Got dry skin? How about sensitive skin? Or oily skin? Because you might need a cleansing balm -- and they're coming out in droves.
Cleansing balms are like cleansing oils, but even more convenient: oil-based, low-lather or no-lather cleansers in semisolid form. Not only do they gently cleanse, hydrate and remove long-wearing makeup in one step, they're utterly spill-proof, which pretty much makes them your makeup bag's travel-friendly MVPs.
The glue-like cleansing balms of yesterday were best for dry skin -- but times, and technologies, have changed. Now, there are great cleansing balms for uneven skin, combination skin, acne-prone skin and flaky skin, and you can find the best cleansing balms at a variety of price points.
Here are the nine best cleansing balms for every skin type and budget.
Image via Getty
Photo 2/10
Best Natural Cleansing Balm for Sensitive Skin
The pristine natural formula of Goop by Juice Beauty Luminous Melting Cleanser, $90, is probably this product's biggest selling point: It's made primarily of botanical oils and extracts, and 75 percent of the ingredients are organic. Also notable are what the formula doesn't contain: parabens, petroleum, pesticides, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, phthalates, sulfates, PEGs, TEA, DEA, GMO, silicones, gluten, artificial dyes, or fragrances. Of the newest cleansing balms, this is No. 1 for removing stubborn makeup and the best dupe for Eve Lom's trend-setting cleansing balm. (More on that one later.) It comes with a muslin cloth for scrubbing, and it has a satisfyingly thick -- dare we say, goopy -- texture.
Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm, $34, is the ideal skin solution for city dwellers in need of TLC. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant botanical ingredients like turmeric root, ginger root, echinacea and moringa tree extract help counteract the free radicals caused by pollution. This cleansing balm also has a host of brightening ingredients like papaya extract, citrus oils and cichoric acid. We love this balm's juicy, refreshing lime scent and the tiny spatula tucked inside the jar, which cuts down on germs from double-dipping with your fingers.
So you're a grown-ass woman, but your skin didn't get the memo? Rodial Bee Venom Cleansing Balm, $59, is a great cleanser for those prone to breakouts. Almond, jojoba and wheat germ oils lightly moisturize, while salicylic acid unclogs pores, vitamin C lightens hyperpigmentation and water lily extract reduces inflammation. In other words, this cleanser is the best of all worlds: not too oily, not too drying, not too mild, not too harsh. Thinner than most cleansing balms, it goes on and rinses off easily.
NYX makes some of our favorite affordable dupes for high-end products, which is why we were so amped about the launch of NYX Cosmetics Stripped Off Cleansing Balm. At just $14, this is one of the least expensive cleansing balms on the market, not to mention one of the few drugstore cleansing balms. It also contains skin-loving antioxidant ingredients like grapeseed oil, green tea extract and vitamin E. A word to the wise: Pass on this product if you have acne-prone skin, since vitamin E and mineral oil (the first ingredient on the list) can trigger breakouts.
