Every K-beauty routine starts with the same question: what do you use to take off sunscreen and makeup before the real cleanser? Two answers dominate. Banila Co's Clean It Zero is the sherbet-textured balm that turned oil cleansing into a mainstream habit, and Anua's Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil is the newer, runnier pump-bottle oil built around blackheads and oily skin. They sit at a similar price, yet they feel and behave very differently. If you are also weighing a different balm, our Heimish vs Then I Met You balm comparison covers that side of the category.
At a glance
| Banila Co Clean It Zero (Original) | Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Firm sherbet balm; melts to oil, then emulsifies milky with water | Very light oil in a pump bottle; emulsifies milky with water |
| Best known for | Melting makeup and sebum without leaving a film | Dissolving blackheads and sebaceous filaments on oily skin |
| Fragrance | Mild scent per Kbeauty Notes (fragrance does appear on the ingredient list) | Original formula lists fragrance; a separate fragrance-free Mild version exists |
| Reported downsides | Can feel slightly drying on very dehydrated skin; may blur vision if it gets in eyes | Some owners report breakouts; ingredient analysis flags irritation risk; can blur vision if eyes are open |
| Size / Price | 100ml, $11.97 on the Amazon listing we checked | 6.76 fl oz (200ml), about $17 per What's In My Jar (Sep 23, 2026) |
| Amazon rating | 4.6 / 5 (1,379 ratings) | 4.4 / 5 (29,202 ratings) |
| Aggregate score | 8.5 / 10 | 8.0 / 10 |
The aggregate scores are our own weighting of independent review sentiment and Amazon owner ratings, not a lab result. Prices move often, so confirm on Amazon before buying.
Banila Co Clean It Zero: what reviewers and owners say
Clean It Zero is a long-running cult favorite, and the independent write-ups we found are consistently positive. Kbeauty Notes, written by a reviewer with oily, acne-prone, dehydrated skin, calls it a very effective cleanser and makeup remover that melts makeup and sebum and rinses completely without leaving a film. She says she did not break out or feel irritation, and notes it did not sting her eyes, unlike the Heimish balm she compared it to. Her one caveat is that it felt a little drier than Heimish, which matters mainly if your skin is already very dehydrated.
Skin & Tonics, a long-running K-beauty review site, rated the balm 98 on its own scale after nearly a year of use. The reviewer says it removed waterproof eyeliner quickly, left skin neither stripped nor greasy, and never caused breakouts. The same review includes a useful warning: when the balm got into her eyes it blurred her vision for a couple of minutes, so she stopped using it around the eyes. Note that this review was written about an older formula containing mineral oil, while Kbeauty Notes says mineral oil was removed in the version it reviewed, so treat the details as directional rather than exact.
What reviewers liked
- Melts makeup, sunscreen and sebum quickly and rinses without a film (Kbeauty Notes, Skin & Tonics)
- No breakouts or irritation reported by either independent reviewer
- Does not sting the eyes, and a small amount goes a long way (Kbeauty Notes)
- Travel-friendly solid texture; one reviewer carried it for a year of trips without leaks (Skin & Tonics)
What reviewers flagged
- Can feel slightly drying on very dehydrated skin (Kbeauty Notes)
- Can blur vision for a few minutes if it gets into the eyes (Skin & Tonics)
- Both detailed reviews are several years old, so formulas and packaging may differ from what ships now
- The Amazon listing we checked is titled "New Clean it Zero ... Korean Cosmetics" and has far fewer ratings (1,379) than Anua's — check the seller before buying
Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil: what reviewers and owners say
Anua's oil is the more polarizing product. Kaori's Skincare Journal gives it 5/5, calling it one of the lightest oils she has tried: not greasy, pleasantly scented, and effective at dissolving makeup and some sebaceous filaments, leading to fewer blackheads. She does mention that other people report breaking out, and that it can blur vision if she does not close her eyes while emulsifying. Lola's Secret Beauty Blog, reviewing a press sample, calls it a really effective oil that does what it claims, and points out that Anua also sells a Mild version with 11 ingredients, no fragrance, and double the heartleaf extract of the original.
