These Cleansing Balms Will Remove Every Last Trace of Your Makeup

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My skin became the smoothest, clearest, and softest it has ever been when I incorporated a cleansing balm into my skincare routine. Cleansing oils or balms are commonly used as the first part of a two-step K-beauty process called double-cleansing—i.e., my favorite way to thoroughly clean my face. And, as a daily wearer of waterproof eyeliner, cream eyeshadow, and lip stains, I need a heavy-duty makeup remover to get my face clean, which is where my favorite cleansing balms come in.

As a refresher, cleansing balms can dissolve even the most saturated makeup without leaving your skin stripped or greasy. Basically, they’re a must-have for makeup wearers. And because I'm that obsessed with them, I personally tested and reviewed some of the best on the market and consulted board-certified dermatologists Fatima Fahs, MD; Mona Gohara, MD; and Karan Lal, MD, for all the deets. So here’s a peek at my favorite cleansing balms of 2023, along with the best formulas recommended by our experts, below.

✔️ FYI: We updated this article in September 2023 to give you the most up-to-date info on cleansing balms, including several we personally tested, consulted a few dermatologists for their takes on how to use them, and how to choose the best cleansing balm for yourself.

Keep scrolling for all the best cleansing balms for removing makeup, whether you have dry, oily, combo, acne-prone, or irritated skin. Then, I’ll break down what a cleansing balm is and how you choose the best cleansing balm for your skin type. Right this way, bbs.

Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

Cleansing balms are often filled with fragrances and essential oils that can srsly wreak havoc on your sensitive skin. Instead, try this no-frills balm from CeraVe that Dr. Lal loves because it “contains ceramides, which help hydrate and heal your skin as you cleanse.” It has a silky, sherbert-like texture that melts into your skin the second you start massaging it on, breaking down makeup and SPF with gentle and moisturizing emollients.

• Key ingredients: Jojoba oil (emollient), ceramides (moisturizers)

• Fragrance free? Yes

• Packaging: Jar

THE REVIEWS: “This is the best makeup remover for me I have found so far,” writes one reviewer. “I have sensitive skin and other removers have either left my skin feeling dry and itchy, or they burn my eyes and skin. This hasn't irritated me whatsoever after two weeks of everyday use and really gets the makeup off well.”

Holy Hydration Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm

If you’re just looking for a simple cleansing balm that’ll remove your makeup and cost less than your lunch, grab this one from Elf at pretty much any drugstore. It’ll dissolve your makeup and soften your skin (‘sup, ceramides, and sunflower seed oil) at the same time, and it even comes with its own spatula to make digging into the jar a bit easier and more sanitary.

• Key ingredients: Hydrogenated polydecene (emollient), peptides and ceramides (barrier-repairing)

• Fragrance free? No

• Packaging: Jar with spatula

THE REVIEWS: “I wash my face in the shower, but regular face wash doesn’t really remove makeup the way this stuff does,” writes one tester. “It’s very gentle on my eyes, so I’m not afraid to put it directly on my lids and rub it in. When I get out of the shower, all of my makeup is removed.”

Buttermilk Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm

This cleansing balm contains probiotics that Dr. Lal says help strengthen your skin barrier to offset water loss in dry and dehydrated skin types. “This is a microbiome saver because it removes dirt and oils and also restores your healthy skin bacteria,” he says. The formula is also filled with hydrating squalane and glycerin, along with soothing honey and aloe vera, making it a TLC powerhouse for your dry patches.

• Key ingredients: Squalane (moisturizing), chamomile flower extract (anti-inflammatory), whey protein (barrier-repairing)

• Fragrance free? Yes

• Packaging: Jar with spatula

THE REVIEWS: “I love this balm cleanser,” writes one reviewer. “It removes my makeup without leaving my skin feeling dry, and it’s easy to use and smells clean.”

Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

If your bathroom is already filled with essential oil diffusers and aromatherapy candles, you’ll love this fresh, floral-scented cleansing balm from Elemis. It’s filled with essential oils—like lavender, orange peel, geranium, and rose—that’ll make your nighttime routine feel fancy af. But don’t think the lovely scent is this blam’s only merit: “The added elderberry and starflower oils help leave your skin feeling extremely soft and smooth after rinsing,” says Dr. Fahs.

• Key ingredients: Sweet almond oil (emollient); starflower seed oil, chamomile flower oil (soothing)

• Fragrance free? No

• Packaging: Jar

THE REVIEWS: One reviewer writes, “I have tried almost 30 different cleansing balms, and this is my absolute favorite. The feel, the aroma, the texture, and the result are utterly unmatched. It is quite expensive, but for me, the experience is worth the expense. It makes my evening double-cleanse pleasurable and something I look forward to.”

Hydro Ungrip Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

When you need to remove waterproof mascara, gel eyeliner, and liquid lipstick, reach for this powerful cleansing balm that breaks down even the strongest makeup without requiring you to scrub or scratch. The first two ingredients in the formula are soybean oil and sunflower seed oil, which—along with its other moisturizing oils—give it the power to dissolve all pigments and stains while you massage.

Just note that because of its oil-heavy nature, you'll want to follow it up with your regular cleanser (especially if you have oily skin) to remove any lingering residue before moisturizing.

• Key ingredients: Soybean oil, sunflower seed oil, castor seed oil (emollients)

• Fragrance free? No

• Packaging: Jar

THE REVIEWS: “This cleansing balm melts down into a silky oil once it comes in contact with skin,” writes one reviewer. “It breaks down all of my makeup from foundation to waterproof mascara. It gets all the points for me since it rinses away clean with water and doesn’t leave a film on my skin.”

Dew Dream Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

This cleansing balm is one of my personal favorites for my combo skin because it doesn’t leave an oily residue on my skin, despite being thick and buttery. How? Because it’s filled with a mix of lightweight cleansers and fatty-acid-rich moisturizers (see: borage oils and moringa seed oil) that work to break down makeup while still rinsing away cleanly.

• Key ingredients: Borage seed oil, watermelon seed oil, moringa seed oil (emollients)

• Fragrance free? No

• Packaging: Tube

THE REVIEWS: According to one tester, “This is a really lovely cleanser. It has a thick balmy texture with small beads in it and a relaxing spa-like fragrance. It spreads easily and melts makeup off. After cleansing, my skin feels soft, calm, and supple, like I used a hydrating mask that also removed makeup.”

Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

I get it: Cleansing balms can be messy and sometimes require some elbow grease to remove. But not this best-selling one from Farmacy. All you need is a splash of water to completely emulsify it into a milky cleanser that can break down layers of sunscreen and makeup, even waterproof. If your eyes are sensitive, though, make sure to avoid massaging it into your lashes and opt instead for micellar water.

• Key ingredients: Lime oil, bergamot oil (fragrance); turmeric root extract (soothing)

• Fragrance free? *Yes, but contains essential oils

• Packaging: Jar with spatula

THE REVIEWS: According to one reviewer, “My sister had this while we were on vacation, and I tried it and had to buy it when we got home. It is so simple to use! It is oily when you apply it to your face, but once you rinse it off, your face feels delicate and soft. I wear a full face of makeup, and when I use it, my makeup comes right off, even eye makeup.”

Clean It Zero 3-in-1 Cleansing Balm

Whaddup to the almost 9,000 five-star reviews on this cleansing balm from Banila Co. But trust: The hype is real, as this balm removes waterproof makeup without leaving behind a residue or requiring you to rub at your eyes. It’s ideal for dry and oily skin types alike, containing lightweight emollients and moisturizers that won’t feel heavy or greasy.

The brand also has four other formulas (Nourishing, Revitalizing, Purifying, and Pore Clarifying) for your specific skin type and concerns. And pro tip: Because this is an Amazon favorite, you can find it on sale pretty often, too.

