Just like the title, I will (try to) make this post short and cut to the point. As much as I can. But I can’t promise that :p
CLINIQUE Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm.
I entered the world of cleansing balm with Diptyque. CLINIQUE’s is my second foray and I can see why it’s quite the cult favorite.
First off, it’s housed in a tub with a silver cap. The lavender acrylic is synonymous with its other sisters from the Take The Day Off line. This is as simple as it gets. No fancy schmancy design, unless you think the silver cap is too much. I wish there’s a spatula though, but it’s not a deal breaker. I have plenty of them lying around.
What’s inside is plain Jane, solid white balm. It has no fragrance. Nada, whatsoever. Which makes it awkward to be honest, because my brain expects to receive some kind of scent. Floral, fruity, herbal, come on, anything that awaken the senses – my brain says. There’s a faint scent, I couldn’t put my finger on it. It’s not artificial, for sure. It’s more like the combination of the ingredients inside.
It doesn’t take a rocket science to realize I don’t need a lot for every use. Clearly, I did scoop out way too much on my first try but I learned my lesson quickly. A simple act of spreading the balm across the skin, will turn it into an oil. It just melts, that’s how I’d describe it. The oil becomes a fluid one once I started to massage the skin. Snap! Just like that. I can get into the nook and crannies of my face and remove what needs to be removed. As I massage my skin, I can see my eyebrow product is dissolving, created a brownish haze around the area, my lipstick is smearing (especially when I’m wearing red) like I’m The Joker, the late Heath Ledger version.
I treat this like a regular cleansing oil, where I will add a little bit of water to emulsify and transform it into a milky consistency. Massage it a little more to really dissolve and break down the sunscreen/makeup. By this time the white milky color has turned into a mixture of the colors of my complexion products, blush, lipstick, etc. Gross, but satisfying. Once I’m sure I have emulsified everything, I rinse everything off. Then I am left with a bare face; clean but not stripped.
It is THAT EASY, no kidding. No residue. No face cloth needed – I avoid to use one anyway; that’s why there’s a second cleanser.
The large tub of 125 ml will last me for a good while before repurchasing a new one. My only advice is to store it somewhere cool with no direct sunlight. There’s than one occasion where I saw the balm looked a little shinier and glistens due to the heat (during my Instagram photo ops). Some bits that got stuck to the side of the tub can melt too. So be aware of where you’re storing it. This applies to any other skincare for that matter, if you’re wondering.
This product is supposedly available in Indonesia; I got mine overseas. I did ask the BAs in different counters and they said they carry it. Silly me, I didn’t inquire about the availability because the thought skipped my mind considering I still have a lot left. Turns out, many people have troubles locating one in stock. Hopefully, it will be replenished soon, and lots of it.
CLINIQUE Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm is through and through an awesome cleansing balm. It does the removal job beautifully and efficiently. No hassle, no fuss!
Hi kak Kae, i’ve been reading your blog and following ur ig. I got a lot of usefull info from u kak. Thank you.
Btw, Kak Kae lebih suka yang ini ato three balancing cleansing oil??
Hi Mytha,
Thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate it 🙂
I love them both to be honest! They remove and dissolve makeup easily and efficiently. The Clinique TTDO doesn’t have any fragrance so it can be a little weird at first, while THREE Balancing Cleansing Oil gives an extra lift to the mood.
I think you can’t go wrong with any of them 🙂
Just wondering if you have tried the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing balm? It’s probably one of the most popular balm cleansers in the UK and for good reason. It works in exactly the same way as TTDO but it has the most beautiful, spa-like smell that comes from all the natural & essential oils. As soon as I started to use it, my skin improved 100%. It comes with a double-sided cloth which is a muslin cloth on one side and a terry cloth/flannel on the other. First cleanse I use the muslin side to help exfoliate and second cleanse uses the other flannel side to polish and make sure that all traces of cleanser are removed.
I noticed that you said you suffer from problem breakouts but don’t use a cloth when using balm cleansers. Can I suggest that you give the washcloth and hot water combination together for a bit? It’s really important to make sure that you remove all traces of oil/balm cleansers or they can build up and leave your skin congested. They really need something with a bit of texture to remove all the cleanser and help exfoliate dead skin cells. You don’t have to rub your skin red raw, just get working on the cleanser & your skin enough to get the most out of the product you’re using. Even using a basic flannel washcloth is good enough. You can buy them fairly cheaply and if you have a fresh one for every day (only use the same one for the morning and evening, before chucking it into the wash basket!) for very little money and when you’re spending a lot of money on a slightly more expensive cleanser, you want to get the best results for your money or you might as well be cleansing with washing-up liquid, for all the good it’ll do!
