Moisturize and Cleanse · The Edit

Cleansing Balms and Makeup Removers

Oil based first cleansers that melt makeup, sunscreen and the day away

A cleansing balm or oil is the first step of the evening for anyone who wears makeup, water resistant sunscreen, or both. These are oil based cleansers: you massage them over dry skin, the oils dissolve the oil based layer sitting on top of it, and water then turns most of them into a milk that rinses away. Done well, it replaces the scrubbing that micellar soaked cotton pads demand, and it leaves skin comfortable rather than squeaky. This cluster covers the premium end of the category, solid balms in jars and liquid oils in pump bottles, all sold on Amazon under their brands' own storefronts.

The ten products here split along lines that actually matter. Fragrance is the first: Clinique and the Elemis Naked balm are fragrance free, while the original Elemis, Eve Lom and Tatcha formulas lean into aromatic oils as part of the ritual. Format is the second: a solid balm travels without leaking and gives you a slower, massage friendly melt, while a pump oil like Dermalogica PreCleanse or Caudalie Vinoclean doses faster and rinses lighter. Price tier, jar size and whether a formula doubles as a mask fill out the rest. Every pick below is tied to its published specs, so you can choose on facts rather than adjectives.

Read the best-of guide How to choose

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm open jar showing the yellow balm texture — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm: the leading pickThe Cleansing Balms and Makeup Removers Edit

No. 1

The Leading Three

The top of the ranked guide, in brief. The full ranking sits in the best-of.

No. 1

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

Best Overall

The spa ritual balm that turns from balm to oil to milk

It is the most complete package in the set: a mineral oil free balm built on Padina Pavonica, starflower, elderberry and Optimega oils that moves through three textures, removes long wear makeup in the massage, and can stay on as a ten minute mask. If scent is welcome in your routine, this is the jar the others are compared to.

Suits

Anyone who wants the full evening ritual: a rich balm that rewards a slow massage and leaves dry or mature feeling skin soft rather than stripped

Skip if

You avoid fragrance in skincare. The original formula carries a pronounced blend of nine essential oils, so choose the Naked version or Clinique instead

Format: Solid balm in a jar
Size: 100 g / 3.5 oz
Key ingredients: Padina Pavonica, starflower oil, elderberry oil, Optimega oil, rose and mimosa waxes
Texture change: Balm to oil to cleansing milk
Formula note: Mineral oil free; nine essential oils including lavender, chamomile and eucalyptus

View on AmazonPremium listing verified: Official Elemis listing on Amazon under ELEMIS Skincare with From ELEMIS storefront attribution; brand is a long standing Premium Beauty presence on Amazon

No. 2

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

Best Fragrance Free Balm

The fragrance free benchmark every other balm gets measured against

The disciplined alternative. A safflower based balm to oil with a published removal figure above 95 percent for makeup, sunscreen and pollutants, 100 percent fragrance free and ophthalmologist tested as printed. It rinses completely clean, which is exactly what sensitive eyes and reactive skin ask of a first cleanse.

Suits

Fragrance free loyalists, sensitive eyes, and anyone who wants a thorough balm to oil cleanse with zero scent and a completely clean rinse

Skip if

You want the sensory ritual of an aromatic spa balm, or a formula padded with treatment oils. This one is deliberately plain and functional

Format: Solid balm in a jar
Size: 125 ml / 3.8 oz
Key ingredients: Safflower seed oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, tocopherol
Texture change: Solid balm to silky oil
Formula note: 100 percent fragrance free; allergy tested, dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested as published

View on AmazonPremium listing verified: Official Clinique listing on Amazon with From Clinique storefront attribution; manufacturer Clinique Laboratories, LLC as printed in the product details

Farmacy Green Clean cleansing balm 100 ml white jar with green balm smear

No. 3

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

Best for Heavy Makeup Days

The sorbet textured meltaway balm with a farm grown greens blend

The sorbet texture is the easiest melt in the set to work with, the spatula keeps the jar clean, and the sunflower, ginger, moringa and papaya formula is positioned squarely at waterproof makeup and SPF. For full coverage days it asks the least effort per cleanse.

Suits

Full glam and waterproof mascara wearers who want a soft sorbet texture, an included spatula, and a balm the brand positions for stubborn long wear formulas

Skip if

You need a fragrance free formula. The lime, bergamot and orange oils give this jar a clear citrus scent

Format: Sorbet texture balm in a jar, spatula included
Size: 100 ml / 3.4 fl oz
Key ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, ginger root oil, moringa seed extract, papaya fruit extract
Texture change: Balm to silky oil to milky lather
Formula note: Fresh lime and bergamot scent; not tested on animals as printed

View on AmazonPremium listing verified: Official Farmacy listing on Amazon with From Farmacy storefront attribution; manufacturer Farmacy Beauty as printed in the product details

See all 10 picks in the Best Cleansing Balms and Makeup Removers 2027 guide

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