The Controversial Cleanser | Abib Acne Foam Cleanser Heartleaf Foam Review

Abib is a minimalist and purist skincare brand launched in 2016, with their name coming from the Hebrew word meaning ‘ripening grain’ which indicates the first month of the Hebrew calendar to indicate the start of spring and a time of replenishment and renewal. Abib has always created quality products, with the majority being perfect for sensitive skin – due to its simple, but very purposeful formulation. With sustainable packaging, ingredients and focus on providing pure ingredients – Abib has been a company people turn to time and again for soothing skincare. 

Their most famous product is their Sunstick Protection Bar, which provides a soothing and highly protective dose of SPF protection on the go and their Glutathiosome range has become famous due to the powerful trio of glutathione, vitamin C and niacinamide to refresh dark spots and create an even, glowing skin barrier. As a company, they’ve embraced simple and effective skincare – so upon hearing that their acne foam cleanser is ‘one of the greats’ had me excited. Who doesn’t love a good acne cleanser? Let’s take a closer look at it and find out – is this the cleanser for all your acne problems? 

Heartleaf extract: a popular K-beauty ingredient, extracted from Houttuynia leaves that cools irritation, reduces acne-causing bacteria and refreshes skin barrier for softer, clearer skin. 

 
Coconut surfactants: such as sodium cocoyl isethionate and coco-betaine, these are derived from coconut oil to create an emulsifier that lifts dead skin cells and creates a bubbly base for a soft, gentle cleanse. 

 
Wintergreen leaf extract: rich in salicylic acid, a common ingredient for its soothing and antibacterial effect. 

Centella asciatica extract: deeply hydrating herbal remedy that calms irritation, redness and cools skin. 

Salicylic acid (BHA): a popular exfoliating acid used to refresh pores, clear dead skin cells and sebum, whilst also calming redness and irritation. 

Panthenol: soothing vitamin B5 that helps cool and repair skin barrier for stronger, calmer skin appearance. 

The product also contains a variety of emulsifiers and chemical agents (as most cleansers do) with salt to thicken, with skin-softening agents and a variety of the coconut-based cleansers for mild action. 

This cleanser is marketed as a great cleanser for oily skin and acne. But in actual practice, this cleanser is far too mild to genuinely clear oils from skin, especially if you are struggling with excess sebum and overactive pores. You can read on to find out all the reasons why I wouldn’t recommend it for combination, oily and acne-prone skin – but essentially it doesn’t provide a cleanse deep enough to help clear acne. I wouldn’t recommend it for dry skin either, as it’s not designed to be gentle enough to balance hydration.

Regardless of the marketing, this is an oil-based cleanser for sensitive and acne-prone skin. From the ingredients list, this cleanser is best to soothe and gently refresh sensitive skin, where aggressive cleanser or exfoliation may irritate.

I have combination, acne-prone skin and I was in the middle of an outbreak when I ran out of my last, refreshing cleanser (BHA + Pore Zero Cleansing Foam, which is a splendid, low-cost cleanser for oily skin!) Behold, I needed a new cleanser – and thought, wouldn’t an acne cleansing foam (written directly on the label) be the perfect new cleanser? It was marketed for oily, combination skin – and also had exfoliating BHA, but with a base of heartleaf. It sounded perfect, so I bought it, cracked it open and added it to my routine. 

The first thing I noted was how thick it was. It’s nearing the end of winter in Australia, so I actually thought it must have gotten too cold – as it came out as a stick in my hand, rather than a creamy cleanser. I enthusiastically warmed it up in my hands, but no matter how much energy I put into it, it doesn’t melt. It’s an incredibly thick, fatty cleanser that doesn’t meld into your skin. That’s when it struck me – this isn’t a cream-based cleanser, this is formulated like a cleansing balm. 

Which, if you know, cleansing balms can be a great addition to the routine – if you are looking to emulsify make-up and sunscreen, but for oily skin it should be used as a double cleanser to ensure the excess fats are rinsed off. It’s not marketed this way, and I was really confused. As a cleansing balm, it doesn’t really emulsify or cleanse pores properly, because it's too thick to absorb well, so I mashed it against my face for the appropriate minute (it didn’t lather well) and rinsed it off.  

It doesn’t have a refreshing cleansing feel, but also my skin felt weirdly dry in places.

For my combination skin, it gave me the worst of both worlds, as my dry patches felt sore and my oily zones were clogging. I’ve never had a cleanser be this incompatible with my face before. I think it comes from the poor marketing – this is not a cleanser for oily skin, nor combination skin. People do love this cleanser – but mostly those who have sensitive skin and acne and are trying to find that careful balance of a soothing cleanser that doesn’t irritate their skin. 

Safe to say, this cleanser was not useful in helping clear my acne - and it wouldn't be, because the make-up of it is not designed to balance oily skin. It drives home the importance of shopping for your skin type - as things designed for other people's skin will always be a disappointment to you.

This cleanser is a soft, gentle addition to a sensitive skincare routine that is struggling with acne. Sensitive skincare is a specialty of Abib and if that is what you struggle with - plenty of people have had amazing results with this cleanser. Just, unfortunately, not for all acne users.

Looking for sensitive-friendly skincare or just something that suits your skin-type? Shop on Arktastic - where we curate our collection to ensure quality results everytime, no matter your skin type!