The 14 Best Cleansing Balms to Melt Away Makeup, Oil, and Dirt

There are many reasons to choose the best cleansing balm over more aggressive makeup removers like disposable makeup removal wipes (which harm the environment) or less thorough makeup removers like micellar water.

Cleansing balms are especially good for dry skin. “Balms effectively remove dirt and oil without drying out the skin,” says New York dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner.

The same philosophy applies to cleansing oils, though the choice of formula depends on your preference. Most cleansing balms emulsify into an oil after being massaged into the skin and added to water.

“Using a cleansing balm is an excellent first step to remove makeup (and sunscreen) before using a traditional cleanser to effectively cleanse your pores,” explains Dr. Arash Akhavan, a board-certified dermatologist at the Dermatology and Laser Group in New York City.

For extremely dry skin, such as eczema, using a cleansing balm alone can help prevent over-drying. Mona Gohara, MD, associate professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine, has recommended gently massaging the face with a cleansing balm three times.

For some, this approach is a welcome change from the intensive cleansing of previous years. After massaging thoroughly, gently blot the product with warm or cool water (never hot) or a damp clean linen cloth.

Complement your double-cleansing routine with a water-based face cleanser and you’ll find your skin looks cleaner and refreshed.

Best Overall: Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm

Why It’s Worth It: Waterproof mascara and eyeliner can be difficult to remove, but Then I Met You’s Best of Beauty Award-winning Smooth Revitalizing Cleansing Balm makes it a breeze.

Even after years of testing cleansing balms, this one remains Allure Commerce editor Sarah Han’s gold standard. “It melts into the skin like butter and instantly turns into a smooth, lightweight oil that feels so relaxing,” she says. “Waterproof eye makeup—the ultimate test—rinses off and dissolves easily.”

TikTok Recommendation: Juno & Co. Clean 10 Cleansing Balm

Why It’s Worth It: If you watch TikTok beauty videos regularly, you’ve probably seen Juno & Co.’s Clean 10 Cleansing Balm. (After all, Mikayla Nogueira, among other high-profile designers, has left her mark on it.)

Best Texture: Saturday Skin Melt + Cleanse Makeup Melting Balm

Why it’s worth it: This nourishing cleansing balm won a 2023 Best of Beauty Award (and is a staple in the Allure Beauty Box) — and for good reason. It has a smooth, buttery texture that instantly transforms into an oil after application.

This gives you the effects of a balm and an oil — without the residue or stubborn makeup.

Best for Sensitive Skin: Inkey List Oatmeal Cleansing Balm

Why it’s worth it: Inkey List has always focused on skin care, and the Oatmeal Cleansing Balm is another standout product. The luxurious formula, enriched with oat kernel oil, moisturizes the skin, while 1% colloidal oatmeal reduces redness. This means it never strips your sensitive skin of the moisture it needs.

Best Skin Barrier Strengthener: Banila Co. Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm

Why it’s worth it: A Korean beauty classic that’s a hit with skincare enthusiasts, Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm is available in Purify, Nourish, Original, Purify, and Revitalize versions to maximize your skincare needs.

This three-in-one hybrid balm exfoliates, moisturizes, and cleanses, removing makeup, dirt, and excess oil in one go. It also provides excellent protection for the skin barrier thanks to a soothing blend of flower, root, and fruit extracts like Barbados cherry, safflower, and more.

For Oily Skin: Hanskin Pore Cleansing Balm PHA

Why it’s worth it: Contrary to popular belief, people with sensitive skin—especially those who can’t tolerate chemical peels—can use skincare acids on a daily basis.

Hanskins Pore Cleansing Balm PHA is rich in gluconolactone, a common polyhydroxy acid (PHA) that exfoliates but doesn’t penetrate as deeply as AHAs and BHAs. That’s why it’s suitable for all skin types.

It’s great even for those with eczema or atopic rosacea, as PHAs exfoliate, absorb moisture, and cause relatively little irritation and photosensitivity.

For Dry Skin: Eadem Dew Dream Cleansing Balm

Why It’s Worth It: Eadem’s Dew Dream Cleansing Balm has a unique jelly-like oily texture that effectively removes all traces of makeup, dirt, and sunscreen without over-drying the skin. It seems nearly impossible, but one look at the ingredients list and you’ll understand.

Best Drugstore: E.L.F. Holy Hydration! Cleansing Balm

Why It’s Worth It: At $11, E.L.F.’s Holy Hydration! Cleansing Balm is one of the most affordable options on this list, and easily competes with cleansers that cost three times as much.

Best for Stubborn Makeup: Milk Makeup Hydro Ungrip Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

Why it’s worth it: Known for its Hydro Grip line, including the Readers’ Choice Award-winning Hydro Grip Primer, Milk Makeup offers everything the beauty world has to offer.

We explain: Hydro Grip ensures your makeup stays put all day, while products like the Hydro Ungrip Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm remove even the most stubborn makeup residue, dirt, and sunscreen for a clean complexion before bed.

Best Cleansing Formula: Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm

Why it’s worth it: Sunflower seed oil and ginger root oil in this Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm work to remove dirt, oil, and buildup from the skin, while papaya extract gently exfoliates dead skin cells. Together, they make for a rock-solid cleansing product. (See what we did there?)

Best Fragrance: Youth to the People Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm

Why it’s worth it: It’s no exaggeration to say that the Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm is real skincare sunshine that blends into your complexion like a dream. You might not always associate “moisturizing” with cleansing balms, but this one defies that perception.

Youth to the People’s fruity mango-scented formula is packed with hydrating ingredients like oil-soluble hyaluronic acid (three molecular weights), jojoba oil, cactus fruit, and vitamin C-rich moringa oil to nourish your skin during cleansing and long after.

Pure luxury: True Botanicals Calming Turmeric Cleansing Balm

Why it’s worth it: Part of the True Botanicals Calm line, the Turmeric Cleansing Balm is both pregnancy-friendly and soothing for sensitive skin, and unsurprisingly, leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable.

Not only does this brightening formula avoid powerful hydrating ingredients like sunflower, jojoba, argan, and cucumber oils (to name a few), it also contains azelaic and lactic acids to loosen dead, pore-clogging skin cells and kill acne-causing bacteria.

Best Exfoliator: Drunk Elephant Slaai Cleansing Butter Cleanser

Why it’s worth it: Drunk Elephant Slaai Cleansing Butter Cleanser won Allure’s 2019 Best of Beauty Award for many reasons. This buttery-smooth cleansing balm removes makeup in an instant, but its gentle, revitalizing formula makes it extra special.

Best for Mature Skin: Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

Why it’s worth it: With an impressive array of botanicals like smooth lavender and chamomile, Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm feels like a spa visit. Warm a scoop between your palms, massage into skin, and gently wipe with a damp cloth.