Comparison

Pore-Purifying Salicylic Acid Foaming Cleanser vs Living Cleansing Balm

Name: Living Cleansing Balm
Brand: Then I Met You
Price: 38 USD

JUMISO vs Then I Met You — side by side, no bias.

JUMISO

Pore-Purifying Salicylic Acid Foaming Cleanser

8.2/10cleanser

Then I Met You

Living Cleansing Balm

9/10cleanser

Our pick

Living Cleansing Balm

9/10 · Then I Met You

	Pore-Purifying Salicylic Acid Foaming Cleanser	Living Cleansing Balm
Brand	JUMISO	Then I Met You
Category	cleanser	cleanser
Editor Rating	8.2/10	9/10 ★
Category	cleanser	cleanser
Texture	Creamy foam cleanser	Luxurious buttery balm that melts into a golden oil on contact with warm skin
Finish	Clean, smooth, non-tight	clean, nourished
Skin Types	Oily Acne-Prone Combination	Dry Combination Sensitive Mature
Targets	Acne Pores Oiliness	Dryness Sensitivity Dullness
Pros	+0.5% BHA at cleanser contact time is gentle but effective +blue clay (kaolin + illite) absorbs oil without abrasion +centella and panthenol prevent the stripped feeling +$18 for a daily pore-clearing cleanser — solid value	+Best-in-category formulation +Sea buckthorn is a standout ingredient +Non-stinging around eyes +Luxury experience and packaging
Cons	−0.5% BHA in a wash-off product has limited contact time −not a substitute for a leave-on BHA treatment −the blue clay can leave a faint residue if not rinsed thoroughly −may be too drying for already-dry skin types	−Premium price −Essential oil scent may not suit all −Requires a washcloth or second cleanse for residue
Verdict	A gentle BHA cleanser with blue clay that tackles pore congestion during the cleanse itself — without the stripped, tight feeling that most 'pore' cleansers leave behind. 0.5% salicylic acid is the sweet spot: enough to dissolve sebum plugs, not enough to compromise the barrier with twice-daily use. Kaolin and illite clays add physical oil absorption without micro-tearing, and centella keeps things calm. The foam is dense but rinses clean. If your morning cleanser is a generic foam and your evening is a double-cleanse, this slots perfectly into the AM role for oily, breakout-prone skin.	Widely considered the best cleansing balm in K-beauty at any price. The olive plus sea buckthorn plus squalane base melts makeup and sunscreen effortlessly, and the orange oil scent is subtle rather than artificial. Leaves skin clean, nourished, and never stripped. Expensive, but a single jar lasts months and the experience is genuinely luxurious.

Ingredient Breakdown

Only in Pore-Purifying Salicylic Acid Foaming Cleanser

Salicylic Acid Kaolin Clay Centella Asiatica

Only in Living Cleansing Balm

Squalane Hyaluronic Acid Green Tea (Camellia sinensis)

View Pore-Purifying Salicylic Acid Foaming Cleanser View Living Cleansing Balm Compare other products →

Pore-Purifying Salicylic Acid Foaming Cleanser

Living Cleansing Balm

Brand

JUMISO

Then I Met You

Category

cleanser

Texture

Creamy foam cleanser

Luxurious buttery balm that melts into a golden oil on contact with warm skin

Finish

Clean, smooth, non-tight

clean, nourished

Skin Types

Oily Acne-Prone Combination

Dry Combination Sensitive Mature

Targets

Acne Pores Oiliness

Dryness Sensitivity Dullness

Pros

+0.5% BHA at cleanser contact time is gentle but effective
+blue clay (kaolin + illite) absorbs oil without abrasion
+centella and panthenol prevent the stripped feeling
+$18 for a daily pore-clearing cleanser — solid value

+Best-in-category formulation
+Sea buckthorn is a standout ingredient
+Non-stinging around eyes
+Luxury experience and packaging

Cons

−0.5% BHA in a wash-off product has limited contact time
−not a substitute for a leave-on BHA treatment
−the blue clay can leave a faint residue if not rinsed thoroughly
−may be too drying for already-dry skin types

−Premium price
−Essential oil scent may not suit all
−Requires a washcloth or second cleanse for residue

Verdict

A gentle BHA cleanser with blue clay that tackles pore congestion during the cleanse itself — without the stripped, tight feeling that most 'pore' cleansers leave behind. 0.5% salicylic acid is the sweet spot: enough to dissolve sebum plugs, not enough to compromise the barrier with twice-daily use. Kaolin and illite clays add physical oil absorption without micro-tearing, and centella keeps things calm. The foam is dense but rinses clean. If your morning cleanser is a generic foam and your evening is a double-cleanse, this slots perfectly into the AM role for oily, breakout-prone skin.

Widely considered the best cleansing balm in K-beauty at any price. The olive plus sea buckthorn plus squalane base melts makeup and sunscreen effortlessly, and the orange oil scent is subtle rather than artificial. Leaves skin clean, nourished, and never stripped. Expensive, but a single jar lasts months and the experience is genuinely luxurious.