REVIEW: OLEHENRIKSEN Pore-Balance™ Facial Sauna Scrub

OLEHENRIKSEN Pore-Balance™ Facial Sauna Scrub

$28 at Sephora and Olehenriksen United States

UNFILTERED THOUGHTS:

The OLEHENRIKSEN Pore-Balance Facial Sauna Scrub is an at-home spa experience like no other. The product comes out firmly and evenly from the squeeze tube at room temperature. It isn’t until you rub the product together that it activates into a nice and warm face scrub. As a physical exfoliator, the volcanic sand specs may understandably feel harsh on the skin--especially for those with sensitive skin. Nevertheless, the chemical agents in the face wash feel gentle and soothing. This is most likely due to the Kaolin clay and Zeolite sitting at the top of the ingredients list as well as the eucalyptus, peppermint, and  camellia sinensis extracts present towards the bottom of the ingredients list. Overall, this face scrub features a nice balance between physical and chemical cleansing action. I personally enjoyed trying out this face scrub, though I won't be repurchasing for a couple of main reasons: I fear the volcanic sand may be too harsh for my dry/sensitive skin in addition to the added fragrances which may be wearing on the skin over time. Nevertheless, this face scrub certainly has a place in the market as it provides an experience like no other with its warm scrubbing sensation and therapeutic smells. This facial scrub is certainly a treat for those looking to have a spa day at home. 

SEE WHAT OTHERS THOUGHT:

AliceintheRabbitHole (2019): Best & Worst of Ole Henriksen! (After YEARS of Use!)
Dominique Mareigh (2017): OLEHENRIKSEN PORE-BALANCE SCRUB
Tommie Dooley (2017): Ole Henriksen NEW Pore-Balance Facial Sauna Scrub REVIEW + DEMO

