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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
On the quest for perfect skin, you've probably heard of double cleansing, a two-step process that involves first removing your makeup, then cleaning your skin. If you're a fan of double-cleansing, consider using a cleansing balm as your first step to remove makeup and excess dirt. Because cleansing balms are made with hydrating ingredients—think butters, oils, and the like, they are notably more moisturizing than any other type of wash. They’re also an especially great choice for those with dry or sensitive skin, explains Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
Our best overall pick is Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, an antioxidant-rich balm that delivers anti-aging and collagen-boosting benefits. If your goal is soft skin post-washing, this product is a must. For a more affordable pick, consider SheaMoisture Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, a drugstore pick that contains 100% pure coconut oil and shea butter to deliver serious hydration when you wash your face.
And here’s the other great thing: Many of the cleansing balms out there don’t even require water. That’s right—it’s as simple as wipe on, wipe off. That not only leaves behind those hydrating benefits but also makes your skincare routine that much faster and easier. For those invested in sustainable beauty practices and conserving water, you know that's a win.
To help you decide which cleansing balm is right for your skin, we conducted hours of research and consulted with two board-certified dermatologists. We considered dozens of formulas, evaluating them on their active ingredients—looking in particular for ingredients that add moisture to skin and are free-from alcohol. We also sourced products are are rich in oils that have antioxidant properties to benefit overall skin complexion.
Ahead, find the best cleansing balms that really are thebomb.com. (Sorry, we had to.)
Best Overall
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
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Gives a soft, glowing complexion
Leaves a clean feeling on skin
Nourishing
Can be a bit messy
Who else recommends it? Allure, Refinery 29, and Elle all picked the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm.
What do buyers say? 85% of 3,400+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 5 stars.
This balm truly goes above and beyond the call of duty. A looong list of botanicals delivers all kinds of anti-aging, antioxidant, and collagen-boosting benefits. And all of that comes in a lusciously rich base packed with natural waxes and oils (starflower and elderberry, to name a few) that have some of the highest levels of fatty acids out there. Massage it into dry skin then wipe it off with a damp cloth, letting any traces left behind soak into the skin to further maximize the benefits.
Price at time of publish: $66
Key Ingredients: Padina Pavonica, Starflower Oil, Elderberry Oil | Size: 0.51 oz. | Scent: Eucalyptus, Lavender, Rose, Chamomile | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Budget
SheaMoisture Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm
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Locks in moisture
Conditioning properties
Full of natural ingredients
Gentle on sensitive skin
Doesn't remove makeup well
Virgin coconut oil, coconut milk, and shea butter deliver a hefty dose of hydration in this wallet-friendly find. It’s amazing for dissolving makeup all over your face, including stubborn eye makeup and lip color. Pro tip: Since coconut oil does have the potential to clog pores, you'll want to make sure you rinse this off completely, rather than just wiping it off.
Price at time of publish: $10
Key Ingredients: 100% Virgin Coconut Oil, Acacia Senegal | Size: 3.5 oz. | Scent: Coconut | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Drugstore
Pond’s Cold Cream Cleansing Balm
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Courtesy of Walmart
Transforms into silky oil upon application
Non-greasy
Easily rinses off
Produces a natural glow
Overpowering perfume-like smell to some
Not for fragrance-sensitive skin
We have yet to find someone who doesn’t have some type of beauty memory associated with Pond’s Cold Cream, arguably one of the more iconic skincare products of all time. Instead of messing with a classic, the brand tweaked it and created a new product, transforming it into a cleansing balm. It’s packed with oils to remove makeup and simultaneously deeply hydrate skin, similar to the way the OG does, though with a slightly larger emphasis on cleansing. “The solid balm transforms into a silky oil, cleansing and moisturizing at the same time, and removing makeup without the need for any harsh rubbing,” says King, who’s a fan.
