Isntree Mugwort Calming Deep Cleansing Balm 100ml

🌿 Product Overview

This milk‑based, balm-to-oil cleanser is infused with Artemisia (mugwort) extract to calm irritation and gently dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and impurities. The formula includes a blend of eight plant oils designed to cleanse without clogging pores, making it suitable even for sensitive or acne-prone skin types. The soothing nature of mugwort helps skin feel balanced and refreshed post-wash. 

🧴 Key Ingredients & Role

• Artemisia Princeps Leaf Water & Extract (at ~9,200–500 ppb): anti-inflammatory, calming, and rich in antioxidants to reduce redness and soothe stressed skin 

• Plant oils: Walnut seed, sunflower seed, grape seed, jojoba, sweet almond, and evening primrose oils: dissolve makeup and maintain moisture without greasiness 

• Detox exfoliants: Capryloyl salicylic acid (oil-soluble BHA) and gluconolactone: help remove sebum and dead skin cells while smoothing texture 

• Humectants & hydrators: Butylene glycol, sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed HA, sodium acetylated hyaluronate, panthenol, phytosterols: support hydration and barrier protection 

• Tea tree leaf oil: optional calming and clarifying botanical—but may be sensitizing for some; clay colorants (iron oxides, chromium oxide green) add to appearance 

🧼 Texture & Usage

• Texture: Sherbet-like balm that turns into a smooth oil when massaged on dry skin.

• Usage Steps:

  1. Scoop balm with dry hands using the built-in spatula.

  2. Gently massage over dry skin to dissolve makeup and impurities.

  3. Add a little water to emulsify into a milky texture.

  4. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

• Sensitivity: Triple-tested for sensitive skin; designed to avoid eye stinging or cloudy vision on rinse 

💬 Reviews & Real-World Feedback

From Hwahae users:

• 4.0 out of 5 rating

• Praised for being gentle, effective at removing sebum and dead skin cells, and non-irritating even for acne-prone or combination-dehydrated skin. Users highlighted the non-sticky, clean finish and affordable price (~under $10 when on sale). Some noted that the dark color could stain sinks or make vision blurry before emulsifying—but no eye irritation reported. 

From Reddit and other community discussions:

• Overall reception is mixed—some users felt the product was fairly average and didn’t leave the skin feeling hydrated. A few pointed out the presence of fragrance and felt the formula felt heavy for oily skin types. It didn’t seem to trigger breakouts for those users, but wasn’t their favorite. 

• Mugwort is generally regarded as calming and beneficial for sensitive or fungal‑acne prone skin. One Redditor noted:

  “When I use mugwort products my skin calms down a lot and especially my fungal acne shows noticeable improvement.” Another user reported acne-prone skin and slightly sensitive skin; they were hesitant but many others have found success using similar balms when formulated lightly and rinsing well.

✅ Pros & ⚠️ Cons

✅ Pros:

• Effectively dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and sebum—even waterproof formulas.

• Non-comedogenic and suitable for sensitive, acne-prone skin.

• Soothing and calming thanks to mugwort and panthenol.

• Leaves skin soft without residue or stripped tightness.

• Affordable price and often available on sale. 

❌ Cons:

• The dark-colored balm may stain sinks or white towels and can blur vision pre-emulsification.

• May feel heavy or not hydrating enough for drier skin types.

• Contains tea tree oil—could irritate very sensitive or allergy-prone skin.

• Some Reddit users reported it wasn’t hydrating or noticeable for them. 

📋 Summary Table

💡 Final Thoughts

The Isntree Mugwort Calming Deep Cleansing Balm is an excellent choice for a gentle yet effective first-step cleanser in a double-cleansing routine—especially if you have sensitive, oily, or irritation-prone skin. It removes makeup and impurities without stripping, while calming the skin with mugwort and barrier-supporting ingredients.