Ingredients	Purpose	Uses and Benefits
PEG-400	Solvent	Clear, colorless, viscous liquid with low toxicity rating
Kaolin	Exfoliant, Colorant	Gentle cleansing agent Purifies and detoxes pores Removes dirt, grime, pollution, germs, etc. Soothes sensitive and easily irritable skin Exfoliates skin and removes dead cells and flaky, dry skin Improves skin elasticity and delays signs of aging
Zeolite	Antioxidant	Anti-inflammatory helpful for clearing blackheads and unclogging pores Since the skin generally doesn't absorb zeolite, the pollutants that it attracts are safely removed when washed off
Volcanic Sand	Exfoliant	The innate richness of volcanic black sand makes it an excellent ingredient for skin purifying, detoxifying, anti-stress and protective properties against harmful external agents, increasing the natural defense of the skin
Glyceryl Stearate	Emollient, Emulsifying	Lubricant on the skin's surface, giving a soft and smooth appearance Slows water loss by forming a barrier on the skin's surface Form emulsions by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified
Butylene Glycol	Humectant, Solvent, Viscosity controlling, Emollient	Draws and retain moisture from the atmosphere Texture-enhancer Increases penetration of other ingredients to increase overall effectiveness
Cetearyl Alcohol	Emollient, Viscosity controlling, Emulsifying, Surfactant	Soften the skin
Water/Aqua/Eau	Solvent
Glycerin	Skin-identical ingredient, Humectant	Natural moisturizer inherently found in the skin Keeps the skin lipids between skin cells in a healthy (liquid crystal) state Helps to restore skin barrier and protects against irritation
Cetearyl Glucoside	Emulsifying, Surfactant	Sugar-based emulsifier that's especially great for low viscosity lotions or even sprays
Phenoxyethanol	Preservative	Widely used synthetic preservative that is considered safe and gentle with global approval for use in all cosmetic products in concentrations up to 1%
Glycolic Acid	Exfoliant, Buffering	Most researched AHA with across-the-board proven skin benefits Gently lifts off dead skin cells to reveal newer, fresher, smoother skin Encourages skin’s production of collagen, resulting in firmer, youthful skin Fade brown spots caused by sun damage or PIH *If your skin is sensitive or rosacea-prone, consider using a BHA or PHA product instead*
Lactic Acid	Exfoliant, Humectant, Buffering	Second most researched AHA after glycolic acid Gently lifts off dead skin cells to reveal newer, fresher, smoother skin Hydrating properties In higher concentration (10%+) it improves skin firmness, thickness and wrinkles
Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil	Emollient	Oil expressed from the seeds of the Neem Tree With its regenerative properties and immune-boosting compounds, neem oil enables the skin to fight pathogens below the skin surface Keeps the skin smooth and combats wrinkles Neem stimulates collagen production which slows down the aging process of the skin Neem oil is rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs), triglycerides, vitamin E and calcium (6) Vitamin E and EFAs enable neem oil to seep deep into the skin thereby healing cracks caused by dryness
Linoleic Acid	Skin-identical ingredient, Emollient, Surfactant	Unsaturated omega-6 fatty acid [which is essential for human health, yet isn’t created by the body] found in corn, safflower, and sunflower oils and used as an emollient and thickening agent in cosmetics Fortifies and protects the skin’s barrier, thereby helping to fend off UV rays and air pollutants Lightens sun-induced hyperpigmentation *Short shelf life: Most oils containing high amounts of linoleic acid generally lose effectiveness after three to six months*
Caprylyl Glycol	Humectant, emollient	Multi-tasking ingredient that gives the skin a nice, soft feel Boosts the effectiveness of other preservatives The blend of caprylyl glycol & phenoxyethanol is called Optiphen, which not only helps to keep cosmetics free from nasty things for a long time but also gives a good feel to the finished product
Eucalyptus Globululs Leaf Oil	Fragrance, Antimicrobial/​antibacterial	*Essential oil created by steam distilling the leaves of the Eucalyptus tree* Low amounts of eucalyptus oil do not seem to pose a risk of sensitivity in the general population, but its fragrance components are known sensitizers Colorless, pale yellow oil with a camphoraceous aroma used traditionally in vapor rubs to treat coughs Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-fungal Defends skin from photoaging (damage from UV rays)
Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil	Fragrance	*Natural essential oil composed primarily of menthol and menthone and is obtained from the peppermint plant* Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiallergenic activities Enhances the penetration of other of other skincare ingredients Primarily used in cosmetic formulations as a fragrance component, but previously also described as a denaturant
Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract	Emulsifying	Assists in regulating sebaceous gland secretions by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase enzyme activity while scavenging free radicals Helps eliminate excess oil Firms and tightens the skin
Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract	Humectant, Viscosity controlling	Extracted from red seaweed Nice film-forming, skin smoothing and moisturizing properties Reduces transepidermal water loss
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract	Antioxidant, Soothing	Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties Diminish UV-induced erythema formation Increase microcirculation Improve skin structure (as roughness, scaling, volume, and wrinkles) Reduce transepidermal water loss
Linolenic Acid	Skin-identical ingredient, Emollient, Surfactant, Fragrance	Naturally occurring, colorless polyunsaturated fatty acid liquid that functions as a skin-conditioning agent and skin-restorative ingredient
Hexylene Glycol	Solvent, Emulsifying, Fragrance, Surfactant	Similar to other glycols, a helper ingredient used as a solvent, or to thin out thick formulas and make them more nicely spreadable
Ethylhexylglycerin	Preservative	Boosts the effectiveness of phenoxyethanol (and other preservatives) Leaves skin feeling nice Effective deodorant and a medium spreading emollient
Decyl Glucoside	Surfactant	A vegetable origin (coconut or palm kernel oil and glucose) cleansing agent with foaming abilities Mild to the skin and readily biodegradable
Tocopherol	Antioxidant	Tocopherol, or vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin is a naturally occuring antioxidant Defends the skin from pollution and other environmental stressors that would otherwise weaken skin, causing unwanted changes
Oleanolic Acid	Antioxidant	Antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiaging properties Potent skin-soothing ingredient
Limonene	Fragrance, Solvent	*Common and cheap fragrance ingredient found in many plants (e.g. rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint) and it's the main component (about 50-90%) of the peel oil of citrus fruits* *Oxidizes on air exposure. Oxidized limonene can cause allergic contact dermatitis and counts as a frequent skin sensitizer* Reduces inflammation via inhibition of angiogenesis