• Key ingredients: Vitamin E (antioxidant), bamboo leaf extract (moisturizing), ethylhexyl palmitate (emollient)

• Fragrance free? No

• Packaging: Jar

THE REVIEWS: “One of the first oil cleansing products I've ever used,” writes one tester. “The original Clean It Zero has a very light, sweet scent that isn't very overpowering. The product is good at what it does: it cleanses off my sunscreen and does a pretty decent job of removing my heavy-duty waterproof products.”

Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

This cleansing balm is a ~dream~ for those with sensitive eyes that get red and sting every time you put a product near them. It’s spiked with antioxidant-rich safflower seed oil and vitamin E to help soothe and moisturize the skin around your eyes. But it also shines in the ingredients it's formulated without, like fragrance, essential oils, and heavy emollients that could irritate eyes and skin.

• Key ingredients: Vitamin E (antioxidant); ethylhexyl palmitate and safflower seed oil (emollients)

• Fragrance free? Yes

• Packaging: Jar

THE REVIEWS: “I have very sensitive eyes, and this product doesn’t bother my eyes at all,” writes one reviewer. “Plus, it’s able to 100 percent remove all of your sunscreen and/or makeup from your face at night. That way, I don’t have to worry about possibly breaking out due to leftover sunscreen and/or makeup on my face that had not been thoroughly removed.”

Oat Cleansing Balm

This is the only cleansing balm that doesn’t make my skin burn when I have an eczema flare-up, thanks to the fact that it’s loaded with soothing oat kernel oil and colloidal oatmeal. It gently removes all of my makeup without stinging or irritating my face even further, and I often don’t even follow up with my regular face wash because it’s filled with such gentle, good-for-skin ingredients.

• Key ingredients: Oat kernel oil (soothing); sweet almond oil, vitamin E (moisturizing)

• Fragrance free? Yes

• Packaging: Tube

THE REVIEWS: One tester writes, “Love this balm! I have sensitive skin and redness. It has kept redness at bay, and my skin feels great after cleansing."

Living Cleansing Balm

Confession time: I miiight have bought this cleansing balm because of the pretty packaging (don’t judge), but after only one use, it’s become the main character in my P.M. routine. It quickly emulsifies into a milky cleanser that completely washes away, so you don’t have to follow with another face wash. It’s filled with emollients that both break down and remove makeup and leave your skin soft, like olive oil, grapeseed oil, and sea buckthorn oil.

• Key ingredients: Olive oil, grapeseed oil, sea buckthorn oil (emollients and moisturizers)

• Fragrance free? *Yes, but contains essential oils

• Packaging: Jar

THE REVIEWS: “I love the texture and how soft it is on my skin,” writes one tester in a review. “I rinse it off with a water-based cleanser, and I'm good to go. Also, it lasts a long time since I only use like two dollops to fully remove makeup off my face.”

Omega+ Complex Cleansing Balm

If every cleansing balm leaves your vision cloudy and gives your contact lenses hell, try this cleansing balm from Paula’s Choice. It has a minimal ingredients list of light emollients and emulsifiers that aren’t likely to get stuck in your lashes or eyes after rinsing—especially if you double cleanse (my preferred choice). Plus, it’s totally free of fragrance and essential oils, so no worries about irritating side effects, even on sensitive skin.

• Key ingredients: Vitamin E (antioxidant); meadowfoam seed oil, jojoba oil (emollients)

• Fragrance free? Yes

• Packaging: Tube

THE REVIEWS: “This is the first time I've actually been able to fully remove my waterproof mascara without having to rub so hard I lose an eyelash or two,” one review reads. “It's very gentle and doesn't irritate my eyes. I truly felt I removed all of my makeup at this step.”

Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm

This cleansing balm won’t (and shouldn’t) take the place of a chemical exfoliant, but it calls on papaya enzymes to help smooth your skin a bit if it’s looking dull and dehydrated. So while you wash away the day’s makeup, excess oil, and grime, you’re also getting a little exfoliation, plus moisturizing camellia and apricot kernel oil for softer skin. Even better, it smells so freakin’ delicious—s/o to the papaya (like, I’m tempted to eat mine).

