This K-Beauty Cleansing Balm is my winter hero for hydrated, clear skin

Whether you’re a skincare aficionado or a newbie, two words you’ll hear over and over again are ‘double cleanse’. The process is simple, it literally consists of a double cleansing of the face with the aid oil based formula and next is a cream or gel cleanser. Oil attracts oil (aka sebum), and cleansing with an oil-based cleanser effectively removes makeup, dirt, and other pore-clogging grime. This is, however, provided that you use the correct dual cleaning solution.

After trying dozens of makeup remover balms, I finally found my holy grail: Cleansing balm Dr. Althea’s Pure Grinding — and it’s under $30 on Amazon. For me, few things are as satisfying as removing makeup with a cleansing balm, and the sorbet-like texture of this choice is simply divine. My makeup melts off in seconds, but the soothing hydration my skin feels afterwards keeps me coming back.

Dr. Althea is a K-beauty brand known for affordable yet effective skin care solutions. While some makeup remover balms are filled with cheap carrier oils that can leave skin feeling like a greasy donut (and not in a good way), I never experience an ounce of oily residue from this Dr. Pick. Althea. All it takes is a quarter size to effectively melt away makeup or sunscreen. And yes, it’s also safe for removing eye makeup.

As someone with sensitive skin, it doesn’t take much to leave my face with noticeable irritation. The simplest of ingredients can make my naturally pink skin worse, so trust me when I say that this is the only cleansing balm I’ve seen noticeable improvements with. This is due in part to madecosoid, an anti-inflammatory plant-based ingredient that soothes irritated skin while providing a host of anti-aging benefits.

I could go on and on about the other benefits of this skincare product – like the fact that it’s a cruelty-free, vegan formula that’s also free of parabens and fragrances – but I’ll leave it at that. If you don’t remove your makeup with a cleansing balm, or you’re sick of your current skincare line, this K-beauty pick is a total winner. Make-up and dirt really won’t go away unless you double-cleanse your face, which is important for your skin to absorb serums and other facial treatments.

I don’t believe in spending hundreds just to find a formula that works. There are so many great skincare heroes under $50, including my all time favorite Cleansing Balm. Try it yourself – you won’t be disappointed!

Get Cleansing balm Dr. Althea Pure Grinding for 23 US dollars on Amazon!