Admit it: There are few things that are more satisfying at the end of the day than wiping off a face full of makeup. (That and, perhaps, a glass of wine or midnight snack?) And with so many good cleansing balms available, makeup removal is so much more pleasant—not to mention plastic free. Whether you have dry, oily or combination skin, cleansing balms generally work for everyone says New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Ryan Turner. In a quest to find the best cleansing balms, PureWow editors tested 25 different brands to winnow it down to their 13 favorites. That includes our best overall winner, Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm ($24); the best Korean cleansing balm, Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Blam ($21) and the best value pick, Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm ($18). Read on for the full list.

How We Chose the Best Cleansing Balms

We scoured the internet and social media to see what brands and balms were trending. Then, PureWow editors put 25 cleansing balms to the test on full faces of makeup (a minimum of foundation, concealer, eye makeup and lipstick). Their skin types range from oily to combination and incredibly dry and sensitive. They evaluated each one for their gentleness, scent, efficacy and texture to winnow down the list to these 13 best cleansing balms. The result: Squeaky clean and hydrated skin.

1. Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm

WHAT WE LIKE

spatula included
pleasant scent
leaves skin dewy and soft

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

may be a tad drying depending on skin sensitivity, according to other editors

PureWow Associate Editor Chelsea Candelario says that the Farmacy Green Clean cleansing balm trumps any of the others she’s tried. “I’ve been using this cleansing balm all year long and I haven’t wanted to use anything else to remove my makeup,” she says. “Once applied, it feels so gentle on my skin, and I’m able to use it all over my cheeks, brows and even lashes without feeling any sting. I also appreciated how my skin felt after the product was washed off. When it comes to other makeup removers, they often strip away my natural oils and leave me with super dry skin. That’s never been the case with this balm. Instead, I’m left with dewier, softer skin than before.”

The balm includes ingredients like moringa extract, which has been proven to reduce fine lines, and papaya enzymes to exfoliate and clean the pores. It’s available in three sizes and has a refreshing scent. Candelario loved the bergamot, lime and orange blend that she described as a “tropical drink.” Added bonus: spatula included, so you don’t have to dig in with your fingers.

FAST FACTS

Ingredients: sunflower oil, ginger root oil, turmeric extract, moringa extract, papaya enzymes
Size: 1.7, 3.4 and 6.8 oz
Cruelty free: yes

BEST KOREAN CLEANSING BALM

2. Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm

WHAT WE LIKE

gentle on sensitive and combination skin
spatula included
no greasy residue

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

according to other editors, can be a little drying depending on skin type

“I have combination skin that’s prone to acne and eczema flareups (jackpot!), so I’m careful about trying new skincare products,” says PureWow Beauty Director Jenny Jin. “I’ve used this cleansing balm off and on for a few years now (mainly after special occasions where I’ve worn a face full of makeup), and my skin always feels soft and clean after I use this.” The balm has a gentle, sweet scent and is formulated with botanical ingredients (acerola berry, jojoba oil, cranberry extract) and vitamins C and E. It’s available in three sizes, including a handy one-ounce travel container, and includes a scooper.

FAST FACTS

Ingredients: acerola berry, jojoba oil, cranberry extract, vitamins C and E
Size: 1, 3 and 6 oz
Cruelty free: n/a

3. Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm

WHAT WE LIKE

calming eucalyptus scent
good value
doesn’t dry out sensitive skin

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

no spatula included

“The first thing you notice when you open the jar is the calming eucalyptus scent, which makes it lovely after a long day,” says PureWow Associate SEO editor Marissa Wu. “This balm hits a good balance of not being too greasy or drying. After washing it away, my skin felt balanced but not overly hydrated.” The gentle formula won’t bother the eyes, so it’s a good pick for removing eye makeup. It contains vitamin E, eucalyptus and clove leaf oil (which is calming), as well as, avocado and jojoba oil. The brand recommends it as a first step in a double-cleanse routine, but Wu found it also stood on its own. (Though she notes that she doesn’t wear heavy makeup.)

