My sink looked like a crime scene. Black mascara, waterproof sunscreen, city grime — all melted into a yellow oil slick.
The real test? Getting it all off without that tight, squeaky feeling. My skin hates that.
It’s a $48 first-step balm from Then I Met You. The claim: it dissolves everything so your second cleanse can actually work.
Texture Shift
Starts as a solid balm, warms into a silky oil on contact.
No Blur Vision
It emulsifies cleanly with water — doesn’t leave a Vaseline-like film.
Scent Story
A subtle, herbal-citrus vibe — not a fake perfume bomb.
Photo: Linh Ha / Unsplash
It’s fancy olive and grapeseed oils doing the heavy lifting. Plus some clever extras for feel, not just fluff.
- Olive Oil: Rich in squalane to dissolve makeup without stripping
- Grape Seed Oil: Lightweight, antioxidant booster
- Sea Buckthorn: Adds that bright yellow color — and vitamin C
- Japanese Licorice Root: A gentle soother for post-cleanse calm
Photo: Klemen Kuster / Unsplash
It feels luxurious — like spreading warm honey. Massages into skin without dragging.
After two weeks, my cotton rounds were suspiciously clean. My second cleanse foam actually stayed white.
My pores looked clearer — not smaller, just less congested. Zero new clogged pores, which is rare with balms.
The hype is real for this step. It transformed the cleanse, not my skin — but that’s the whole point.