TOP 10 BEST CLEANSING BALMS

Whether you’re double cleansing with a foaming cleanser and cleansing balm or looking for a formula that will remove *all* traces last night’s make up (waterproof mascara, we’re looking at you), then this is the place for you… 

Made with creamy, hydrating and luxurious butters and oils, the best cleansing balms are the most nourishing and moisturising type of face wash, making them particularly ideal for those with dry, sensitive and even oily skin types.  

With that in mind, here are Cult Beauty we’ve rounded up the 10 best cleansing balms to sweep away your impurities and set your complexion up nicely for the rest of your skin care routine…   

BUT FIRST, WHAT IS A CLEANSING BALM 

Designed to wash away your make up, SPF, excess oil and other impurities that may be on the skin, the best cleansing balms boast a solid or buttery texture that melts into an oil when warmed up, before emulsifying into a milky liquid once added to water. Nourishing for all skin types, balms are seen as a gentle yet powerful formula that feature emollients and plant-derived oils that support your skin’s barrier. 

HOW TO USE A CLEANSING BALM 

Designed to be used day and night, cleansing balms are the first step to you daily routine. Simply massage the formula into your skin for approximately one to two minutes to break down its oils and banish build up. Then, take a warm cloth and remove the balm – leaving no residue behind. Follow with a water-based cleanser if you’re looking to double cleans or continue with the rest of your beauty regime (we’re talking toner, serum and moisturiser). 

THE BEST CLEANSING BALMS 

1. ELEMIS’ Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm 
2. Muihood’s Good Chi Cleansing Balm
3. Emma Hardie’s Moringa Cleansing Balm With Professional Cleansing Cloth
4. Then I Met You’s Living Cleansing Balm
5. The INKEY List’s Oat Cleansing Balm
6. Youth To The People’s Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm
7. Drunk Elephant’s Slaai Makeup Melting Butter Cleanser
8. Farmacy’s Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm
9. SISLEY-PARIS’ Make-Up Remover Balm
10. Alpha-H’s Melting Moment Cleansing Balm

TOP 10 BEST CLEANSING BALMS 

ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm 100g

114

55.30€

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Start your skin care routine as you mean to go on with ELEMIS’ Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm. Getting your complexion glowing, the famed formula works hard to melt away stubborn make up and impurities while plumping and hydrating your complexion along the way. What’s more, infused with the brand’s signature nine essential oil blend – including lavender, chamomile and eucalyptus, just to name a few – it acts as an invigorating treat for both your skin and senses.   

Muihood Good Chi Cleansing Balm 100ml

37.29€

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Customising your cleansing routine to suit your complexion’s needs, Muihood’s Good Chi Cleansing Balm can be used as both a daily face wash and an intense cleansing mask for when your skin needs a little more TLC. Rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, the formula fuses ginseng root, soybean oil (a plentiful source of nourishing vitamin E) and goji berry to retain moisture and protect your natural moisture barrier – all while removing traces of your day… 

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm with Professional Cleansing Cloth 100g

184

58.70€

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Dubbed as the ultimate facial in a jar, Emma Hardie’s Moringa Cleansing Balm With Professional Cleansing Cloth washes, nourishes and refreshes in one easy sweep. Bringing the spa home, the award-winning solution melds aromatic oils with antioxidants, vitamins and fatty acids to leave complexions soft, supple and glowing.  

Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm 90g

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124

42.90€

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Sorbet-soft and oh so soothing, Then I Met You’s Living Cleansing Balm eliminates oil-based impurities – AKA sunscreen, make up and excess sebum – while comforting your complexion. Crafted from a lightweight blend of plant oils including olive oil, sea buckthorn oil and grapeseed oil, the daily solution is enriched with persimmon extract to shield from free radicals and promote a brighter tone.  

The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm 150ml

498

13.50€

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Aptly named, The INKEY List’s Oat Cleansing Balm blends oat kernel oil with colloidal oatmeal to help comfort dry, tight and sensitive complexions. Defending your moisture barrier without stripping skin, the duo reduces the appearance of redness while soothing irritation – serving up the perfect canvas for the rest of your routine.  

Youth To The People Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm 95ml

EXCLUSIVE

38

40.60€

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Curing your complexion’s cravings, Youth To The People’s Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm feeds skin with nutrients, omegas, brightening antioxidants *and* three weights of hyaluronic acid. Transforming from an oil to a milk, it breaks down stubborn cosmetics while building up skin health – leaving you looking soft, hydrated and never greasy. 

Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser

213

40.00€

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Waterproof mascara? Longwear foundation? They’re no match for Drunk Elephant’s Slaai Makeup Melting Butter Cleanser. Featuring its trusted sidekick, the Bamboo Booster – that can be added into the formula to help exfoliate, clarifying refine – this dynamic duo brightens complexions and restores radiance while sloughing away dead cells.  

FARMACY Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm 50ml

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63

27.10€

50ml

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Dreamt up with oily skin types in mind, Farmacy’s Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm revitalise a lacklustre complexion ready for day (or night) ahead. While its infusion of moringa tree extract neutralises dirt and pollutants, sunflower and ginger root is used to clean and condition complexions. Oh, and did we mention it signs off with a lingering lime, bergamot and orange aroma too? Now, that’s what we call pure bliss… 

Sisley Paris Triple-Oil Balm Make-up Remover And Cleanser 125g

113.00€

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Supercharged with not one, but three, nourishing oils, SISLEY-PARIS’ Make-Up Remover Balm is powered by babassu, shea and macadamia oil. Offering your complexion a comforting hug, the featherweight formula effectively washes away traces of the day while leaving your skin soft, supple and soothed.  

Alpha-H Melting Moment Cleansing Balm 90g

15

46.95€

90G

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Ideal for those with busy schedules, Alpha-H’s Melting Moment Cleansing Balm employs fast-acting ingredients that activate in a flash (without having to sit on skin while you wait). Rich in Australian wild orange extract, it brightens, protects, soothes and supports skin barrier functions to regular sebum production without disrupting your natural pH levels. Yes, it does all this in just a matter of moments. Impressive, we know! 

THE BESTCLEANSING BALM FAQS

Are cleansing balms effective? 

In short, yes. The best cleansing balms are gentle yet powerful formulas that remove dirt, make up, and other pore-clogging impurities that could lead to blackheads and blemishes.  

Is micellar water or cleansing balm better? 

While micellar water is best suited for those removing minimal make up, the best cleansing balms are more effective when melting away stubborn cosmetics such as waterproof mascaras, lip stains and long wear foundations.  

Is it okay to use cleansing balm everyday? 

Yes! The best cleansing balms don’t just remove make up, they wash away impurities, build up, pollution and daily grime too. Cleansing your skin every day (even if you don’t have make up on) is important to maintain your skin's health and radiance.