You’re washing your face with this Axis-Y Mugwort Wash before bed and wondering why your skin feels tight by morning. Stop that.
This is a morning wash. Period. It cuts through the overnight oil slick and leaves enough barrier behind that your sunscreen actually sits flat — not pilling into little white crumbs by 10am.
$20 for 150ml. The brand claims it “minimizes pores” and “controls sebum” — which is marketing speak for “this won’t strip you raw like a $8 salicylic acid scrub.”
Low-foam gel base
Turns into a milky lather, not a bubble party. You won’t feel like you’re suffocating.
Pore-control claim
It shrinks the look of pores temporarily — like a cold splash of water, but longer.
Mugwort extract at 10%
Not enough to calm a full breakout, but enough to keep redness at bay after washing.
Photo: Clearcut Derby / Unsplash
Four things are doing the heavy lifting here. The rest is filler — but the good kind of filler that doesn’t break you out.
- Mugwort extract: Anti-inflammatory. Calms the “why is my face angry” feeling after a bad night’s sleep.
- Salicylic acid (BHA): 0.5% — low enough for daily use, high enough to unclog your nose pores.
- Tea tree oil: Actually third on the list. Smells medicinal but fades fast.
- Panthenol: The unsung hero. Keeps moisture in so you don’t get that tight-mask feeling.
Photo: Content Pixie / Unsplash
It’s a clear gel that feels like slippery water on your fingers. Lathers into this thin, almost watery foam — not the thick cloud you get from a cream cleanser. Rinses clean in 8 seconds flat. No residue.
Week 2: My nose pores looked slightly smaller. But the real surprise? My AM moisturizer started absorbing faster. I think this wash preps the skin better than any “hydrating” cleanser I’ve used.
Photo: Viva Luna Studios / Unsplash
Oil production dropped about 30% by midday. Pores look smaller for roughly 4-5 hours post-wash. Blackheads on my nose? Still there, but less prominent. Not gone — don’t expect a miracle.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
This is the best AM cleanser I’ve used for oily skin that’s not actually oily — just confused. Use it in the morning, skip it at night, and your barrier will thank you.