Price at time of publish: $34
Key Ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mineral Oil | Size: 3.38 oz. | Scent: Synthetic Perfume Fragrance | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Glowing Skin
Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm
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Then I Met You
Full of antioxidants and fatty acids
Protects the skin
Good for sensitive skin
Weaker at removing waterproof makeup
Winner of a coveted 2019 Byrdie Skincare Award and a go-to for Byrdie Editorial Director Faith Xue, using this K-beauty balm is a joy from start to finish. Oil-based, it’s ideal for removing oil from your skin (read: not only actual oil but also sunscreen and makeup, too). Ingredient-wise, sea buckthorn, olive, and grapeseed oils are packed with protective antioxidants and tons of nourishing fatty acids, while persimmon extract works to reduce hyperpigmentation, leaving your complexion more radiant than ever.
Price at time of publish: $38
Key Ingredients: Sea Buckthorn, Persimmon Extract, Olive Oil, Vitamin E | Size: 3.17 oz. | Scent: Fresh | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Dry Skin
Eve Lom Original Balm Cleanser
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Eve Lom
Tones the skin
Removes even waterproof makeup
Contains antiseptic properties for skin clearing
Can irritate acne-prone skin
Another one of Xue’s picks and an all-around Byrdie crowd-pleaser, this balm has multiple skin-friendly benefits. Yes, it’s nice and hydrating and all that good stuff, but it also decongests, exfoliates, tones soothes, and deeply cleanses impurities. Credit a combo of essential oils—including eucalyptus oil to decongest pores, antibacterial clove oil, toning hops oil, and skin-softening Egyptian chamomile oil—as well as cocoa butter (aka a godsend ingredient for dry skin) for it all. King gives it her stamp of approval, too: “It cleanses thoroughly without drying or stripping the skin. And when used with the brand’s accompanying muslin cloth, it also gently exfoliates,” she says.
Price at time of publish: $68
Key Ingredients: Clove Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Hops Oil, Egyptian Chamomile Oil, Cocoa Butter | Size: 0.68 oz., 3.3 oz., or 6.8 oz. | Scent: Clove, Eucalyptus, Chamomile | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Runner-Up, Best for Dry Skin
Nyakio Sweet Almond Cleansing Oil Balm
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Full of natural ingredients
Rinses off well
Highly nourishing
Very thick consistency
Hard to wash off
Mega-rich and creamy, a tiny dollop of this balm, packed with sweet almond oil, goes a long way. Warm it in between your hands, then massage it onto a damp complexion; it quickly melts into a luscious oil that imparts a hefty dose of hydration instantly. It rinses off nicely, but if you have extra dry skin, try simply wiping off any excess with a tissue to make the most of the moisturizing texture.
Price at time of publish: $13
Key Ingredients: Castor Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Coconut Oil | Size: 3.7 oz. | Scent: Coconut | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for All Skin Types
Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm with Dual-Action Cleansing Cloth
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Balances and purifies
Protects the skin
Non-irritating
Long-lasting supply
Overwhelming fragrance to some
Find this cult-classic all over TikTok, getting the job done. Those with dry skin will appreciate the addition of vitamin E, while those with oily or combination skin will appreciate the purifying moringa seed oil and wild sea fennel that helps to minimize the look of pores. Even the included cleansing cloth works for all; one side is made of microfiber for simply removing the balm, the other is an exfoliating muslin if you want a little bit more of a slough. The bottom line: You really can’t go wrong.
Price at time of publish: $53
Key Ingredients: Moringa Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Wild Sea Fennel, Rosehip Oil | Size: 3.52 oz. | Scent: Floral | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Makeup Removal
Farmacy Meltaway Cleansing Balm
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Amazon
Gently exfoliating
Melts away makeup and even sunscreen
Doesn't strip the skin
Not suitable for acne-prone skin
A favorite of Byrdie Associate Commerce Director, Avery Stone, this creamy balm quickly transforms into an oil, whisking away all kinds of makeup, sunscreen, and other gunk and grime. (Credit sunflower and ginger root oils, plus papaya extract for gentle exfoliation.) Just massage it into the skin and it turns into a milky lather that rinses away, without any of the unwanted residues.
