing balm makes you slow down a bit. You’re not just splashing water and done.
You actually massage your face for a minute or two. It sounds small, but it changes the feel of the whole routine. It’s not stressful anymore, just… calmer.
It’s Not an Instant Change, It’s Subtle
If someone is expecting instant skin transformation, that’s not really how this works. A cleansing balm doesn’t change your face overnight.
But after a few days, you start noticing small things. Skin feels less heavy. Cleanliness feels more consistent. It’s not loud results, it’s quiet improvement.
And honestly, that’s why people stick with it.
I Didn’t Realize How Much Build-Up Stays on Skin
One thing I completely ignored before was how much stuff actually stays on your face. Even if you don’t see it, it’s there — sunscreen, dust, oil, pollution.
A cleansing balm kind of makes you realize that. Because after using it, your skin feels like it got more than just a normal wash.
It’s a bit eye-opening when you notice it for the first time.
Small Size Turned Out More Useful Than I Thought
At first, I thought the 7ml size was too small. I even assumed it would finish in a few uses.
But that wasn’t true. You only need a tiny amount each time. So even a small jar actually lasts longer than expected. Plus, it’s easy to carry, which I didn’t care about earlier but now I understand.
A cleansing balm in small size is actually pretty practical.
Face Wash Alone Doesn’t Feel Enough Now
I still use face wash, but I don’t rely on it alone anymore. After trying a cleansing balm, I can feel the difference between just “washing” and actually “cleansing.”
Face wash is fine for surface level. But for makeup, sunscreen, and deeper stuff, it doesn’t feel complete on its own.
So now it’s more like a two-step thing without overthinking it.
It Became a Habit Without Forcing It
The funny thing is, I didn’t plan to make this part of my routine. It just slowly became normal. Like I don’t even think about it anymore — I just use the cleansing balm, rinse, and move on.
That’s usually how you know something fits into your routine properly.
Why I Didn’t Stop Using It
I’ve tried a lot of skincare things before, and most of them I stop using after a while. But this one stayed.
Not because it’s magic or anything like that. Just because it makes cleansing feel more complete. Once you get used to that feeling, going back to just face wash feels a bit incomplete.
Just a Small Upgrade, Nothing Extreme
At the end of the day, this isn’t some magic product. A cleansing balm just improves one step — cleansing. But that one step matters more than people think. It doesn’t try to do everything, it just does this one job better.
What exactly does a cleansing balm do?
A cleansing balm is mainly used as the first step to break down makeup, sunscreen, and oil sitting on your skin. It works differently from a regular face wash because it targets buildup, not just surface dirt. When you massage it in, it melts everything gently instead of forcing you to scrub. That’s why many people feel their skin is actually cleaner after using it.
Can I use a cleansing balm every day?
Yes, using a cleansing balm daily is generally fine for most people. It’s designed to be gentle, so it won’t strip your skin like some harsh cleansers do. In fact, daily use can help keep your pores clearer over time. Just make sure you’re not overusing the product — a small amount is usually enough.
Is a cleansing balm suitable for oily skin?
It might sound strange, but a cleansing balm can work well even for oily skin. Since it dissolves excess oil instead of fighting it harshly, it helps balance your skin rather than drying it out. Many people with oily skin notice that their face feels less greasy after proper cleansing. The key is to rinse it off properly and follow with a gentle cleanser.
Do I need to double cleanse after using a cleansing balm?
A cleansing balm is usually the first step in what’s called double cleansing. While it removes makeup and oil, a second cleanser helps wash away any leftover residue. You can skip the second step sometimes, but using both steps gives a more complete clean. It depends on your routine and how your skin feels.
Will a cleansing balm clog my pores?
A good quality cleansing balm is made to clean pores, not block them. It dissolves the oil and dirt that can lead to breakouts in the first place. As long as you rinse it off properly, it shouldn’t cause clogging. If anything, many people find their skin feels clearer after regular use.
How much cleansing balm should I use each time?
Most people don’t realize this at first, but you don’t need a lot of cleansing balm. A small scoop is usually enough for your entire face. Using too much won’t really improve the results, it just wastes product. Once you get used to the right amount, it becomes part of your routine without thinking.
Can a cleansing balm remove waterproof makeup?
Yes, one of the main reasons people use a cleansing balm is because it removes waterproof makeup easily. Instead of rubbing your skin hard, the balm melts those products away. This makes the process gentler and less irritating, especially around sensitive areas like the eyes.
Is a cleansing balm better than micellar water?
Both work, but a cleansing balm usually gives a deeper clean. Micellar water is quick and convenient, but it doesn’t always remove everything completely. A balm breaks down heavier buildup more effectively. Many people switch after realizing their skin feels more properly cleaned with it.
Can beginners use a cleansing balm easily?
Yes, a cleansing balm is actually one of the easiest skincare products to use. There’s no complicated method — you just apply, massage, and rinse. Even if you’re new to skincare, you won’t find it confusing. It fits naturally into a simple routine.
Does a cleansing balm leave an oily feeling after use?
At first, it might feel like it will, but a cleansing balm usually rinses off clean. Once you add water and wash it away, it doesn’t leave a heavy or greasy layer behind. Instead, your skin feels soft and balanced. That’s one of the reasons people keep using it.
How long does a small cleansing balm last?
Even a small-sized cleansing balm can last longer than expected because you use very little each time. It depends on how often you use it and how much product you apply. If you’re careful with the amount, it can last for several days or even weeks.
Is a cleansing balm really necessary in a routine?
It’s not absolutely necessary, but adding a cleansing balm can improve how well your skin is cleaned. Many people don’t realize how much buildup stays on their face after a normal wash. Once you start using it, the difference becomes easier to notice over time.
Final Thoughts (No Hype, Just Honest Opinion)
I’m not going to say this product will magically fix your skin.
That’s not how skincare works.
But what I will say is this:
Switching to a cleansing balm — especially something like Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm 7ml — makes a noticeable difference in how clean your skin actually feels.
It’s one of those small changes that quietly improves your routine.
No hype. No exaggeration.
Just better cleansing.
