Beauty journalist Caroline Brien is scrupulous about evening cleansing – these are her best balms to wash the day off. A cleansing balm is a skincare staple that belongs in every bathroom cabinet.
If you think the best cleansing balms are only for those who cake on make-up or have ultra-dry skin, you’ve been missing a trick. That was the revelation I had 15 years ago when my cleansing oil ran out, and I reached for whatever I could find in my cupboard of new beauty products (it was Emma Hardie’s now legendary Moringa Cleansing Balm, to be precise). I discovered that far from being too rich or heavy, the best balms dissolve beautifully with a little water and rinse off easily, leaving skin feeling equally fresh and comfortable.
“Cleansing balms are oil-based, melting into the skin to dissolve make-up, SPF, excess sebum and pollution, maintaining hydration without stripping the skin barrier,” explains Justine Masters, The Alternative Facialist, who counts beauty gurus Liz Earle and Ruby Hammer as fans.
Best cleansing balms at a glance
- Best overall – Emma Hardie Vit C Brilliance Cleansing Balm: £52, Emmahardie.com
- Best budget buy – Byoma Melting Balm Cleanser: £14.99, Sephora.co.uk
- Best for ultimate luxury – Dr David Jack Afterglow Ceramide Cleansing Balm: £65, Drdavidjack.com
- Best for skin health – SkinCycles ExoYouth Cleansing Balm: £70, Skincycles.com
- Best for spot-prone or oily complexions – Dr Althea Pore Refining Grinding Cleansing Balm: £14.14, Cultbeauty.co.uk
“Most complexions can benefit if you choose based on your skin type rather than marketing. Look for barrier-supporting ingredients such as squalane, ceramides and oat extract to help nourish and strengthen dry, mature and sensitive complexions. If you’re oily, acne-prone or reactive, choose a lightweight, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free formula that emulsifies well and rinses away cleanly. Follow with a gel cleanser too if acne-prone.”
Perfect for removing an icky combination of sunscreen, sweat and make-up during summertime, cleansing balms also help hydrate come winter’s combination of cold weather and central heating. As a bonus benefit, because they require being massaged onto the face, chances are you’ll take a moment for yourself, transforming cleansing from a chore into something mindful and pleasurable.
“I mainly recommend balms in the evening as the first step of a double cleanse, especially if you’ve worn SPF or make-up,” advises Masters. “Most people don’t need one in the morning unless they’ve used rich overnight products. Massage onto dry skin with dry hands for 60 seconds before adding warm water to emulsify. Rinse well, then follow with a gentle second cleanse if needed. And take your time – the more you massage, the more nutrients your skin absorbs.”
How I tested
Each cleansing balm was tested for a week to assess the benefits. The great thing about cleansers is that you sense if they suit you after one use; in a week, you’ll truly know how they make your skin feel. I used each cleansing balm for six nights to assess how easily the balm scooped out of its pot, melted in my hands and was removed. Finally, I noted how clean my skin looked – including if there was any make-up residue left on the towel when I patted my face dry – as well as how it felt.
Emma Hardie Vitamin C Brilliance Cleansing Balm with Dual Action Cleansing Cloth
★★★★★ Best: Overall cleansing balm What we love: Customisable texture, double-duty microfibre cloth included, and uplifting scent Take note: More suited to a morning cleanse if skin is desert-dry
It’s the delicate, uplifting aroma of orange, tangerine peel and jasmine oils that captures you first, even before you’ve applied a dollop of this soft balm. It's lighter than the OG Moringa version and packed with brightening vitamin C, but just as deep cleansing and softening. Factoring in the cleansing cloth, with one side microfibre to remove the balm plus grime and the other side muslin to gently buff, my skin was revived and glowy.
The balm melts quickly to an oil so it’s easy to massage before emulsifying with water. On days my skin was feeling more parched, I skipped the water stage and removed it as an oil to get some extra nourishment. And as I was testing during the heatwave when my skin was occasionally flustered, I used it as a cooling and calming mask when I got home after keeping the pot in the fridge. Devotees also use the balm as a cuticle oil, on dry patches and for flaky lips. Size: 100g Buy now £52, Lookfantastic.com
Byoma Melting Balm Cleanser
★★★★☆ Best: Budget cleansing balm What we love: Puts your skin’s protective barrier first, super-softening but light enough for the morning Take note: Absorbs quickly, so work fast
I’m a huge fan of Byoma for championing the importance of the skin barrier to combat sensitivity, dehydration and inflammation through effective but affordable products. That includes this buttery cleansing balm that transforms instantly into an oil packed with barrier-strengthening grapeseed oil and olive fruit extract. Yet it doesn’t feel greasy and won’t block pores or cause breakouts, in part because added niacinamide helps to balance out sebum production.
