‘I put this affordable cleanser through the ultimate wear test in Japan’

Does this cleansing balm stack up in the Osaka humidity?

We put the Mecca Max cleansing balm to the test. Image: Mecca Max

When Mecca Max launched Melt Down Make-Up Removing Cleansing Balm, we travelled to Osaka to put it to the test. Was it all affordability, and no follow-through? Or another win for this easy-to-love brand? Read on for the full review.

When travelling abroad, there are a few beauty products I would consider absolutely essential, regardless of how sparsely you’re packing. 

#1. Good quality mascara: avoid sore eyes and smudging with a tried and tested (read: reliable) mascara. Opt for a tubing formula for easy removal, and no panda eyes. 

#2. Blush: we’re in the midst of the blush renaissance and there is no greater product to add instant life and lift to your face. Extra points for a cream formula which you can toss in your bag for easy application throughout the day, and use on cheeks, lips and eyes. 

#3. Moisturiser: worn-out skin needs moisture – ideally via a product your skin already likes, and is high on the repair factors. This is particularly important if you’re heading to a cold climate. 

#4. Sunscreen: no matter the destination, no matter the length of the stay – SPF50 must be in your bag, and ready to be applied and reapplied (and worn with protective clothing and sunglasses).

I would also consider some sort of fun eyeliner or shadow a must-pack item (great for a night out or jazzing up a simple outfit) – but that’s just me. 

But with all that makeup – and the added addition of new pollutants, different climates, and a probable lack of sleep – there’s one product which surpasses all the rest. 

A great quality cleanser. 

When you’re out of routine, experiencing new environments, sleeping in new beds, with unfamiliar washing powder, and eating and drinking differently, your skin feels the pressure. 

One of the very first places that shows signs of stress – be it mental, or physical – your skin can act as a key for the rest of your body. So when you’re travelling, tired and trying new things, it's no wonder many people find their skin freaking out the second they touch down in a new location. 

It’s also, incidentally, the exact time you don’t want it to. Thus, a fail-safe product to clean your skin and keep your barrier strong is a no-brainer. 

When choosing a cleanser to take on holiday, I look for a product that’s got reliable and skin-friendly ingredients. Something that’s easy to apply and doesn’t require too much admin or time to get it on my face – but which also has enough oomph to successfully lift even the most stubborn eye makeup 

Earlier this year, I was faced with a new product to put to the test: Mecca Max’s newest skincare drop, the Melt Down Make-Up Removing Cleansing Balm.

Mecca Max is known for its affordable but efficacious range of skincare and makeup – and the innovations behind the brand are all about bringing great products to the masses. 

As something of a connoisseur of cleansing balms – getting through them at a vaguely worrying pace, and having tried a pretty decent cross-section of those currently available on the market – I was intrigued to see how Melt Down would stack up. Was it all affordability, and no follow-through? Or another win for this easy-to-love brand?

In celebration of five years of Mecca Max, and the brand’s first-ever balm, I headed abroad for a sweaty, action-packed week in Osaka, Japan, to stage the ultimate wear test.

Here’s my travel and beauty diary from the four-day trip, and a verdict on the Melt Down cleansing balm. 

Day 1

Day one was predominantly a travel day, which saw us wake up early and head to the airport for our Jetstar flight to Osaka. 

The Sydney to Osaka direct flight is a newly launched route with Jetstar, making it the second flight path from Sydney to Japan without any stops (Tokyo being the other). 

The great thing about Japan as a destination is it takes just under 10 hours to get there, and is only two hours behind Australia. Super doable and easy on a budget airline, which means you can save your hard-earned cash for the holiday itself. Plus, if you’re on a day flight like we were, you can work the whole way there, practically still on office hours. 

I was planning on lightly snacking throughout the flight, but unfortunately for me and my travel neighbours, the cheese and tomato jam toasties are insanely good, and I hoed down one of those, plus a lasagne (also delicious). 

Great for my stomach, not so great for my skin, which was already feeling the burn from the drying aeroplane aircon, and was sent into oil production overdrive. Perfect. 

Upon landing, we headed to the W Hotel in Osaka, where we were based for three glorious nights. 

The hotel is located in central Osaka – easily walkable to just about everywhere in the inner city – and was about a 40-minute drive from Kansai International Airport. 

Just like all W hotels, it goes hard on the design elements and was a sensory delight at every turn: from the neon pink lights at the concierge, to curved green sofas in the bar and Bladerunner-esque installations in the lobby. 

We had some welcome drinks (and really great soy crisps) in the bar to toast the start of the trip, then I headed upstairs to do some serious skin damage control. 

As predicted, my skin did not enjoy the airtime. I was greeted with a mix of whiteheads (cute!), dryness on my temples, and an oily T-zone, with no signs of it stopping. 

I committed to using the full Mecca Max skincare range for the whole trip, but went in with a pretty topline cocktail of products on night one; too eager to sleep, and too scared of my already-impaired skin barrier to be experimental. 

