It wasn’t long ago that you couldn’t find any selection of cleansing balms in the drugstore. I remember searching Amazon and only finding a few familiar brands that I’ve since come to love. (Hello Heimish!) But it seems like every day there is a new cleansing balm hitting the market.
While there are some incredible luxury cleansing balms available, today I’d like to shine the spotlight on drugstore brands. These budget-friendly brands have created some products that often rival and outperform their expensive luxury counterparts.
2020 UPDATE: I’ve recently purchased a few more drugstore cleansing balms, so I’ve updated this post to include my thoughts on cleansing balms from Neutrogena, Burt’s Bees, DermaE and The Inkey List. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for more details.
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How Do Cleansing Balms Work?
Cleansing balms typically start out as a solid waxy substance, but once they are applied to the skin, they melt and turn into an oil. Once water is added, they emulsify and get to work. They are made to dissolve stubborn face and eye makeup and prep your skin for a second cleanse or the next step in your skincare routine.
While some cleansing balms excel at dissolving eye makeup in a few seconds flat, others treat your skin with their luxurious oils and scents. Here are a few that are readily available from your local drugstore, mass retailer or Amazon:
Pond’s Cold Cream Cleansing Balm & Makeup Remover
Pond’s Cold Cream Cleansing Balm & Makeup Remover appears to be modeled after some of the popular Korean cleansing balms in regard to its consistency and texture. It comes out of the jar in as a white fluffy wax but it dissolves when it comes in contact with skin and works well at removing tough eye makeup.
It should be noted that it is formulated with mineral oil, which doesn’t bother me but may be an issue for some. There is a fragrance that may affect those who are sensitive to scent, although the scent is light. Overall, this is an effective drugstore cleansing balm available at a very reasonable price.
Related: Drugstore Anti-Aging Essentials For Your Skincare Routine
Boots No 7 Radiant Results Nourishing Cleansing Balm
Boots No 7 Radiant Results Nourishing Cleansing Balm is made with No7’s Tri-Vit Complex + Grapeseed Oil. This scented balm has a thick and almost waxy appearance.
This balm does an ok job of removing makeup but tends to leave a residual layer of oil on your skin. This is not an issue for me since I always double cleanse and follow this first step with another round of non-oil based cleansing, but I would give it higher marks if it rinsed off completely. This is probably the drugstore cleansing balm that I like the least.
Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm
Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm comes from the same team responsible for Target’s Who What Wear fashion and accessory line. This brand is a clean alternative skincare line, vegan and cruelty-free. Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm comes in a cute pink jar and it’s a little smaller (2.3 oz) than some of the other cleansing balms I have tried (3.88 oz).
Some of the oils in this formula include eucalyptus leaf oil, clove leaf oil, jojoba seed oil, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil, sclerocarya birrea (marula) seed oil and sesame seed oil. The scent of the eucalyptus leaf oil and especially the clove leaf oil is very strong. Clove oil always seems to dominate whatever formula it is in.
Some may love this fragrance, but it smells quite medicinal to me. The formula melts on the skin and does a great job of removing makeup and eye makeup. After using the entire jar, the scent has grown on me. I love that the clean formula rinses cleanly and really goes to work on dirt and oil.
Related: Versed Clean Drugstore Skincare Review
Physicians Formula The Perfect Matcha 3-in-1 Melting Cleansing Balm
Physicians Formula The Perfect Matcha 3-in-1 Melting Cleansing Balm’s 3-in-1 formula is made with matcha green tea, bamboo shoot, and lotus extract. The title really describes the product to a tee since it immediately dissolves upon application and melts makeup with its soothing green colored formula. The scent is pleasant and clean.
Other notable ingredients include mandarin orange peel oil and lactic acid. The only issue that I have with this product is the size. It is 1.4 oz which seems too small for the price. Some other balms are almost 3x the size and only a few dollars more. Otherwise, the is one of my favorite drugstore formulas.
Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm – Original
I read that one of these jars is sold every 3.1 seconds. I’m thrilled to see that it is now available in CVS stores in the US. Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm – Original is the original K-Beauty cleansing balm that so many other cleansing balms aspire to be.
This cleansing balm dissolves on the skin into oil and makes quick work of a face full of makeup and rinses away leaving your skin balanced and never feeling tight. Like most of the other cleansing balms, it has a light fragrance. This is a great formulation and I can see why one is sold every 3.1 seconds.
Heimish All Clean Balm Cleansing Balm
The first thing you notice about Heimish All Clean Balm Cleansing Balm is the packaging. It has a flip-top lid so you can store the plastic spatula inside on top of the inner lid. Those pesky spatulas can be very bothersome, but necessary if you don’t want to stick your fingers in the cleansing balm jars.
