Banila & Co.

Banila Co is a Korean beauty brand from F&F, launched in 2005 (some brand materials date it to 2006). It built its name on makeup and skincare designed around the preferences of Korean women, with clean, modern packaging.

In March 2008 the brand released Clean It Zero, a cleansing balm with a sherbet-like texture that turns into oil when massaged onto the skin. It dissolves makeup, sunscreen and impurities and rinses away cleanly, helping to popularise cleansing balms as an easy first step in a double cleanse. The formula was renewed in 2018.

Today Clean It Zero comes in several versions: Original for most skin types, Nourishing for dry skin, Purifying for sensitive skin and Pore Clarifying for congested skin. Each comes with a small spatula for hygienic scooping, and mini sets let you try them all.

For shoppers, scoop a small amount onto dry skin with dry hands and massage gently for about a minute to melt makeup and SPF. Add a little water to emulsify, rinse well, then follow with a gentle foam cleanser. Keep a mini in your travel bag, and choose the version that matches your skin type. Close the lid tightly after use to keep the balm fresh.