FAST FACTS

Ingredients: vitamin E, eucalyptus, clove leaf oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil
Size: 0.6, 2.3 and 4.6 oz
Cruelty free: yes

BEST FOR TRAVEL

4. Bliss Mighty Biome Cleansing Balm

WHAT WE LIKE

great for travel
works well on sensitive skin
no scent

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

firm texture can be difficult to scoop out at first

When you’re packing for a trip, chances are you’ll have to sit on your suitcase to close it. (Or pay the insane airline fees.) We love that the Bliss Mighty Biome cleansing balm comes in a compact three-ounce tin that disappears right into your makeup bag. Plus, it’s great for all skin types, including sensitive skin. “I have mild rosacea so it’s rare that a cleanser doesn’t leave my skin red, but this cleansing balm has a soothing effect on my face,” notes PureWow Senior Editor Dana Dickey. “The prebiotic and postbiotic elements in the balm are formulated to support, not strip, the skin’s natural biome. The best thing about this is it leaves my face feeling plump and moisturized, not dry and shiny.” The balm contains beta glucan (hydrating prebiotic to balance skin’s microbiome), Lactococcus ferment lysate (postbiotic that can treat inflammation), beta carotene (antioxidant) and squalane (a moisturizing ingredient).

FAST FACTS

Ingredients: beta glucan, Lactococcus ferment lysate, BARRIER AID complex, beta carotene, ceramide, squalene
Size: 3 oz
Cruelty free: n/a

BEST EXFOLIATOR

5. Drunk Elephant Slaai Cleanser

WHAT WE LIKE

magnetic scoop
can mix in exfoliator as desired
skin feels hydrated

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

tube of exfoliant is small

If you’re someone who likes to exfoliate from time to time, you’ll want to get yourself a jar of Drunk Elephant’s Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser. Wu appreciated this formula because it left her skin feeling soft and hydrated, while taking off all her makeup. The Bamboo Booster exfoliant comes in a separate tube, so you can mix it in with the balm as needed. Ingredients include fruit extracts and oils like strawberry and kiwi for a moisture boost. The real kicker: a magnetic scoop, so you’ll never lose it.

FAST FACTS

Ingredients: fruit and seed extracts and oils, bamboo charcoal powder (separate)
Size: 3.88 oz
Cruelty free: yes

BEST MAKEUP CLEANSING BALM

6. Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Cleansing Balm

WHAT WE LIKE

very gentle on skin/eyes
efficiently dissolves makeup
nice scent

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

difficult to scoop from jar

“This is the mascara-removing master,” PureWow Senior Commerce Editor Stephanie Maida proclaims. “And yet, it’s gentle on your eyes. This formula started dissolving my makeup (including heavy eyeshadow, mascara and liquid eyeliner) mere seconds after applying it to my skin. I added some water to emulsify the formula. The results: No flaky mascara residue left behind, no buildup around my nose. When I wiped my face with a towel afterwards, it was totally clear.” She reports that the Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Cleansing Balm left her skin soft and moisturized. (Maida has combination skin that can dry and flake, and also deals with uneven texture and dullness.) “With my regular cleansers, my skin is left feeling quite stripped and dry, but this felt very nourishing.” That’s thanks to the papaya enzymes and papaya seed oil, which work to resurface, soothe and hydrate the skin. Blueberry extract provides protection against free radicals. The scene is “fruity, fresh and a little sweet,” though Maida says it’s a tad soapy. She notes that it’s a bit difficult to scoop out at first, but once melted, it becomes buttery.

FAST FACTS

Ingredients: papaya enzymes, papaya seed oil, blueberry extract
Size: 3.4 oz
Cruelty free: yes

BEST DRUGSTORE CLEANSING BALM

7. E.L.F. Holy Hydration Cleansing Balm

WHAT WE LIKE

affordable
effectively removes heavy makeup
works on sensitive skin

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

some buyers don’t like that polyethylene (plastic) is in the ingredients

Candelario notes that her skin is dry and sensitive, but prone to oiliness in the T-zone. The E.L.F. Holy Hydration Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm blew her away. “Honestly, I was shocked at how clean it left my skin,” she says. “It feels so soft and moisturized, and the texture melted nicely. The cleansing balm did a great job at removing at least 95 percent of my makeup. I had a full face and it managed to remove even the toughest formulas (I’m looking at you mascara).” The cleanser includes hydration superstar hyaluronic acid and comes in 0.45 and two-ounce jars. Plus, it comes in at just $11.

