I finally caved and bought the Then I Met You Birch Milk Cleansing Balm because my sunscreen doesn’t mess around and neither does my eye area. It’s the $38 K-beauty balm that keeps selling out, so I had to see if the hype survived contact with my waterline.
The real test isn’t makeup — it’s the gritty, waterproof SPF 50 that’s been living on my face all day.
It’s a sherbet-textured cleansing balm that claims to dissolve everything without leaving that greasy, film-y residue you get from cheaper formulas. The brand makes a big deal about it being a “double cleanse in one,” which is a bold lie, but it does get 90% of the way there.
Melts like butter
Turns into milk instantly on contact with water — no aggressive scrubbing needed.
Zero eye sting
This is the miracle. I rubbed it directly over my lash line and felt absolutely nothing.
Rinses clean
No leftover slick. My skin squeaks without feeling tight.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
The texture is a soft, whipped balm that looks like a fancy dessert but works like a degreaser. It’s packed with skin-loving stuff that actually does something, not just filler.
- Birch Sap: Hydrates while you dissolve the day off
- Camellia Oil: The first-cleansing workhorse that grabs onto SPF
- Rice Bran Oil: Helps break down stubborn silicone-based sunscreens
- Vitamin E: Calms down any post-rinse redness
Photo: engin akyurt / Unsplash
First scoop, it feels like a dense mousse that warms up the second it hits your palms. It spreads like a dream but doesn’t disappear — you can actually feel it grabbing the grime off your face.
Three weeks in, I’m shocked I haven’t reached for my backup cleanser once. The weird part? My usually angry chin area has been suspiciously calm. Didn’t expect a cleanser to do that.
Photo: Rosa Rafael / Unsplash
My pores look smaller. Not “instagram filter” smaller, but visibly less congested. My sunscreen comes off in one pass. The fragrance is mild and fades fast, which I appreciate because I hate smelling like a spa.
Photo: Alexandra Tran / Unsplash
It’s not a miracle worker, but it’s the best cleansing balm I’ve used that doesn’t make me dread washing my face. If you’re tired of tugging at your eyelids, this is your answer.