I started with the Melt Down cleanser, which was far softer than other cleansing balms I’ve used, and immediately lived up to its name; melting into the skin and gently lifting any makeup still left on my face. 

The Melt Down balm has a really nice ingredient list, which is worth paying attention to when you’re choosing a cleanser, for both travel and everyday. Squalane is a naturally occurring oil which mimics the oils in your skin – great for skin that’s on the offensive. 

That being said, it is a pretty oily formulation, and I would say it leaves a little residue on the skin, so you will need a second cleanser to completely lift it, even if it’s just micellar water. The pay off? Skin that feels properly cleansed, but still hydrated – a win after a day in transit. 

It’s also rich in antioxidants which help to fight existing damage and free radicals. Ceramide NP is another great addition, which enhances hydration and helps to repair a compromised moisture barrier; and jojoba and grapeseed oils help to hydrate and balance skin.

I used one of the Hit Reset Biodegradable Makeup Removing Wipes as my second cleanser because I was too lazy to do much more. But the aloe vera and vitamin E ensures they won’t strip the skin. I never travel without these wipes; they’re so good on an aeroplane and the perfect way to remove your face when you’ve had too many sakés on the rocks. 

Hot tip, they also make for a great exfoliant for your lips. Great news if you’re me and had a pout verging on illegally dry at this point in the evening. 

I finished off with a layer of the Thirst Impressions Hydrating Moisturiser, added some Spot Dot Blemish Busting Patches to the areas of my face looking particularly dire, and said ‘Sayonara’ for the night, ready for a big day of action tomorrow.

Day 2 

Full disclosure, my skin barrier was in a bad place at the start of this trip. An intense facial sent my already-teetering epidermis totally over the edge, so we weren’t trying to maintain good skin, but earn it back entirely. 

As a friend who specialises in cosmaceutical science told me: the only thing to do when you’ve fried your barrier is to go on a skin diet – no exfoliants, no actives, no anything your skin might have a reaction to. 

The MO is gentle and nourishing formulations which restore the barrier to its former glory. 

With that in mind, I started the day by washing my face with water, applying a hydrating mist, and locking it in with The Break-Up Blemish Busting Serum. 

Given the humidity in Japan at that time of year, I didn’t want to pile on too many layers of moisture, but also needed to ensure I was properly protecting my skin. I opted for a hydrating essence and topped it off with a 1/4 spoon of the Screen Saver SPF30 Broad Spectrum Facial Sunscreen. 

Then, for makeup, I used an SPF50 BB cream as a base, plus concealer on the areas that needed some extra coverage. Per above, this morning there were a lot (ugh) – but I felt fine about going in with makeup where needed because I knew I’d done the skincare groundwork. 

Before I headed out for the day, I added some life back into my face with my favourite Mecca Max Off Duty Blush Stick. I go between shades, but my current favourite is Moody, which appears to be an intimidating purple, but wears really beautifully on the skin. The best part about these is you can wear them on every single part of your face. 

A lash of mascara and brow gel, plus a lick of the cobalt Zoom Zip Liner Liquid Eyeliner for a bit of fun (and extra sunscreen in my bag), and it’s safe to say my nighttime skincare was going to have its work cut out for it. 

We started off the day with a welcome brunch and origami lesson (spoiler alert: was much better at one activity than the other), before heading out on a bike ride around Osaka. 

As someone who used to live in Copenhagen, I strongly advocate for bikes or feet being the best way to see a city. Bikes make it easy to cover some serious ground, which we absolutely did on our outing. We pedalled through the centre of Osaka, over the river and past markets, then through the gardens of Osaka Castle. 

The Japanese sun was not messing about, so we stopped to apply sunscreen along the way, and made sure we were wearing sunglasses and protective clothing too. 

Our next stop was a traditional drumming class, which worked up far more sweat than you’d expect, and served as one hell of an icebreaker for the group. 

Next up was a very quick pit stop back at the W to refresh make-up and get changed for dinner. My makeup wore pretty well throughout the day, so I patted some more concealer onto the Problem Areas, then added a hint of sparkle to my eyes and another coat of mascara for some impact. 

Osaka is the food capital of Japan, so we were excited to hoe into the local cuisine. For dinner, we opted for a sushi train restaurant which did not disappoint. A personal highlight was a dish called ‘broiled idiot fish’ – for the name alone – but I loved the agedashi tofu and the ultra-fresh sashimi. 

After dinner, we hopped into our coach and went to the Osaka Botanic Garden to see the TeamLab installation, which uses digital technology to bring light and colour to immersive art. Walking through the gardens proved a nice moment of calm after a busy day in Osaka. 

However, when we got back to the hotel that night, it was time for another reckoning: with my skin after about 20 layers of skincare and makeup and 14 hours on the go. 

And I have to say I was impressed. Throughout the day, my skin held up well in photos, and my makeup didn’t separate, which meant the oil overproduction had settled down after the drying flight. 

There was still an area of congestion on my left cheek, which has been ongoing for a few months, but the layer of Blemish-Busting serum definitely did some serious legwork throughout the day to clarify the skin and keep it clean (thank you salicylic acid). 

