Double cleansing — an oil-based balm first, a water-based cleanser second — is one of the few K-beauty habits that's crossed fully into the mainstream, and these two balms are usually the first ones people recommend for step one. HEIMISH's All Clean Balm is the budget-friendly cult classic that gets compared to Banila Co. as the reference point. Then I Met You's Living Cleansing Balm is the pricier, award-winning option from Charlotte Cho (founder of Soko Glam), built around seaberry, grapeseed, and olive oils. We did not run our own side-by-side test — this is a roundup of verified Amazon owner data plus independent editorial reviews of each.
At a glance
| HEIMISH All Clean Balm | Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm | |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Solid balm that melts into a silky oil | Semi-solid, buttery balm — oil, then a milky emulsion with water |
| Key ingredients | Shea butter, citrus oils, tea tree, essential-oil blend (has a noticeable herbal/floral scent) | Seaberry, grapeseed, and olive oil — no synthetic fragrance |
| Removes waterproof mascara | Yes, per independent reviewer testing | Not fully — reviewer needed a separate eye makeup remover |
| Size / Price | 120ml for $17.99 | 90g for $39.00 |
| Amazon rating | 4.6 / 5 (6,041 ratings) | 4.5 / 5 (531 ratings) |
HEIMISH All Clean Balm: what reviewers and owners say
Independent K-beauty blogger K Beauty Hobbit tested full-size jars of the All Clean Balm (Original) directly against its Mandarin sibling for a 2023 review and gave a measured, non-hyperbolic take: "Both are good cleansing balms; neither is a mind blowing holy grail." She found the Original version melted quickly into oil and did a fine job removing makeup and sunscreen, including around the eyes with no irritation on her skin — but flagged the scent as her main sticking point, noting the balm "cannot be considered fragrance free" since it's built on bergamot, lavender, orange, and other essential oils, and cautioned that sensitive-skin owners should be aware of that ingredient list before committing to a full-size jar.
Amazon's 6,041 ratings for the All Clean Balm average 4.6 out of 5 — the larger and more heavily reviewed of the two listings in this comparison. Owner feedback repeatedly highlights the built-in spatula, how effectively it melts down thick or waterproof makeup, and that it doesn't leave skin feeling stripped, which lines up with what K Beauty Hobbit found in her own testing.
What reviewers liked
- Melts quickly into a silky oil and effectively removes makeup and sunscreen (K Beauty Hobbit, Amazon owners)
- Gentle enough for the eye area with no reported irritation in independent testing (K Beauty Hobbit)
- Nearly half the price of Then I Met You for a larger 120ml size
- By far the larger, more heavily-reviewed listing of the two (6,041 ratings)
What reviewers flagged
- Contains a blend of essential oils (bergamot, lavender, orange) that isn't truly fragrance-free — worth caution for sensitive skin (K Beauty Hobbit)
- Independent reviewer's overall take was measured rather than glowing — "not a mind blowing holy grail" (K Beauty Hobbit)
- Scent described as having an underlying "plasticky" note beneath the citrus/floral top notes (K Beauty Hobbit)
Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm: what reviewers and owners say
Editorialist's former senior beauty editor Gabriela Garcia tested the Living Cleansing Balm hands-on and called out its three-stage texture — "semi-solid... creamy, slippery, and pliable," melting into "a silky oil" and then emulsifying into "a milky liquid" with water — as her favorite thing about the product. She found it left skin "soft and hydrated—without any oily residue or waxy film left behind," and appreciated the citrus scent from natural oils rather than synthetic fragrance. Her clearest criticism: it "didn't remove my mascara. I still had to use an eye makeup remover afterward to deal with the last traces of my raccoon eyes," which is why the brand recommends it strictly as the first step of a two-step double-cleanse rather than a standalone makeup remover.
Amazon's 531 ratings for the Living Cleansing Balm average 4.5 out of 5 — a smaller sample than HEIMISH's, but consistent with the product's premium positioning and price. Founder Charlotte Cho, who also founded Soko Glam, told Editorialist the balm is meant to deliver a "sensorial" double-cleansing experience built on seaberry, grapeseed, and olive oil rather than synthetic fragrance, which matches what Amazon owners most often cite as their reason for repurchasing.
What reviewers liked
- Distinctive three-stage texture — solid, then oil, then milky emulsion — that reviewers found genuinely pleasant to use (Editorialist)
- Leaves skin hydrated with "nothing stripping" about it, no oily residue or waxy film (Editorialist)
- Naturally-derived citrus scent from seaberry/grapeseed/olive oils rather than synthetic fragrance (Editorialist)
- A little goes a long way per independent testing, which helps offset the higher price (Editorialist)
What reviewers flagged
- Does not fully remove waterproof mascara — a separate eye makeup remover was still needed in testing (Editorialist)
- More than double the price of HEIMISH per jar, for a smaller 90g size
- Included spatula "doesn't have a proper home and can easily get lost" compared to competitors with magnetic spatulas (Editorialist)
- Smaller Amazon review sample (531) makes the rating less statistically settled than HEIMISH's
Head-to-head: which should you buy
If budget and raw makeup-melting power matter most, HEIMISH's All Clean Balm is the more defensible pick — it's nearly half the price, comes in a larger jar, and K Beauty Hobbit's independent testing found it handled waterproof makeup without issue, though its essential-oil blend is worth a patch test if you have sensitive skin. If you want the more luxurious, hydrating texture and don't mind pairing it with a separate eye makeup remover for stubborn mascara, Then I Met You's Living Cleansing Balm has real editorial and owner enthusiasm behind it, even at more than double the price per jar. Neither balm is marketed as a standalone makeup remover — both brands recommend following up with a water-based second cleanser, so budget for that step regardless of which balm you pick.
Our take, based on the roundup
HEIMISH edges ahead in our aggregate score mainly on value and consistency: a larger size, roughly half the price, a bigger and equally strong Amazon rating, and an independent reviewer who found it handled waterproof makeup cleanly. Then I Met You isn't far behind — its texture and hydration get real, specific praise from an independent beauty editor — but the mascara gap and the price premium keep it just behind HEIMISH here. Owners with fragrance-sensitive skin should note HEIMISH's essential-oil blend before committing to a full-size jar; those willing to pay more for a lighter, silkier feel may still prefer Then I Met You despite the extra step for eye makeup.
Sources
- K Beauty Hobbit — "Heimish All Clean Balm Review - Original and Mandarin," independent hands-on review, May 2023
- Amazon customer reviews — HEIMISH All Clean Balm, 6,041 verified ratings, 4.6/5 average
- Editorialist — "This Cleansing Balm Will Become the Main Character in Your Skincare Routine" by Gabriela Garcia, hands-on review
- Amazon customer reviews — Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm, 531 verified ratings, 4.5/5 average
Keeping this comparison current
Both brands periodically adjust pricing and packaging sizes, 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'll revisit this comparison periodically as new owner data and editorial reviews come in.