Most cleansers provide a foamy texture, while others contain an oil-based formula. But when it comes to removing all the grimy mascara and foundation from your face after a long day, a cleansing balm is the best solution for melting away every makeup residue from your skin.
Cleansing balms work to quickly dissolve even the most stubborn waterproof formulas, which makes it a solid first step for your nightly skin care routine. They also work effectively for acne-prone and dry skin due to its unique formulation.
Shop TODAY consulted a few skin care experts to better understand exactly how balm cleansers work. Plus, we rounded up a few options that are worth adding to your skin care routine.
How do they work? | How to apply it | Cleansing balms to shop | FAQs | Meet our experts
How do cleansing balms work?
The chemistry behind cleansing balms begins with surfactants. The structure of these molecules consists of both a hydrophilic polar head group and a nonpolar lipophilic tail, which drives surfactants to oil/water surfaces to facilitate cleansing. The surfactant molecules then group together into micelles when they are in a watery environment and instantly trap dirt.
Cleansing balms start out with a thick consistency, but then transform into a milkier texture once rubbed into the skin.
"The balm is great for penetrating makeup and SPF, which can be tricky to remove with regular facial cleanser alone," says dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman. "Then, the oil binds to dirt, makeup and oils on your skin so you can get a deep cleanse. Finally, the milky consistency washes off, leaving you with clean, fresh skin."
How to apply a cleansing balm
What's great about cleansing balms is that you don't need to wet your face before applying it.
"Take a small amount of cleansing balm and rub it between your fingers briefly until it just starts to melt, then work it around your skin in small circular motions. After about 30 seconds to a minute (or until you’ve thoroughly worked the balm around your face), rinse off with lukewarm water and reveal clean, hydrated skin," guides Engelman.
Since cleansing balms are ideal for all skin types, you can add them to your double-cleansing routine. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano, it's best to massage the balm cleanser into your dry skin, "then use a gel or cream-based cleanser as the second step in the cleansing routine."
While more beauty lovers are using cleansing balms because of their effectiveness at removing makeup, they can get easily contaminated as you dip your fingers into the jar. Be sure to use an applicator to scoop out the balm before use.
Cleansing balms to shop
e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm
e.l.f.'s popular cleansing balm uses key ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid and peptides that'll hydrate and refresh your complexion while melting away all the makeup. Aside from not having to worry about stinging your eyes, it'll easily swipe off heavy makeup with minimal effort.
"It's perfect to apply and then get in the shower and rinse it all away. [It] takes off even the toughest waterproof mascara with no scrubbing," wrote one verified customer that said goodbye to face wipes once and for all.
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm
If you're dealing with acne or have sensitive skin, it's crucial to avoid products that'll add further irritation. "I recommend avoiding coconut oil and isopropyl myristate if you have acne-prone skin since they are comedogenic (pore-clogging)," adds Mamina.
For nights when your heavy-wear foundation needs extra care, use this gentle cleansing balm from The Inkey List. Aside from its smooth texture, the gentle formula is infused with colloidal oatmeal, which will help reduce redness.
Juno & Co. Clean 10 Cleansing Balm
Whether you're struggling to remove that sticky mascara or eyeliner, Juno & Co.'s Clean 10 is packed with key ingredients such as Japanese pearl barley, which helps to moisturize and clean your complexion. This TikTok-lauded cleansing balm (seriously, its hashtag currently has over 191 million views!) also has thousands of glowing ratings thanks to its powerful cleaning properties.
Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm
Dissolve your makeup with this eucalyptus-scented creamy cleanser from Versed. Not only will your face look glowy after using it, but it'll also feel soothed.
"I love the feel of this cleansing balm, it breaks down my eye makeup without stripping my skin, which is essential in winter," shared one Versed fan who gave it five stars.
Bliss Mighty Biome Pre/Post Biotics + Barrier Aid Deep Cleansing Balm
According to the brand, this cleansing balm was formulated to help keep the microbiome balanced and healthy while simultaneously removing dirt, makeup, sunscreen and other impurities. It's also the choice pick of commerce partnerships success associate Klay Drageset.
The Beauty Spy Seoul Cleansing Balm
A former New Beauty Choice Award winner, this cleansing balm's formula is packed with peptides, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to properly remove even the darkest of eye shadows.
BANILA CO NEW Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm
With nearly 9,000 verified five-star ratings, this K-beauty balm transforms into a soothing oil to eliminate all the smudge and grease from your face. "It took a very small amount to completely melt off all my makeup, including my eye makeup," added one verified shopper.
Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm
A combination of papaya and blueberry extract will give you the tropical sensation you're craving when you can't actually get away. This Glow Recipe find contains enzymes that are great for sensitive skin and won't strip away your natural oils. Plus, customers say this balm feels like a silky sorbet on your face.
Shop TODAY associate editor Shannon Garlin and commerce editor Julie Ricevuto are both fans of this balm. "It smells absolutely divine and I don't have a stitch of makeup leftover on my face/eyes after I rinse it off!" Ricevuto raves.
Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm
Farmacy's light green cleansing balm looks refreshing when you first lay eyes on it, but it's everything else it delivers that'll make you feel calm. The combination of sunflower and ginger root oils will break down all the dirt and stubborn mascara from your skin, plus its silky texture is hard to resist.
It also got the Shop TODAY seal of approval earlier this year as a winner in our Beauty Awards.
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm
Trouble with your long-wearing mascara and lipstick? This Clinique balm will just melt away all your makeup. Several thousand customers across Sephora and Ulta agree this is a great start to your double-cleansing routine, too — or, in the case of one verified shopper currently in chemotherapy, it's perfect on its own.
"I know this is meant to take off make up and to follow up with the three-step system, but this gets my skin so clean and fresh feeling that I use it as a face cleanser all on its own. There are lots of little things that come from treatment that are just a reminder that the cancer is there, like pain and sensitivity. I really like that I can depend on this to help me feel normal, at least when I wash my face."
Trinny London Be Your Best Enzyme Balm Cleanser
This balm cleanser is targeted at those with rosacea who need a kinder formula. The enzymes help irritated skin feel smoother, plus the alluring aroma might make you feel like you're taking a micro-vacation.
"From my first try with this cleanser, I fell in love," said one verified shopper. "Its texture is beautiful and, best of all, I don’t have that unpleasant dry tight feeling after using. "
True Botanicals Ginger Turmeric Cleansing Balm
Makeup fanatics will love this turmeric- and ginger-enhanced cleansing balm packed with botanicals that have been wildly harvested. It also includes buzzy AHAs like lactic and azelaic acid to prevent moisture loss and protect your skin barrier.
Shop TODAY senior SEO editor Jess Bender says you don't need much of this balm to remove an entire day's worth of makeup and/or anything else that may have accumulated on your skin throughout the day. "I use probably a dime’s worth of product max to take care of my entire face. It leaves my skin not only feeling squeaky clean, but also looking super glowy and ethereal as I go to bed every night — talk about beauty sleep."
Vitabrid C12 Daily-C Cleansing Balm
The stabilized form of vitamin C in this product is the trick to preventing dryness while soothing irritated skin. Just take a pea-sized amount on your palms and feel the antioxidants and sorbet-like texture working on your face. One shopper said this balm "emulsifies easily and [leaves] skin feeling clean and moisturized at the same time."
Babor Hyaluronic Cleansing Balm
Hyaluroniuc acid is the key ingredient in this cleansing balm that'll leave you with clean and plumper-looking skin. It also contains what the brand describes as a "luxurious" combination of oils that includes marula, argan and macademia. Shop TODAY editor Vivien Moon says the little towel it comes with adds to the luxurious experience.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Eliminate your cleansing conundrums with this collagen-boosting formula that features key ingredients like elderberry oil, padina pavonica and starflower oil. This balm transforms into three textures to deliver a spa-like experience to your regular beauty routine.
It's also a favorite of Shop TODAY editorial director Adrianna Brach and commerce partnerships coordinator Sydney Weber.
Augustinus Bader The Cleansing Balm
This rich concoction of vitamins, squalane, antioxidants and amino acids are meant to give you that luxury next-level pampering your skin needs. Plus, the avocado oil will protect your skin from environmental aggressors while delivering a smoothing effect.
Eve Lom Cleanser
This rich balm cleanser is an editor's favorite for its buttery and chunky texture. It contains cocoa butter and Egyptian chamomile oil that helps to soothe the skin.
"It's a pleasant ritual before bed that seems to stimulate circulation. I love the smell so it's aromatherapy, too," shared one buyer who gave it a perfect rating.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cleansing balm?
Basically, a cleansing balm is an oil-based cleanser that has a thick and solid texture.
"In addition to oils, it uses other ingredients like emollients and waxes to give it that added [consistency]," shares Turegano. "The oils in cleansing balms help with breaking down makeup, dirt, sunscreen and other products from the day; and they are suitable for all skin types (even oily skin) without leaving your skin feeling dry."
Some balm cleansers also have a surface-active agent that emulsifies with water, leaving a moisturizing texture on the skin.
What's the difference between cleansing oils, micellar water and cleansing balms?
While these products work very similarly, the main difference with these oil-based cleansers lie in the packaging and formula density.
"Cleansing balms are in a solid state with more of a thick cream, gel or wax texture," says Turegano. "This is because, in addition to oils, there are other emollients (i.e. shea butter) and waxes to give it more of that solid consistency. Because balms start out as a thicker texture, it takes a little longer for it to emulsify and turn into a liquid oil onto the skin."
"Cleansing oils and micellar water do not transform in a consistency like cleansing balms do," adds Engelman. "While each is effective for removing makeup and impurities and cleansing the skin, they don’t multitask quite as cleansing balms do."
Meet our experts
- Dr. Mamina Turegano, MD, is a triple board-certified dermatologist, internist and dermapathologist based in Los Angeles.
- Dr. Dendy Engelman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologic surgeon and director of dermatologic surgery at New York Medical College.
