When you really look forward to washing your face at night, you’ll know you’re taking your skin care seriously. When it comes to washing your face, the best cleansing balm definitely gets your attention. It’s a mainstay in my skincare collection and I think it’s the perfect cleanser for my nighttime skincare routine to easily remove makeup and cleanse my face. These are his one of the best cleansers you can have in your skincare wardrobe.
Cleansing balms can be used on most skin types (as long as they are non-comedogenic), but they are most effective if your skin is dry, as they are very nourishing to the skin.
“Cleansing balms are great for dry skin types,” says Dr. Anjali Mahato, a London-based consultant dermatologist and author of The Skincare Bible. “When massaged into the skin, it removes makeup, pollutants, sunscreen, etc. left on the skin.”
Similar to cleansing oils, cleansing balms are great for removing stubborn eye makeup and are typically used on dry skin, then emulsified with water and washed off as a milky residue. These excellent makeup removing properties make it a great first step in a double cleansing routine.
“Double cleansing involves first using a cleansing oil, balm, or micellar water to break down makeup, SPF, and surface oils, followed by a deeper water-based cleanse,” explains Dr. Anjali. . “This removes sweat, bacteria, and dead skin cells. The second cleanse deep cleans your pores and removes impurities.”
There are several reasons why I prefer balms over other forms of cleansers. First, it’s extremely easy to use, making it easy to remove dirt, grime, and makeup from the day. Secondly, it feels incredibly luxurious when you use it. A good cleansing balm has a rich, buttery texture and usually also has a spa-like scent.
How to use cleansing balm
As mentioned earlier, cleansing balms work best at night. This means you should reach for a cleansing balm during your night routine. As part of a double cleansing, this acts as the main cleanser, removing makeup, pollution, and dirt from the day.
Most cleansing balms work by massaging them onto your dry face (including over your closed eyes if you’re wearing makeup) before emulsifying with water. Then remove the stain with a wet flannel or muslin cloth. It is best to use lukewarm water rather than boiling hot or freezing cold water. This is to approach makeup effectively while being gentle and soothing to the skin.
Best cleansing balm of 2024
If you’re new to the world of cleansing balms, I’d like to think of myself as something of an expert. In my life, I have tried literally dozens of balms. Some were good, some were okay, some were truly exceptional, but now I’ve chosen my ultimate hall of fame.
I’ve tried each of these at least a few times, testing their effectiveness and enjoyment of use. And I feel incredibly qualified to recommend the following to help you part with your hard-earned money.
My criteria for the best cleansing balm is:
1. Easy to use and effectively removes makeup and dirt.
2. It’s fun to use, with a buttery texture and delicious aroma.
3. Made from reputable and effective ingredients
4. Great value for money
Best cleansing balm 2024
1. Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm Green Fig
(Image credit: Elemis)
An absolute classic, this cleansing balm is one of a kind. It’s won countless awards and is well known for sitting on the shelves of A-list celebrities and skin care experts (and even truckloads of beauty editors), and for good reason. there is.
This balm has a very smooth and rich texture that blends beautifully into the skin and glides on smoothly. A little goes a long way, so just one tub can last you several months. This product tackles make-up removal easily and leaves the skin very soft to the touch and does not flake.
My favorite is the latest Green Fig iteration, which smells incredibly good.
2. THE INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm
(Image credit: The Inkey List)
Probably my favorite affordable cleansing balm. Very easy to use thanks to the tube packaging. While having a cleansing balm in your bathtub feels natural, a cleansing balm like this is actually much more hygienic since you don’t have to soak your fingers in cleansing balm every night.
Inkey’s best-selling cleanser costs less than $10 and yet looks much more luxurious than its price suggests. That means you can feel like you’re at a spa for less. Formulated with ingredients like 3% Oat Kernel Oil and 1% Colloidal Oatmeal to remove makeup, nourish skin, calm redness and inflammation, and prevent water loss from the essential skin barrier.
3. Augustine Bader The Cleansing Balm
(Image credit: Augustine Bader)
It’s my favorite luxury item. This is a new addition to my Hall of Fame. Not only does it look luxurious with its blue and gold packaging, but it also leaves a rich feel on the skin, making it worth the investment.
Augustine Bader’s balm is packed with skin-loving ingredients, including an avocado-olive fruit oil complex and the brand’s patented TFC8® technology to keep your skin healthy and youthful.
The makeup really doesn’t compare to the formula. I recently tried it on one of the most durable waterproof mascaras and it was totally child’s play.
4. Beauty Pie Plantastic Apricot Butter Cleansing Balm
(Image credit: Beauty Pie)
If I had to choose a favorite, I might lean towards Beauty Pie’s EPIC Apricot Balm. There’s a lot to like about this. If you’re a Beauty Pie member and haven’t tried it yet (or are looking for a reason to sign up), you should order one as soon as possible.
Firstly, it smells absolutely incredible. The juicy apricots are fresh but not overpowering. Second, the texture is unparalleled, feeling more like a gorgeous, rich gel moisturizer than a cleanser. As a result, the skin feels incredibly soft and nourished after use. So, a second cleanse seems almost unnecessary (I said almost, but don’t skip the next step).
The ingredient list includes powerful ingredients like cold-pressed rosehip seed oil, apricot kernel oil, and vitamin E, all of which are skin-friendly. This jar will last for years as you don’t really need to use it much.
5.Face Gym Wonder Cleansing Balm
(Image provided by: Face Gym)
This is another recent addition to the list, and I couldn’t pass this one up, mainly because of its texture. It’s amazingly rich and thick, feels decadent when applied to the skin, and is okay for dry skin.
Its ingredient list focuses on an ingenious collagen complex developed over years thanks to innovative science. This means that it not only does its job well as a cleansing agent, but it also has the effect of improving the overall health and appearance of your skin to keep it looking youthful.
6. Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Balm
(Image credit: Dr. Hauschka)
Another great product that you can buy in a tube, I love Dr. Hauschka’s Cleansing Balm for many reasons. The vegan formula is extremely gentle and made from natural ingredients such as apricot kernel oil, birch and chalk, making it suitable for all skin types.
A little goes a long way and it spreads all over to remove eye makeup. The texture is very pleasant to use, ranging from a mellow gel to emulsified milk.
7. Byoma Melting Balm Cleanser
(Image credit: Byoma)
Byoma’s goal of developing products that strengthen the skin’s barrier continued when it launched its first cleansing balm. Packaged in a fun-looking yellow cube, this product is a must-have, especially for those on a budget.
Despite being made with a lightweight blend of oils, it doesn’t leave any residue or oiliness on your skin and removes everything from makeup to SPF before rinsing off. It’s formulated with barrier lipids, restorative olive fruit extract, and grape seed oil for barrier protection, and the overwhelmingly positive online reviews for this product speak for themselves.
8.Weleda Skin Food Nourishing Cleansing Balm
(Image credit: Weleda)
If you’re a fan of Weleda’s Skin Food moisturizer, you’ll definitely want to try this cleansing balm from the same line.
It has the same scent and contains similar ingredients (sunflower seed oil, chamomile, pansy extract, etc.), making it perfect for skin that’s feeling dry or dehydrated and in need of hydration.
If you need more reasons to invest, consider this. If your skin needs some extra TLC, you can apply this as a mask for 10 minutes, then massage and cleanse.