Cleansing balms have become one of the biggest beauty trends to hit the scene in recent years, but they’ve actually been around for several decades. Old-school cold creams have been lauded for their gentle makeup-removing and skin-softening superpowers since the 1950s, and while they certainly lost traction over time, new-generation cleansing balms work just as well as the original formulas and are the perfect (perhaps, even essential) complement to your double cleansing routine.
When it comes to washing your face, pre-rinsing using a moisturizer-like cream may feel odd, but trust us, once you get the hang of it, you baby-soft and fresh skin will thank you for making the switch (or adding in the extra step). In fact, if you have already upgraded to a double cleansing routine in the evenings, you’ve probably been wondering why you relied on only foam-based cleansers for the rest of your life until now. You see, using an ordinary liquid cleanser to remove all of the makeup, skincare, and sunscreen (all which likely contain some oil) often don’t suffice.
When you’ve just washed your face, only to go in with a toning pad the last thing you want to find is a slew of excess makeup residue left behind, along with plenty of other skin-marring impurities leftover. The best solution? A double cleanse with a cleansing balm first (applied to dry skin) and followed by the liquid or foam cleanser of your choice.
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1. Banila Zero Cleansing Balm
Banila.
This rich cleansing balm is infused with skin-loving ingredients, including anti-aging antioxidants, vitamins C and E, and active botanicals. The gentle formula is also free of common irritants, including parabens and synthetic additives.
2. Farmacy Natural Green Cleansing Balm
Courtesy of Farmacy.
This dreamy cleansing balm instantly melts away tough-to-remove makeup (including waterproof mascara and eyeliner) while gently exfoliating the surface of the skin to remove congestion from your pores and reduce impurities like dead skin cells and sebum.
3. Physicians Formula The Perfect Matcha 3-in-1 Melting Cleansing Balm
Courtesy of Physicians Formula.
This hypoallergenic cleansing balm melts away makeup and banishes free radicals. In addition to removing impurities, it also cleanses and moisturizes your skin. Unlike harsh cleansers, this balm doesn’t strip hydration away from your skin. This balm is great for people who have sensitive and easily irritated skin.
4. Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup
Courtesy of Drunk Elephant.
This cleansing balm contains kiwi and strawberry seed extracts along with virgin Marula oil, which will both cleanse and hydrate your skin. It comes with a magnetic spoon, so you can spoon the balm out onto your hand rather than get the debris or oil from your hand into the cleansing balm. The balm comes with a bonus Bamboo Booster, which is made up of ultra fine bamboo spheres and charcoal powder. Drunk Elephant recommends putting a little bit of the booster into your cleansing balm to get a little bit of exfoliation.
5. Neutrogena Makeup Remover Melting Balm
Courtesy of Neutrogena.
Get that stubborn eyeliner, mascara, and highlighter off of your skin with this powerful cleansing balm. The balm basically makes your makeup melt off directly into the skin when you’re cleansing. The balm contains Vitamin E, too, which will help hydrate your skin.