I was a double cleanse skeptic. It felt like a chore invented to sell more product.
Then I wore a full face of waterproof mascara and sunscreen for a beach day. The test was on.
The Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm. $38 for 3.7 oz. Claims to melt everything without stripping skin.
Texture Shift
Starts as a solid balm, melts into a silky oil on contact.
No Residue
Emulsifies with water into a milky liquid—rinses completely clean.
Scent
Subtle, herbal citrus. Not a fake perfume bomb.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
It’s a cocktail of oils and butters. Not just a mineral oil slick. They target different types of gunk.
- Sea Buckthorn Oil: Dissolves sebum and sunscreen
- Papaya Enzyme: Gently breaks down dead skin
- Shea & Mango Butter: Adds slip so you don’t tug
- Vitamin E: Antioxidant to calm skin post-cleanse
Warming it between your fingers is a tiny ritual. It glides—no dragging. Dissolves mascara globs in 15 seconds flat.
By week two, my second cleanse was producing less foam. Proof it was doing the heavy lifting first.
My pores looked less congested. No more gritty residue on my toner pad. But it didn’t cure my hormonal breakouts—that’s fantasy.
The method makes a difference. This balm makes it enjoyable. I’m converted, not bored.