You don’t need much: the size of a pea is recommended, although I used double as it sinks in quickly and I wanted time to massage thoroughly. After a few splashes of water, which changes the oil into a milk, my face was soft, clean (including removing a night out’s eye make-up) and looked even-toned. I’m sure some fine lines were less visible too. The pot can also be popped in your recycling bin when you’ve emptied it. Size: 60g Buy now £14.99, Sephora.co.uk
SkinCycles ExoYouth Cleansing Balm
★★★★★ Best: Cleansing balm for skin health What we love: Packed with skin-strengthening ingredients, silky texture massages in well, supple and balanced finish Take note: Soft texture means you can easily scoop out too much – start conservatively
SkinCycles takes Harley Street expertise and puts it into at-home skincare, so this cleansing balm has to deliver as well in the clinic as it does in your bathroom. The ingredients list reads like a must-have for healthy, even and nourished skin: protective antioxidants, nourishing shea butter, and oil-balancing jojoba oil. Plus, its unique firming and smoothing peptide complex. Unlike most balms, you must dampen hands first, so it effortlessly transforms into a sumptuous milk. After a minute of massaging the face, neck and decolletage, the instructions advise removing with a warm, damp cleansing cloth, but I found I didn’t need one. For me, it washed away with water, so you can tailor to suit your skin’s mood at the end of the day. Either way, my complexion was perfectly clean, didn’t feel tight and looked fresh. Size: 100ml Buy now £70, Harrods.com
Dr David Jack Ceramide Cleansing Balm
★★★★★ Best: Luxurious anti-ageing cleansing balm What we love: Comes with cloth and gold scoop, can be used as a mask, elegant and calming scent Take note: Might be too heavy if you’re particularly oily
You’ll only need a pea-sized amount of this deliciously rich balm to get its triple benefits – cleansing, exfoliating and calming. Use the golden spatula to scoop a little out and warm between your palms before smoothing on. The luscious texture makes it ideal for giving yourself a great sculpting and relaxing massage without dragging skin, while orange, rosemary and camomile extracts create a soporific haze of scent.
The powerhouse ingredient here is ceramides, which support the skin’s natural barrier and hold in moisture for a soft, bouncy finish. There’s azelaic acid to calm redness and inflammation, alongside seed oils that nail the delicate balance between effective cleansing, balanced sebum and not clogging pores. If you want to make your cleanse an exfoliating treatment, leave it on for two or three minutes and let dead cell-sloughing papaya enzymes do their work – my skin felt like velvet afterwards. Size: 100ml Buy now £65, Drdavidjack.com
System Nature Cleansing Balm
★★★★★ Best: Cleansing balm with impressive green credentials What we love: 100 per cent natural, gently exfoliates while cleansing, and can be used AM and PM Take note: Pretty solid, so don’t lose the spatula it comes with
Two renowned University of Leeds professors who specialise in green science are behind System Nature, a range that champions potent natural and upcycled ingredients, combined with smart tech and a sustainable manufacturing process. Translated into cleansing balm, that means a coconut cleansing agent rather than synthetic surfactants, fatty acids that nourish without leaving residue and an oat powder extract that gently exfoliates and supports the skin’s microbiome to keep it healthy. This is a winner for even the most irritable complexions.
For a balm, the consistency is quite waxy, but with a splash of water you easily mix it into a thick paste. I loved how well it massaged in, lifting make-up and dirt before rinsing off again, although you can use a cloth too. You’ll feel the exfoliating particles using the lightest of pressure and, to my surprise, it removed my hardy mascara with no trace of panda eyes. Afterwards, my face felt scrupulously clean and smooth but super-hydrated. Some nights I used the paste as a two-minute nourishing mask (after my first cleanse) and didn’t bother with moisturiser. I’m told men can use it for shaving too. Size: 100ml Buy now £29, Systemnature.com
PERS Radiance Cleansing Balm
★★★★★ Best: De-polluting cleansing balm for city skins What we love: Protection for urbanites, removes eye and lip make-up, pot can be recycled Take note: To feel squeaky clean, you’ll need to follow with a second, lighter cleanser (PERS also have a great gel one)
Formulated as the first step of your evening cleanse, this balm removes the onslaught of environmental aggressors that accumulate on our faces during the day. Fine particles of pollution, smoke and heavy metals make skin more sensitive, break down collagen and weaken its defences. This balm whisks them away along with lipophilic – or oil-soluble – residues like excess sebum. The balm is a blend of omega and essential fatty acid-rich oils that hydrate and soothe as they cleanse, while PERS's own anti-pollution ingredient adds a protective film that helps prevent more damaging particles sticking to skin. A tiny amount softens easily, becoming an oil that’s ready to massage on. When you add water to wash the balm and the day’s impurities away, it keeps its oilier structure but still rinses off easily and, combined with a warm cleansing cloth, my city-weary skin looked and felt revived and supple again. Size: 100ml Buy now £42, Smallable.com
ROCCO Beauty TLC Melt Hydrating Balm Cleanser
★★★★☆ Best: Cleansing balm with a mood-boosting scent What we love: Makes cleansing a ritual, refined texture, clever dispenser Take note: Remove any eye make-up first
The scent, the texture, the slip – everything about this cleansing balm is geared to make you take a pause and create an evening ritual. Special mention goes first, though, to the pencil sharpener-esque dispenser that you twist until your desired amount curls out like a wood shaving. As the balm dissolves into an oil, it releases Rocco’s signature (scientist-blended) FaceFeels fragrance, created like a luxury perfume with comforting neroli, rose, geranium and vanilla. Blissful. It’s thick to start with, but the squalane, baobab and rosehip oils allow for effortless massage, and I could feel my skin softening as I worked it in for 60 seconds. A day’s worth of London grime, sunscreen and sweat were easily washed away with water, leaving my face feeling spotless and bouncy rather than tight. Most of my make-up disappeared too, with the exception of some stubborn mascara. Size: 40g Buy now £16, Boots.com
Neals Yard Remedies Wild Rosehip Beauty Balm Vegan
★★★★☆ Best: Organic and vegan cleansing balm What we love: Soothing scent stays with you, exfoliating action, soft muslin cloth included Take note: Needs the muslin to be removed thoroughly
A beloved skincare hero for 20 years, this multipurpose balm has just been reformulated to be vegan. This is another brilliant multitasker, taming brows and flyaway hairs, soothing cracked lips, or even used as a sheeny highlighter. But as I put it to the test as a cleanser, I loved how it glided onto my skin and provided the perfect amount of slip for a satisfying massage.
