As a sunscreen devotee and a makeup wearer, my skin loves a good double cleanse. Even if I’m just donning a little concealer here and there, an oil-based cleanser is the best method for fully removing it from my skin, and then of course SPF requires a little extra help to remove, too. I start with a good cleansing balm and finish with a non-stripping gel cleanser. Though I am a fan of many cleansing balms, my favorite as of late is Origins Youthtopia Apple Butter Cleansing Balm ($39), and for many reasons. Here’s my honest review.
The Benefits of This Cleansing Balm
I’ve loved so many Origins formulas over the years, from the Plantscription Serum and the Ginzing Eye Cream to the pink Retexturizing Mask, which by the way, is in new opaque packaging, so you can no longer see the pink clay inside. (The formula wasn’t changed, but just a heads up if you were wondering!). OK, I digress—back to this fabulous cleanser. First thing I have to point out is that it’s a cleansing balm in a tube, not a jar. As someone who usually washes my face in the shower, I love having a tube with an attached lid, versus a jar that I have to open when my hands are slippery (not to mention, I have to find a place to put the detached lid, and my shower doesn’t have a ton of shelf space). A cleansing balm in a tube is a gift in itself, but then there’s the awesome formula inside.
The key ingredients include apple seed oil and shea butter, and the texture is silky and buttery. What’s really cool is that the apple seed oil is upcycled from the leftover seeds after apple cider is produced. The seeds are cold-pressed and filtered to create the oil, which is rich in omegas and linoleic acid, which is a super moisturizing essential fatty acid. You can feel this moisture when you use the product—it’s really kind to a sensitive skin barrier—and I’d highly recommend it for anyone who considers dryness a concern.
It also has a light apple scent, but I love that it doesn’t smell synthetic like some cleansing balms do. Origins says its “Scent Specialist crafted a green and herbaceous mix with vibrant galbanum, citrusy litsea cubeba oil and melon and peach notes to capture the fresh vibrancy of an apple.”
How to Use It
Like any cleansing balm, you’re going to massage it onto dry skin. I love the rich, buttery texture of this formula, which is creamier than many of the traditional solid cleansing balms you’ll find in jars. The brand describes the texture as a “soft solid,” and as you massage it onto your skin, it turns into an oil. I personally love the way it feels as I massage it on after a long day—I always aim for a 60-second massage, which also helps relieve facial tension and boost blood flow. Then, you add a little water and massage again, and the triple-phase formula turns into a milky consistency before you rinse it all off. Though you could technically use it morning and night, I only use it at night when I need to remove layers of skin care and/or makeup.
