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By the end of the day, I can feel it. I’ve grown tired of my makeup just as it’s grown tired of me. The reason cleansing balms work so well for all skin types is that they're formulated with lipophilic oils. “That means they are attracted to other oils and can dissolve them,” explains Karen Hammerman, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Garden City, New York. As effective as these oils are at ridding the skin of excess sebum, Dr. Hammerman says that there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when shopping for a high-quality cleansing balm.
Where many cleansing balms begin firm, this one is creamy from the get-go, which our tester adores. “I was really impressed with how soft this felt on my fingers and face,” she says. “I felt like it was the perfect balance of oil and balm and was very effective at removing sunscreen and makeup — even waterproof. Rub-proof graphic eyeliner didn't stand a chance against this cleansing balm.” Look at that, I guess I’ve found my long-term solution for removing makeup sustainably. Bye bye makeup wipes. That doesn’t deter her from recommending it though. “This balm leaves my skin feeling hydrated after cleansing — no tightness or dryness at all; my skin feels soft rather than stripped,” she shares.And although I’d still be careful around your eyes, I found this cleanser to be super gentle on my sensitive skin. Never did I imagine removing mascara while washing my face!! We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
Leave it to Alicia Keys to know what it takes for a cleansing balm to really deliver. Her Keys Soulcare Nourishing Cleansing Balm is a fan favorite for its silky-smooth consistency that instantly melts away makeup without any harsh rubbing or tugging. They believe that “simplicity is key,” which means that JUNOCO keeps its ingredients list minimal. Their formulas only contain the most gentle but effective ingredients.
Expect our products to be environmentally conscious: microplastic-free and FSC certified packaging.
Tatcha The Rice Wash: A somewhat creamier texture and way more expensive, but still a good alternative is this Tatcha Rice Wash. If you’re open to spending some extra money and want an effective second cleanser, this one will do the job and works well after the JUNOCO cleansing balm. With gentle lactic and azelaic acids and naturally exfoliating ginger and turmeric at the helm of this formula, this transformative balm works well to slough away dead skin cells as well as built-up makeup and oil to reveal silky smooth skin beneath. Not only do products need to avoid irritating my skin, but they also need to leave my skin better off. That’s the point, right?
Even the most natural scents can cause irritation if they’re not truly natural, or if they’re the byproduct of ultra-strong essential oils. With that in mind, consider your complexion and how it reacts before opting for a product that has a notable scent. Generally speaking, no scent is the best scent. On our list, Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm, Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Cleansing Balm, Neutrogena Makeup Remover Melting Balm, and Juno & Co. Skin Clean 10 Cleansing Balm are unscented.Throughout our testing, just a small amount of product worked wonders at removing face makeup, sunscreen, and eyeshadow, but we did need a wet washcloth to fully remove mascara. Overall, the skin is left feeling super hydrated, soft, and plump.
This product is quite dense at first, so you’ll need to spend some time massaging it between your hands before using. Pond’s Cold Cream Cleansing Balm is pretty much the OG cleansing balm. It’s marketed as a makeup cleanser that intensely moisturizes skin and our tester agrees that it meets the mark in that category. While it works well to remove makeup (including heavy eye makeup), our tester was surprised by just how greasy it feels. That said, the extra-oily texture makes it easy to massage into skin, and it does eventually sink in and remove all traces of makeup. Cleansing balms are cleansers that use oils and emollients to remove dirt, makeup, and buildup from the day without the need for harsh scrubbing," says board-certified dermatologist Carmin Castilla. "They are able to cleanse without stripping the skin of its natural oils and damaging your skin barrier." While most skin types will still want to go in with your usual face wash after using a cleansing balm, these formulas make the entire getting unready process so much easier.Our tester reports having very dry skin — "I haven't tried many cleansers that don't leave me feeling stripped and dry (yes, even cleansing balms)" — but this one left her feeling soft with “some of the most minimal drying that I've ever experienced." She's dubbed herself a huge fan. That’s when I start to apply it around my face and eyes softly. My eye area is very sensitive, but I can use this cleansing balm on and around my eyes without any problem. I never noticed irritation, stinginess, or tight skin in general. While some products, like our best overall, make a noticeable difference in the appearance of your skin, we found that this one left us soft and moisturized, but there was no visible difference in tone or clarity. Cleansing balms are great for all skin types. “They are excellent for anyone with redness and/or sensitive skin because they calm and soothe,” Tavernise says. “Cleansing balms are also good for those with oily skin who sometimes tend to dry out their skin with harsh products to attempt to clear the acne.” Something that sets this cleansing balm apart — besides its much heftier price tag — is the fact that it comes with muslin cloth for light exfoliation during cleansing. While some people seem to love it (including our tester), others choose to avoid it. As such, it’s not entirely necessary to enjoy the product.
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