Cleansing Milk vs Balm: make p:rem or banila co Clean it Zero?
Product images: make p:rem official store · banila co Korean official store (Korean formula jar).
If you wear mascara or long-wear makeup, get banila co's Clean it Zero balm; for sunscreen and light-base days, get make p:rem's Safe Me milk, lower per ml in the US (make p:rem $0.13/ml (Sephora US, 5 Oct 2026) · banila co $0.21/ml (Olive Young US, 5 Oct 2026)). In Korea, banila co's double set listing topped Olive Young's cleansing ranking (1 Oct 2026); make p:rem's milk topped Hwahae's lotion/cream category (24 Sep 2026).
Neither does more than lift makeup and sunscreen: make p:rem sends heavy or waterproof makeup to a separate remover first, and every balm figure here is for banila co's Korean 18-ingredient formula.
How we picked · Research-based — not personally tested · Korean data as of Olive Young Korea 1 Oct 2026 · Hwahae 24 Sep 2026 · Hwahae 5 Oct 2026 · Olive Young Korea 5 Oct 2026 · How we research →
Choose make p:rem if
- You mostly wear sunscreen or a light base, the days make p:rem names as the milk's job, morning wash included.
- You want fewer steps: pump, massage, then rinse or wipe off, with no spatula and no emulsifying.
- You want the lower price per ml at the US stores we checked: make p:rem $0.13/ml (Sephora US, 5 Oct 2026) · banila co $0.21/ml (Olive Young US, 5 Oct 2026).
Choose banila co if
- You wear mascara or eyeliner: 10 of 46 Olive Young Korea reviews in our sample say eye makeup came off [1].
- You like a firm balm that melts into oil and turns milky with a little water.
- You don't mind a scent: Fragrance is on the list, and 3 of 46 sampled reviews bring it up, one of them negatively [1].
At a glance
| make p:rem | banila co | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Milk (pump bottle) | Balm (jar, spatula) that melts to oil |
| Volume | 200 ml | 100 ml |
| How it is used | On a dry face; rinse with lukewarm water or wipe off | Dry hands, dry face; add a little water to emulsify, then rinse |
| Ingredients (Korean list) | 32 | 18 |
| Fragrance (Korean list) | No 'Fragrance' on the list; contains bergamot and clary oils (Sephora US says it has less than one percent synthetic fragrance) | Fragrance on the list |
| pH on the label | 5.5 ±1.0 | Not stated |
| Olive Young KR cleansing rank (1 Oct 2026) | #8 (collab set listing) | #1 (double set listing) |
| Hwahae rating | 4.66 / 9,152 reviews (24 Sep 2026) | 4.57 / 1,358 reviews (5 Oct 2026) |
| Price per ml (US) | $0.13 (Sephora US) | $0.21 (Olive Young US) |
| Buy | Check price at Sephora US · $25.00 as of 5 Oct 2026 | Check price at Olive Young US · $21 as of 5 Oct 2026 |
banila co: banilausa.com and the brand's Amazon US listing print a 21-ingredient list that differs from the Korean 18-ingredient formula; Olive Young US prints the Korean 18 (checked 5 Oct 2026). Figures on this page are for the Korean formula.
The Korean view
What Korean shoppers and review apps show (snapshot Olive Young Korea 1 Oct 2026 · Hwahae 24 Sep 2026 · Hwahae 5 Oct 2026 · Olive Young Korea 5 Oct 2026)
| make p:rem | banila co | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olive Young Korea — cleansing rank sales ranking captured 1 Oct 2026, 11:34 KST; Olive Young ranks listings, so both ranks are set listings | #8 (Sanrio collab set listing) | #1 (double set listing) | Olive Young Korea 1 Oct 2026 |
| Olive Young Korea rating (reviews) one listing each (make p:rem 200 ml + foam set A000000139298, banila co double set A000000267517) | 4.8 (8,956) | 4.9 (11,295) | Olive Young Korea 1 Oct 2026 |
| Hwahae rating (reviews) make p:rem: category ranking page, #1 in cleansing lotion/cream | 4.66 (9,152) | — | Hwahae 24 Sep 2026 |
| Hwahae rating (reviews) banila co: search result; category rank not collected | — | 4.57 (1,358) | Hwahae 5 Oct 2026 |
| Price in Korea (Olive Young) make p:rem 200 ml + 100 ml refill set (no discount that day) · banila co 100 ml single, sale price (list ₩20,000) | ₩28,000 | ₩15,600 | Olive Young Korea 5 Oct 2026 |
In Korea each product leads a different measure, and each lead comes with a caveat.