The base is made from healing rosehip oil, which is packed full of protective antioxidants, smoothing pro-vitamin A and moisturising vitamin E. It’s a formula that stays in an oil consistency, even when you add warm water, so use the cloth to remove every trace as well as boost the deep clean and buffing benefits. The exquisite geranium, patchouli and rosemary is grounding and calming – perfect for the end of the day and, as it lingers, will ease you into bedtime too. Size: 50g Buy now £35.20, Nealsyardremedies.com
Gatineau Collagene Expert Melting Cleansing Balm
★★★★☆ Best: Cleansing balm for easy application What we love: Light but luxe texture, shifts waterproof make-up, works for sensitive and spot-prone skins Take note: Keep it upright, or there’s a chance it could spill when the lid comes off
This cleanser is billed as a ‘non-solid balm,’ which essentially means it’s the consistency of a thick gel. That said, it means you don’t have to ‘break the seal’ on the surface to get any out – just be careful not to gloop as you scoop. Smoothing over dry skin, it becomes an oil that can be massaged into face and neck, adding a little water onto the fingertips to work it up into a milk as it dissolves the day’s impurities.
I tried removing both with and without a face flannel and found each way made my skin velvety soft, comfortable and perfectly clean. Despite being a blend of ten oils and butter, there’s no greasy residue, plus the ceramides and hyaluronic acid, along with a plant collagen complex, do a great job of plumping out lines and creases (even on the decolletage) and give a real glow. Size: 30ml Buy now £17, Gatineau.com
Dr Althea Pore Refresh Grinding Cleansing Balm
★★★★☆ Best: Cleansing balm for oily or spot-prone skins What we love: Ultra-light texture, ideal for morning use, precision dispenser Take note: Might not be nourishing enough for dry skins
Coming from a K-beauty brand, this cleansing balm includes things Korean skincare is loved for, including a lightweight texture that still benefits dull, oily or congestion-prone complexions, as well as hygienic, smart packaging that allows you to dispense the right amount with a twist of the lid (a half turn for light make-up, full turn for heavier). It’s vegan and dermatologist-inspired too.
I don’t suffer from breakouts, but gym sweat and a summer heatwave mean I’m prone to the odd blocked pore and a flush of redness. After smoothing on and emulsifying, the silky balm-turned-oil helped mop up shininess and unclog blockages thanks to green tea extract, as well as calming down irritation. It did all this while still keeping my skin superbly soft and hydrated after I’d rinsed well – no easy feat. Size: 50ml Buy now £14.40, Lookfantastic.com
What are the best cleansing balms?
The incredible versatility of Emma Hardie Vit C Brilliance Cleansing Balm makes it my top pick – it’s a seriously hardworking multitasker in a pot. And then there’s that heavenly scent! Versatile and luxurious, Dr David Jack Afterglow Ceramide Cleansing Balm boasts a moreish and indulgent texture – it’s impossible not to treat yourself to a moment of facial massage as you apply it – a refined fragrance, and a velvet feel on skin afterwards. It completely transforms a mundane evening task. As for a well-priced cleansing balm, Byoma Melting Balm Cleanser does it all. Transforming easily into a milk, it effortlessly removes make-up with a skin barrier-first approach – simply a brilliant bargain.
Why trust me?
Journalist and author Caroline Brien has been covering her passion for beauty, from cosmetics to spas via skincare, for over 25 years, and a particular passion for fragrance has won her two prestigious Jasmine Awards, which recognise excellence in writing about perfume. In almost a decade contributing to the Standard, Caroline has written on runway trends and new ingredients to must-try treatments and wellness concepts. Former Beauty Features Director at Maire Claire, she has contributed to titles including Red, Elle, Grazia and Good Housekeeping, as well as the Financial Times, Telegraph, Daily Mail and Sunday Times Style magazine.
