10 Cleansing Balms That'll Remove All That Oil, Sweat, and Makeup (2024)

Amazon

Best Overall

• Pros: Suitable for all skin types, fragrance-free, relatively affordable
• Cons: No major cons of note

All of the experts SELF spoke with recommend this affordable option from drugstore darling CeraVe. It’s fragrance-free, which makes it a great pick for all skin types, including people with sensitive skin, Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Cornell–New York Presbyterian Medical Center, tells SELF. Plus, it contains jojoba oil and moisturizing ceramides, both of which can help “repair the skin barrier,” Brendan Camp, MD, FAAD, a double-board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology and a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, tells SELF. That basically means they help keep your skin’s protective layer strong and capable of retaining moisture and blocking irritants, so they’re definitely a welcome ingredient (especially if you have dry skin).

Target

Runner-Up

• Pros: Melts easily, great at removing stubborn makeup
• Cons: Runs out quickly, contains potentially irritating essential oils

Sweat, grease, and even waterproof makeup are no match for Versed’s Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm, which is made with a blend of skin-softening ingredients like jojoba and avocado oils. The latter contains a nice dose of vitamin E, which gives the balm a seriously moisturizing effect, Dr. Garshick says. We should also note that the Day Dissolve cleanser contains eucalyptus oil, which could be appealing (if you like a subtly botanical scent) or bothersome (if you have sensitivity to essential oils).

• SELF tester review: “The Day Dissolve balm is a fixture in my nighttime routine. It instantly melts into a creamy-dreamy consistency; removes any grease, grime, or makeup (even my waxiest eye makeup!) on my face; and leaves my skin feeling super smooth. Maybe I’m using too much of it at one time, but I tend to run through containers of this balm relatively quickly.”

Amazon

Best for Sensitive Skin

• Pros: Made with easily-irritated skin in mind, hydrating added ingredients
• Cons: On the pricey side

Rebecca Marcus, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Dallas and the founder of Maei MD, tells SELF that her top pick is this luxe balm from True Botanicals. It contains a range of plant-based ingredients, including mango butter, to hydrate and calm the skin while it cleanses. “It’s formulated for sensitive and redness-prone skin, and effectively removes all impurities,” she says, making it a good pick for anyone with overly dry or finicky skin.

Amazon

Best for Dry Skin

• Pros: Very nourishing formula
• Cons: Might not be suitable for breakout-prone skin

Made with moisturizing oils like grapeseed, olive, and sea buckthorn (which comes with a nice boost of skin-protecting antioxidants), Then I Met You’s Living Cleansing Balm has a rich consistency that’s perfect for washing away oil-based makeup, waterproof mascara, and sunscreens, Dr. Camp says. It also contains hydrating vitamin E, which is a great moisturizer but may clog your pores if you have oily skin.

Amazon

Best Splurge

• Pros: Very gentle formula, highly effective, a little goes a long way
• Cons: Pricey

The Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm from Elemis “easily removes makeup, leaving the skin feeling soft and smooth,” Dr. Garshick says. In addition to its strengths as a cleanser, its ingredient list also features fatty acids that may help maintain the health and appearance of your skin.

• SELF tester review: “It’s the first cleansing balm I’ve used that gently and effectively removes my makeup. Two thumbs up! (minus the price). I’ve tried other fragrance-free cleansing balms and they all broke me out. This one is the best. It lasts a long time, too.”

Amazon

Best for Oily Skin

• Pros: Effectively removes excess oil, comes with its own applicator
• Cons: On the pricey side

Dr. Garshick likes Farmacy’s Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm in general, but specifically recommends it for people who deal with breakouts: “It works to remove excess oil, making it a good option even for those with acne-prone skin.” It won’t, however, make your skin feel tight, stripped, or thirsty afterward—it actually contains papaya enzymes to help smooth and soothe skin.

• SELF tester review: “I haven’t been able to find another cleansing balm that works as well as this one. I like the fresh scent, and it gently melts away all of my makeup, without me needing to apply much force on my eye area. It leaves my oily skin feeling clean and smooth to the touch, but not stripped or uncomfortably dry (some cleansers take oily skin to the opposite extreme and strip it too much).”

Amazon

Best for Skin Barrier Repair

• Pros: Formulated to support skin health, relatively affordable, fragrance-free
• Cons: Thick, heavy, and somewhat difficult to dissolve (according to Amazon reviewers)

As you might have guessed from its label touting its “deep cleansing” properties, this Bliss balm goes the extra mile, which is why Dr. Garshick recommends it. It supports the skin barrier with ceramides and squalane, and it maximizes moisturization with beta glucan, a soothing, skin-repairing ingredient that comes from mushrooms, seaweed, yeast, and certain grains. If you want a balm cleanser that does a lot more than take off your makeup, give this one a try.

Sephora

Best for Brightening

• Pros: Unique milky texture, glow-boosting formulation
• Cons: On the pricey side, some reviewers found the scent overpowering

If you want to try a balm but don’t love how traditional cleansing oils and balms feel, consider the shea butter-based Bye Bye Makeup 3-in-1 Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm from It Cosmetics. “This balm is unique as it transforms from a rich balm to a nourishing oil when applied to skin, and to a milky cleanser when water is added,” Lauren Penzi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Medical Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in New York, tells SELF. Plus, it contains brightening, restorative ingredients like vitamin C and rosehip oil.

Kohls

Best for Exfoliation

• Pros: Gentle yet skin-smoothing formula
• Cons: Difficult to rinse off (according to reviewers)

Dr. Garshick and Dr. Camp both recommend this Glow Recipe balm for cleansing and exfoliating in one easy step. It still has the soft, spreadable texture of a balm, but thanks to its main ingredients of papaya seed oil and enzymes, it has a gently resurfacing effect on the skin, so it should feel cleaner and smoother after washing.

Sephora

Best Lightweight Balm

• Pros: Oil-free, made with moisturizers that aren’t overly heavy
• Cons: Won’t feel as rich or nourishing as a standard balm

Curious about the benefits of a cleansing balm but prefer lightweight skin care products? The Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Meltaway Cleanser is a great midway point between a balm and a standard face wash. Although it isn’t as thick as other products on our list, Dr. Camp notes that its star ingredient, hyaluronic acid, allows it to be very hydrating all the same.