- Olive Young Korea's cleansing ranking, captured 1 Oct 2026: banila co's double set listing #1, make p:rem's Sanrio collab set listing #8. Olive Young ranks listings, so both are set listings; banila co's single-tub listing was #37 in the same capture [2].
- Hwahae, Korea's ingredient-and-review app: make p:rem's milk was #1 in cleansing lotion/cream on 24 Sep 2026. banila co's Hwahae score is a 5 Oct 2026 search-result reading with no category rank, so the two scores aren't like for like.
- Korean prices on 5 Oct 2026: ₩28,000 (Olive Young KR, 200 ml + 100 ml refill set, as of 5 Oct 2026) and ₩15,600 (Olive Young KR, 100 ml at the sale price, list ₩20,000, as of 5 Oct 2026).
Who each one suits
make p:rem
- Sunscreen and light-base days
- A morning cleanse
- Wiping off when you can't rinse
- Heavy or waterproof makeup on its own: the brand says to use a dedicated remover first
- Anyone who wants a foaming feel
- Skin that reacts to essential oils: bergamot and clary oils are on the list
banila co
- Mascara, eyeliner and full-coverage base
- People who like a balm-to-oil massage
- Fragrance-sensitive skin: Fragrance is on the Korean 18-ingredient list
- Wet hands in the shower: the instructions call for dry hands and a dry face
- Anyone who dislikes jars: the spatula and the separate lid are the top complaint in our sample
Key ingredients
make p:rem says it leaves a moisture film so skin doesn't feel stripped; no amount is published.
Hydrating, conditioning ingredients; no amounts are published.
Essential oils at the end of the list. There is no 'Fragrance' entry, but these oils carry a scent of their own.
Emollient esters, first on the list, that turn the balm into an oil as you massage.
Emulsifiers: a little water turns the oil milky so it rinses away.
banila co calls the fruit extracts ACTERORA+. Pomegranate and cranberry are on the Korean list but not on the 21-ingredient list banilausa.com prints.
| Only in make p:rem | Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein · Ceramide NP · Panthenol |
|---|---|
| Only in banila co | Fragrance · Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil · Malpighia Glabra (Acerola) Fruit Extract |
Texture & feel
make p:rem — A white milk that doesn't foam. Pump it onto a dry face, roll it for about a minute, then rinse with lukewarm water or wipe it off.
Image: makeprem.com
banila co — Firm in the jar, it melts into an oil as you massage and turns milky once you add a little water; 16 of 46 sampled reviews mention the melting [1].
Image: banila.com
What Korean reviewers say
make p:rem
- Gentle, no irritation: 20 of 40 sampled reviews
- Removes makeup well enough: 9 of 40
- Repurchased or stocked up: 6 of 40
- No tightness, stays moist: 3 of 40
- Too light for heavy makeup, a sunscreen-and-light-base cleanser: 2 of 40
- Some irritation or breakouts on combination or sensitive skin: 2 of 40
- No foam: 1 of 40
banila co
- Melting texture: 16 of 46 sampled reviews
- Little irritation, eyes don't sting: 14 of 46
- Repurchased, on another tub: 14 of 46
- No tightness, moist: 12 of 46
- Mascara and eye makeup come off: 10 of 46
- Scooping with the spatula and opening the lid is a hassle: 3 of 46
- Scent: 3 of 46 mention it, one negatively ('cherry, floral… not for me') and one calling it a sweet scent
- Runs out quickly: 1 of 46
Our summaries and keyword counts, translated from Korean [1]. make p:rem: 40 reviews hosted on the brand's own store (2020–2023, likely before the current label), including the 20 lowest-rated, because Olive Young Korea and Hwahae blocked collection. banila co: 46 Olive Young Korea reviews sorted by 'most helpful', without low-rated ones, so its complaints are likely understated.