The ingredient-focused What's In My Jar takes a harsher view of the original formula. Its algorithmic analysis scores the oil 37/100 for fulfilling its promises, rates the irritation risk as high, and flags the emulsifier sorbitan sesquioleate and the fragrance among the likely irritants, plus ethylhexyl palmitate as the top ingredient with a 3/5 comedogenic rating. It also estimates the heartleaf extract at a very low concentration. Those are database estimates rather than skin tests, and the site's community sample is tiny (5 reviews, 40% recommending), so read this as a caution flag rather than a verdict. On Amazon, though, over 29,000 owners give it 4.4/5, so many people clearly get on well with it.
What reviewers liked
- Very lightweight, non-greasy texture that dissolves makeup and sunscreen (Kaori's Skincare Journal)
- Praised for loosening blackheads and sebaceous filaments with regular massage (Kaori's Skincare Journal)
- Pump bottle and large 200ml size; a fragrance-free Mild version is available (Lola's Secret Beauty Blog)
- Huge Amazon review base: 4.4 / 5 from 29,202 ratings
What reviewers flagged
- Some people report breakouts (noted by Kaori's Skincare Journal)
- Ingredient analysis flags irritation risk from the emulsifier and fragrance in the original formula (What's In My Jar)
- May blur vision if you emulsify with eyes open (Kaori's Skincare Journal)
- Runnier texture can feel less nourishing on very dry skin; the oil needs a water-based second cleanse to remove residue
Head-to-head: which should you buy
Oily or blackhead-prone skin: Anua's oil is the one most often praised for dissolving congestion, and its light texture suits oilier skin. Patch-test first and consider the Mild version if you are sensitive or fragrance-averse, since breakout reports are the most common complaint.
Dry, dehydrated or sensitive skin: The Banila balm had no breakout or irritation reports in either independent review, though one reviewer found it slightly drying for very dehydrated skin. Pair it with a hydrating second cleanse and toner.
Heavy makeup, waterproof mascara, or SPF 50: Both are reported to dissolve makeup. The balm has the longer track record for waterproof products in the reviews we read.
Travel and daily convenience: The balm is solid and leak-resistant; the oil is faster to dispense with a pump but is a bulkier 200ml bottle.
Budget: The Banila listing we checked was cheaper per unit, but the Anua bottle holds twice as much product, so cost per use is closer than the sticker prices suggest.
Our take, based on the roundup
Banila Co Clean It Zero edges ahead in our aggregate score because its independent reviews are uniformly positive, nobody reported breakouts, and its Amazon rating is slightly higher. Anua's oil is hugely popular and is the better pick if blackheads are your priority, but the mix of breakout reports and the ingredient-analysis irritation flags keeps it just behind. Either way, remember that cleansers are rinsed off, so a gentle water-based second cleanse matters as much as step one. Keep in mind this is a research roundup, not our own hands-on test.
Sources
- Kbeauty Notes — "Banila Co Clean it Zero Original Cleansing Balm Review," independent review, published 2019, updated 2022
- Skin & Tonics — "Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Review (Revisited)," original review 2013, updated
- Kaori's Skincare Journal — "Review: Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil," March 2024
- Lola's Secret Beauty Blog — "ANUA Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil Review," May 2024 (press sample, affiliate links disclosed by the author)
- What's In My Jar — ingredient and concentration analysis of the Anua oil (algorithmic estimates; price as of Sep 23, 2026)
- Amazon customer reviews — Banila Co Clean It Zero Original 100ml listing, 1,379 ratings, 4.6/5 average
- Amazon customer reviews — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil, 29,202 ratings, 4.4/5 average
Keeping this comparison current
Both brands periodically adjust pricing, formulas and packaging, and Amazon review counts climb every week — the numbers above were current as of publish. If a listing goes out of stock or a price moves significantly, check the live Amazon pages linked above for the latest before you buy. We will revisit this comparison as newer owner data and editorial reviews come in.