Review: I’m From Fig Cleansing Balm

Where to purchase: Available on Yestyle.com – Use my Discount Code CVQFZA to receive % off!

Price: £18.32

Volume: 100ml

Made in: South Korea

What is it?: A cleansing Balm contain Fig Oil  oil (not actual pieces of fig, just water-oil distilled fig) aimed to melt makeup off.

Brand Description: A cleansing balm containing Fig and Oil water 7.8% to remove dirt from the skin. It aims to help with blackhead care (not sure how) and the fig oil water is extracted using a patented method called the Oil Macerating extraction method by I’m From. I guess this is to retain as many phenols etc from the fig as possible. I’m from state that this fully hydrates the skin after cleansing (hmm).

Supposedly Good for: All Skin Types

What I think: Oily Skins would enjoy, Dry skins too, it’s just dehydrated skin (be careful when double cleansing in case double cleansing tends to dry out your skin as it does mine). Those with sensitivity to fragrance, be careful.

Vegan?: Yes

Cruelty Free?: Yes

Packaging: Love this packaging (in terms of the aesthetic). Matte Jar with a hygiene tab and a spatula that fits on top of the tab. I didn’t experience any spillage. Some may think the tub is too big (i.e. in relation to how much product is inside.

Support the Blog / Instagram / Youtube on Patreon! Includes Perks and Benefits such as EXCLUSIVE Content! LINK HERE

Directions: 1) Use a spatula ad scoop an adequate amount 2) Spread gently on the face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. 3) Gently wash by massaging your face with luke-warm water.

How I use it: I use this to either dissolve eyeliner or SPF. Its been adequate doing both. I also have found that this has been quite good to dissolve/remove the sticky materal after waxing the body – just rub some of this balm into the sticky wax and it dissolves it – useful! I also think men who shave would really enjoy this as a nice oil to make the skin easier to shave with.

Stings the eyes?: NO!

Key Ingredients: Contains Fig and Oil Water, 7.8% – Fig extract is supposed to be a good humectant/moisturiser. Turmeric Root Extract – Soothing, skin brightening and potential antioxidant.

Full Ingredients: Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyethylene, Synthetic Wax (provides a lot of the texture here), Ficus carica (fig) Fruit Extract, Peg-10 Isostearate, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Fragrance, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil (emollient), Curcuma longa (turmeric) Root Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf extract, Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

NOTE: The Incidecoder have a full ingredient breakdown HERE

Texture: This has a decent oil texture once melted. I don’t think the texture is as creamy or soft as the Wishful Clean Genie Cleansing Balm (much softer creamier texture, whereas the I’m From is a wax to oil texture). It’s Wax-like when spreading and melts when rubbed on the skin. The oil that it melts into is like the DHC Cleansing oil. Not too difficult to get out with a spatula either (it’slike digging into a soft candle). This emulsifies when water is added, so it’s easy to wash off and you’re not left with an oily / greasy residue on the face.

You can see the scrape marks from the spatula and the texture of the product – you can see it has a slight pink tint and this definitely looks emollient + waxy!

You can see the product holds its shape. A transparent balm which looks like candle wax BUT isn’t hard on the skin! Just scooping the product unleashes some fragrance (which I’m not a fan of).

YOUTUBE VIDEO – Live Swatches of the I’m From Fig Cleansing Balm, the Good Molecules cleansing balm and the Wishful Skin Clean Genie Cleansing Balm. ALSO, I test them against each other for makeup removal.

Fragrance?: YES – wish it didn’t have it as it’s a strong scent (to me). And not a very delicious scent at that. I’m not a big fan of fig.

Good at removing Makeup?: It’s fine but not amazing. Can get foundation off but waterproof mascara or eyeliner? Not that effective and requires more tries (and the more tries – the tighter my skin gets)

How long have I been using this?: For just over a month

The Effect?: I find this removes makeup adequately (please watch the Youtube video to see the effect) and doesn’t strip the skin too much (as long as you don’t use this for both your first and second cleanse. I would recommend using this first and then using a moisturising second cleanser. I don’t find that this moisturises the skin after cleansing. But at least it doesn’t irritate/sting.

What I like:

• Easy to travel with packaging (not flimsy either)
• Comes with a spatula
• Comes with a Hygiene Tab
• The texture is really nice (very ‘posh’ feeling balm. No grittiness, very smooth), melts into a lovely oil
• Removes makeup quite effectively
• Breaks down SPF fine
• Skin doesn’t feel painfully tight after washing (but I do always feel some sort of dehydration/a bit of tightness using any cleanser, even the Ordinary’s squalane cleanser)

What I don’t like:

• Fragrance (not necessary AND I’m not a fan of the smell anyway)
• If I double cleanse with this, I feel my skin feels quite tight after. I prefer this as a single cleanse just to remove my SPF or just to dissolve makeup and then to move onto a moisturising cleanser.
• Not good at removing waterproof eyeliner / mascara
• Some may find the packaging too big / too large for travel
• You can’t just dig your fingers in and apply because the product would immediately melt in your hands – so spatula use is required.

Overall Rating and Conclusion: 3.6/5 – Not a bad cleansing balm! – not very moisturising or hydrating, can be stripping if this is used as both a first and second cleanser. The texture of it is nice if you like a cleansing oil and I’ve found multiple uses for it. Not a fan of the fragrance, but the dhc oil feel of this on the skin and it being good at removing SPF and foundation, the smell isn’t tobmy taste (but if you like Fig, you would like it). I would say I’m more of a fan of cleansing oils (as I’m lazy), but this has been a decent cleansing balm! I do think if you want something creamier and softer, the wishful clean genie is more suitable. And the sister has said that she prefers the makeup removal of the wishful genie than the fig cleansing balm.

Would I repurchase?: I wouldn’t, because of the texture and I wouldn’t because of the fragrance. I really don’t care for fragrance and would prefer to find a cleansing balm with none. But I must say I was happy that this emulsifies and is easy to wash off, and the feel of this on the skin is nice (I like oil cleansers) as it doesn’t linger after washing off the skin.

Dupe?: Of all the Cleansing balms I’ve tried, the Wishful Clean Genie Cleansing balm feels a bit softer (please watch the video however to know my thoughts) as that one is incredibly milky and smooth.

My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have slightly dehydrated combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.

Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.