Korean shoppers in their own words
Short excerpts from real Korean reviews, translated.
make p:rem
“It's gentle, doesn't make my skin feel tight, and I like it.”
“Soft and really gentle, I like it! Washing with just water in the morning felt not quite clean, so this works for me.”
“I have combination, sensitive skin and got irritation on my cheekbones. I don't think it suits my skin.”
“Good to use when I've done a really light base or just sunscreen.”
banila co
“It's soft but cleans really well, which kind of surprised me. I used to use a mascara remover too, but with this my mascara came off cleanly.”
“My fifth tub. It has no standout strength, but there's nothing I'd call a downside either, so I just keep using it.”
“This is the cleansing balm for me. It removes makeup well and doesn't leave residue like a cleansing oil. But I really wish they'd switch to a one-piece lid, it's so inconvenient, haha.”
“Everything's good except the scent... cherry... floral? Like an old-fashioned hand cream. Personally, I really don't like it.”
Excerpts from Korean shoppers' reviews on Olive Young Korea · the brands' own online stores (make p:rem — reviews hosted by the brand, not independent), posted Jun 2021 – Sep 2026, translated by Seoulvanie. Not our own use.
Side by side
| Criterion | make p:rem | banila co | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Milk in a pump bottle | Solid balm in a jar, with spatula | Depends |
| Mascara, heavy or waterproof makeup | Brand says to use a separate remover first | 10 of 46 sampled reviews say eye makeup came off | banila co |
| Steps | Dry face, massage, rinse or wipe | Dry hands and face, massage, emulsify with water, rinse | make p:rem |
| Rinse-free option | Can be wiped off | Rinse only | make p:rem |
| Fragrance (Korean list) | No 'Fragrance' entry; bergamot and clary oils, and Sephora US says under one percent synthetic fragrance | Fragrance listed | Depends |
| Olive Young Korea cleansing ranking | #8, Sanrio collab set listing (Olive Young Korea, 1 Oct 2026) | #1, double set listing (Olive Young Korea, 1 Oct 2026) | banila co |
| Hwahae | #1 in cleansing lotion/cream (Hwahae, 24 Sep 2026) | Search-result score only (5 Oct 2026); category rank not collected | Depends |
| Price per ml at US stores (5 Oct 2026) | Lower (Sephora US) | Higher (Olive Young US) | make p:rem |
Buying it where you are
United States
make p:rem's milk is at Sephora US and at make p:rem's official brand store on Amazon (MAKEP:REM Store). For banila co's balm, Olive Young US prints the Korean 18-ingredient list; banilausa.com and the official brand store on Amazon US print a different 21-ingredient list, and Ulta's page shows 17 (all checked 5 Oct 2026).
| Store | Price | Sold by | |
|---|---|---|---|
| make p:rem | Sephora US | $25.00 | Retailer |
| Amazon US (MAKEP:REM Store) | — | Brand official | |
| banila co | Olive Young US | $21 | Retailer |
| banilausa.com | $21.00 | Brand official | |
| Ulta | $19.95 sale | Retailer |
as of 5 Oct 2026
Our pick
For US readers, start with make p:rem's Safe Me cleansing milk, and choose banila co's balm when mascara or long-wear makeup is part of your day.
