All Clean Balm Cleansing Balm
K-Beauty Cult Classic
Verified reviewer
Pros & cons.
- +Dissolves waterproof makeup and stubborn sunscreen effortlessly in under a minute
- +Shea butter base leaves skin soft and hydrated, never stripped or tight
- +Exceptional value — 120ml jar lasts 3-4 months at roughly $16
- +Clean emulsification rinses completely without greasy residue
- +Included spatula ensures hygienic product dispensing from jar format
- +Vegan and cruelty-free with paraben-free and sulfate-free formula
- +Nearly a decade of market validation with consistently high user ratings
- −Nine essential oils create significant sensitization risk for reactive skin types
- −Bergamot oil is a known photosensitizer — concerning even in a rinse-off product
- −Contains limonene, citral, and linalool as declared fragrance allergens
- −Polyethylene raises environmental sustainability questions for eco-conscious consumers
- −Not suitable for fungal acne-prone skin due to oil ester base
The full review.
Before cleansing balms became Sephora staples or drugstore and luxury brands added sherbet-textured makeup melters, there was the Heimish All Clean Balm. It launched in 2016 as the brand’s debut product, riding the first major K-beauty wave in the West and starting the double-cleansing journey for many. Nearly a decade later, it still sells.
The formula uses an oil ester base of ethylhexyl palmitate and cetyl ethylhexanoate to create a solid-to-oil transformation. Use the included spatula to scoop a firm, waxy nugget, press it between your palms, and it liquefies on warm skin. This mechanic works well in Heimish All Clean Balm. Waterproof mascara, stubborn sunscreen, and full-coverage foundation dissolve with sixty seconds of gentle massage without tugging.
The emulsification is clean. Adding water turns the oil milky, then it rinses away without the greasy residue found in lower-quality oil cleansers. Skin feels soft and lightly hydrated, not squeaky or stripped. The shea butter in the formula helps keep the skin’s moisture barrier intact during cleansing.
This formula contains nine essential oils: orange, lavender, geranium, eucalyptus, tea tree, grapefruit, bergamot, frankincense, and juniper. This is a high concentration of botanical fragrance. The scent is a complex, herbal-citrus bouquet that smells like a high-end spa. Many users enjoy this sensory ritual.
For sensitive, reactive, or rosacea-prone skin, this essential oil cocktail is a red flag. Bergamot oil contains bergapten, a known photosensitizer. Lavender and eucalyptus oils are established contact allergens. The formula also lists limonene, citral, and linalool, which are EU-regulated fragrance allergens. Brief contact time in a rinse-off product reduces risk but does not eliminate it.
The included spatula improves hygiene. Jar packaging often introduces bacteria or water droplets, but the spatula keeps things clean and the screw-top lid seals tightly. The packaging is minimalist K-beauty style, though the jar is less travel-friendly than tubes.
Polyethylene is listed fourth in the INCI. While polyethylene often appears as banned microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics, it usually acts as a texture modifier in balms to create a solid, scoopable consistency. Heimish has not explicitly addressed this ingredient’s function, which matters to consumers prioritizing plastic-free beauty.
Heimish All Clean Balm removes makeup and sunscreen with the competence of a ten-year product. It is not a treatment product and does not claim to resurface skin or deliver anti-aging actives. It dissolves debris, nourishes, and leaves the skin ready for the rest of your routine.
The value is strong. At roughly $16 for 120ml, one jar lasts three to four months of nightly use, making the cost per use low. Many Western cleansing balms cost two to three times more for similar amounts and less effective formulas.
Heimish All Clean Balm earned its status by working well and costing less than expected. The essential oil profile is polarizing. For most skin types that tolerate fragrance, this remains one of the best first-step cleansers available.
Formula
Ingredient analysis.
Full INCI list
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Polyethylene, PEG-8 Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Water, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Rose Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Extract, Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus (Daffodil) Flower Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Iris Versicolor Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Citral, Linalool
Skin match.
The science.
The Science
Cleansing balms use the 'like dissolves like' principle. Oil-based solvents dissolve oil-based substances on the skin (sebum, makeup, sunscreen) better than water-based surfactants alone. The ethylhexyl palmitate and cetyl ethylhexanoate in this formula are synthetic esters that mimic natural skin lipids to bind and lift oil-soluble impurities.
PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate is the emulsifier that creates the 'milky rinse' effect. When water hits the balm, it bridges the oil and water phases so dissolved impurities rinse away cleanly. A 2019 study in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science confirmed that oil-based cleansers with effective emulsifiers remove sunscreen residue more completely than surfactant-only cleansers, supporting the double-cleanse approach this product uses.
Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil has documented antimicrobial properties. A 2006 study in Clinical Microbiology Reviews established tea tree oil's efficacy against many bacteria and fungi, including Cutibacterium acnes (the bacterium implicated in acne). However, brief skin contact in a rinse-off product reduces the antimicrobial benefit compared to leave-on formulations.
Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) contains stearic and oleic acids and triterpene alcohols with anti-inflammatory properties. Research in the Journal of Oleo Science (2010) showed that the unsaponifiable fraction of shea butter reduces skin inflammation markers, which contributes to the 'calm after cleansing' effect users report with this balm.
