15 Cleansing Balms That Will Remove Every Speck of Makeup (2024)

Hartman loves the fan-favorite cleansing balm from Glow Recipe: “This balm will remove any makeup, dirt, and oil for the face and also exfoliate the skin due to papaya enzymes found in the formula,” the derm explains.

Another favorite of the derm, this balm "effectively removes makeup and impurities with a combination of olive, sunflower, and grapeseed oils,” says Hartman, adding that the formula is “extremely gentle and won’t dry out the skin.”

Housed in a convenient tube, this balm is a favorite of BAZAAR.com Associate Beauty Commerce Editor Tiffany Dodson. “Unlike other cleansers I've tried before, this jelly-to-oil-to-milk formula washes away lingering makeup, dirt, and oil in one fell swoop, and even passes the towel wipe test for residue when I dry my face,” she writes in her review. “The balm's bouncy texture doesn't feel filmy or sticky on my skin—plus, it has a subtle, uplifting lemon scent that I love.”

The brand Then I Met You is synonymous with this sunny yellow cleansing balm. Made with antioxidant-rich sea buckthorn oil as well as nourishing olive oil and vitamin E, it removes every speck of makeup and leaves skin feeling soft and glowy.

“The natural oils, Egyptian chamomile, hops, clove, eucalyptus, and cocoa butter in the Cleanser all work to soften, moisturize, and comfort the skin,” explains Davidson. And don’t be put off if you tend to get greasy: “If you’ve got oily skin and you’re not convinced, just remember that oil attracts oil, so your skin will actually be left less oily and more balanced.”

This balm from Relevant (the new line from Thirteen Lune founder Nyakio Grieco) is a true all-in-one. In addition to cleansing, it also has green coffee seed oil for anti-aging, squalane to moisturize, and chamomile to soothe the skin.

No post-wash redness here. This creamy cleansing balm is designed to get off every speck of makeup, and it has cannabis seed oil, hyaluronic acid, and aloe to keep skin soothed and soft, not stripped and irritated.

This best-selling balm already has legions of fans thanks to its makeup-removing powers. We love that it has papaya enzymes for gentle exfoliation, too.

It’s a classic for a reason. “This melts my makeup off so easily! Even my waterproof mascara melts off and it's not harsh on my eyes. I can even open them after I've massaged the product over my mascara. After I rinse my face, it doesn't leave a residue at all,” writes one fan.

Manuka honey is renowned for its antioxidant and hydrating properties, and this formula is chock full of it. “This balm is amazing! It is so thick and rich and has a lovely honey scent. Removes makeup well and hydrates my dry winter skin. Love it!” raves one reviewer.

None of the balms on this list should leave your skin feeling greasy, but if you’re especially worried about it clogging your pores, try this non-comedogenic formula from CeraVe, which is also suitable for sensitive skin.

“This is my new go-to cleanser balm,” wrote one fan. “It broke my makeup down and I didn't need a lot to do it. Also works well with eye makeup which can be a mission to break down.” Even better, it’s also available in different varieties, like Revitalizing and Nourishing.

In addition to the makeup-removing goodness, this beloved cleanser is infused with an algae extract called Padina Pavonica for added anti-aging properties.

If you’re going to spend $74 on a cleansing balm, it better be worth it—and Augustinus Bader’s certainly is. Not only does it feel amazing, but It features the brand’s signature TFC8 complex along with vitamin E and squalane for an ultra-luxurious, effective cleanse.

This balm literally feels like, well, buttah. One thing to note: Not all reviewers are fans of the unscented formula, but it’s great for sensitive skin.