At the US stores we checked, the milk costs less per ml (make p:rem $0.13/ml (Sephora US, 5 Oct 2026) · banila co $0.21/ml (Olive Young US, 5 Oct 2026)), and Sephora US and make p:rem's Amazon store both carry it. In Korea it was #1 in Hwahae's cleansing lotion/cream category on 24 Sep 2026. It also asks less of you: no spatula, no emulsifying, and it can be wiped off.
Pick banila co instead if: Pick banila co's balm if mascara, eyeliner or full coverage is your everyday makeup, and buy it where the listing prints the Korean 18 ingredients, as Olive Young US does.
make p:rem
Check price at Sephora US · $25.00Check price at Amazon US (MAKEP:REM Store)Check price at YesStylebanila co
Check price at Olive Young US · $21Check price at YesStylePrices were checked on the date shown and can change. Affiliate links will replace these store links after program approval.
How to use
- 1Pump a moderate amount into dry hands and spread it over a dry face.
- 2Massage for about a minute; for heavy or waterproof makeup, the brand recommends a dedicated remover first.
- 3Rinse with lukewarm water, or wipe off gently with a cotton pad or tissue (tissues can irritate).
- 1With dry hands, scoop a moderate amount with the spatula.
- 2Spread it on a dry face and massage gently until makeup dissolves.
- 3Add a little water to emulsify, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- Both Korean labels say to stop and see a specialist if redness, swelling or itching appears and to avoid broken skin. Use each within 12 months of opening.
- On a second wash: make p:rem's Korean page shows both a single rinse-off cleanse and a double cleanse with a foam; banila co's Korean instructions stop at rinsing, and its wording differs by country.
Full ingredient lists
Both lists below are the Korean ones: make p:rem's 32 ingredients (Sephora US prints the same 32 in another order; we couldn't confirm why) and banila co's 18, which Olive Young US and iHerb also print. banilausa.com prints a different 21-ingredient list.
make p:rem — Safe me. Relief Moisture Gentle Cleansing Milk
Water, Olive Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Isopentyldiol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Decyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein, Vincetoxicum Atratum Extract, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Acrylate/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Succinate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Glucose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Betaine Salicylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Bergamot Oil, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil
https://global.oliveyoung.com/product/description-info
banila co — Clean it Zero Original Cleansing Balm
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG-10 Isostearate, Synthetic Wax, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Water, Malpighia Glabra (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Fragrance, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Onsen-Sui, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ascorbic Acid
https://us.oliveyoung.com/products/UA12010736
Buying authentic
Both brands sell through US stores, but the balm has more than one US ingredient list, so check the label.
- banila co: the Korean version lists 18 ingredients ending in Ascorbic Acid; the 21-ingredient US list starts with Ethylhexyl Palmitate and includes Phenoxyethanol. Ulta's page shows 17, without Lactobacillus Ferment.
- make p:rem: the current Korean bottle reads 'Soybean Protein Ceramide NP' and 'pH 5.5 ±1.0'; older-label bottles still appear at some stores, and we couldn't confirm whether the formula changed.
- Amazon: for make p:rem, buy from the brand's MAKEP:REM Store; banila co's own Amazon US listing prints the 21-ingredient US list.
Questions, answered
Cleansing milk or cleansing balm: which removes makeup better?
banila co's balm is the one for eye makeup and long-wear base. In our sample of 46 Olive Young Korea reviews, 10 say mascara or eye makeup came off, while make p:rem's own instructions send heavy or waterproof makeup to a separate remover first.
Do I need to double cleanse after banila co Clean it Zero?
banila co gives no single answer: its Korean instructions end at rinsing, and its US and Japanese listings word this differently. In our sample, 6 of 46 Korean reviewers mention a second wash. If sunscreen still feels left behind, add your usual cleanser.
Is banila co Clean it Zero in the US the same as in Korea?
banila co sells two lists in the US. Olive Young US and iHerb print the Korean 18-ingredient list; banilausa.com and the brand's Amazon US listing print 21 ingredients, a different list (checked 5 Oct 2026). This page covers the Korean 18.