• Key ingredients: Papaya fruit extract (exfoliating); camellia oil, apricot kernel oil (emollients)

• Fragrance free? Yes

• Packaging: Jar

THE REVIEWS: “I have been using this religiously as a makeup remover and have felt a nearly instant difference in the texture of my skin,” writes one tester. “My skin is so smooth!”

What does a cleansing balm do?

A cleansing balm is a thick, solid makeup remover or face wash that is “comprised of oils to help emulsify and break up sunscreen, makeup, and dirt on your skin,” says dermatologist Fatima Fahs. Even though they're often filled with oils, cleansing balms emulsify in water, so you can easily rinse them off or wipe them off with a wet washcloth. “Cleansing balms also can be used if you’re worried about over-drying your skin in the cleansing process,” says dermatologist Mona Gohara, “because they remove dirt while hydrating your skin.”

Because of their formulation, cleansing balms are often and preferably used as the first step in a double-cleansing routine (in which you use a cleansing balm or cleansing oil to remove makeup, followed by your face wash to cleanse skin). It’s not always necessary, but because the emollients (see: butters and oils) can leave behind some trace residue, anyone with acne-prone skin should follow with their regular face wash just to be safe.

How to choose the best cleansing balm:

Consider your skin type

Though cleansing balms are inherently more moisturizing than, say, gel cleansers, they can still be a great option for all skin—not just dry types. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, look for cleansing balms with lightweight oils, like jojoba oil and safflower oil, as well as gentle exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs, says Dr. Fahs, to help keep pores clear.

On the other hand, if you have dry skin, opt for cleansing balms that contain humectants, like glycerin, “which draws water onto the surface of your skin,” says dermatologist Karan Lal. You can also choose heavier oils and butters, like shea butter and avocado oil, and skip the double-cleanse to leave behind an occlusive layer to lock in hydration before moisturizing.

Avoid fragrance if you have sensitive skin or eyes

“Cleansing balms and oils are infamous for their scents,” says Dr. Lal. If you have sensitive skin or eyes, eczema, keratosis pilaris, or rosacea, look for a cleansing balm that doesn’t contain fragrance or essential oils, which can cause irritation, burning, and itching.

Prioritize packaging

If you know having to dig your hands into a tub of cleansing balm will deter you from taking off your makeup, look for a cleansing balm in a tube, which will have a thinner consistency that you can squeeze into your palm. It’s ideal if your cleansing balm comes with a spatula (bonus points if it’s magnetic or stays put inside the lid). Or you can just buy your own reusable skincare spatula like the sanitary, sustainable queen you are.

Meet the experts:

• Fatima Fahs, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Hamzavi Dermatology in Canton, MI. She is also the founder of the Dermy Doc Box, a quarterly subscription beauty box filled with dermatologist-approved skincare favorites.

• Mona Gohara, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Hamden, CT. Dr. Gohara is an associate clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine and president of the Women’s Dermatologic Society. Her areas of expertise include medical and surgical dermatology and treating skin of color.

• Karan Lal, MD, is a double board-certified adult, pediatric, and cosmetic dermatologist at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ. Dr. Lal specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology, laser surgery, and treating skin of color.

Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?

Siena Gagliano is an associate editor who writes beauty at Cosmopolitan and has three years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing skincare stories, like the best retinol body creams and the top cellulite creams. She regularly tests and analyzes cleansing balms on her own skin for efficacy while working with the industry’s top dermatologists to assess new treatments, formulas, and products.

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with four years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from ice rollers to whiteheads. She’s an authority in all skincare categories but is an expert when it comes to cleansing balms, thanks to years of personal testing.

Venezia Moorer is the production manager for Cosmopolitan’s Snapchat Discover channel and has been writing about beauty for four years. She’s written stories about the best sheet masks on Amazon and nail polish organizers.

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