FAST FACTS

Ingredients: hyaluronic acid
Size: 0.45 and 2 oz
Cruelty free: yes

BEST CLEANSING BALM FOR ACNE PRONE SKIN

8. Erborian Centella Solid Cleansing Balm

WHAT WE LIKE

beautiful, calming scent
leaves skin feeling balanced
scoop included

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

people with nut allergies may want to proceed with caution

“For me, breakouts aren’t a matter of if but when,” Wu says. “However, after using Erborian’s Centella Solid Cleansing Balm, I found it to be one of the most balancing formulas I’ve tried.” The viscous formula had a refreshingly sweet scent, and after rinsing, Wu’s skin felt Goldilocks hydrated—or just right. The formula contains centella asiatica (soothing), sweet almond oil (Vitamin E, moisture) and shea butter, working as a first-step cleanser. Though, if you only wear light makeup, it could be all you need.

FAST FACTS

Ingredients: centella asiatica extract
Size: 2.8 oz
Cruelty free: n/a

BEST CLEANSING BALM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

9. Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm

WHAT WE LIKE

great for sensitive, dry skin
made with lavender, chamomile and eucalyptus essential oils
no scent

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

pricey
not recommended for eye makeup

Sure, the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is $69 a jar, but for PureWow Executive Editor Alexia Dellner, it’s worth every penny. “I have super sensitive, dry skin that can often react negatively to new products, including those marked as for sensitive skin,” she says. “[This balm makes my] skin feel more hydrated, and I appreciate that there’s no scent. (I can get sneezy if someone even lights a candle in my house). It’s a creamy balm that’s easy to scoop out with your fingertips and melts onto my skin. A pea-sized amount removed all my foundation and blush, and it feels so luxurious.” The balm is packed with lavender, eucalyptus and chamomile essentials oils, padina pavonica (brown algae with fatty acids), starflower oil (soothes) and elderberry oil (smoothing).

FAST FACTS

Ingredients: essential oils (lavender, eucalyptus, chamomile), padina pavonica (brown algae), starflower oil, elderberry oil
Size: 3.5 oz
Cruelty free: n/a

THE MAKEUP ARTIST REC

10. Naturium Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm

WHAT WE LIKE

hydrating
makeup artist recommended
great for combination skin

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

scoop not included

Naturium’s Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm is Patinkin’s personal recommendation. “I love that it’s a simple formulation [without much] fragrance, is good for sensitive skin and is affordable,’ she says. When PureWow Assistant Editor Delia Curtis tried it on their combination skin, they found it effective and hydrating, noting that their skin felt soft and supple after cleansing. “There isn’t much of a scent and I’m glad,” they say. “Having fragrance in my cleansers is a big turn off as I worry that it will be harsh on my skin. The balm does have the *slightest* earthy skin scent, but it’s barely noticeable.” They add that the balm’s texture is thick, so it may take a moment to work it thoroughly into the skin. The formula contains purple ginseng, an ingredient that may have anti-aging properties, including collagen production and hydration.

FAST FACTS

Ingredients: purple ginseng, aloe, jojoba oil
Size: 3 oz
Cruelty free: yes

BEST CLEANSING BALM FOR DRY SKIN

11. Ma:nyo Deep Clear Cleansing Balm

WHAT WE LIKE

includes spatula
works well on dry and sensitive skin
leaves skin feeling plump and moisturized

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

can be difficult to unpackage

Cleansing balms often promise to remove makeup without leaving your skin taut and dry, but not all deliver. PureWow Assistant Editor Karelle McKay confirms that Ma:nyo’s Deep Clear Cleansing Balm holds to its promise. The ingredients include hyaluronic acid, panthenol (humectant) and allantoin (additional hydration). McKay tested it on her dry, sensitive skin and remarked that “My face felt hydrated and soft, which is the complete opposite to what I [usually] feel when removing my makeup with a cleansing balm. In the past, my face would feel dry to the touch and tight.” She also reports that the gentle fragrance didn’t irritate her skin. The balm has a soft and silky (albeit thick) consistency that removes even stubborn eye makeup. “I find it hard to remove my mascara since it’s so thick. I often double cleanse around my eyes, But the Ma:nyo balm removed my mascara with no problem.”

