cocokind

 Oil to Milk Cleansing Balm

Most Helpful Critical Review

Not a good option if you're new to oil-based cleansers

My thoughts on this cleanser are quite mixed. The first time I used it was during the summer, & I didn't like it one single bit. I am experienced when it comes to oil-based cleansers, & I had honestly never used one that left such an unappealing film on my face. It was extremely noticeable—almost l...ike if you were trying to rinse off petroleum jelly. Regardless of how thoroughly I rinsed, it just "clung" to my skin, refusing to emulsify. This cleanser didn't just leave my oily summer skin feeling moisturized, it felt unclean. Of course, I followed with a water-based cleanser after (the Cocokind AHA Jelly Cleanser, which I absolutely recommend), which helped. I also found out pretty quickly that this cleanser is definitely not a good choice for makeup removal, since 1. It just doesn't work to remove makeup, & 2. The thick + balmy nature of the product means it doesn't have adequate slip, so it tugs the skin, apposed to gliding across it. One more issue I have with this cleanser is the scent. It's a bit too powdery-floral for my liking. I do appreciate the fact that it's not in your face intense, but it's definitely noticeable, & not at all up my alley. I set this cleanser aside, thinking I might have better luck during the colder months. Low, & behold, I found it much more enjoyable for my skin type come winter (I have dehydrated, combination skin). I also found that this particular cleanser works best when removed with a makeup removing cloth/flannel. I personally love using The Original Makeup Eraser. Using a makeup eraser honestly made a massive difference for me, since it seemed to solve both of my main issues with this cleanser—it thoroughly removed my makeup, as well as got rid of that awful "filmy" residue. I actually love the results of using the two together, my skin feels soft + supple, apposed to filmy + unclean. As you can see, this cleansing balm took some finessing to really work for me. I'm still not head over heels in love with it, but it has its place in my collection. I would NOT recommend it to someone who hasn't used an oil-based cleanser before, since this would be the perfect product to completely put someone off from them altogether. The residue it leaves behind (when used without a makeup eraser) honestly feels awful. Most oil-based cleansers do not have this issue. They actually leave your skin feeling more clean (yet not stripped), apposed to filmy/congested. I'd say this is a good choice for someone who is prepared for both the emulsifying issue, & the difficulty with makeup removal. This means you're either okay with the residue it leaves behind + you're not planning to use it for makeup removal, or you're planning to use a makeup eraser to resolve these issues. Either way, I do not think this is the best option for oily, acne-prone skin. I'd say normal, dry, or normal/dry + mature skin types would love this cleanser the most, since it really does go a step beyond "non-stripping", to actually being moisturizing. I've tried quite a few Cocokind products, & I do have others I'd recommend over this one. Their AHA Jelly Cleanser is wonderful, as well as their Ceramide Barrier Serum, & their Turmeric Illuminating Solution. I recommend those three products for all skin types. If you're looking for an oil-based cleanser (for every skin type) that both emulsifies/rinses completely, & removes even stubborn makeup, I highly recommend Green Clean from Farmacy. It's an excellent cleansing balm in every single way (including it's ingredients, & it's light citrus scent). The Elf Holy Hydration! Cleansing Balm is another excellent option, & it's very affordable. If you're looking for an oil-based cleanser that has more of a unique/creamy texture (apposed to the classic solid-to-oil sorbet), the Elemis AHA Cleansing Butter is as luxurious as it gets. I greatly prefer it to its Pro-Collagen counterpart. *One more thing to note about this Cocokind cleanser, is an issue with the directions. It says to start with damp hands. Oil-based cleansers are only effective when first applied to dry skin, with dry hands. You then dampen your hands to begin the emulsification process (which is when you will see this cleanser turn "milky"). Starting with damp hands makes the purpose of using an oil-based cleanser obsolete, which is to remove the daily dirt + oils (or/and makeup/spf) that have built up on your skin. After all, "like attracts like"—so, oil attracts oil.