I hope you don’t mind me dropping by and leaving this suggestion for you. I found your blog today by searching for the REN AHA Resurfacing Serum, which I love, but I think has been discontinued (why is it always the stuff we love that they discontinue?? Lol!) I read your post about it, liked how you wrote and decided to check out some other posts. When I read this one I just had to stick my two cents worth in, because the adviced I gleaned from another beauty blog about using a balm cleanser with hot water and a flannel, literally saved my skin. Just yesterday my boyfriend told me that my skin looked amazing; the best he’s seen it in the whole 8 years we’ve been together. Over the time he’s known me, I’ve tried all kinds of stuff, trying to control my breakouts, red patches and dry/combo skin. But doing this works.
Obviously I’ve only read a couple of posts so far so I don’t know if you’ve already started to use a flannel/facecloth or found another type of cleanser, so I’ll apologize for not only sticking my oar in, but not having read more recent updates. I’m just so happy with the way my skin has improved, I’m kinda obsessed with trying to get everyone else on board too! Anyway, I think I’ve rambled on enough for now. Sorry for the essay! Have a nice day, Bex x
Hi Bex,
Thank you for writing such a lovely response, including your own review on Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm 🙂
I haven’t used that product myself as I still have a few other first cleansers in my rotation and it’s not currently in my wishlist. Actually, the reason why I don’t like using a flannel is because I find my skin can get a little sensitized afterwards. Combining it with warm/hot water will make my skin feel very uncomfortable and red. Which is why I prefer a cleansing balm that emulsifies easily and leave little-to-no-residue afterwards. Even if there’s a slight residue, I always continue with my second cleanser anyway and it will remove any leftovers easily.
I recently try Leah Lani Bless Balm and it doesn’t emulsify when massaged with water. I ended up using an impromptu face towel (I was in a hotel) and soaked the towel in warm water. While I love how my face feels very soft afterwards, I certainly didn’t enjoy the sensation of the warm water. I might have to actually find a proper, soft flannel for this. There isn’t a lot of selection of beauty brands here in Indonesia and 90% of my skincare products were acquired overseas. So, we’ll see!
Yeah, I think REN discontinued the Resurfacing AHA Concentrate for real. It’s a lovely product and I love the thin, watery consistency of it. But there are similar products out there that have AHA as well so I think you won’t have a hard time finding what you need.
Thank you very much for your input! I’ll definitely keep the flannel in mind 😀
Thank you so much for your reply. I know what you mean by some cloths being a bit harsh; some of the muslin cloths that come free with various balms or hot cloth cleansers are scratchy and really don’t hold the temperature of the hot water long enough to really do any good. I do sometimes forget that with the internet, as much as it is wonderful to be able to talk with people from all over the world, it’s important to remember that different countries and climates mean that the methods most suitable for people’s skins will be different. Indonesia is a heck of a lot more warm and humid than our British climates, that’s for sure! Lol. And of course, different skin types will always respond well to different cleansing methods.
I’m definitely going to be on the lookout for something similar to the REN resurfacing concentrate as I absolutely adored it – but I seem to be the jinx of all things beauty and fragrance: as soon as I decide that I love it, it seems to be whisked back off the market by the skincare overlords and their reasons best known only to themselves! Ha. Oh well, it’s not like I don’t enjoy a bit of research into new products, so will have to see what’s about. I have the Wake Wonderful Night Time Facial, which has a similar texture and fragrance and contains a lot of the same ingredients, so we’ll have to see how that pans out over time. Have you used it yourself? (Thanks again for taking the time to reply by the way – much appreciated!) x
Hi Bex,
You’re absolutely right, Indonesia is very warm and humid. It’s pretty much summer for the most part, with rainy season. But humid all year. That sticky feeling. I like taking showers with cold water and cleanse my face the same. It feels a lot more refreshing and reduce any risk of sensitivity. Warm water usually just makes me want to go back into the shower again afterwards LOL! I think I might have to feel different type of muslin cloths and see if I can find one that can make me want to try it.
If you’re looking for a resurfacing serum, you can try Sunday Riley Good Genes, Drunk Elephant Framboos Serum or even as simple as incorporating one or two of the Bravura London acid peels regularly into the skincare routine. I haven’t tried the particular product you talked about, but thanks to you, I’m looking into it now 😀
I definitely want to try Good Genes! I think I may have to go online shopping and splurge a bit, because they don’t sell it where I live. I can sort of sympathise with you about the heat thing. It’s summer here right now and I’m dying from all the heat! Lol. I have Scottish ancestry and love the cold weather, but hate the heat. My Emma Hardie is melting a bit and I recently read another blogger from Indonesia who wrote that she had ordered some EH from Ebay but when it arrived it was a melted liquidy soup and she had to put the tub in the fridge! I can only imagine how hot it must get and don’t envy you having to live in such temperatures all year around! I’d probably faint the minute I arrived in Indonesia!
wah tik, this is so far also my favorite cleansing balm. Dengan harga dan isi, i think clinique wins overall. for me this product bener bener ngga basa basi, dan do the job perfectly.