Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original for dry skin
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Bambusa Vulgaris Stem Extract Leaf
Angelica Archangelica Root ExtractAverage
- HighDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Highly suitable for your dry skin due to ethylhexyl palmitate and synthetic wax providing emollient action to smooth intercellular lipids.
- It offers moderate makeup removal with ethylhexyl palmitate and cetyl ethylhexanoate, while ingredients like Onsen-Sui and Bambusa Vulgaris Stem Extract Leaf provide general hydration supportive for dry skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover in your PM routine every evening to gently clean your face. Always pair with a gentle cleanser afterward.
- Apply this makeup remover as a pre-cleanser step before using your regular cleanser and moisturizer.
- Gently wipe a small amount of makeup remover across your face using a soft cotton pad. Avoid any harsh rubbing on dry or flaky skin.
- Apply the makeup remover directly onto dry skin to easily dissolve makeup without stripping your natural moisture. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- Avoid direct contact with your eyes and do a patch test before first use. Discontinue use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 4.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cult-favorite cleansing balm is widely praised for its unique sherbet-like texture that melts into an oil to effortlessly dissolve stubborn waterproof makeup without stripping the skin. While highly effective for most, users with acne-prone or sensitive skin report mixed results, with some experiencing clogged pores or irritation from the fragrance and mineral oil content.
Highlights
Melts makeup Mostly Mentioned
- “Dissolves waterproof mascara instantly”
- “Melts away layers of sunscreen”
- “Removes heavy stage makeup effortlessly”
Non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels baby soft”
- “No tight feeling after rinsing”
- “Leaves face feeling hydrated and plump”
Unique texture Often Mentioned
- “Satisfying sherbet texture”
- “Glides on without dripping”
- “Turns into a smooth oil immediately”
Pleasant experience Sometimes Noted
- “Love the included spatula”
- “Smells like light acerola cherry”
- “Hygienic packaging design”
Causes blurry vision Sometimes Noted
- “Gave me cloudy eyes”
- “Vision was blurry for minutes”
- “Leaves a film on my contacts”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused deep cystic acne”
- “Clogged my pores immediately”
- “Broke me out in whiteheads”
Fragrance sensitivity Rarely Noted
- “Fragrance irritated my skin”
- “Smell is too perfume-y”
- “Stung my sensitive cheeks”
Leaves residue Rarely Noted
- “Leaves a greasy film”
- “Hard to rinse off completely”
- “Must use a foam cleanser after”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, iherb.com, yesstyle.com, sokoglam.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Banila Co Clean It Zero work for dry skin?
Banila Co Clean It Zero works reasonably well for dry skin, helping to smooth and hydrate while posing little risk of irritation. However, a product for dry skin works best when it includes deep hydrators like multiple types of hyaluronic acid or a rich blend of nourishing oils to lock in moisture and prevent flakiness.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2021Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
This cleanser works for dry skin because ethylhexyl palmitate and synthetic wax smooth the skin, while Onsen-Sui and bamboo extract provide gentle hydration. To fit dry skin even better, this type of product needs multiple types of hyaluronic acid and rich nourishing oils for deep moisture and soothing benefits.
What does Ethylhexyl Palmitate do for dry skin?
Ethylhexyl Palmitate helps keep dry skin soft by improving how hydrated and smooth the outer skin layer feels. It works to support the skin barrier so moisture stays locked in longer.
What does Tocopheryl Acetate do for dry skin?
Tocopheryl acetate helps dry skin by boosting moisture retention and keeping the outer skin layer hydrated. It is unlikely to clog pores and may improve overall skin smoothness when used regularly.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, or as a weekly first step before your cleanser and nourishing mask. Dry skin of this type needs a makeup remover that uses nourishing plant extracts and moisturizing ingredients to keep the skin soft and comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening routine before your cleanser, followed by treatment and moisturizer. Dry skin needs a product of this type to include rich barrier-repairing ingredients and extra hydrating components to keep skin smooth and soft.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening and during your weekly routine as part of a dry skin regimen. It has an excellent safety profile and is unlikely to irritate dry skin, though a dry skin product also needs richer ingredients to help smooth and soften flaky areas.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry skin as it has a very low risk of this issue, though a product of this type works best for dry skin when it includes rich oils and butters that leave skin soft and smooth without feeling heavy.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Rheological measurements of flow onset, maximum viscosity, and high shear rate viscosity correlate with primary and secondary skin feelings evaluated by a panel for cosmetic emulsions and jellies containing mineral-based and synthetic Fischer-Tropsch waxes.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2013Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024Coptis, shikonin, or curcumin at a 5% concentration in cosmetics can be applied safely without inducing contact allergic and photosensitive reactions in human subjects.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2021Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Lithospermum erythrorhizon root extract emulsions increase skin humidity up to 11.77% and decrease transepidermal water loss up to 7.68% in 30 healthy Asian females in a time- and dose-dependent manner.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2008Exosome-like vesicles derived from Lithospermum erythrorhizon callus enhanced wound closure and cell viability in normal human dermal fibroblasts in vitro, and accelerated re-epithelialization and reduced inflammation in LPS-induced wounds in mice over 14 days.
Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2024Shikonin and its derivatives inhibit human tumor necrosis factor alpha promoter activation, mRNA expression, and protein production in a gene gun-transfected mouse skin system by interfering with the basal transcription machinery.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2004Ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions of Bambusa vulgaris leaves accelerate cutaneous wound healing and inhibit carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats.
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 2016An Angelica sinensis extract containing 1% ligustilide demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-senescence, matrix-supportive, and antimicrobial effects in human keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2026Screening of forty herb extracts using melan-a cells showed that hexane and dichloromethane extracts of Angelica sinensis, alongside compounds 4-ethylresorcinol, 4-ethylphenol, and 1-tetradecanol, exhibited strong hypopigmentary effects by attenuating melanin synthesis.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2010Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin-complexed Angelica sinensis essential oil-loaded microneedles demonstrated antibacterial activity against P. acnes, reduced acne lesion size and IL-1β levels, and suppressed 5α-reductase and FAS expression.
Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2026
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Peg-10 Isostearate, Synthetic Wax, Onsen-Sui, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bambusa Vulgaris Stem Extract Leaf, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Acerola Fruit Extract, Polydiethyleneglycol Adipate Ipdi Copolymer, Acrylates Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Acrylates Methoxy Peg-15 Methacrylate Copolymer
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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