Does make p:rem Safe Me cleansing milk have fragrance?
make p:rem's Korean ingredient list has no 'Fragrance' entry, but it lists bergamot oil and clary oil. Sephora US says the milk contains less than one percent synthetic fragrance, which conflicts with that list. If scent bothers you, assume both are scented: banila co's balm lists Fragrance.
Which is better for sensitive skin?
Neither is a sensitive-skin pick on our data. make p:rem's milk lists bergamot and clary oils and Betaine Salicylate; banila co's balm lists Fragrance. The samples differ too: 20 of 40 brand-store reviews call the milk gentle, 14 of 46 Olive Young Korea reviews say the balm caused little irritation. Patch test either one.
Can I use make p:rem cleansing milk in the morning?
Yes, make p:rem suggests its milk for the morning wash and for days with only sunscreen or a light base. Massage it on a dry face for about a minute, then rinse with lukewarm water or wipe it off gently with a cotton pad.
Is the balm worth the higher price per ml?
banila co's balm costs more per ml at the US stores we checked (make p:rem $0.13/ml (Sephora US, 5 Oct 2026) · banila co $0.21/ml (Olive Young US, 5 Oct 2026)), and a tub holds 100 ml against the milk's 200 ml. It earns that price if you take off mascara, eyeliner or full coverage most days; the milk's own brand sends that makeup to a remover first.
Notes
- [1] Our own keyword counts, not platform percentages: make p:rem = 40 reviews on makeprem.com (accessed 1 Oct 2026); banila co = 46 Olive Young Korea reviews (accessed 5 Oct 2026). One review can count toward several tags.
- [2] Olive Young Korea sales ranking, cleansing tab, captured 1 Oct 2026 at 11:34 KST. Olive Young ranks listings, not products; both ranks come from that one capture.
Sources
- make p:rem Korean ingredient list (brand detail page) — https://magnif.godohosting.com/detail_page/newmilk/monax/safeme_rm_cleansing_milk_19.jpg (accessed 2026-10-01)
- banila co Korean ingredient list (Olive Young Korea notice) — https://www.oliveyoung.co.kr/store/goods/getGoodsDetail.do?goodsNo=A000000267517 (accessed 2026-10-05)
- banilausa.com — https://banilausa.com/products/clean-it-zero-cleansing-balm-original (accessed 2026-10-05)
- Olive Young US — https://us.oliveyoung.com/products/UA12010736 (accessed 2026-10-05)
- Olive Young Korea cleansing ranking — https://www.oliveyoung.co.kr/store/main/getBestList.do?dispCatNo=900000100100001&fltDispCatNo=10000010010 (accessed 2026-10-05)
- Hwahae category ranking (make p:rem) — https://www.hwahae.co.kr/rankings?english_name=category&theme_id=4212 (accessed 2026-10-01)
- Hwahae search result (banila co) — https://www.hwahae.co.kr/search?q=%EB%B0%94%EB%8B%90%EB%9D%BC%EC%BD%94%20%ED%81%B4%EB%A6%B0%20%EC%9E%87%20%EC%A0%9C%EB%A1%9C%20%EC%98%A4%EB%A6%AC%EC%A7%80%EB%84%90&type=products (accessed 2026-10-05)
- Sephora US — https://www.sephora.com/product/relief-moisture-cleansing-milk-P526802?skuId=3029352 (accessed 2026-10-01)
- make p:rem Japan official store — https://makeprem.jp/product/detail.html?product_no=37 (accessed 2026-10-01)
- Olive Young Korea (make p:rem price) — https://www.oliveyoung.co.kr/store/goods/getGoodsDetail.do?goodsNo=A000000158513 (accessed 2026-10-05)
- Rakuten (banila co official) — https://item.rakuten.co.jp/banilaco-officialstore/cl_balm/ (accessed 2026-10-05)
Updated 2026-10-05