FAST FACTS

Ingredients: hyaluronic acid, panthenol, allantoin
Size: 4.46 oz
Cruelty free: n/a

12. Tacha The Indigo Cleansing Balm

WHAT WE LIKE

indigo extract can help calm redness
less oily texture
scentless

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

pricey

If you want a balm that isn’t too slick, Tacha’s The Indigo Cleansing Balm should be your go-to. Of all the products she tested, Wu noticed that Tacha’s had the “driest” texture. “It didn’t feel super slick and there was more resistance as you spread it across your face, while other balms were pretty slippery,” she says. The scentless balm contains ingredients like indigo extract to soothe and cleansing lipids to remove makeup and retain moisture. Wu, whose skin is incredibly dry, observed that it was effective in removing all her makeup, and left her skin feeling like she had applied just the right amount of moisturizer, without any greasy residue.

FAST FACTS

Ingredients: indigo extract, cleansing lipids
Size: 1.9 oz
Cruelty free: yes

BEST SCENT

13. Keys Soulcare Cleansing Balm

WHAT WE LIKE

leaves skin incredibly soft
divine scent
can tackle heavy makeup

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

scooper not included
people with nut allergies should proceed with caution

Alicia Keys’ beauty line makes a cleansing balm that smells *divine* according to Candelario. She says that it was gentle on her dry, combination skin and left her face soft after rinsing. That’s thanks to the shea butter, sunflower and macadamia seed oils packed with fatty acids and antioxidants. Bamboo charcoal helps remove dirt and excess oil. “I like that it left a lasting scent after rinsing off and it’s not overpowering,” Candelario notes. “The balm melted nicely onto my skin and it took off all my makeup (which consists of mascara, eyeliner, concealer, bronzer and foundation).”

FAST FACTS

Ingredients: bamboo charcoal, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, macadamia seed oil
Size: 2.8 oz
Cruelty free: yes

How Do Cleansing Balms Work?

Oil breaks down oil. That’s what’s happening here. “[Because] oil dissolves oil, it can [remove] the excess oil on our skin, which is holding onto makeup,” Dr. Turner explains. “Cleansing balm can be superior to conventional cleanser when trying to remove that heavy stuff.”

He advises that the best practice is to massage it into your skin for no more than 30 seconds to a minute. This ensures a thorough clean without risking the possibility of drying out your skin.

“If you’re [doing] three, four, five minutes of scrubbing, paradoxically, you’re going to strip away your body’s natural oils,” Dr. Turner cautions. “Like dissolves like, so that cleansing balm is going to take off too much of your natural oils. That can lead to dry skin because we’re stripping off too much. The balm is not going to be able to replace the oil at the same rate that the scrub took it off.”

How to Choose the Best Cleansing Balm for Your Skin

“It’s personal preference,” Patinkin says. She explains that if you know your skin well, you can check the ingredients for possible things that will cause a reaction. “For me, coconut and sunflower oils can be problematic,” she says.

While it may take a second to nail down the best cleansing balm for you, Dr. Turner says that the product generally will work for everyone—so don’t give up if it’s something you want to incorporate into your skin care routine. It’s just a matter of finding the right formula that caters to your skin’s needs.

“[People with] dry skin can get away with heavier balms, [which] have cleansing oils [and] plant butters in them,” he says. These often appear more solid in consistency. “For those [with] oily skin, you want to get something that’s a bit lighter. Look for something that doesn’t necessarily have plant butters in it and get something that [has a] whipped or light, airy feel so it’s not congesting.”

What Are the Benefits of Using a Cleansing Balm?

Cleansing balms can be pricey—we’re talking upwards of $40 for about three ounces. So, what should stop you from springing for a $3 jar of petroleum jelly instead?

“[Petroleum jelly] is an occlusive, so it will melt whatever is on your skin, but it leaves like a barrier so that it traps moisture,” Patinkin says. “Cleansing oils wipe away much cleaner.”

Additionally, as the name suggests, petroleum is oil—but not necessarily the good kind. Conversely, Dr. Turner explains that cleansing balms can contain biomimetics, like jojoba oil and squalane. As Dr. Turner says, “They help to approximate the natural oils, fats and lipids that are found in the skin. We’re replacing what our body is naturally wanting, even though we’re going to be shedding some of that during the washing process.” He advises avoiding coconut oil, because it can cause congestion.