farmacy healthy skin starter kit - green clean cleansing balm

this is the description from their website: our best-selling, award-winning makeup remover balm and face cleanser in one that instantly melts virtually all makeup, removes impurities and gently cleanses! leaves skin hydrated and silky smooth. 100% recyclable jar.

why we love it:

- melts the day away - sunflower and ginger root oils effortlessly remove even the boldest eye makeup and long-wear foundation effortlessly - without stripping, drying or leaving any residue.

- gently exfoliates - papaya extract helps to retexture skin and reveal a youthful glow. never harsh, it's safe for all skin types, including dry and delicate skin.

- smells like vacation! a refreshing blend of lime, bergamot, and orange essential oils is exhilarating and revitalizing.

- TSA-approved - this unique cleansing balm stays a sorbet-like solid in the jar until it makes contact with skin and transforms to a silky oil (then a luxe, milky lather). both sizes can travel in your carry-on, no problem. 

the packaging: since i bought this as a set, it comes in a cardboard box with all the product pictures at front. there's description of everything inside at the back as well as the ingredients list printed on the sides. all the descriptions are in english and french. they place all the products on a plastic tray so everything is safe and secure. the cleansing balm itself comes in a small plastic tub. they put a bit description at the back in english and french. the mini comes in 12 ml which is not much. i finish this up in a few days so bear in mind if you want to bring this with you while you're traveling and you are going for more than 7 days, then you need something else as a backup in case this one is done. there's nothing inside so once you screw the cap off, you can immediately see the cleansing balm. no spatula provided, but then again, it's small, so even if they provide one, it won't fit inside. 

the scent: i don't think i smell anything. luckily, it doesn't smell funky either.

the product: the cleansing balm looks solid green at first. the color is light green and it's very pretty. the surface is smooth. it's just like butter. when you scoop or scrape it with spatula, it looks like butter crumbling. when i put it on my hand or my face, it doesn't melt instantly. i need to rub it with my finger before it finally melts. once it melts, it feels a bit like oil so i can rub it and spread it around. it's a bit difficult to rub around my eyes area but luckily, it doesn't sting. however, as i add water to emulsify it, it still makes my vision go cloudy.

the result: once i add water to emulsify, it feels exactly like how i feel when i emulsify cleansing oil. it truly can wash anything off, including browcara, mascara, and even liquid eyeliner. but obviously, it needs more effort. anyway, it does what it's supposed to do as a first cleansing step. it doesn't strip my skin dry either so no wonder a lot of dry skin people like cleansing balm better. 

i have to say this one definitely change my mind about cleansing balm. i won't stop myself from trying other cleansing balm in the future. however, even though this is practical for traveling, it isn't that practical anymore since i have to rub it first to melt it before i can use it. with cleansing oil, i can just pour it and spread it around my face. faster. less messy. and i need more products for my whole face and neck. that's why i finish this in a blink of an eye. i think cleansing oil is more economical. i think this will be suitable for anyone who like cleansing balm as their first cleansing step format. all skin type is suitable as this one is not too rich, not drying either. price wise, farmacy is expensive, so if you need much like me, then you really need to think it through. as for me, definitely won't repurchase as it's expensive and i prefer cleansing oil.