References
- Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties — Clinical Microbiology Reviews (2006)
Dermatologist Perspective
Dermatologists often recommend oil-based cleansers as the first step in a double-cleanse routine, especially for patients who wear sunscreen daily — as everyone should. The principle works: oil-based products dissolve oil-based residue more thoroughly than surfactant cleansers alone. Board-certified dermatologists note this formula's shea butter base is gentler than many surfactant-heavy alternatives. However, dermatologists specializing in sensitive skin or contact dermatitis would flag the high essential oil content as a potential trigger. For patients without fragrance sensitivities, this is a functional, affordable first-step cleanser that performs its role well.
Guidance
Where it fits in your routine.
Put one spatula scoop on dry hands, then press it onto a dry face. Massage in circular motions for 60-90 seconds, targeting makeup, sunscreen, or excess sebum. Add a little lukewarm water and keep massaging until the balm emulsifies into a milky texture. Rinse well with lukewarm water. Use a gentle water-based cleanser as the second step of your double cleanse. Use every evening, or whenever you remove makeup or sunscreen.
At approximately $16 for 120ml, this is one of the most cost-effective cleansing balms. One jar lasts 3-4 months with nightly use, so the cost per use is under $0.20. Comparable Western cleansing balms from brands like Clinique or Farmacy cost $34-$44 for similar sizes, so the Heimish offering is roughly half the price. The formula removes makeup effectively and feels pleasant. For non-sensitive skin types, this offers excellent value without paying more for comparable performance.
This works for anyone wearing makeup or sunscreen daily who wants an effective, affordable first-step cleanser. It suits people who want an aromatherapy-style cleansing experience and have no fragrance sensitivities.
People with sensitive, rosacea-prone, or eczema-affected skin should avoid this formula because it contains nine essential oils and multiple fragrance allergens. Those with fungal acne should also avoid it, as the oil ester base feeds malassezia yeast.
Product details.
A complex herbal-citrus blend of essential oils—orange, lavender, tea tree, grapefruit, and bergamot—creates a spa-like aromatherapy experience. The scent is strong upon application.
Sturdy frosted jar has a screw-top lid and a spatula for hygienic dispensing. The white and coral design uses a clean, minimalist K-beauty aesthetic. Finish dewylightweight
The balm is firm when scooped but melts on warm skin, spreading into a thick oil that dissolves makeup on contact. The essential oil scent is strong during use. Skin feels soft and clean after rinsing, not stripped. No adjustment period is needed.
3-4 months with nightly use using a small spatula scoop
12 months
All Year Background
The backstory.
Heimish launched in 2016 and this was their debut product — the one that defined the brand. It arrived at a time when cleansing balms were still a niche K-beauty concept in the West, and its combination of effective makeup removal, spa-like scent, and accessible pricing helped normalize the double-cleansing routine for a global audience.
About Heimish
Established Brand (5–20 years)Heimish launched in March 2016 in Seoul, South Korea, and quickly gained international recognition through its All Clean Balm — the product that put the brand on the K-beauty map. The brand is cruelty-free and paraben-free, and while it lacks deep clinical research backing, its products have been extensively reviewed by the global K-beauty community over nearly a decade.
Common myths.
Oil-based cleansers cause breakouts and are bad for oily skin.
Oil dissolves oil. This balm removes sebum and oil-based impurities from pores better than many foam cleansers. You must emulsify it thoroughly with water and use a second cleanser. People with fungal acne should be cautious because some oil-based ingredients feed malassezia yeast.
Essential oils in a cleanser offer lasting skincare benefits.
Because this product rinses off within minutes, the essential oils affect the sensory experience instead of delivering sustained therapeutic benefits to the skin. This brief contact time limits both their benefits and their irritation potential.
FAQ.
Is the Heimish All Clean Balm safe for sensitive skin?
This formula contains nine essential oils plus fragrance allergens (limonene, citral, linalool), which makes it a risky choice for sensitive or reactive skin. While the rinse-off format limits contact time, those with eczema, rosacea, or fragrance sensitivities should consider the unscented Mandarin version or a fragrance-free alternative.
How to Use
For the most thorough cleanse, yes. This balm is designed as the first step of a double-cleanse routine — it dissolves oil-based impurities like makeup and sunscreen. Following with a gentle water-based cleanser removes any remaining residue and water-soluble impurities like sweat and pollution particles.
How Long Does It Last
At 120ml (4.05 oz), a single jar typically lasts 3-4 months with nightly use. You only need about a small spatula scoop per cleanse, so the product goes further than its jar size might suggest.
Vegan and Cruelty-Free
Yes — Heimish confirms that the All Clean Balm is both vegan and cruelty-free. The brand does not test on animals and this formula contains no animal-derived ingredients.
What the community says.
"Melts away waterproof makeup effortlessly"
"Pleasant herbal-citrus aromatherapy scent"
"Generous size lasts several months"
"Doesn't leave an oily residue after rinsing"
"Included spatula keeps the product hygienic"
"Strong essential oil scent can be overwhelming for some"
"Contains bergamot oil which is photosensitizing"
"Too many potential allergens for sensitive skin"
"Polyethylene microbeads are an environmental concern"
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