Call me easily pleased, but there are few skincare launches I get as excited about as a new cleansing balm.
It’s hands down my favourite type of product to use for my first cleanse, and a skincare step that I find genuinely enjoyable – massaging a nourishing balm into my face and seeing all traces of makeup vanish down the plughole is my one minute of selfcare every evening.
I’m also always interested in putting new balm cleansers to the test because, quite frankly, I find that so many just don’t do their number one job: to remove makeup, pollution and dirt at the end of the day, quickly and easily. I wear waterproof mascara most days (a quick shout out to Maybelline Sky High), and there’s nothing more frustrating than having to scrub away at your eyes when you’re desperate to crawl into bed.
I’ve tried £5 cleansing balms and I’ve tried £100+ cleansing balms (!), and I can honestly say that my all-time favourites are at the cheaper end of the scale. Sure, you might not get the luxe fragrance with a drugstore cleanser, or the little spoon to scoop it out with, but I’ve found that many do as good a job as those double the price.
How to use a cleansing balm
As mentioned, a cleansing balm is ideal for your primary cleanse in the evening, to remove makeup, pollution, SPF and any other grime picked up during the day.
A quick note on technique if you’re new to using cleansing balms: they should be massaged into dry skin, working thoroughly but gently over areas with heavier makeup like the eyes and lips, then wiped away with a splash of water and a warm, damp cloth (I like to use a Face Halo for extra grab).
And less is more; use too much product and there’ll be more slip than grip. A 5p-sized blob is plenty.
Then, importantly, follow with a second cleanse. This one is to clean the actual skin now that you’ve cleared it of makeup. I like a gel or a cream formula here, but go with what suits your skin type best.
The 6 best cleansing balms for removing makeup
Here are my favourites – and they’re all under £15:
e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm
The entire e.l.f Holy Hydration! range is excellent for dehydrated-but-not-necessarily-dry skin that needs moisture without heaviness, as it packs hyaluronic acid, ceramides and peptides into light, fresh-feeling formulas.
This balm turns into a watery consistency immediately upon contact with the skin, and leaves skin feeling comfortably hydrated without any feeling of residue left behind.
It’s ideal for anyone who may have previously found cleansing balms too rich. And you even get a scoop.
The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter
If your eyes start watering at the mere thought of applying product near them, this one’s for you. A long-time favourite with beauty editors, this is tough on waterproof makeup yet gentle on the eyes, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin or contact lens wearers. It transforms from a solid to a lightweight oil, then finally washes away as a milk, without any hint of greasiness.
I’ve always got a mini one in my overnight bag, and it’s currently also available in a limited-edition version enriched with Japanese camellia oil. It gets extra bonus points for its plastic-free aluminum tin, too.
Byoma Melting Balm Cleanser
I’ve yet to come across a Byoma product that I don’t like, and this cleanser is no exception. Buttery in colour and texture, it melts quickly into an oil and makes short work of makeup.
Byoma is all about protecting the skin barrier, so as expected, this is packed full of skin-strengthening ingredients like lipids and niacinamide. You can really feel a difference to skin afterwards – it’s softer, stronger and conditioned. Love the cute cheery tub and the no-nonsense ingredients list, too.
Barry M Fresh Face Skin Soothing Cleansing Balm
I admit that at first I was a little sceptical about Fresh Face, Barry M’s first foray away from makeup and into skincare, but I was pleasantly surprised by this cleanser. It contains some trusted skincare ingredients like squalane and chia seed oil, and does a decent job at removing my long-wear mascara.
The only downside is that it’s quite a small pot, so you’ll hit pan quickly. But if you’re after a tub for travelling or want change from a tenner, this is worth trying.
No7 Cleansing Balm
Aimed at dry complexions, this is full of nourishing ingredients (coconut oil, cocoa butter, grapeseed oil) and leaves a lasting softness and a light hydrating layer on the skin afterwards. It also comes with a muslin cloth, if that’s your removal method of choice, and is effective on all but the very toughest of waterproof mascaras.
In fact, it’s had reviewers saying that it’s very similar to the double-the-price Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm but just a couple of rungs down on the ladder of luxuriousness.
B. Melting Cleansing Balm
Available in 65g and 120g tubs, this one from Superdrug’s own skincare brand has had shoppers comparing it to Elemis’s iconic (but much pricier) Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm.
While B.’s is missing the spa-like scent and oil-rich formula of Elemis’s, I can confirm that it’s just as effective at cleansing. This balm just requires a little faith, as it doesn’t seem to have much impact on eye makeup at first – but as soon as a warm cloth is applied, everything is whisked away with ease.
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