The 13 Best Cleansing Balms for a Fresh Start

This fragrance-free cleansing balm from the experts at Clinique is a bestseller for a reason and one of my personal favorites. A little goes a long way to gently remove dirt, oil, and makeup, never leaving my skin feeling stripped or uncomfortable.

• Key ingredient: safflower-seed oil

One satisfied customer writes: “I love how this cleansing balm feels on my skin! It’s easy to use and works wonderfully! Makes taking my makeup off fun!” —SuperLess

Bazaar editors are big fans of Dior’s line of prestige, rose-infused skincare products, including this cleansing balm that turns into an oil upon contact with water. It’s powered by rose de Granville micronutrients that gently remove traces of makeup without disrupting the skin barrier.

• Key ingredient: rose de Granville micronutrients

One satisfied customer writes: “Decided to try this and so glad I did. Wonderful rose smell. Glides on easily and quickly removes all traces of makeup. When mixed with water, a nice emulsion is made that rinses off well. Skin is clean and smooth.” —Kathy

If you’re already a fan of Augustinus Bader’s Cream or Rich Cream, we suggest adding the brand’s top-rated cleansing balm to your rotation. It uses a blend of plant-based squalane and vitamin E to lock in hydration while also decongesting pores to encourage cellular renewal.

• Key ingredients: squalane, vitamin E

One satisfied customer writes: “I have been looking for a cleansing balm this malleable for a long time. A little goes a long way for this and washes off very easily. I sometimes like to let it sit on my face for a bit longer just to enjoy it. Zero scent. Lovely product.” —Monica W.

This popular cleanser from e.l.f. Cosmetics is one of Bazaar’s go-to budget-friendly favorites at under $15. Its formula combines hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides for a well-rounded balm that keeps skin feeling smooth and looking plump. “This light yet powerful cleaning balm from e.l.f. Cosmetics gets makeup, dirt, and grime all off in one fell swoop,” beauty market and commerce editor Katie Intner previously said about its formula.

• Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides

One satisfied customer writes: “I’m a huge e.l.f fan and this stuff literally melts the makeup off your face. Your skin also looks and feels so soft and smooth after. I highly recommend this!” —Amanda

All you’ll need is a pea-size amount of this beloved balm to effectively remove dirt, oil, and makeup. “A cult favorite, this balm combines elderberry and rose oils to effectively dissolve makeup and sunscreen while leaving the skin soft and hydrated,” Murphy Rose says of this beloved cleansing balm from Elemis. “Ideal for dry skin, it provides a rich, moisturizing cleanse without stripping.”

• Key ingredients: lavender, chamomile, eucalyptus, elderberry, starflower, and optimega oils

One satisfied customer writes: “I have always used micellar water to remove my makeup, but after using this balm … I am never going back. Not only is this product amazing, but I am also not creating more waste by using cotton pads.” —ghostfcegurl

CeraVe’s Makeup Cleansing Balm is just as sensitive-skin-friendly as you might expect and retails for under $15. Just like the rest of the brand’s staples, this one also includes a trio of ceramides to keep your skin soft and hydrated without feeling greasy.

• Key ingredients: jojoba oil, vitamin E

One satisfied customer writes: “This stuff is great. It has the consistency and meltability of coconut oil. You melt a bit between your fingers and then apply to the face while dry, massage, and then wash away with water. I then follow up with a facial cleanser to get any residue off. It gets my Lancôme Hypnose Drama Waterproof Mascara mascara off in one go.” —Pat

Here’s a beloved balm that’s the perfect addition to any K-Beauty lover’s rotation. It’s powered by ingredients like skin-softening seaberry oil, nourishing squalane oil, and brightening persimmon extract for a well-rounded cleanse.

• Key ingredients: seaberry oil, squalane oil, grape-seed oil

One satisfied customer writes: “This company set the bar for every other balm cleanser producer to try and equal. I have yet to find any other this good, at any price point.” —Lara

Bazaar beauty director Jenna Rosenstein swears by this luxe balm that comes both fragranced and fragrance-free. “I bought this in London after trying it at the beauty counter in Liberty London. It’s only available by e-commerce here in the States, but take my word for it: This Skin Rocks cleansing balm, well, rocks,” she explains. “It smells amazing—crisp and fresh—and it removes every trace of makeup without leaving my skin feeling greasy or slick. Plus, the jar has lasted me literal months. A little goes a very long way!”

• Key ingredients: lipid-advanced complex, carrot-root extract, carrot-seed oil, beta-carotene

One satisfied customer writes: “Best cleansing balm ever. Period! I have tried many and this one is by far my favorite. Gorgeous texture and so effective.” —Judy Q.

Even the most long-lasting makeup doesn’t stand a chance against Sisley Paris’s Triple-Oil Balm Make-up Remover and Cleanser formula. It combines babassu, shea, and macadamia oils that start as a balm, then it transforms into an oil and later a milky emulsion that cleanly rinses away with warm water.

• Key ingredients: babassu oil, shea oil, macadamia oil, mango butter, alpha-bisabolol

One satisfied customer writes: “Love the consistency of the product and how amazing and beautiful my skin looks after use. Removes all traces of makeup effortlessly.” —Miggy

You may not have to double cleanse after using this jelly-to-oil-to-milk formula from Eadem; it even passes the towel-wipe test for residue when I dry my face. Plus, the balm’s bouncy texture doesn’t feel filmy or sticky on my skin and has a subtle, uplifting lemon scent. And since the cleanser is packaged in a handy tube, it’s easy to toss in your suitcase or carry-on when on the go.

• Key ingredients: tiger grass, allantoin, Kalahari melon, and moringa

One satisfied customer writes: “This is my holy grail product! I bring this everywhere! It gets all the makeup, sunscreen, and oil off without stripping your skin or being abrasive. My skin texture improved and it got so much softer!” —teresap04

Think of this editor-loved cleansing balm as a treat for your skin. “I’ve been using this cleansing balm for years and love how refreshing it feels,” Intner says of Glow Recipe’s papaya-infused skin-buffing balm. “Not only does it swiftly remove makeup, dirt, and grime in one fell swoop, it also doesn’t leave a film on the skin. Not to mention, the jar is massive, so I can use the formula daily for months without running out.”

• Key ingredients: papaya enzymes, papaya-seed oil, blueberry extract

One satisfied customer writes: “This made for a great addition to my face-washing routine at the end of the day. It totally melts away all of my waterproof makeup that doesn’t come off with my makeup remover. And it has helped keep my skin more hydrated after washing.” —karlimisosoup

Here’s a cleansing balm that’s essentially self-care in a jar. It uses antioxidants like avocado and juniper oils to boost the skin’s natural moisture barrier while leaving it velvety soft once it’s buffed away.

• Key ingredients: organic safflower-seed oil, avocado oil, organic sesame oil, juniper oil

One satisfied customer writes: “This is one of the best cleansers to remove makeup and feel like it’s all actually off. It leaves skin feeling super soft and clean. I get very sad when I run out between subscriptions, as I am completely addicted to it.” —Elizabeth F.

“For a true cleansing balm, I recommend Byoma Melting Balm Cleanser,” Rachael Gallo, aesthetician and chief operating officer at Silver Mirror Facial Bar, tells Bazaar. “It uses squalane and olive fruit oil as a base ingredient, which helps break down impurities yet hydrates at the same time.”

• Key ingredients: grapeseed oil, niacinamide, sea-buckthorn oil, grapeseed oil, olive fruit extract

One satisfied customer writes: “This is wonderful to wash your face with. Nice clean scent and leaves your face feeling fresh and soft.” —Tammy R.