The 7 best cleansing balms for removing makeup and sunscreen

Key takeaways

• A cleansing balm is an oil-based cleanser that melts on dry skin to dissolve makeup and sunscreen, then turns milky when you add water so it rinses off.

• Our top pick is The MANTLE Cleansing Balm from U Beauty, a balm that turns into a cleansing milk and is made to work as a makeup remover and face wash in one step.

• For a fragrance-free classic, Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm has fewer than 10 ingredients and is tested for sensitive eyes.

• On a budget, The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm is fragrance-free, carries the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance and costs $17.

• Cleveland Clinic notes double cleansing usually isn’t necessary. A balm earns its place if you wear makeup or water-resistant sunscreen.

What to look for in a cleansing balm

A cleansing balm is the first step of what’s called double cleansing. Cleveland Clinic describes it as cleansing your face twice, “first with an oil-based product and then followed by a water-based cleanser,” and says the oil step is helpful for removing waterproof makeup and sunscreen. A small 2020 study backs that up: after cleansing, 5.8% of a waterproof sunscreen remained with a cleansing oil, compared with 36.8% with a foaming cleanser and 59.3% with water alone.

Cleveland Clinic also adds a few cautions. Double cleansing is usually not necessary, overwashing can dry and irritate skin, and oil-based cleansers can cause breakouts in acne-prone skin, especially when used on their own. Its advice is to skip cleansers with fragrance.

We compared each product on its published ingredient list and directions, not on hands-on testing. We looked at whether it emulsifies and rinses cleanly, whether the brand says it can be used on eye makeup, whether fragrance is listed, and the price.

1. U Beauty The MANTLE Cleansing Balm: best one-step double cleanse

The MANTLE Cleansing Balm is U Beauty’s double cleanser in one step, an oil-balm that you massage onto dry skin and that turns into a cleansing milk when you add water. U Beauty describes it as a pH-optimizing, microbiome-friendly cleanser that works as a face wash and makeup remover in one step, and its ingredient list includes short-chain hyaluronic acid, beta-carotene, bisabolol and a blend of fruit extracts.

Key features:

• Two steps in one. It combines the benefits of a makeup-removing balm and a face wash, so you can finish in one step.

• Balm to milk. It emulsifies into a cleansing milk and rinses off with water.

• Removes makeup and sunscreen. In a seven-day consumer study of 30 people, U Beauty reports that 90% agreed waterproof makeup was effectively removed.

Tradeoff: at $78 it has the highest sticker price on this list, though the 150 ml pump works out cheaper per ml than Elemis. It also contains a fragrance ingredient (methyldihydrojasmonate).

Best for: people who want one cleanser that handles makeup, sunscreen and the second cleanse in a single step.

Price: $78 for 150 ml, or $38 for 50 ml.

2. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm: best fragrance-free classic

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm is a solid balm that turns into a silky oil, made with fewer than 10 ingredients, led by ethylhexyl palmitate and safflower seed oil. Clinique says it dissolves long-wearing makeup, waterproof eye makeup and sunscreen, and it’s fragrance-free.

Key features:

• Short ingredient list. There’s very little in it to react to.

• Tested for sensitive eyes. Clinique says it’s ophthalmologist tested and safe for sensitive skin and sensitive eyes.

• Non-comedogenic. Clinique labels it non-acnegenic and non-comedogenic.

Tradeoff: it turns into an oil rather than a milk, and Clinique suggests following it with a second cleanser.

Best for: sensitive skin and sensitive eyes that need a simple, fragrance-free balm.

Price: $44 for 3.8 oz.

3. Farmacy Green Clean Fragrance-Free Cleansing Balm: best for sensitive skin

Farmacy Green Clean Fragrance-Free Cleansing Balm is the fragrance-free version of Farmacy’s best-known balm, made for sensitive skin. It uses sunflower seed oil and wax with moringa, holy basil and arugula extracts, and it carries the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance.

Key features:

• Fragrance-free and essential-oil-free. Farmacy says it’s made for anyone avoiding fragrance, essential oils or colorants.

• Eye makeup safe. Farmacy’s directions include applying it to closed eyes to remove eye makeup.

• Balm to milk. It emulsifies with warm water and rinses off.

Tradeoff: make sure you buy the fragrance-free version. The original Green Clean contains several essential oils.

Best for: sensitive or eczema-prone skin that still needs to remove long-wear makeup.

Price: $39 for 100 ml.

