First they came for the texture. Then the scent. Now everyone’s DMing me like I’m a grief counselor.
The old Babor Cleanformance balm was a butter knife through warm butter — now it’s more like… room-temp margarine. Still works. Feels different.
The real crime? They killed the signature cooling sensation. That minty “oh shit it’s working” tingle? Gone.
🔬 **What’s in the Jar**
It’s an oil-to-balm cleanser. $48 for 3.4 oz. Claims to dissolve SPF, waterproof mascara, and existential dread in one wipe.
**1. New base oils** — Caprylic/capric triglyceride replaced some of the heavier esters. Lighter on skin, less slip.
**2. No more fragrance** — Old version had a faint herbal-clean scent. Now it smells like a lab coat. Literally nothing.
**3. Same emulsifier system** — PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate is still there. So it still rinses clean. No filmy residue.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
⚠️ **Ingredients That Actually Matter**
Old formula leaned on **bisabolol** (chamomile-derived, anti-redness) and **tocopherol** (vitamin E, antioxidant). Both still here. But they cut the **menthol derivative** that gave that cooling effect. Also dropped **limonene** — good for sensitive skin, bad for the “this is doing something” feeling.
- Bisabolol: calms redness before you even rinse
- Tocopherol: keeps oils from going rancid
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride: lightweight, non-comedogenic
- PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate: the reason makeup actually leaves your face
Photo: Alexandra Tran / Unsplash
💬 **Texture Report: Day 1 vs Day 14**
First scoop: thinner than before. Almost a gel-balm hybrid. Spreads fast — maybe too fast. Melts makeup in 45 seconds instead of 20. That’s real.
By week two, I stopped mourning the old one. Rinses cleaner, actually. Less of that “did I get it all?” paranoia. But I miss the sensory experience. It’s like going from a hot stone massage to a basic shoulder rub.
💡 **One Thing** — Warm it between your palms for a full 10 seconds before applying. Cold, it drags. Hot, it liquefies and drips down your wrists.
Photo: ibnu ihza / Unsplash
📊 **Did It Actually Work?**
Makeup removal: still 10/10. Even tubing mascara. Redness after cleansing: slightly less than before. Moisture barrier: intact. But my face doesn’t feel *awake* after washing — just clean.
Photo: kevin laminto / Unsplash
🏆 **Final Verdict (No Nostalgia)**
Better for sensitive skin. Worse for the ritual. I’d rebuy — but I’d grumble about it.
🛍️ **Where to Buy** — Dermstore or Babor direct. Get the 1.0 oz tube first — $18, three weeks of use, no commitment.