The ingredients are the real stars in this cleansing balm. Ingredients include: shea butter, coconut fruit extract, lime fruit extract, jasmine extract, daffodil flower extract, rose extract, orange peel oil, lavender oil, grapefruit peel oil, eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, tea tree leaf oil, and bergamot fruit oil. With such a long list of fragrant essential oils, this could go one way or the other. For me, it works. The scent is relaxing and herbal, like a day at the spa.
The balm turns from a solid to oil to milk with the addition of water. It melts similar to other Korean sherbet cleansers and leaves no trace of oiliness on the skin. It is my favorite of all the cleansing balms I’ve tried, both drugstore and high-end. Perfection.
Related: How to Apply Your Skincare Products in the Correct Order
New: Drugstore Cleansing Balms Tested in 2020
Burt’s Bees Restoring Cleansing Balm
Burt’s Bees Restoring Cleansing Balm contains antioxidant green tea and is formulated with 100% natural origin ingredients. It transforms from an oil to balm to remove impurities from the skin without stripping the skin.
The first two things that I noticed about this cleansing balm is the color and the scent. It is a green color and has a pleasant herbal scent, perhaps reminiscent of green tea. It is a solid balm but is soft and not difficult to scoop from the tub.
It melts onto the skin and removes makeup easily leaving skin feeling clean and hydrated. I find myself reaching for this due to the fresh green scent. After finishing the entire jar, I wish it would rinse more cleanly, as I feel a slight residual layer of the balm on my skin after cleansing.
Neutrogena Makeup Remover Melting Balm
Neutrogena Maker Remover Melting Balm transforms from a solid balm to oil and is formulated with vitamin E to dissolve makeup. Like other cleansing balms, it is removed with a damp washcloth to reveal clean nourished skin.
This cleansing balm easily transforms into oil when applied to your face. It removes makeup well and doesn’t leave much of a residue like other cleansing balms, but leaves your face clean and fresh.
The issue that I have with this cleansing balm is the size. It is only 2 oz, so compared to some of the other balms that I tested, it is nearly half the size. I think this is the ideal size for travel, but for daily use it would go quickly. I purchased it for $9.99, so at nearly $5/oz, I will continue to use other balms that are just as effective but less expensive.
Derma E Essentials Universal Cleansing Balm
Derma E Essentials Universal Cleansing Balm transforms into a lightweight cleansing milk to remove makeup, dirt and oil without leaving the skin feeling dry and dehydrated. It contains rosehip oil to brighten and moisturize the skin.
It also includes camellia oil, which is filled with antioxidant-rich phytonutrients, vitamin A and E. Cocoa and shea butters soothe, soften and improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Citrus essential oils tone and balance the skin.
I was glad to see that this cleansing balm includes a small white spatula to scoop out the balm so that you don’t need to use your fingers. The scent is lightly citrusy and not too strong. The balm is soft enough to easily extract from the jar and cleanses leaving the skin moisturized and supple. As with most other cleansing balms, I make sure to follow up with a second non-oil based cleanse to remove any remaining oils.
The instructions note that there are other uses for this balm besides a facial cleanser. You can use it from head to toe as an all-over cleanser, or as a shaving cream. You can also combine it with clay or exfoliants to create a mask. Plus it can be used on the scalp for dryness. Although the 3.5 oz jar is not the smallest I’ve seen, I am only using this cleanser on my face since I think I would use it up too quickly if I were to use it on my body.
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm is formulated with 3% oat kernel oil to protect the skin’s barrier and reduce blackheads and 1% colloidal oatmeal to reduce redness and minimize irritation.
This cleansing balm is not solid at room temperature so you squeeze the tube to extract the balm which can get a bit messy. It is a thick and rich balm that is well suited for a first cleanse to remove makeup. I definitely need to do a second oil-free cleanse to remove the light layer of residue left after rinsing off this balm.
Since my skin is combination/oily, this balm is not my favorite, but dry skin types may really appreciate the rich formula. This may also be ideal during the cold weather months when the skin is parched and extra dry.
Related: The Inkey List: Budget-Friendly Anti-Aging Skincare Review
Well, there you have it. This is a brief introduction to the great cleansing balm options that can now be found in drugstores in the US. I’m sure more cleansing balms will be making their way to mass retailers’ shelves as this product type continues to be popular for removing makeup and cleansing your skin, especially as the double cleanse continues in popularity.
As for the new cleansing balms that I tried in 2020, I like them all, but Heimish still holds the #1 spot for me!
Do you have any drugstore cleansing balm favorites that I should try? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for reading, and until next time…
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Jen says
Great post! I love the Clean It Zero and All Clean Balm. Haven’t tried the other ones.
Sarah says
Thank you so much Jen! Can’t resist a good cleansing balm. Clean It Zero and All Clean Balm are two of my favorites.