17 Best Cleansing Balms for Every Single Skin Type and Concern

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

This cleansing balm contains probiotics that, says Dr. Lal, 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.

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.”

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.

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.”

Love plant-based products but need something a bit stronger to take off your makeup? Reach for this gentle cleansing balm that’s spiked with soothing aloe vera and turmeric root extract, moisturizing oils (hi, chia seed and jojoba oil), and hella botanicals, like neem and eggplant extract. Just scoop out a dollop with your fingers (or a spatula) and massage it into your skin to melt away makeup, grime, and oils.

THE REVIEWS: “This cleansing balm is gentle and effective,” writes one tester in a review. “In the winter, I used this morning and night because it is so moisturizing. Now that we have warmer weather, I am usually only using it once a day. This cleanser leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth, and very hydrated.”

When you need to take off 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.

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.”

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.

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.”

I get it: Cleansing balms can be messy and require a bit of elbow grease to remove sometimes. 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 a micellar water.

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.”

Whaddup to the 7,000 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.

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.”

Oily-skin bbs, you have to try this cleansing balm. It’s formulated with mattifying volcanic ash to absorb excess sebum, along with lightweight emollients that won’t leave your skin greasy after rinsing. Just make sure to clean up any leftover waterproof mascara or eyeliner with micellar water and a Q-tip to avoid unnecessary rubbing around your eye area.

THE REVIEWS: “When I used this, my makeup came off so easily, and my skin felt so clean and smooth after,” writes one tester. “With other cleansing balms, my skin usually feels like it needs to be double cleansed, but not this!”

If you've never been able to get past the thick, waxy feeling of cleansing balms, try this top-rated, gel-based formula instead. Its spreadable jelly texture leaves your skin feeling super-smooth and moisturized (hey, sweet almond oil and glycerin), even after you wipe it off with a warm washcloth. Fwiw, I honestly look forward to taking my makeup off when I use this gel, even when my bed is calling my name after an all-night Netflix binge.

THE REVIEWS: “It feels so good on my skin, I actually hate to wipe it off,” writes one reviewer. “But even after I wipe it off with a damp face cloth, my skin still feels wonderful.”

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 that 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.

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.”

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.

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."

Can a cleansing balm alone clear your acne? Unfortunately, no, not on its own. But this one from Peace Out is still a great addition to your anti-acne skincare routine because it contains salicylic acid to help exfoliate clogged pores, as well as niacinamide to calm down inflammation. Plus, it’s filled with acne-safe, lightweight oils like jojoba oil and grapeseed oil that are less likely to lead to breakouts than heavy oils and butters.

THE REVIEWS: “I was having some mild breakouts around my jawline, and my skin seemed to be oilier than usual,” writes one tester. “After using this for three weeks, my skin has completely cleared up, and it even got rid of the occasional blackheads I get on my nose. My skin is so incredibly soft now too.”

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

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 (like, I’m tempted to eat mine).

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!”