Price at time of publish: $36
Key Ingredients: Sunflower Oil, Ginger Root Oil, Papaya Enzymes, Moringa Extract | Size: 1.7 oz. or 3.4 oz. | Scent: Fresh | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Exfoliating
Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm and Makeup Remover
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Sweet fruit smell
Rich in fatty acids
Improves skin texture and tone
Fights free radicals
Might dry out the skin a bit
Cleansing balms are more often associated with hydration rather than exfoliation, but this formula, which Xue loves, does both. Credit the namesake papaya enzymes, which gently dissolve dead cells to leave skin smoother and more radiant. There’s also papaya seed oil in the mix for extra hydration. Plus, how freaking pretty is the orange color?
Price at time of publish: $32
Key Ingredients: Papaya Seed Oil, Blueberry Extract, Apricot Kernel Oil | Size: 3.4 oz. | Scent: Papaya, Blueberry | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best with Benefits
Juno & Co. Clean 10 Cleansing Balm
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Amazon
Made from only 10 ingredients
Wallet-friendly
Skin-brightening
May feel too thick to some
Byrdie Editor, Eden Stuart recommends this formula, which is also a veritable TikTok sensation. As the name suggests, it contains a minimal list of only 10 ingredients, but those include heavy-hitters when it comes to delivering amazing skincare benefits. More specifically, there’s brightening pearl barley in the mix, as well as vitamin E, a multitasking antioxidant that hydrates and can help combat signs of aging. Bonus points for the silky texture that rinses completely cleanly.
Price at time of publish: $15
Key Ingredients: Japanese Pearl Barley, Vitamin E | Size: 3.0 oz. | Scent: Fresh, Citrus | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Multi-Tasker
One Love Organics Skin Savior Multi-Tasking Wonder Balm
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Courtesy of Goop
Wrinkle-defying
Antibacterial
Very soothing
Only made with natural ingredients
Pricey
We don’t think we could come up with a more appropriate name for this product if we tried. Loaded with organic butters and oils, it works great as a cleansing balm, but it’s so delightfully hydrating that you can even use it on chapped lips or cuticles, or mix it with mineral powder to create a dewy skin-corrector. It also contains plenty of anti-inflammatory vitamin B3 and zinc, as well as antibacterial lauric acid, making it a good choice to dab onto little cuts, scrapes, or bug bites.
Price at time of publish: $39
Key Ingredients: Chia Seed, Oat Oil, Orange Peel Wax | Size: 1.8 oz. | Scent: Citrus | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Final Verdict
Our best overall pick is the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, which is replete with antioxidants and collagen, delivering youth-boosting properties and leaving skin hydrated. Drugstore shoppers should consider Pond’s Cold Cream Cleansing Balm, a new take on their classic cold cream that leaves skin soft and supple post-cleanse.
Meet the Expert
Dr. Julie Russak is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and founder of Russak Dermatology Clinic.
Dr. Hadley King is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. She is also a Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and specializes in both medical and cosmetic dermatology.
What to Look For in a Cleansing Balm
Hydrating ingredients
Most cleansing balms are oil-based. When selecting a cleansing balm, make sure those oils are listed high up on the ingredient list. The best cleansing balm oils include coconut, shea butter, both found in SheaMoisture Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm. The Farmacy Beltway Cleansing Balm contains moringa and ginger root oil, which are also complexion boosters and due to their high concentration of antioxidants.
Alcohol-free
In addition to looking for hydrating oils on ingredient lists, it's important to check for ingredients that formulas are free-from. King says it’s important to make sure the balm you pick is alcohol-free, as the last thing you want is an ingredient in the mix that will strip your skin and negate the hydrating effects.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Her skin is both dry and sensitive, and she’s found that using a cleansing balm makes a world of a difference—especially during the winter. It’s also her preferred makeup removal method.
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