Once again, I started off my skincare routine with a dollop of the Melt Down cleanser, working it into my skin, particularly the eyes, to de-sparkle and ensure I really lifted that mascara. 

Unlike night one, I opted to double cleanse properly, and went in with the Foam-O Gentle Gel Cleanser. This easily lifted off any residue left from Melt Down and, similarly, left the skin feeling clean, but not stripped. 

Confident that I’d nailed the cleanse, on the serum step, I decided to get crafty: I applied the Break Up Blemish-Busting Serum to my congested cheek, then used the Watercooler Calming Hydration Serum on the rest of my face. 

Since the breakouts had become more localised, I didn’t want to keep hitting my face with the salicylic acid if it wasn’t needed. Partially because I already know my barrier is on-edge at the moment, but also because I want the serum to be effective the next time I have a hefty breakout. 

The Watercooler is pretty much the dream serum for sad skin barriers like mine. It’s got a gentle mix of vitamin b5, which helps to retain moisture in the skin, plus fermented birch juice and green algae extract for extra bounce. 

I also used the Chill Out Brightening Eye Cream, mostly as an excuse to play with the metal applicator. I love how cooling it is, it really depuffs eyes – great if you’ve had a cry and need to dial back the redness. Hypothetically speaking. 

I locked everything in with the Night Duty Hydrating Overnight Jelly Mask, in a bid to inject a bit more moisture into my tired skin. 

Day 3 

Final day, final skin test. And boy, it was a big one.

I used the same approach as yesterday, prioritising a solid base, sun protection and serums to protect and prime. 

We started off the day with a trip to 7-Eleven which, if you’ve ever been to Japan or scrolled on TikTok, you’ll know is like Mecca, but food edition. I was strangely drawn 

We went to stock up on snacks for our commute, but ended up pretty much cleaning out the store, selecting all sorts of salty, sweet and sticky delights. 

First stop for the day was the coach, for a short drive to Kyoto. We started the day with a walk up the hill at the beautiful Fushimi Inari Shrine, stopping for street food and photo ops on the way up. 

It was a sweaty affair, but a beautiful one, and required a hefty sunscreen reapplication when we got back to the bus. And some strawberry Pocky sticks, obviously. 

That afternoon we went to a geisha house, where we watched the meiko perform, then loaded up on the sun protection for a boat ride down the Hozugawa river. Tired, satisfied, and with a very full camera roll, we hopped on the shinkansen (bullet train) back to Osaka. My first taste of Japanese railways, I was impressed by the organisation and how clean the platforms are, and equally terrified by the sheer size of the stations. Australia could never. 

Before our walking tour of Dotonbori night markets, I dashed upstairs back at the W for a warp-speed glow up. I smudged some liquid glitter eyeliner across my eyelids for a wash of sparkle, then went back over the lash line with the Mecca Max Zoom Eyeliner Stick in Espresso – the perfect brown – and topped off my lashes with another hit of mascara. 

The sun had gone down by that point, so I didn’t reapply sunscreen, but I did add a bit more concealer to my base, to disguise any redness – which I was very pleased to see had decreased significantly over the past few days. 

It was a late final night on the town, in which we hit up some street food stalls while walking through Osaka’s electric downtown, then headed to an ultra-luxe karaoke bar to bust out some break-up ballads until the early morning. 

Mecca Max Melt Down Make-Up Removing Cleansing Balm, $28 from mecca.com

Shop here

The verdict

We were in action for 18 hours on our final day, spanning two cities, three forms of transport, dehydration and about 8 layers of makeup – so if anything was going to cause a skin tantrum, it was that. 

But after a solid cleanse with Melt Down and Foam-O when I got home (plus a coat of The Watercooler, Chill Out Brightening Eye Cream and Night Duty Hydrating Overnight Jelly Mask), I was really impressed by the status of my skin the next morning – and how it handled the range throughout the week. 

The range, and Melt Down in particular, are great for anyone dealing with a skin barrier in crisis, and I love that you can tweak the routine to adapt to congestion or dryness, and wear the products day or night.

I would’ve preferred the Melt Down tube had a flip cap, rather than the twist lid, just because it’s harder to close the bottle when your hands are slippery mid-skincare routine. And if you’re looking to pack light, then it’s worth keeping in mind that you will need a second cleanser to lift the remnants of the balm. But we’re firm believers that everyone should be double cleansing anyway! 

The best part about the Mecca Max skincare, aside from how affordable it is, is knowing that the ingredients are safe to use, effective, and won’t irritate the skin. Even if you’re using them for the first time, or are putting your skin to work when you’re travelling. 

So whether you’re a skincare expert, or a beginner, consider Melt Down tried, tested and approved by team Body+Soul. 

You can shop the full Mecca Max skincare range at mecca.com

Body+Soul was invited as a guest of Mecca Max and Jetstar on this trip, but the product review is the writer's own opinion.

Originally published as ‘I put this affordable cleanser through the ultimate wear test in Japan’