4. The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm: best budget pick

The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm is a balm-to-milk cleanser in a squeeze tube with 5% oat kernel oil, sweet almond oil and seaberry oil. It’s fragrance-free, carries the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, and The INKEY List says it’s suited to sensitive and blemish-prone skin.

Key features:

• Fragrance-free. The INKEY List labels it fragrance-free.

• Removes waterproof mascara. The brand says it works on waterproof makeup and SPF.

• Doubles as a mask. The directions suggest leaving it on for 10 minutes as a face mask.

Tradeoff: it contains sweet almond oil, so skip it if you have a nut allergy.

Best for: anyone who wants a fragrance-free balm for under $20.

Price: $17 for 150 ml, or $9 for 50 ml.

5. Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original: best for heavy makeup

Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original is the jar balm many people picture when they hear “cleansing balm.” Banila Co says it melts away even stubborn face and eye makeup, and the formula includes hot spring water, vitamin E and acerola extract.

Key features:

• Made for heavy makeup. It’s positioned for stubborn face and eye makeup.

• Emulsifies with water. Adding water turns it into an emulsion that rinses off.

• Three sizes. Options run from a 25 ml travel jar to 180 ml.

Tradeoff: it contains fragrance, which may not suit sensitive skin.

Best for: full-coverage and long-wear makeup on skin that doesn’t react to fragrance.

Price: $21 for 100 ml.

6. Medik8 Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil: best cleansing oil for dry skin

Medik8 Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil is an oil rather than a balm, but it does the same job: it turns into a milky emulsion when it meets water. It’s built on safflower and olive oils with moringa oil and beta-carotene, and Medik8 says it suits all skin types but especially drier skin.

Key features:

• Pump-bottle oil. It’s easier to dispense than a jar balm.

• Works around the eyes. Medik8 says it removes heavy makeup, even around the eyes.

• Rich in omega-6. Medik8 notes its cold-pressed safflower oil is 70% omega-6.

Tradeoff: it contains geranium and orange peel oils, and Medik8 recommends a patch test before first use.

Best for: dry skin, and anyone who prefers an oil to a balm.

Price: $38 for 150 ml.

7. Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm: best spa-style splurge

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is a rich balm with sweet almond oil, starflower oil, elderberry oil and padina pavonica, a seaweed extract, set in an aromatic blend of essential oils. Elemis says it’s clinically proven to remove long-wear and waterproof makeup.

Key features:

• Aromatic ritual. Elemis’s directions start with warming it between your palms and inhaling the scent.

• Balm to oil to milk. It loosens into an oil, then emulsifies with water.

• Five sizes. Options run from 10 g to 200 g.

Tradeoff: it’s heavily fragranced, with added fragrance and several essential oils, and at $75 for 100 g it’s one of the priciest picks.

Best for: people who want a scented, spa-like cleanse and don’t have sensitive skin.

Price: $75 for 100 g.

How to use a cleansing balm

• Start on dry skin. Massage the balm onto a dry face with dry hands so it can dissolve makeup and sunscreen.

• Add water to emulsify. Wet your fingertips and keep massaging until the balm turns milky, then rinse with lukewarm water.

• Don’t scrub. The AAD says scrubbing irritates skin. Let the balm do the work.

• Follow with a second cleanser if yours needs it. Some balms are designed as a one-step cleanse, and others suggest a water-based cleanser afterward.

• Keep it to once or twice a day. The AAD recommends limiting face washing to twice a day and after sweating. Our guide to skincare routine order shows what comes next.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best cleansing balm?

For a one-step double cleanse, The MANTLE Cleansing Balm from U Beauty is our top pick. For a fragrance-free option, Clinique Take The Day Off and The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm are the simplest choices.

Is a cleansing balm or a cleansing oil better?

They do the same job. Balms are solid in the jar and melt on skin, while oils are easier to dispense from a pump. Choose by texture and by whether the formula contains fragrance.

Do dermatologists recommend cleansing balms?

For some people. A dermatologist quoted by Cleveland Clinic says double cleansing is helpful for removing waterproof makeup and sunscreen, but usually isn’t necessary, and warns that oil-based cleansers can cause breakouts in acne-prone skin.

Can you use a cleansing balm on your eyes?

Only if the brand says it’s safe to. Clinique, Farmacy, The INKEY List, Banila Co and Medik8 all say their products remove eye makeup.

Do you need to double cleanse after a cleansing balm?

It depends on the product. Some balms suggest following with a water-based cleanser, while others, like The MANTLE Cleansing Balm, are made to work as a one-step double cleanse.