Last Updated on August 8, 2026 by omgbart
Ole Henriksen is not a brand that’s a constant in my routine, but it does have some major anchoring moments in my self-care journey. I often say my first encounter with the line was via a mention in US Weekly around twenty years ago. A celebrity name-drop of the Truth Serum had me on the 6 train going uptown that same day to grab a bottle at Henri Bendel. Last year, Ole Henriksen was also my first Sephora purchase after moving to Spain.
Today, I’m ecstatic to share a rave review of the B5 Boost Solid Foaming Cleanser.
Now that I think about it, I’d actually never used an Ole Henriksen cleanser before. Honestly, for the better part of the last decade, the entire brand was hardly on my radar. I’ll always appreciate Ole Henriksen’s spa heritage, but the LVMH era made the formulas look and sound more “play” and less “treat.” Okay, but let’s get back to the new cleanser…
What is B5 Boost about?
The solid cleanser comes in a jar, and if you’re already thinking “isn’t that just a cleansing balm?” No. It’s not. Ole Henriksen gives us a solid-but-not-balmy texture that whips into foam and delivers a genuinely deep cleanse. Unlike an oil-based cleansing balm, this formula needs to be combined with water before it touches your face. Technically, depending on how much makeup you’re wearing, this could pull off a double-cleanse duty in a single step.
Beyond removing impurities, this wash is also focused on strengthening the skin barrier and helping skin retain moisture. In short, it strives for a non-drying performance.
What is in this Ole Henriksen solid cleanser?
The cleansing base is coconut-derived (sodium cocoyl isethionate plus lauryl betaine), about as gentle as foaming gets, no stripping sulfates here. Kaolin clay pitches in for that deep-clean feel without any scrubbing. On the hydration side, glycerin and vitamin B5 (panthenol) do exactly what the name promises: pull in moisture and help the barrier hold onto it.
The real flex is the trio of Nordic superberry oils, elderberry, lingonberry, and black currant seed oil, antioxidant powerhouses packed with essential fatty acids you’d usually expect in a serum, not a rinse-off cleanser. A cleanser’s job is to cleanse, not to deliver skincare, but it’s a nice bonus to have these skin-treats along for the ride.
How to use the Ole Henriksen B5 Boost cleanser
This is where the new Ole Henriksen B5 wash wins. Texture. Aroma. Performance. Rich and scoopable, the solid cleanser comes with a spatula for easy scooping. You lift off a hazelnut-sized amount, wet your fingers, and work up a lather. Massage it into a damp face. On contact with water, the balm transforms into a microfoam that dissolves dirt, impurities, makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil, all while delivering a wisp of aromatherapy with notes that read herbal, with a slightly fruity edge.
Results-wise, the B5 Boost cleanser does a spectacular job. My tinted sunscreen was gone in seconds and my skin felt fresh and clean. Did it feel tight? Not exactly, but it felt slightly taut. I’ll chalk that up to being on Accutane right now rather than the formula. Upon rinsing, I followed with a face mist and moisturizer, and my skin was happy and glowing.
Trying this launch also had me thinking of the Arencia mochi cleanser you see everywhere. I have the green tea formula and love it. Ole Henriksen is giving us something very similar here, and no coincidence: turns out the B5 Boost Solid Foaming Cleanser is indeed made in Korea.
If you feel like a splurge, treat yourself to a jar of this wash. If you’re looking for something similar at almost half the cost, look into Arencia ($19 at Sephora).
$36 (100ml) at olehenriksen.com, Sephora.com and SpaceNK.com
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